All Student Organizations View Calendar

American Civil Liberties Union
American Constitution Society
Asian Law Students Association
Black Law Students Association
Business Law Forum
Christian Legal Society
Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity
The Environmental Law Society
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies
Hispanic Law Students Association
Intellectual Property Law Society
International Human Rights Society
International Law Society
Irish Law Society
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
Jus Vitae of Notre Dame
Legal Voices for Children & Youth
Married Law Students Organization
Military Law Students Association
Native American Law Students Association
Phi Alpha Delta
The Public Interest Law Forum
Social Justice Forum
Sports, Communications and Entertainment Law Forum
St. Thomas More Society
Student Bar Association
Women’s Legal Forum

American Civil Liberties Union

Officers:
President: James Mitchell

Advisor: Joseph Bauer

American Constitution Society

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation’s leading progressive legal organizations. Founded in 2001, ACS is comprised of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, policymakers, activists and other concerned individuals who are working to ensure that the fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality,and access to justice are in their rightful, central place in American law. The American Constitution Society is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization. We do not, as an organization, lobby, litigate or take positions on specific issues, cases, legislation or nominations. We do encourage our members to express their views and make their voices heard. For more information, go to http://acslaw.org.

Officers:
President: Jonathan Gaynor

Advisor: Jay Tidmarsh

Asian Law Students Association

Asian Law Students Association advocates the needs and concerns of Asian Americans at the Notre Dame Law School. Its purpose is to foster an environment of understanding and fellowship among various groups within Notre Dame, as well as at other law schools. ALSA also strives to assist members in their academic, cultural and social interests. ALSA is a member of the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and maintains a relationship with the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area.

ALSA emphasizes the importance of diversity and promotes recruitment of Asian Americans from all parts of the country. Membership is open to all students at the Notre Dame Law School with an interest in the purposes and activities of ALSA.

Go to ALSA website

Officers:
President: Bonnie Park

Advisor: Lloyd Mayer

Black Law Students Association

Since 1972 Notre Dame’s Black law students have been organized as a chapter of the Black Law Students Association. The purposes of BLSA are to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black American law students; to foster and encourage professional competence; to focus upon the relationship of the Black attorney to the American legal structure; and to instill in the Black attorney and law student a greater awareness of and commitment to the needs of the Black community.

Go to BLSA website

Officers:
President: Mauri Miller
Vice-President: LaDawn Burnett
Secretary: Maudess Fulton
Treasurer: Ricky Wilson
Admissions Liaison: Jihan Williams
Academic Chair: Ana Paola Capaldo
Co-Community Service Chair: Isadora Huntley Co-Community Service Chair: Matt Treadwell

Advisor: Dwight King

Business Law Forum

The Business Law Forum (BLF) exists to advance the interests of students who want to learn more about becoming a practicing business lawyer. BLF activities vary from year to year based on the interests of the membership.

Officers
President: Ryan Shupe

Advisor: Julian Velasco

Christian Legal Society

The Notre Dame Christian Legal Society (CLS) consists of Notre Dame law students and professors committed to reflecting Christian principles in their lives and in the legal profession. CLS sponsors lectures on topical subjects, from the right-to-life issue to the Christian lawyer’s responsibilities in the profession. Other CLS activities include Bible studies, fellowship activities, Christian service projects and seminars sponsored by the national CLS organization.

Officers:
President: Jonathan Hwang
Vice President: Nathan Guinn
Secretary: Benjamin Stewart
Treasurer: Christopher Hood

Advisor: Lloyd Mayer

Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Chairman: Andy Mathews
Executive Committee: Ryan Fulkerson

Advisor: Jay Tidmarsh

Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity

Officers:

Advisor: John Robinson

The Environmental Law Society

Officers:
President: Sean Ashburn

Advisor: John Nagle

The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy

Studies is comprised of law students interested in the current state of the legal order who believe that principles and legal rules strongly influence the direction of societal development, and in doing so, can secure or impede individual rights and liberties. The Society is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that the province and duty of the judiciary is to say what the law is, not what it should be.

The Society seeks to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities. These activities include national symposia, a speaker’s bureau highlighted by the John M. Olin lectures in law, public interest research and litigation, and publishing newsletters. The national journal of the Federalist Society is the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. Members receive subscriptions to this journal and the Society news-letter and are also eligible for scholarship money to attend conferences.

Officers:
President: John Persinger
Vice President: Joe DeCenzo
Secretary: Patrick Bottini
Treasurer: Adam Mathews

Advisor: Nicole Garnett

The Hispanic Law Students Association

The Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA) promotes the professional needs and goals of the Hispanic law student. HLSA fosters an environment supportive of mutual understanding and fellowship within the University of Notre Dame and the Law School community, while raising awareness of the achievements and concerns of the Hispanic community.

Membership includes students who are bilingual and bicultural. HLSA considers diversity an asset, instilling values of cultural and racial sensitivity and allowing service as a bridge between Hispanic Americans and non-Hispanic Americans. For these reasons, the organization seeks not to isolate Hispanic students, but to organize activities within the Law School community to apprise other students about Hispanic issues.

Officers:
President: Lisandra Guerrero
Vice President: Breanna Houghton
Secretary: Ana Paola Capaldo
Treasurer: Colin Diamond

Advisor: Jimmy Gurule

Intellectual Property Law Society

Intellectual Property (IP) law issues can affect virtually anyone or any organization, including business entities, artists, inventors, programmers, researchers, and web designers. Major areas of IP law include copyright, patent, and trademark, and touch science and technology, the arts and literature, and small and large businesses. The reach of IP law is expanding in a global economy, and the creation, management, and transfer of IP assets are growing more complex. Such growth is accompanied by a considerable need for Notre Dame to become more active in the education, research, and practice of IP law. IPLS aims to foster leadership in, promote intellectual curiosity about, and encourage dialogue on IP law by providing a forum for intellectual inquiry. The Society challenges its members to engage educators and practitioners as well as each other in learning about the various areas of IP law. By hosting professionals in academia, government, and the private sector at the Law School, the group and its members seek to stay current with IP law developments and learn of available resources that may be valuable both during school and following graduation.

> IPLS Website

Officers:
President: Jonah Smith
Vice President: Maurine Vogelsang
Secretary: Michael Erbele
Treasurer: David Schmidt

Advisor: Mark McKenna

International Human Rights Society

The International Human Rights Society (IHRS) is a student group of J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. students interested in learning about, promoting, and discussing international human rights law. IHRS is proud of the diversity of life and work experiences its members bring to the group and share. IHRS sponsors speakers and functions throughout the year and hosts an annual wine and cheese social for members. Many IHRS events are held in conjunction with the Center for Civil and Human Rights in the Law School.

Presidents: Emily Nickles

Advisor: Paolo Carozza

International Law Society

Notre Dame’s Society of International Law, organized in 1971, is an affiliate of the American Society of International Law Societies (ASIL). The primary objective of the society is to contribute to the development of international law by fostering interest and understanding in the field. The society sponsors a Symposium at the Law School every year on international law and affairs which in recent years has included State Department officials, international lawyers, distinguished professors, and UN Officials. The society also aids students who seek careers as international lawyers. Members of the society participate in the annual Jessup International Moot Court competition. ILS has also begun an endeavor to create the Notre Dame Journal of International, Comparative & Human Rights Law, the first Volume of which can be found at www.nd.edu/~intlaw.

Officers:
President & Editor-in-Chief: Manasi Raveendran

Advisor: Mary Ellen O’Connell

Irish Law Society

Officers:
President:

Advisor: Robert Rodes

J. Reuben Clark Law Society

Officers:
President – Steven Oyler

Advisor: Christine Venter

Jus Vitae of Notre Dame

Mission Statement:
The members of the Jus Vitae Association of the Notre Dame School of Law are committed to the principle that the right to life is inherent and inalienable in every innocent human being and cannot be abridged by any action of the government or any group of citizens. Its members are united to promote, uphold, and defend the sanctity of all human life from the moment of conception to the point of natural death. Its members pursue this by means of public education and community service.

Officers:
President: Michael Fragoso

Advisor: O. Carter Snead

Website

Legal Voices for Children and Youth

Legal Voices for Children and Youth (LVCY) exists to promote knowledge, awareness, and skills relating to the legal representation of children. The society sponsors speakers who educate the Notre Dame Law School community on various legal issues and occupations relating to children. The society also aids students in pursuing related careers through creating awareness of such careers and funds for related summer employment.

Officers:
President: Amanda Kiernan

Advisor: J. Eric Smithburn

Married Law Students Organization

Officers:
Executive Board:

Advisor: Nicole Garnett

Military Law Student’s Association

This organization was formed to promote community among Veterans and active duty personnel at the Notre Dame Law School, to promote awareness of military-related issues among the Law School Community, to foster a military-related alumni network, and to provide charitable services to veterans and others living in Michiana. We are especially active in the Toys for Tots drive during the Christmas season. Membership is open to any interested member of the Notre Dame/St. Mary’s community. Prior military service is not necessary.

Officers:
President: Cassie Fowler
Vice President: Charles Drury III

Advisor: Peter Horvath

Native American Law Students Association

Officers:
President: Hugh Long
Vice President: Caitlin Shetter

Advisor: Rick Garnett

Phi Alpha Delta (Hoynes Chapter)

Notre Dame has an organized chapter in Phi Alpha Delta, a professional fraternity which concerns itself with presenting law students varying opportunities to complement law school education.

Go to website

Officers:
Justice: Laura Pollard
Vice Justice: Kevin Landino
Treasurer/Clerk: Patricia Pogge
Marshal: Janae Lopes

Advisor: Jeff Pojanowski

The Public Interest Law Forum

PILF, the Public Interest Law Forum, is an organization whose purpose is to promote awareness of and interest in public interest law among NDLS students, faculty and administration. PILF defines “public interest law” broadly in recognition of the wide variety of career opportunities typically encompassed within the category of “public interest law,” including careers as legal services providers, criminal defenders and prosecutors, government attorneys, judicial clerks, and attorneys for non-governmental and non-profit organizations. PILF organizes fundraisers to raise money for public interest fellowships which allow NDLS students to intern during the summer for public interest agencies that cannot afford to pay interns. Finally, PILF plans talks and discussions by professors, NDLS graduates, and others on public interest law topics.

Membership in PILF is open to all NDLS students and faculty.

Officers:
President: Erinn Rigney
Vice President for Fundraising: Erin Orndorff
Vice President for Speakers: Michael Gillman
Secretary: Topher Regan

Advisor: Robert Rodes

Social Justice Forum

Established in 1983, the Social Justice Forum exists to promote and encourage social responsibility within the Notre Dame Law School and to create and maintain a network of concerned individuals who are willing to work toward social justice. To these ends, students and faculty members have sponsored speakers and community service projects, proposed changes in curriculum structure and placement programs, and helped to establish the Notre Dame Law Student Sponsored Fellowship.

Officers:
President: Ben Nissim

Advisor: Patricia Bellia

Sports, Communications and Entertainment Law Forum

President – Mauri Miller
VP Sports – David Baez
VP Entertainment – Dan Collins
Treasurer – John Iwanski
Director of Public Affairs – Isadora Huntley
Secretary – Meghan McMahon

Advisor: Ed Edmonds

St. Thomas More Society

The mission of the St. Thomas More Society of Notre Dame is to foster full integration of our Catholic faith into the daily practice of law, and thereby to emulate St. Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers. We strive to fulfill this mission by:

Facilitating access to the sacraments of the Church
Providing a forum for Christian fellowship, prayer, and growth
Regularly offering lectures and discussion opportunities on matters of faith and morals, especially as they pertain to our vocations in the law
Offering opportunities for public service
By living lives worthy of the title Christian and by holding fast to and proclaiming, in season and out of season, the teachings of the Gospels and the Magisterium of the Church, in the likeness of our patron, St. Thomas More, under the protection of Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, and for the Glory of Christ our King

Our activities are open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We hope that participation in these activities will make us better equipped to bring Christ’s light to the world through our vocation to the legal profession. For more information, please contact us via email.

Officers:
President: Joshua Norcross
Vice President: Alex Blair
Secretary: Daniella Palmiotto
Treasurer: Paul DiPietro
Sacristan: John Gerardi, Joseph Ganahl

Advisor: Fr. John Coughlin

Student Bar Association

The Student Bar Association is the student government at the Law School; all students are considered members. The association performs various tasks related to student life, both social and academic, such as orientation, appointment of students to various faculty committees, intramural athletics and several social functions throughout the year. More generally, the officers attempt to represent student interests in any matter of sufficient importance. At the national level, the association is a member of the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association.

Officers:
President: Wendy Tran
Vice President: Kerry Donovan
Secretary: James Champlin
Treasurer: Lamar Winslow

Advisor: Richard Garnett

Women’s Legal Forum

The Women’s Legal Forum exists to promote discussion and understanding of legal issues affecting women and of issues affecting women lawyers and their
colleagues. We fulfill this purpose through educational events, community service and the promotion of debate and discussion within the law school community.