Organizations that Educate
American Civil Liberties Union, W&M Chapter
The William & Mary Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is a student chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Its goals are twofold: first, to educate students about current constitutional and legislative issues; and, second, to provide students with opportunities to engage in work relating to those issues by serving as a research arm of the ACLU's Virginia chapter. Students engage in research projects for the Virginia chapter and are offered opportunities to assist attorneys on active ACLU cases.
Learn more: ACLU
American Constitution Society
The American Constitution Society (ACS) for Law and Policy is a national network of progressive law students, lawyers, judges, and policymakers. ACS seeks to promote a vision of the Constitution that emphasizes individual rights, equal access to justice, and the separation of powers. The ACS chapter at W & M supports and influences this progressive vision through an array of speakers, events, and legal projects that are aimed at provoking thought and debate about our Constitution in the 21st century.
Learn more: ACS
Asian-American Law Students Association
The Asian Law Students Association (ALSA) is a cultural, academic, advocacy, and social group dedicated to enriching the lives of all law students at William & Mary, but with a particular focus on Asian Pacific Americans. Our goals are to provide academic support, create a fun social environment, increase the enrollment of minority students, inform people of issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community, and strengthen the relationship between current and alumni ALSA members. Please visit our blog.
Black Law Students Association
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) furthers the academic, social, and professional needs and goals of the black law student. BLSA members work together to foster a successful learning environment--focusing on building the skills and confidence of its members. BLSA members also participate in social activities and community service projects. Two of BLSA's most significant accomplishments are its annually hosted events: Law Day and Oliver Hill Weekend. On Law Day, BLSA invites undergraduate minority college students to the Law School to give them an introduction to the school and encourage graduate education. Oliver Hill weekend was established to honor an African-American man who contributed greatly to the legal field. On this weekend, we celebrate our successes of the school year and give out awards.
Learn more: BLSA
Business Law Society
The Business Law Society (BLS) provides a forum for students at the William & Mary School of Law to engage in business law issues. The Business Law Society's purpose is to promote awareness of business related legal issues within the law school community, and to provide members with opportunities to develop relationships in the business legal community.
Learn more: BLS
Children's Advocacy Law Society
The Children's Advocacy Law Society (CALS) promotes awareness of the legal needs and rights of children and encourages students to become active children's advocates. CALS sponsors programs such as lectures and lunches with visiting scholars and practitioners and also seeks to increase student involvement with organizations that provide legal services for children and that advance children's rights.
Learn more: CALS
Christian Legal Society
The Christian Legal Society (CLS) is a national, nondenominational, Christian membership association of lawyers, judges, law professors, law students, and other associates (friends of CLS who do not have a law degree) whose members participate in the broad and rich variety of Christian congregational life and traditions.
Criminal Law Society
Election Law Society
The Election Law Society is the student organization that works with the Election Law Program to promote education and discussion about issues surrounding the American electoral process. We are a multi-partisan student organization that organizes an annual voter registration drive, an "Election Law 101" education series and multiple social functions throughout the year. In the spring semester, the group hosts its annual symposium, which covers the upcoming elections and the effects that current election laws will have on candidates, campaigns and results.Learn more: Election Law Society
Environmental Law Society
The Environmental Law Society (ELS) provides a forum for students to take part in cutting edge environmental legal issues. The Environmental Law Society's mission is to: increase awareness and involvement in environmental issues; promote and contribute to careers, practice, and scholarship in environmental law; encourage stewardship in public policy, jurisprudence, and law; provide opportunities for environmental advocacy; and improve environmental policies at the College of William & Mary.
Learn more: ELS
The Federalist Society
The William and Mary Chapter of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy is a group of law students dedicated to bringing conservative and libertarian ideas into the law school community. The Society sponsors debates, speeches and panels to advance 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, not what it should be.
Learn more: Federalist Society
The George Wythe Society
Founded in 1921, The George Wythe Society of Citizen Lawyers is the oldest student club at William & Mary Law School. The Society sponsors educational programs and activities to promote the citizen lawyer ideal as George Wythe envisioned in 1779 as William & Mary’s - and America’s - first professor of law. The Society also advocates a more profound appreciation of Marshall-Wythe as the first law school in North America. The Society fosters and encourages a commitment of service, as lawyers, to our community and fellow man. The Society upholds George Wythe's pledge, "Here we will form such characters as may be useful in the national councils of our country."
I'Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court
The I'Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court was formed as one of over 200 American Inns of Court designed to improve the skills, professionalism and ethics of the bench and bar. Based on the traditional English model of legal apprenticeship, American Inns of Court have been modified to fit the particular needs of the American legal system. American Inns of Court help lawyers become more effective advocates and counselors with keen ethical awareness.
Institute of Bill of Rights Law--Student Division
The Institute of Bill of Rights Law Student Division is the student organization that works with the Institute of Bill of Rights Law to promote education and discussion about issues surrounding the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Student members have the opportunity to plan and participate in debates, lectures, and outreach programs to local schools. In the fall semester, members work closely with the Institute staff to host the annual Supreme Court Preview. In the spring semester, the group hosts its annual symposium, which includes a moot court competition for first-year students.
International Law Society
The International Law Society (ILS) promotes the professional and academic pursuits of William & Mary law students interested in all aspects of international law, from transnational insolvency to human rights. The ILS also fosters interaction among students, faculty and visiting scholars from around the world who are concerned with global issues.
Learn more: ILS
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
The mission and purpose of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society is to "affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction" and "through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law." The William & Mary student chapter sponsors lectures and its members enjoy networking opportunities with other chapters throughout the world.
Jewish Law Students Association
The William & Mary Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) is a diverse, non-denominational group open to people of all backgrounds. JLSA seeks to provide a sense of community, cultural and educational activities, holiday dinners and celebrations, philanthropic ("tzedakah") projects, and a social environment in which students -- as well as interested faculty -- can meet. Additionally, JLSA hosts forums and invites speakers to address legal issues from a comparative perspective or of particular importance to the Jewish community.
Learn more: JLSA
LGBT Equality Alliance
Open to all regardless of sexual orientation, the LGBT Equality Alliance seeks to educate, raise awareness and foster discussion within the Law School regarding legal issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bi-gender and transgender community. LGBT holds many informal social gatherings, attends functions sponsored by such organizations as Virginians for Justice and GAYLAW (a lawyers group based in Washington, DC) and invites guest speakers to campus.
Learn more: LGBT
Military Law Society
The Military Law Society is a student-run organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and awareness of military law issues affecting students, law professionals, and members of America's armed forces. The Military Law Society promotes scholarly discussion of military law and related law topics, and builds social ties between interested students, the Law School, and the local community to promote professional development. Membership in the military is not necessary. The Society is open to all students who wish to study the interface between the military, the government, and the wider legal system.
Read the Journal of Military and Veteran Law
Learn more: Military Law Society
Multicultural Law Students Association
The William & Mary Chapter of the Multicultural Law Students Association (MLSA) is a dynamic and diverse group open to anyone who embraces the benefits of multiculturalism in the legal profession. MLSA seeks to promote an environment of inclusion, facilitate service to the international community, and effectuate cultural awareness at Marshall-Wythe. MLSA raises funds and collects supplies for local and international charities in addition to hosting social gatherings. MLSA also sponsors programs on campus to raise consciousness about issues facing the international and diaspora community. We invite you to join us. Please visit our blog.
National Lawyer's Guild
St. Thomas More Society at the William & Mary Law School
Sports and Entertainment Law Society
The Sports and Entertainment Law Society cultivates interest in legal issues affecting the sports and entertainment industries. Student-run symposia, round-table discussions, professional networking programs and a good dose of fun through contests and sporting events are all part of the Society's activities. It is a vehicle for improving the understanding of the lawyer's role in the ever-changing world of sports and entertainment.
Student Intellectual Property Society
The Student Intellectual Property Society seeks to introduce students to the many facets of this exciting and expanding area of law. Encompassing patent, trademark and copyright law, this field may appeal to those with engineering, scientific, artistic or literacy backgrounds or interests. Society activities vary from year to year but may include, for example, guest speakers and a trip to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Learn more: Student Intellectual Property
Students for Equality in Legal Education
Students for Equality in Legal Education seeks to address issues of inequality that exist within legal education. Its goals are to foster a community of support for those concerned about issues of inequality, increase awareness of societal issues that both impact and are impacted by the legal system, improve the curriculum with regard to issues of inequality, and improve diversity in the faculty and in the student body.
Students for the Innocence Project
Virginia Bar Association, W&M Chapter
The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) is a voluntary organization of Virginia lawyers committed to serving the public and the legal profession by promoting the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and excellence in the legal profession; working to improve the law and the administration of justice; and advancing collegial relations among lawyers. At William & Mary, a student-led Council furthers the VBA's commitments by sponsoring networking and educational events, and participating in the state-wide annual Legal Food Frenzy as a charitable contribution to local food banks.
Learn more: VBA
Venture Capital and Entreprenuership Legal Society
The William and Mary Venture Capital and Entreprenuership Legal Society (ViCE) seeks to reach two goals for it's members and the W&M campus community:
1) To enhance knowledge, competence and interest in venture capital and entrepreneurship through programs, competitions and peer education.
2) To help develop opportunitities for members to improve their soft skills and marketability for the 21st century legal and business hiring marketplace.
3) To bring law and business students together to discuss legal and commercial issues in the world of venture capital.
By being open to both lawstudents and undergraduate and graduate business students, ViCE is the first organization of its kind to explore the interplay of law and business across William & Mary.
Learn more: WM ViCE
W&M Women’s Law Society
The Women's Law Society was created to provide a network for the women at Marshall-Wythe. We are always open to new ideas, and never short on enthusiasm or support. Some of the ways we promote the ladies of the law school are by providing academic mentoring and advice to our younger members, bringing speakers to campus to discuss women's issues, sponsoring fundraising events for local shelters, and hosting social networking events with professionals in the community. We can do more than just hold the scales of justice. . .
Learn more: WM Women's Law Society
