Student Orgs

Student Organizations
If your student organization is missing or if your website has changed, please email SBA to let us know.

Student Organization Handbook

American Bar Association/Law Student Division (ABA/LSD) Membership in the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association provides a number of immediate and tangible benefits. Membership includes subscriptions to the ABA Journal and the award-winning magazine, The Student Lawyer. The dues also entitle students to Hertz car rental discounts, low rates on preliminary multistate bar exam courses, reduced ABA section memberships and eligibility for medical and life insurance at low group rates.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-UW)
The American Civil Liberties Union is a group whose primary goal is to protect our civil liberties, as set out in the constitution and the Bill of Rights. The ACLU was formed in 1920, and has been the party to more litigation in the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.

American Constitution Society
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy is a national organization of law students, law professors, practicing lawyers and members of the community. We want to help revitalize and transform legal debate, from law school classrooms to federal courtrooms.

Asian Pacific American Law Students Association/South Asian Law Students Association (APALSA/SALSA)
APALSA/SALSA provides academic, career and social support to its members by sponsoring activities, working with the Law School faculty and administration, collaborating in efforts of other student organizations, and acting as a forum for addressing concerns of Asian Americans.

Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
The University of Wisconsin Black Law Students Association (UWBLSA) is a chartered member of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) which exists to serve the educational, social and professional interests of Black law students across the country.

Business & Tax Law Association (BATLAW)
The University of Wisconsin Business & Tax Law Association promotes and enhances the study and practice of business and tax law. The BTLA also encourages high standards of academic achievement as well as social interaction with other law students, faculty, and the professional community. Several faculty members and some of the largest law firms in Wisconsin are included in BTLA’s membership.

Children’s Justice Project (CJP)
The Children’s Justice Project brings together people interested in promoting justice for children and juveniles, including the rights of children and juveniles in the legal, educational, health care, and social services systems. The Project does this through interdisciplinary advocacy and study.

Christian Legal Society (CLS)
CLS is a small, informal, interdenominational group of students who meet on a regular basis for bible study, “roundtable” exchanges on various topics, not necessarily Law School related, and most importantly, fellowship.

Delta Theta Phi
The Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, International, founded in 1900, is one of the three leading professional law fraternities in the world. It has over 100 active student senates (chapters), over 100 alumni senates and more than 100,000 initiated members. Membership in Delta Theta Phi is open to all students enrolled in fully accredited law schools.

Democratic Law Student Association (DLSA)
The Democratic Law Student Association is an organization of students interested in furthering the Democratic Party through volunteering and political action. We have a mailing list that informs about our coming events and speakers.

Environmental Law Society (ELS)
The Environmental Law Society welcomes all students interested in the application of law to environmental issues at the state, national, and international levels. The Society studies all sides of the issues because it recognizes that environmental law applies to both those interested in classic environmental preservation, as well as persons whose activities create environmental impacts.

Federalist Society
The UW Law School’s chapter of the Federalist Society is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of legal order. It is founded on the principle 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, not what it should be.

Health Law Students Association (HLSA)
The Health Law Student Association provides resources, networking opportunities, and a forum to discuss legal issues for students interested in health and public health law. We seek to prepare our members for careers in these fast-growing fields.

Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA)
ILSA is an organization which provides a forum for discussion and dissemination of current Indian Law topics. Anyone with an interest in Indian Law is invited to become a member. ILSA also provides support to its members by maintaining study groups, and assisting with job searches. Through its annual Coming Together of the Peoples Conference, ILSA provides ongoing outreach to the U.W. community and the legal community at large.

Intellectual Property Students Organization (IPSO)
The Intellectual Property Students Organization has been formed to convey to all interested law students the field of Intellectual Property Law. Its primary purpose is to provide topical seminars, discussions, and other events relating to Patent, Copyright, and Trademark Law.

International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team (ICA)
The Team’s primary function is to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes.  To achieve this, the Team recruits, trains, and sends competitors to the annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria and the Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong, China.

J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS)
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS) is an international law society composed of professionals and law students who seek to affirm the strength brought to law by a lawyer’s personal religious convictions. Members strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.

Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA)
The Jewish Law Students Association serves as a forum for addressing concerns of Jewish students and sponsors several social activities each year.

Latino Law Student Association (LLSA)
The Latino Law Student Association encourages and promotes the discussion of Latino issues.

Law School Family Association
The Law Student Family Association exists to support law students, their spouses or partners, and children by providing social and networking opportunities, including family-friendly events, child care information, and other resources designed to serve the needs of student families.

Legal Information Center (LIC)
Formerly known as the Community Law Office, LIC provides free legal assistance to University students and low income Madison residents in the areas of landlord-tenant, small claims, employment, consumer, divorce, residency, misdemeanor information, name change, contracts and traffic law. LIC is staffed primarily by law student volunteers. Students interested in volunteering can attend a training session in the beginning of the fall or spring semester.

Middle Eastern Law Students Association (MELSA)
The Middle Eastern Law Students Association seeks to promote greater understanding of Middle Eastern cultures, politics and legal institutions. The group is designed to serve as a discussion forum for students of Middle Eastern descent as well as those interested in the region to exchange ideas and opinions. MELSA hosts a variety of educational events including, colloquia, political discussions, and documentary and other films highlighting the social and political dynamics of the Middle East. MELSA also hosts a number of social outings including dinners and parties featuring Middle Eastern cuisine and music. The group welcomes anyone with an interest in the Middle East to join.

Mock Trial
Mock Trial gives students the opportunity to try a lawsuit in regional and national competitions against teams from other law schools. The teams are coached by experienced litigators from the Law School and practicing bar.

Moot Court
The Moot Court Program is a mock appellate advocacy program. First-year students are selected for moot court through competitive tryouts in the spring of their first year. The Moot Court Board organizes, promotes, and supports the intramural and intercollegiate moot court competitions, and annually sends dozens of UW law students to competitions at law schools across the country. Each spring, the Law School also hosts the Evan A. Evans Competition, a moot court event in which students from around the country argue a constitutional law case.

National Lawyers Guild (University of Wisconsin Law School Chapter)
The Madison Chapter of the NLG is a community chapter with both lawyers and law student members. The National Lawyers Guild is a nationwide organization of lawyers and law students dedicated to working for social justice. Formed in 1937 as the first racially integrated bar association in the country, the Guild tries to bring together all those who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, farmers, and minority groups upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who actively seek to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties; and who view the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than their repression.

Part Time Law students (PTLaw)
The PTLaw group is for all students who are now (or plan to become, or at least symathize with) Part Time students.

Phi Alpha Delta (PAD)
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International is a professional law fraternity advancing integrity, compassion and courage through service to the student, the school, the profession and the community. The Wisconsin Ryan Chapter reactivated from 3 members in 2009 to around 80 members in 2010. We provide tailored academic services to 1Ls and professional networking/social opportunities to all members.

Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF)
Much of the work of this group involves pledge drives and fund-raising to provide scholarships for students to work on public interest law issues. PILF has also created a Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Law Students (QLaw)
QLaw is a student organization dedicated to serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community at the University of Wisconsin Law School. QLaw strives to make the UW Law School a more open, hospitable and welcoming environment for LGBT students through collaboration with the administration and other student organizations. QLaw seeks to educate the law school community by increasing LGBT visibility and raising awareness of issues that affect us while providing support and networking opportunities for LGBT law students. QLaw aims for a diverse organization that reflects the composition of the larger community of LGBT people and their allies. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Stuart’s Law Revue
The Law Revue Show, the Law School’s annual comedy and musical production, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1996. No member of the legal community is safe when the all-student band and cast take to the stage. It’s the funniest legal event in the seventh circuit, now in its second quarter century. Join the show — it’s a blast!

Student Hurricane Network – UW Chapter (SHN-UW)
“The legal questions and problems facing the individuals and communities throughout the Gulf Coast region are monumental in scale, and will remain for months and years to come. In order to address this need, law students from across the country have formed the Student Hurricane Network (SHN), a national association dedicated to providing assistance to communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.” — from www.studenthurricanenetwork.org

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF)
UW Law’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund works to educate future lawyers about the needs of animals (non-human) and their human companions in our legal system. The group hosts speakers, presents movie screenings and alerts the UW community to animal welfare issues in Madison and beyond.

Unemployment Compensation Appeals Clinic (UAC)
The Unemployment Compensation Appeals Clinic is staffed by volunteer student advocates who assist clients in obtaining unemployment compensation benefits. Student advocates work closely with supervising attorneys and gain litigation and case management experience while helping those in need of benefits who cannot afford representation.

Wisconsin International Law Society (WILS)
The Wisconsin International Law Society provides a forum for people and ideas involving international legal issues by getting together experts in diverse fields for informal discussion and cordials. WILS also invites students from several continents to join in the exploration of fine Madison pubs.

Wisconsin Sports Law Society
Founded in 1989, the Wisconsin Sports Law Society seeks to promote the University of Wisconsin Law School as a forerunner in sports law. Many notable alumni currently lead the sports law field. The Society sponsors a speaker program where practitioners, academicians and athletes address the current topics in sports law.

Women’s Law Student Association (WLSA)
The Women’s Law Student Association promotes the advancement of women in the legal profession. Recent events have included a panel discussion on women in the legal workplace, a social event at a local bar, and golf lessons. We also
offer community outreach services, such as volunteering as a group with Habitat for Humanity or providing community legal education to the local YWCA. WLSA pairs up with the Legal Association for Women a couple times each year to
network with local legal professionals. WLSA hosts a silent auction each spring, which funds two scholarships each year for law students. Join our Facebook group at Wisconsin Women’s Law Student Association.

The Wisconsin Law Review
The Wisconsin Law Review is a student-run journal of legal analysis and commentary that is used by professors, judges, practitioners, and others researching contemporary legal topics. The Law Review, which is published six times each year, includes professional and student articles, with content spanning local, state, national, and international topics. In addition to publishing the journal, the Law Review sponsors an annual symposium at which leading scholars debate a significant issue in contemporary law. Students earn membership on the Law Review through a writing competition at the end of their first year.

The Wisconsin International Law Journal
The Wisconsin International Law Journal, established in 1982, is written by both professionals in the field and by law students. The student-edited journal offers articles of scholarly and practical interest in various areas of international law. Student members of the journal edit articles of scholarly and practical interest in various areas of international law and draft articles for submission and possible publication. Each spring, the Journal staff coordinates a conference on recent topics of interest in international law.

The Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society
The Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society, open to all students, is a student-edited journal, national in scope, which publishes contributions from students, teachers, and practitioners. This journal, established in 1985, publishes contributions from faculty, students, and practitioners on a wide-range of legal topics. Its focus is on scholarship that examines the intersection of law and gender with issues of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation.

Wisconsin Law Students for Reproductive Justice (WLSRJ)
We are committed to ensuring access to medically accurate, age-appropriate, culturally competent sex and sexuality education, as well as comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including prenatal care, postnatal care, contraception, abortion services, and alternative reproductive technologies for women and men, free from coercion, discrimination and violence. We believe that successful movements for reproductive rights, both in the United States and internationally, include the priorities and concerns of poor and marginalized communities. We urge our members to ensure that our advocacy reflects the needs, concerns, and priorities of marginalized groups.