Finding Your Fit in a Student Organization

Most everyone entering law school has heard of Moot Court, Law Review, and Student Trial Lawyers Association (Mock Trial), but there are other organizations that get far less attention. The plethora of student organizations chartered at GSU COL give students the opportunity to be actively involved in issues they plan to practice in later and/or that they care about on a personal level. Membership dues range from $0 – $65, with most being in the $10 range. The student organizations host a variety of events (usually with a free lunch included), where professionals ranging from doctors, social workers, attorneys, and judges speak to our students, giving them information that may impact their future legal careers. Generally, you never have to be a paid member to attend an event, but membership will usually come with voting rights, and possibly in a priority position to get information.

This time of year, many organizations are accepting names to be placed on the ballot for the following year’s executive board positions. Get involved. Use the summary of the organizations below to decide where you will enjoy being active and seek out opportunities! Good luck.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON AREAS OF LEGAL PRACTICE
AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
ACS seeks to promote a progressive view of the Constitution that advances values like compassion and decency in American law.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/GSUACS/about/?ref=page_internal
BUSINESS AND LAW SOCIETY
To foster a broad understanding of business issues facing attorneys today. To focus on the interest of JD/MBA candidates, providing an introduction of business issues that affects the careers of business and law students.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/632410446936808/
CRIMINAL LAW SOCIETY
CLS seeks to promote interest and education in the field of criminal law by providing opportunities to learn through panel discussions and guest speakers
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GSUCriminalLawSociety
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SOCIETY
Seeks to provide a forum for law students to explore the field of environmental law, a network of students and professionals to support professional growth.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/632818390230354/
ESTATE PLANNING AND WEALTH MANAGEMENT LAW SOCIETY
EPWM exists to educate, inform, and connect students with the professional community practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts, Wills, and related Tax Law.

The EPWM seeks to provide resources for students interested in achieving employment in these legal fields and non-legal professions related to such fields, as well as, working closely with the professional community in these areas to build a stronger bond between it and Georgia State University students.

FEDERALIST SOCIETY
To embrace the principle that the state exists to preserve freedom, the separation of governmental powers is central to the integrity of the Constitution, and that it is province and duty of judiciary to say what the law is and not what is should be. To promote an awareness of these principles through activities.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1533019816912668/
Website: https://orgsync.com/24772/chapter
FAMILY LAW SOCIETY (host of COL book swap page)
The organization is dedicated to creating awareness about legal issues relating to family law including but not limited to traditional families, mixed families, marriages, divorces, adoptions, domestic violence, family courts, and attorneys. Our primary focus is on the unique role of the legal profession within a societal context. The organization will create awareness through the creation and incorporation of educational materials, speakers, and affiliations with other organizations. Members will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge on the various family law topics and interact with legal professionals in dealing with family law.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/GSULawBookExchange/
IMMIGRATION LAW SOCIETY
Immigration Law Society (ILS) is committed to increasing awareness of immigration law within the GSU College of Law, providing support to law students interested in the practice of immigration law, and providing support to Atlanta’s immigrant community.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/319286581582802/
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW SOCIETY
Provide members with opportunities to network with practicing IP attorneys. To learn more about Intellectual Property art and technology issues, and also provide a forum for students to work together to build their legal careers.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gsuIPLS/
INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE LAW SOCIETY
To promote the study of international law and legal topics such as international human rights, state-to-state relations, and international business issues. To strengthen ties between its students members and the legal community
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/118183328632971/?ref=bookmarks
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW SOCIETY
The Labor & Employment Law Society’s (LELS) mission is to allow law students to network with one another, increase their exposure to labor and employment law practitioners, develop their knowledge of current labor and employment law issues, and share information among members regarding career opportunities.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LELSGSU/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf
LAW STUDENTS FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
Committed to educating, organizing, and supporting pro-choice law students to ensure that a new generation of lawyers will be prepared to successfully defend and expand reproductive rights.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164795878048/?fref=nf
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ASSOCIATION (host of Annual PILA Auction and Outline Bank)
To educate students and the public at large about public interest law issues and seeks to promote the goals of public interest law in protecting the public rights.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GSUPILA/?fref=nf
Website: http://auctionchairpila.wixsite.com/pilaauction
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW SOCIETY
To promote law school and its students in the Sports and Entertainment network in Atlanta. To provide information to our members concerning different opportunities in the Sports and Entertainment law field.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/854225408012541/
STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. ALDF accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are punished for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting harmful animal protection legislation, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/830946793604431/?hc_ref=SEARCH
Website (National Chapter): www.aldf.org
STUDENT HEALTH LAW ASSOCIATION
To provide an organization for students with a legal interest in the healthcare field. Any student who is interested in health law issues, opportunities, and programs is encouraged to join.
Website:  http://gsu.orgsync.com/org/studenthealthlawassociation23861/home
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON DIVERSITY
ASIAN AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS
To foster and improve ties between Asian American Law students and Members of the Asian American Bar and Bench and the legal community as a whole. To foster an environment conductive to the continued advancement of Asian American law students and to ensure their success as future attorneys.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/GSU.AALSA/?hc_ref=SEARCH
ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN LAW STUDENTS
To show concern about the under representation and lack of parity of women in the legal profession.
BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (host of the annual mock contract exam)
To articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of black law students while seeking to influence the legal community to bring about meaningful change to meet the needs of the Black community.
Website: http://gsu.orgsync.com/org/nblsa
CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY
Mission is to maintain a vibrant Christian Fellowship on GSU’s College of Law campus which enables our members to love the Lord with our whole beings– hearts, souls, and minds– and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/gsucls/
JEWISH LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/JLSAGSU/?hc_ref=SEARCH
LATINX AND CARIBBEAN LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
To play an active role in the furthering of Hispanic awareness and interests within the GSU College of Law and the legal community.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/LCLSAGSULaw/?hc_ref=SEARCH
MUSLIM LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/GSUMLSA/?fref=nf
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) was founded in 1937 as an association of progressive lawyers and jurists who believed that they had a major role to play in the reconstruction of legal values to emphasize human rights over property rights. The Guild is the oldest and most extensive network of public interest and human rights activists working within the legal system.
EMAIL: nlgatgsu@gmail.com
OUTLaw (formerly Lesbian and Gay Law Students Assoc.)
To support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) law students and allies at Georgia State University by encouraging personal, social, professional, and academic development through a safe and supporting space and atmosphere, a sense of community, networking opportunities, advocacy and education.
Facebook Page:   https://www.facebook.com/OutlawGA/
PARENTS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL
Connecting GSU law student and alumni parents and parents-to-be.
Facebook Page:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/407962166070001/
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON NETWORKING
JAMES OGLETHORPE LEGAL SOCIETY
The Oglethorpe Legal Society is a group of Students and Alumni who seek to interact together and promote fellowship between Students of the Georgia State College of Law and The State Bar.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/OglethorpeLegalSociety/
PHI ALPHA DELTA – Russell Chapter
PAD is a professional fraternity and its mission is to form a strong bond uniting students and teachers of law with members of the Bench and Bar in fraternal fellowship designed to advance the ideals of liberty and equal justice under law.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1725837767680045/
Website (national chapter): http://www.pad.org/home
STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION (host of Barrister’s Ball and other off-campus student events)  
SBA serves the student body by acting as an advocate of all academic concerns, a promoter of student life, and a coordinator of all those peripheral functions that are integral to the achievement of academic excellence.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/GSUSBA/
Website: https://insidelaw.gsu.edu/sba/

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