Student Organizations

Law students at the College of Law may participate in many different student organizations and activities. These organizations and activities provide students with an opportunity to become more involved in the College and the community, to promote common goals, to share common experiences, and sometimes just to kick back and relax.

The Agricultural Law Association (ALA) is a subdivision of the Environmental Law Society (ELS). The ALA works with the ELS to bring quality programming and speakers to the law school on agricultural, environmental, water and other related legal issues. The ALA also works in conjunction with ELS to do community service events and to run the law school's recycling program.

Allies & Advocates for GLBT Equality is an organization whose primary focus is to further equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders by raising awareness and educating others as to legal issues affecting the gay community. It is a broad-based organization that is open to members of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

American Constitution Society The mission of the American Constitution Society is to harness values of compassion and respect for each individual, and to re incorporate them into American law and politics, in order to build a stronger and more decent national community. We believe that the Constitution, and by extension, many other areas of American law, can be understood only by reference to principles of decency, reason, humanity and compassion. We believe that those who enforce the law must have concern for the way in which it affects the lives of the people who make up the nation in which we live. We seek to restore the fundamental principles of respect for human dignity, protection of individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice to their rightful place in American law. We want to strengthen the intellectual underpinnings of and the public case for a vision of the law in which these values are paramount. Our goal is a rekindling of the hope that by reason and decency, we can create an America that is better for us all.

American Trial Lawyers Association/Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys (ATLA/NATA) provides students an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the trial practice work of an attorney and learn about the court system.

Big Brother/Big Sister Program is an optional program sponsored by Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. The program matches each participating first year student with a second or third year student who can help answer the questions that first year students often have and who can be a source of moral support, friendship, and advice throughout the year.

Black Law Students Association (BLSA) addresses the professional needs and promotes the professional goals of black law students.

Christian Legal Society (CLS) provides a forum for discussion of the ethical and moral issues in law today as they relate to Christianity. CLS is geared toward promoting the concept of the Christian lawyer and in providing the fellowship and impetus necessary for the student's development toward that end.

Class Officers are elected annually by the students in each class to serve on the Student Bar Association Board, represent the class and plan activities.

Community Legal Education Project (CLEP) provides law students with the opportunity to teach elementary students about the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and other legal issues. Starting early during the spring semester, law students go into local elementary classrooms once a week for six weeks to teach prepared lessons.

Environmental Law Society facilitates awareness and discussion of the law concerning the use of natural resources and the protection of the environment. The society provides a vehicle for its members to work cooperatively on research projects, legislation, and other activities of interest.

Equal Justice Society is a member of the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL) and was organized to promote awareness and involvement in such public interest areas as civil rights, consumer and environmental rights, international, immigration, and human rights law, criminal law, labor law and representation of the poor. The Equal Justice Foundation provides its members with information about public interest law and legal employment and training opportunities in public interest areas.

Federalist Society is an association of conservative and libertarian law students whose political viewpoints may differ on specific issues but who all share the concern that the law is sometimes used to destroy individual rights and liberties rather than to preserve them. The purpose of the organization is to provide like-minded individuals with an opportunity to interact and to promote an awareness of common beliefs.

International Law Society enables law students who are interested in international law and international trade to continue their education in this field beyond the classroom. Activities include: sponsoring the Jessup International Moot Court competition; counseling on graduate level and summer programs in international law, internships and career opportunities; and interdisciplinary programs sponsored by the College of Business Administration, the College of Agriculture, the Institute of International Affairs and other University of Nebraska colleges and departments involved in international relations and trade issues.

Law Fraternities contribute to the professional, educational and social lives of their members. Two national legal fraternities are represented at the College of Law and are open to all students. They are the Roscoe Pound Senate of Delta Theta Phi and the Reese Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta.

Law School Democrats promote democratic values and candidates by sponsoring various speakers as well as providing a forum for political discussion. We seek to get law students more politically active by involving them in campaigns, voter registration and policy matters.

Law Student Division , American Bar Association (LSD) is the national student division of the American Bar Association. The LSD offers many benefits to its members, including a free subscription to Student Lawyer magazine, a subscription to the ABA Journal at a reduced rate, student membership in ABA sections and, upon graduation, free membership in the ABA for one year.

J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS) is an international association of law students and attorneys that focuses on maintaining religion and ethics within the practice of law. The JRCLS includes active chapters throughout the United States and seven other countries. The JRCLS sponsors law student chapters of LDS law students and others interested in the mission of the Law Society. The JRCLS promotes public service, loyalty to the rule of law, and appreciation for the religious dimension in society and in a lawyer's personal life. Members of the JRCLS are committed to, and strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

The mission statement and purpose of the JRCLS is: We affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction. We strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.

Members of the Society share former Utah Supreme COurt Justice Dallin Oaks' determination that the fairness, decency, integrity, virtue, and love of truth taught at the hearthstones of thousands of homes throughout the land shall have a concentrated impact on the legal profession and the nation's laws. It is in these homes, led by God-fearing parents, that young men and women who [enter the legal profession] have already gained that intangible moral instinct that will bear its fruits in the legislative halls, the courtrooms, the offices, and other private and public places. By broadly encouraging the teaching of religious and moral values within the legal profession, the Law Society hopes to have a lasting impact on the development of moral foundations among attorneys and throughout society.

Involvement in the University of Nebraska Chapter includes weekly organized discussions, monthly pot-luck gatherings which include a featured speaker, and service projects.

Multi-Cultural Legal Society is a joint student-faculty organization which seeks to foster the unity, academic development, social and political consciousness and vitality of minority students at the College. It is dedicated to increasing the representation of minorities in the legal profession. The Society strives to interest undergraduate and high school minority students in law as a career and to aid them in the law school admissions process. It also strives to serve the social needs of minorities and other interested students, and sponsors speakers and programs to educate the law school community on minority-related legal issues.

Nebraska Civil Liberties Union Chapter was organized to promote the full realization of civil liberties in society. The group pursues this goal by educational activities, legislative action, legal research, and court action. Students have the opportunity to work with cooperating attorneys on various legal issues of concern to the NCLU.

The Nebraska Entertainment and Sports Law Association (NESLA)has the goal of helping Nebraska students break into the ever-changing worlds of Entertainment and Sports Law. NESLA sponsors speakers throughout the year with topics ranging from Intellectual Property to NCAA violations and compliance rules. The group offers significant networking opportunities in the local Sports and Entertainment Law communities as well as the chance to attend national conferences that feature prominent guests from the recording industry, sports agencies, and numerous other related fields.
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys /American Association for Justice (NATA/AAJ) provides students an opportunity to gain valuable insight into trial practice work and learn about the court system.

Nebraska Fund for Clerkships in the Public Interest is a student-run nonprofit organization dedicated to removing financial barriers for law students who wish to secure public interest employment. Grants are awarded to College of Law students for volunteer or low-paying public interest summer clerkships with nonprofit organizations, government agencies or private firms with a public interest practice.

Republican Law Students Association exists to promote awareness at the College of Law of political and social issues and political candidates, and to encourage law students to be actively involved in civic activities. The Republican Law Students will invite political leaders, office holders, and candidates to speak at the law school. Speakers will be asked to share their platform and ideals with students, address current events, and tell students how they could be involved in the political process now and in the future. The Republican Law Students will promote Republican candidates for poli! tical office and will encourage students to actively participate in political campaigns. Finally, the Republican Law Students will encourage students of all political persuasions to be involved in the democratic process by voting in elections.

The Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court is a group of lawyers and judges which meets monthly during the academic year to provide a forum through which experienced lawyers and judges assist younger lawyers and law students in improving their advocacy skills. Each year fourteen third year law students are selected by the College of Law to participate in the Inn.

The Rutherford Institute is a nonprofit legal defense organization providing services without charge in defense of traditional religious and family values. Students have the opportunity to do legal research on cases in which the national or Nebraska chapters are involved. The Rutherford Institute at the College sponsors speakers and other activities which promote the values of the organization. 

The St. Thomas More Society is a student organization that seeks to integrate the practice of the Catholic faith with the practice of law. We are part of a nationwide tradition of St. Thomas More Societies established at American law schools. Membership is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Catholic perspectives on legal issues.

Student Bar Association (SBA) coordinates the professional, social and extracurricular activities of the student body. Affiliated with the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, the SBA functions both as a student government and as a professional bar association. The SBA president appoints student representatives who participate in faculty meetings and serve as voting members on many student-faculty committees. The student book exchange is among the SBA's many activities. Click here for their web site.

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund The UNL College of Law's SALDF is dedicated to providing a forum for education, advocacy and scholarship aimed at protecting and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system, and raising the profile of the field of animal law. SALDF works in affiliation with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a nonprofit group of attorneys and animal advocates dedicated to defending animal abuse and exploitation throughout the United States (www.aldf.org). Backed by more than 100,000 members and supporters, the ALDF takes direct legal action on behalf of imperiled animals everywhere - - in laboratories, on farms, in the wild, and in communities.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)  VITA, sponsored by the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, is part of the nationwide taxpayer assistance program of the Internal Revenue Service. Students from the Law College provide individuals with limited financial resources and physically challenged individuals free assistance in preparing their income tax returns.
Women's Law Caucus is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of women in law through personal support, professional activities, and political action. It is open to all law students and their spouses, faculty, staff and other interested persons.

Women's Law Caucus is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of women in law through personal support, professional activities, and political action. It is open to all law students and their spouses, faculty, staff and other interested persons.