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) promotes the academic and professional development of Asian students at the College of William & Mary. Additionally, ALSA reaches inward to provide more opportunities to build community at the Law School while reaching out to Asians who are interested in a career in law.
Bankruptcy Law Society
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
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
Lesbian & Gay Law Association
Open to all regardless of sexual orientation, the Lesbian and Gay Law Association (LGLA) seeks to educate, raise awareness and foster discussion within the Law School regarding legal issues affecting the lesbian and gay community. LGLA hods 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: LGLA
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
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
Therapeutic Justice Society
The Therapeutic Justice (TJ) Society at William & Mary Law School, the first school-sponsored society of its kind, seeks to promote student and law community awareness of TJ factors in the practice of law. TJ concentrates on the law's impact on emotional life and psychological well-being. It is a perspective that regards the law (rules of law, legal procedures, and the roles of legal actors) itself as a social force that often produces therapeutic or anti-therapeutic results. The society promotes awareness of TJ through speakers, panel discussions, and other events held at the school.
Virginia Bar Association
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
W&M Law School Democrats
W&M Supporters-in-Law
Supporters-in-Law is a new student organization with two primary goals: 1) To provide support and assistance to law students with significant others, children, family, and any other "supporters" you brought with you to law school, and 2) To provide a network for those "supporters" to become familiar with the area and meet other families of law students. We provide family-oriented events throughout each semester such as potluck dinners and game nights. We have also compiled a directory of family-friendly doctors, dentists, hair salons, and other essentials. We update our website frequently with local events and entertainment for children. Please stop by our website to see what's happening now!
Learn more: Supporters-in-Law
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
