For information or contacts not found here about any Law School student organization, please contact Amber Peifer, Student Programs Manager (amber@umn.edu).
Our Law School Student organizations, in alphabetical order:
The American Bar Association: your legal career starts here. ABA membership is the first step toward a successful legal career offering advancement and networking opportunities to help you excel in law school and lay the groundwork for your professional life. With ABA sponsored competitions, scholarships, essay contests, internships, practice area publications, networking opportunities and more, there is truly something for every law student. Join the ABA Student Division now and join the world's largest professional network of attorneys.
ACS is committed to fostering a progressive vision of the law on issues across the policy spectrum, including access to the courts; antidiscrimination and affirmative action; civil liberties; consumer rights; criminal justice; disability rights; freedom of speech; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights; international human rights; immigration; open government; labor law; the political process; privacy; protection of health, safety and the environment; and women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
Amnesty International is a campaigning movement that works to promote the human rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It campaigns to end violence against women, ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners, abolish the death penalty, abolish torture, and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups.
ALS/SALDF strives to spread awareness and gain support for animal law issues within the U of M law community. We want to create relationships with other graduate and undergraduate programs at the U of M and with other local law school animal law groups. ALS/SALDF plans to become involved with the Minnesota animal law community and hopes to engage in fundraising and volunteer activities related to animal law.
APALSA provides academic and career guidance for Asian Pacific American law students. In addition, APALSA hosts events highlighting the legal and greater Asian Pacific American community in Minnesota. Events range from career workshops, guest speakers, networking, and cultural eating.
The Asylum Law Project provides a meaningful public interest opportunity for law students while filling a substantial need for legal assistance to underrepresented political refugees seeking assistance with asylum applications. First-year law students gain practical experience in interviewing clients, learning current asylum law, presenting oral arguments and assisting people who have been victims of religious or political persecution.
The Black Law Students Association is an organization of African American and non-African American students studying and working toward a career in the practice of law. The group helps as a liaison to the University and legal community for an underrepresented group in the University of Minnesota law School and the legal community at large. Its goal is the success of African American students in law school and the encouragement of undergraduate students of color to think about attending the University of Minnesota law school
The BLA exists to provide networking, educational, and career opportunities in an encouraging environment, allowing University of Minnesota law students to gain practical knowledge of business law, meet other students with similar interests, and gain insight from practicing lawyers in all areas of business law. Additionally, the Business Law Association, together with the Corporate Institute, co-sponsors the “Taking Care of Business” Speaker Series, as well as periodic Movie Nights featuring a full-length business-focused motion picture and a post-screening commentary by business law faculty and guests from the corporate world.
The Capital Management Student Association promotes the discussion and education of law students on all matters relating to the accumulation and preservation of capital, including economics, finance, business organization, business management, taxation, securities, and estate planning.
We are a group of law students interested in the interaction of the social sciences with criminal law and in current criminal justice issues. Our aim is to: provide a forum for those interested in Criminal Justice issues and the philosophy of criminal law, to facilitate discourse between students and criminal law practitioners, and to collaborate with NGOs and legal organizations to provide volunteer opportunities to the membership.
This student group works with the state and national chapters of the Federal Bar Association to promote interaction and learning between law students and federal judges and lawyers.
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a non-partisan group of libertarians and conservatives interested in the current state of the legal order. It 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 it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, and not to subvert the process of representative government by allowing activist jurists to distort law into what they think it should be. The Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities including hosting debates on relevant topics of law and legal policy.
The Fighting Mondales shall exist for the following purposes: To promote the interests of law student hockey enthusiasts; To teach the skills and strategy of the game, on and off the ice; To provide an outlet for the stresses of a legal education; and To provide an opportunity to meet and socialize with like-minded law students and lawyers
The Fighting Pawndales seek to promote chess as a recreational and competitive activity within Mondale Hall. Law students of all skill levels, experiences, and interests are welcome to participate in club events.
Gamma Eta Gamma Law House is a co-op for law students at the University of Minnesota Law School. It is a place to socialize and build a network of colleagues. The Gamma House is a hub for many of the Law School's social events such The Dis-Orientation Party for the incoming 1Ls, the Annual Halloween Party, and the famous T.O.R.T. Party. Gamma Eta Gamma gives incoming law students a nexus where the legal community can come together, form friendships, and network and provides students with a support network for the pressures and obligations of law school.
HLBA is dedicated to the dual purposes of 1) providing students with practical career guidance in the field of health law and 2) fostering awareness, critical thought, and debate about topics in bioethics and health law. HLBA seeks to address the interrelation of these goals whenever possible, but recognizes the need for some events to consider one goal to the exclusion of the other. HLBA embraces interdisciplinary discourse and will seek the participation of, and partnerships with, students and organizations from other schools at the University of Minnesota.
The Indian Services Project at the University of Minnesota strives to (1) educate students about Native American law and (2) help Native Americans prepare estate planning documents, child custody forms, and other legal documents
ILS is designed to foster student interest in international law, provide increased contact with international law academics, practitioners, and other figures, and to promote greater understanding of global issues. Group's principal activities, events, or programs: i.) Speakers that discuss current topics in international law, ii.) Promote International Job/Volunteer Opportunities, iii.) Social events to encourage communication and build relationships between international law students and domestic law students.
This group allows students to develop practical negotiating skills that are applicable to a wide range of areas through negotiation simulations with law students at Renmin University in Beijing, China. The group provides seminars on negotiation skills, guest speakers, and critical debriefings of the negotiation simulations. Students gain cultural awareness and enhance cross-cultural interaction along with the negotiation skills.
The Joggin’ Mondales are a running and jogging club dedicated to promoting health and life balance among students at the University of Minnesota Law School.
LLSA is committed to the advancement of the Latino legal community and Latino culture. LLSA is committed to events that enrich the community especially in areas such as volunteering and service. The organization seeks to expand its involvement through volunteer opportunities, bringing in pertinent speakers, and social events.
The group will be composed of law students with prior military service, are on active or reserve duty, are interested in becoming military judge advocates, or otherwise want to support our troops past and present. The group sponsors speakers on issues of concern to the military community, encourage pro bono work on veteran and military-related issues, and generally serve as a place to get together to share information and resources on issues of national security, international law, and public policy. Membership is open to all interested persons; there is no requirement of any past or present tie to the military.
Law Council is the student governance body of the University of Minnesota Law School. Law Council oversees all registered law student organizations or campus life groups, advocates for student interests, and serves as a liaison between students, faculty, staff, and administration. Law Council organizes events for the entire law school student body. The council is responsible for representing student interests to the administration and also distributes funds to law school student groups.
The Law School Democrats (LSD) is a student-run political organization based on the ideals of the Minnesota Democrat Farmer Labor Party (DFL) and the National Democratic Committee. The organization promotes awareness of current political issues, provides a network for law students, and assists local and national politicians. The Law School Democrats organization achieves its political goals through lectures, speakers, debates, and campaigning.
We are a non-partisian, non-sexist association dedicated to protecting the right to reproductive freedom through activism and education. We bridge reproductive health and social justice through supporting issues such as birth control and emergency contraception availability, comprehensive sex education, and access to family planning services. We are dedicated to promoting a free society where people can make the reproductive decisions which they decide are best for them.
A bowling league primarily for University of Law School students provided to encourage a cooperative environment. It is open to all students who have an interest in bowling and seek to help diversify the league.
The Litigation Trial Advocacy Group at the University of Minnesota Law School is dedicated to promoting and educating others about litigation, litigators, and alternative methods to litigation. We wish to assist those who aim to be litigators in the future. We also hope to demonstrate through our presentation the positive outcomes that litigation can produce.
Meditation Club is a support group to help law students, graduate and professional students, undergraduates, staff, faculty, and the public manage stress. We seek to promote the practice of meditation by partnering with similar organizations to provide effective resources to Meditators in the community. Meditation Club is an interfaith and interdisciplinary organization and is open to all interested persons. Weekly meditation and discussion, as well as mindful movement including yoga, qi gong. We also host speakers on the practice of meditation and related topics, as well as social events.
The Middle Eastern Affairs Legal Society (MEALS) is a Law School-based student organization that fosters discussion and debate on issues relating to the Middle East. As a non-partisan organization we host debates, lectures, outside speakers and a variety of other kinds of engaging, educational activities. Although we pay special attention to legal topics, MEALS generally focuses on the broader political and social issues affecting the region.
The Minnesota Justice Foundation Student Chapter is a group of law students committed to public interest law. Our mission is to connect students with information and opportunities for volunteering and working in the public sector. We also work to fund public interest clerkships so that students may spend a summer working for legal aid organizations that otherwise would not be able to offer a clerkship position.
MLSA strives to provide for professional, social, and intellectual needs of Muslim law students and to increase exposure to domestic and international legal, cultural, and political issues affecting the Muslim community.
Group for American Indian law students and law students interested in Indian law. Every fall semester we hold our annual fall feast. This is a celebration of American Indian music, food, and culture. All are invited to participate. We also have regular speakers that address the intersection of American Indians and the law. We provide information to the University community about current issues in Indian law. We also serve as a support resource for Indian law students and those interested in Indian law.
New Orleans Legal Assistance engages University of Minnesota Law Students dedicated to advancing the cause of social justice in communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by coordinating legal volunteer efforts, aiding public interest organizations, and educating members of the community about legal crises in the region. Its officers organize two trips each year to bring legal assistance volunteers to New Orleans, Louisiana to aid our partner public interest organizations.
Older Wiser Law Students ("OWLS") addresses the unique needs and concerns of those law students embarking on their second career with a law degree. We welcome anyone who has been out of undergrad for at least two years. We bring a variety of life and work experiences to the table. OWLS will host speakers and events throughout the semester to facilitate discussions of topics relevant to a more seasoned law student.
OutLaw is the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) student association at the University of Minnesota Law School. Founded in 1984 and originally named Lambda, Outlaw acts as a support system and social organization for LGBT students, faculty and staff, as well as those concerned with the legal issues affecting the LGBT community. We advance the cause of LGBT rights in the Law School and the greater University of Minnesota community by raising awareness of LGBT issues and maintaining an open dialogue with school administrators. Through increasing LGBT visibility at the Law School and providing a forum for the frank and open discussion of our issues, Outlaw works to make the University of Minnesota a more welcoming place for LGBT people. Law students will also find OutLaw an effective means for accessing LGBT student-attorney networks.
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International aims to provide programming in line with its motto, "Service to the student, the school, the profession, and the community." We try to live out this motto by providing academic, professional, service, and social programming. We also provide opportunities for networking with attorneys who are alumni and promote fraternalism among members. Join PAD and see why we're the nation's largest and best law fraternity!
The South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) at the University of Minnesota promotes the professional development of its members by fostering affiliations with the South Asian legal community both in the Greater Twin Cities area and across the nation. SALSA aims to promote inclusion by increasing awareness of South Asian culture throughout the UMN Law community and sponsoring events with non-South Asian legal and student organizations. The group also provides a social setting for its members to facilitate dialogue about law, culture and identity. SALSA membership is open to all UMN Law students and alumni interested in attending events, sharing ideas, connecting with the South Asian legal community, and learning more about professional opportunities.
The St. Thomas More Society is a Catholic law student organization. The Society has a three-fold mission: build fellowship through social and devotional activities, inject a Catholic perspective to the Law School's intellectual culture through our programming, and provide law students the chance to help the surrounding community through service opportunities. Membership limited to sinners only.
The Student Employment and Labor Law Association works to support law students interested in employment and labor law by facilitating career-focused events and speakers, coordinating a mentoring program, hosting a practitioner reception and raising awareness of employment and labor law issues.
SIPLA is the organization for law students interested in IP. We seek to bring practicing IP lawyers to the school and help students interested in IP interact with each other.
The Theatre of the Relatively Talentless (T.O.R.T.) puts on the annual law school musical. The goal of T.O.R.T. is to provide a much needed creative outlet for law students, faculty and staff; putting on a top-notch musical which is attended by members of both the UMN and Minneapolis/St. Paul Legal communities is just and added perk.
The West Bank Brewing Association's mission is to promote responsible beer culture; educate and inform our membership about beer appreciation, beer styles, beer policy and legislation, and the brewing process on a small scale; among graduate students at the University of Minnesota.
WLSA is an open forum dedicated to addressing not only the role of women in the law, but also the effect of legal doctrines and practice on issues integral to women. WLSA places a high priority on helping students connect with practicing lawyers, judges and professors to help them become part of the local legal community. In addition to sponsoring many speaking events, working with Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL) and running the Law School's used bookroom, WLSA manages a mentorship program and organizes various community service events.
