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Chicago Law Partners Sponsorship of Law School Student Organizations
The Law School is excited to partner with sponsors for the upcoming academic year. This year, we are asking all participants of Chicago Law Partners to support the general student activities fund as a precondition to engaging in additional programming opportunities at the Law School. Our goal is to foster a broad mix of events and programs across the student organization landscape at the Law School, while offering large-scale programming that maximizes your time and effort to engage with our students. Please use this form to select which LSSOs you would like to sponsor.
General Deposit | $1000
As a general requirement of the Chicago Law Partners Program, we ask our CLP participants to donate to the general student account. These funds support the student body in its entirety, regardless of student participation in Law School Student Organizations (LSSO). By making a general contribution, you will be supporting the general student population, LSSOs, and you also have the ability to participate in other programmatic events throughout the year such as Firmwise, Orientation, and LSSO programming.
Individual Student Organization Sponsorship (After General Support Contribution Made)
The Law School is pleased to offer the opportunity for law firms to partner with the Law School’s Student Organizations (LSSO) for the 2024-2025 academic year. After the Law School receives the deposit to the general student fund, law firms are able to sponsor one or more student organizations at one of the following tiers for the full academic year and/or for signature events. This is a wonderful opportunity for firms to foster a meaningful interaction with our students and further their engagement with the Law School community. As a reminder, student events are subject to change. We ask that you be flexible to changing demands on students’ schedules. Funds contributed are to support student programming, and any excess or unspent funds earmarked for student organizations will be redirected to the general student activities fund at the end of the fiscal year.
Law School Student Organizations thank sponsoring law firms for their generous sponsorship during the academic year. The viewpoints, arguments, and opinions expressed during student programs may not represent the viewpoints, arguments, or opinions of the Law School or sponsoring law firms. Language to this effect will be included in LSSO promotional materials.
2024-2025 Student Organization Full Academic Year Sponsorships
Tier 1 | $500
Tier 1 sponsors will receive recognition in event communications and other digital platforms where the LSSO thanks their annual sponsors.
Tier 2 | $1,000
Tier 2 sponsors will receive the same recognition that Tier 1 sponsors receive. Tier 2 sponsors may have the opportunity to send representatives to speak at a sponsored student organization event.
Tier 3 | $2,000
Tier 3 sponsors will receive the same recognition that Tier 1 and Tier 2 sponsors receive. Tier 3 sponsors will likely be offered an opportunity to speak at or attend an event. The event may include other sponsors.
2024-2025 Student Organization Full Academic Year Proposals
- Amphora Wine Tasting Society
- Antitrust Law Association
- Asian Pacific American Law Student Association
- Black Law Students Association
- California Law Students Association
- Case Notes
- Chicago Law Podcast Club
- Christian Legal Society
- Defenders
- Disability Rights, Advocacy, and Community
- Domestic and Sexual Violence Project
- Environmental Law Society
- Fashion and Beauty Law Society
- The Federalist Society
- First Generation Professionals
- Hayekians
- Health Law Society
- Hemmingway Society
- Human Rights Law Society
- If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
- Impact Initiative
- Intellectual Property Law Society
- International Arbitration Club
- International Law Society
- International Refugee Assistance Project
- Jewish Law Student Association
- Latinx Law Students Association
- Law and Business Society
- Law and Economics Society
- Law and Technology Society
- Law School Musical
- Law School Veterans
- Law Students for Israel
- Law Women's Caucus
- Legal Recess
- Muslim Law Students' Association
- Native American Law Students Association
- New York Law Students Association
- OutLaw
- South Asian Law Students Association
- Southwest Asian and North Afrikan Law Students Association
- Students for Religious Liberty Clinic
- Supreme Court and Appellate Society
- Texas Law Society
- The St. Thomas More Society
- Trial Team
Amphora Wine Tasting Society is a wine tasting club for all students over the age of 21. The main goal of the organization is to provide both a social and educational experience via several wine tasting events throughout the year. We will invite several guest speakers to discuss the regions and wines that we are exploring. Our goal is to provide an informal space for students to discuss and learn about wine together. Hopefully through our tasting events, students will begin to feel comfortable discussing various wine regions and identifying those that they enjoy. While we have confirmed one guest speaker, we are working with other potential speakers who are interested in visiting with students. Your donation will allow us to bring in these speakers and partner with other wine tasting organizations on campus, such as the Booth Wine Club. In doing so, Amphora can host several more meaningful events this year.
The Antitrust Law Association (ALA) provides a forum for students to engage with research, scholarship, and current events in the fields of antitrust and competition law. The ALA hosts discussion groups, presentations, and career panels for students interested in antitrust policy and practice. This year we intend to host a variety of events including, but not limited to, discussions on American and European antitrust enforcement, moderated debates between antitrust scholars, and a job fair. Our organization seeks to enrich the law school experience by providing students with the opportunity to learn about the complexities of antitrust law, explore employment opportunities in the field, and connect with practitioners and scholars. With proper funding we believe that we can meet this goal.
The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) strives for each and every Asian-Pacific American law student’s personal and professional success. We work to create awareness for diversity and inclusion by sponsoring speakers and participating in issues relevant to our student community. In addition, we serve as a resource for students by providing holistic support throughout their legal education. APALSA’s goal for the 2024-2025 academic year is to provide Asian-Pacific American students with a community of support via professional, academic, and social events. Ours is an inclusive community for law students with any degree of affinity to the Asian-Pacific American identity. We currently have a reach of over 100 active students at the Law School and 80 active alumni. By connecting APALSA members with other students, alumni, and the legal community in Chicago and beyond, we hope to foster a network of support and professional growth. At the forefront is our effort to help students of Asian-Pacific heritage navigate their legal education, today’s legal market, and their long-term careers. We seek to inspire students to become active members of the legal profession and future leaders who champion diversity and inclusion. To achieve this goal, we have many events planned for the upcoming year, such as our 1L Mentorship Program, multiple lunch talks with APA attorneys, judges and government officials, and academic roundtables with professors to discuss topics currently affecting the APA community. We hope that you share our vision and feel inspired to support our efforts.
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at the University of Chicago Law School provides formal and informal academic, professional, political, and social support to law students identifying as members of the African diaspora. BLSA’s 2024-2025 programming will center around three objectives: elevating the visibility of Black legal scholars and scholarship, showcasing the diversity of Blackness as it exists both within and beyond the boundaries of the Law School, and deepening BLSA’s connection to the local community. BLSA members receive formal academic support on topics like exam preparation and legal writing. Formal professional support is also provided through cover letter writing, resume editing, and job searching workshops. These programs are anchored by our 1L peer mentorship program, which connects incoming students with upper level BLSA members to help navigate the law school experience. To increase awareness of legal issues facing Black communities locally, nationally, and globally, BLSA hosts guest speakers throughout the year and a series of themed events during Black History Month. This includes our annual signature event—the Judge James B. Parsons Dinner—as well as three named lectures which take place each quarter. We will continue “Black and Lavender Week” this year in collaboration with the Law Women’s Caucus and Outlaw (see explanation below). We will also continue our legacy of engagement with the broader Chicago community through projects like an annual Thanksgiving food drive and Street Law civic education program, as well as our annual Black Graduate Student Networking Mixer, which attracts attendees from across Chicago’s professional student community. We hope that you will be inspired to support our efforts and help us continue the excellent programming that makes the Earl B. Dickerson Chapter exceptional.
California Law Students Association (CALSA) CALSA’s primary goal is to foster a community at the University of Chicago that supports students who are interested in pursuing their legal careers in California. We work to grow a tight-knit personal and professional support network in California among current students at the Law School, alumni, and California legal professionals. Many of our members are California natives or residents who are excited to start their legal careers back in California. We look forward to hosting over a dozen events during the 2024-2025 academic year for students of all years to learn more about the California legal market, meet and build meaningful relationships with California lawyers, and get excited about the wealth of opportunities that the Golden State has to offer. CALSA is dedicated to increasing the University of Chicago’s presence in California and facilitating opportunities for elite firms to be connected with talented students.CALSA’s programming will consist of events focused on exposing students at UChicago Law to the California legal market. Through panels with West Coast-based attorneys and networking events, students interested in the California market will have the opportunity to learn more about legal work in Southern and Northern California. Our events are meant to ensure that students at UChicago who plan on working in California are afforded opportunities and support to do so.
Case Notes: With up to 20 gifted singers from diverse musical backgrounds, Case Notes a cappella offers a unique platform for law students to showcase their musical talents. From jazz standards to pop classics, our repertoire spans a wide range, ensuring an engaging and entertaining experience for all. Your generous donations enable us to organize captivating events throughout the year, including our 1L Thriving in Law School Orientation Set, the Chicago Law Fund Auction, the Spring Talent Show, and our Spring Concert. These events bring together the entire law school community, providing a much-needed break from the rigors of legal studies while fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity. Additionally, we collaborate with other student groups to host guest speakers at the intersection of law and the arts, helping create the well-rounded lawyers of tomorrow.
The Chicago Law Podcast Club is a pioneering initiative dedicated to exploring the multifaceted landscape of law, society, and culture through the dynamic medium of podcasting. Our mission is to foster meaningful conversations and elevate diverse voices within the legal community by producing engaging and informative content on a wide range of legal topics. By featuring insightful interviews with distinguished alumni and professionals from various legal fields—including politics, academia, public interest, industry, law firms, and business—we aim to illuminate the diverse perspectives that shape the legal profession. Your generous support will enable us to acquire essential recording equipment, secure professional editing services, and host workshops that enhance our members' interviewing, public speaking, and storytelling skills. By investing in the Chicago Law Podcast Club, you are helping to cultivate the next generation of legal thought leaders and communicators, and promoting a vibrant platform for intellectual exploration and community engagement. Thank you for your support in making this innovative project a success.
Loving God and our neighbor, Christian Legal Society (CLS) strives to foster Gospel-centered community at the University of Chicago Law School. We seek to inspire, encourage, and equip law students to love, proclaim, and serve Jesus Christ through the study and practice of law. In addition to weekly Bible study, we host a number of events throughout the year open to Christian students and the broader Law School community which focus on the intersection of faith with the practice of law as well as various social and intellectual topics. In the past our speakers have included legal professionals and faith leaders. We would welcome the chance to partner with you in spreading God’s love throughout the University of Chicago Law School campus.
Defenders supports law students who are interested in becoming public defenders. Our mission is threefold. First, we strive to create a community of people who are committed to indigent defense. Second, we aim to assist students with their professional development. Third, we hope to educate the student body about the criminal justice system. To achieve our mission, we host career panels and informational workshops with community members. We also plan on inviting judges who are former public defenders, community organizers, and faculty to speak to students. Our events are open to everyone in the law school community. We are grateful for your consideration and thank you for your time.
Disability Rights, Advocacy, and Community (DRAC) is a student organization committed to both enhancing the experiences of students and lawyers with disabilities and highlighting legal issues concerning the Disabled community. DRAC is dedicated to advocating for policy changes at the law school to better support students with disabilities as well as providing an internal community for these students. DRAC partners with other student organizations to host speaker events and puts on events that address issues that cut across the intersections of our identities. All are welcome, including students who identify as disabled, allies, and those who are interested in disability law. Since our founding four years ago, DRAC has established a robust speaker and event series. For instance, DRAC has hosted former Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy Kareem Dale, Chief of the Disability Rights Bureau at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Judith Levitan, and prominent disability scholar and activist Dr. Liat Ben-Moshe. DRAC, through our partnership with the Center for Disability and Elder Law, also provides opportunities for students to engage in disability-related pro bono work that is otherwise challenging to access at the law school. This year, we plan to continue our speaker series, including hosting lunch talks on special education during incarceration, adaptive sports and the new frontiers of disability law, and disparate treatment in school exclusion. Additionally, we plan to host events to enhance visibility of the Disabled community, including disability workshops in the sports and arts. We also plan to expand opportunities for networking with firms in a disability-friendly environment. Law firm representatives, including those who identify as having a disability, are welcome and encouraged to attend our programming. Engaging with DRAC will be excellent opportunities to showcase your firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. With your generous support, we look forward to enriching our vibrant and diverse Law School community, and highlighting your firm’s commitment to recruiting diverse classes of associates.
The Domestic and Sexual Violence Project aims to promote awareness, education, and discussion about the legal issues surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault. DSVP organizes regular lunch talks featuring experts in the field, providing invaluable insights and fostering meaningful discussions. We also host item drives benefiting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, ensuring that tangible support reaches those in need. For the upcoming academic year, we have an exciting lineup of events planned. Our lunch talks will feature prominent speakers, including legal scholars, practitioners, and advocates, who will address pressing issues and emerging trends in the field. Additionally, we will organize workshops and panels to equip law students with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively address domestic violence and sexual assault in their future legal careers.Our programming is worthy of support because it not only raises critical awareness but also empowers the next generation of legal professionals to advocate for and protect vulnerable populations. By supporting DSVP, law firms can contribute to a vital cause and demonstrate their commitment to social justice and community service.
The Environmental Law Society (ELS) is a group of students interested in environmental law and policy. ELS hosts a number of speakers to discuss topics such as climate change, energy, toxic waste, biodiversity, and environmental justice. Law professors, scientists, litigators (from large firms, small firms, and nonprofits), environmental advocates, and other professors have all been ELS speakers. We also organize a variety of activities to engage students in environmentally-related pursuits, such as visiting the Indiana Dunes and celebrating Earth Week in the spring. For the 2024-25 academic year, ELS is planning on hosting events including environmental law career panels (with one specifically focused on the OCI process), a lunch talk about how overruling Chevron will impact environmental law, and a screening and discussion of a topical environmental film.
Fashion and Beauty Law Society (FBLS) is a student group focused on connecting the University of Chicago Law School community to the fashion and beauty industries. FBLS hosts networking opportunities and guest speakers related to topics in fashion law such as: intellectual property, business and finance, international trade and government regulation, and consumer protection and civil rights. For the school year of 2024-2025, our primary goal is to increase awareness around this integrative field on our campus and introduce more law students to explore the diverse career paths in the field of Fashion and Beauty law. Potential speaker panels include in-house counsels and attorneys from different sectors of the Fashion and Beauty industry.
Dedicated to bringing meaningful dialogue to campus by hosting some of the nation’s most preeminent conservative and libertarian legal minds, the Federalist Society student chapter at the University of Chicago is one of the most active student organizations on campus. Inspired by Lee Otis and David McIntosh’s efforts forty years ago, this past year, our Chapter strengthened free speech and debate by hosting a total of over 70 speakers across 50 events. We have welcomed outstanding attendance by members and fellow students alike at all our events. Last year, we averaged 100 attendees per event, with multiple events witnessing over 150 attendees. This tremendous success led to national recognition, as our chapter won the Federalist Society’s annual Chapter of the Year award.
On behalf of First Generation Professionals, we are beyond grateful that you are considering supporting us in the 2024-2025 school year. As first-generation professionals, we face unique challenges while navigating the legal profession. Many of us enter law school with significantly less information and a smaller professional network than our peers. By providing a platform for networking, mentorship, and skills development, FGP aims to share the tools necessary to flourish in law school and transition smoothly into a professional career. To this end, we look forward to a robust schedule of lunch talks and panels featuring current students, first-generation attorneys, and other legal professionals who will share their experiences and best practices for succeeding in a largely unfamiliar world. We will also continue with our internal mentorship program, which connects 1Ls with upper-class students in the first couple of weeks of the school year. Finally, FGP looks to bolster its social event calendar and is planning a formal dinner in which we will invite a keynote speaker and attorneys from sponsoring firms. As a first-generation professional’s, we can confidently say that the connections we’ve made and the resources we’ve received from FGP changed the trajectory of our law school journey and perhaps our careers. FGP stives to work toward equity by ensuring that fellow first-generation students are equipped with the same knowledge and skills that many of our peers enter law school with. FGP depends on your contributions to make this happen, and we would be thrilled to have your support. Your generosity will help us facilitate our ambitious programming for this academic year, and it will ultimately allow students to thrive as they embark on their legal careers. Thank you so much for your consideration!
The Hayekians is a student group dedicated to the discussion of libertarian ideas and policies. Socially liberal, fiscally conservative members of our Law School and University community often feel left out of both right- and left-leaning student groups. The Hayekians is a home for those interested in individualism and free markets. It also will hopefully serve as a bridge between warring political factions. Since the goal is vigorous debate, everyone is welcome to participate. We plan to host a variety of speakers as well as a reading group led by Professor Todd Henderson.
The Health Law Society (HLS) at the University of Chicago Law School aims to bridge legal education with the ever-evolving field of health law. HLS plans to host networking events and welcome guest speakers to explore key issues such as healthcare policy, bioethics, medical malpractice, pharmaceutical regulation, and public health law. For the 2024-2025 academic year, our primary goal is to enhance awareness of the critical role law plays in healthcare and inspire law students to pursue diverse career paths in health law. Our events will feature in-house counsels, practicing attorneys, and leading experts from various healthcare sectors, providing invaluable insights and professional connections.
Hegel and Bagels is a new student organization at the law school. H&B’s mission is to provide a forum for discussing philosophical issues pertinent to law and society, support local Chicago bakeries by featuring a variety of bagels, and facilitate meaningful connections among students, faculty, and alumni interested in the intersection of law and philosophy. By encouraging a holistic approach to legal education that includes ethical, moral, and conceptual considerations, we aim to enrich the academic and social experience of our members. For the 2024-2025 academic year, we plan to host a variety of events centering around philosophy discussion groups which will be open to all law school students. Each discussion group will be led by a student or professor who will pick a specific philosopher, work, or area of interest to discuss, as well as a type of bagel or other pastry. Additionally, we will participate in school events like Diversity Fairs and Student Activity Fairs to broaden our reach and engagement within the law school community.
The Hemingway Society (HemSoc) has been a staple of UChicago Law since 2007. On one hand, it’s a simple drinking society: an opportunity for students to relax and unwind after a long week. It also offers future lawyers an opportunity to chat with the professors who attend in a more informal setting. On the other hand, it’s also an educational group; the professors tell the students about their favorite drinks. This gives students an opportunity to expand their palate and learn about the many varieties of alcohol. For young lawyers who drink -- be it with senior associates, partners, or clients -- it’s a valuable skill to know the difference between, say, Jim Bean and Dalmore, or between Prosecco and Champagne. HemSoc offers students a chance to relax after a hard week, informal networking with professors, and even a little bit of knowledge that may be useful in their future careers.
The Human Rights Law Society offers a dedicated forum for law students interested in scholarship and discussion on the intersection of law and the advancement of human rights. We seek to represent pathways for legal work in human rights in and out of academia, through corporate law and public interest careers, and within and outside of the United States. Our expected lunch talk offerings reflect this diversity in scholarship and practice of human rights law. In the coming year, we hope to feature speakers working in international human rights spaces like Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Rayhan Asat, an activist for Uyghur rights in China, and Lee Wolosky, an attorney collaborating with Amal Clooney to represent Yazidi‑Americans in court. With respect to domestic matters, we expect to invite entities like Ascend Justice, in tandem with corporate pro bono partners, to speak on advocacy for survivors of sex trafficking. And, at the intersection of domestic and international matters, we expect to invite guests like Edafe Okporo, the executive director of a refugee organization and a refugee himself. For those seeking to establish a career in human rights law, we seek to offer tailored mentorship and support. For those pursuing other paths, we strive to showcase the ubiquity of human rights law and the myriad forms of engagement with the field outside of traditional human rights practice.
The University of Chicago Law School chapter of If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice works to advance the cause of reproductive justice. We hope to raise visibility of reproductive rights issues and to educate the law school community through our events. This year, we have a wide slate of events planned, from academic talks with professors on recent Supreme Court decisions to career panels with reproductive rights lawyers. We also hope to prioritize discussions about the intersectional dimensions of reproductive justice, including racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and criminal justice reform. Additionally, we remain committed to service and hope to hold pro-bono trainings to further get students involved outside of the classroom. We have been inspired by how many law firms have demonstrated their support for reproductive rights by writing amicus briefs in support of reproductive rights, taking on pro-bono work, and offering support to employees crossing state lines for abortions. We hope that our classmates get excited about reproductive rights through our events, and one day continue these initiatives at their workplaces. We would be incredibly grateful for any support firms are able to provide.
The Impact Initiative’s mission is to connect Law School students with impactful leaders, organizations, and residents in Chicago to engage in substantive and meaningful community work in the South Side. The central goal of Impact Initiative–the Law School’s only student-led organization committed to community engagement–is to orient students towards the importance of dedicated community service early in their legal careers. We are committed to bridging the gap between the Law School community and the South Side through continuous, in-person community service events and heightened engagement with our two spotlight community partners in the South Side: Hyde Park Neighborhood Club and Woodlawn Botanical Garden. This year, we are holding 17 volunteering events, including a kickoff Day-of-Service, participation in three National Day of Service events, and an end-of-year volunteer-based celebration. These events will include actively maintaining a botanical garden located in the Woodlawn neighborhood and supporting a food pantry in Hyde Park to support neighbors. We are also planning six total lunch talks–on topics ranging from legal clinics and pro bono initiatives to finding a value-aligned legal career. Any monetary support will fund our long-term commitment to community service at the University of Chicago Law School. We are also planning an end-of-year celebration as Impact Initiative’s signature event. We hope to celebrate all of the hard work students have done and the connections they have made with the South Side. This celebration will include one final volunteer event, followed by food and drinks.
The Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) is a student-run organization dedicated to fostering interest in, and lively discussion about, the practice of IP law. The IPLS focuses its programming on topics including patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, NIL, and other IP-related subjects and their intersection with the worlds of science, technology, entertainment, music, fashion, sports, commerce, and more. Events aim to highlight the contours of IP law, current events in the field, and career opportunities for students.
In our globalized world with, international arbitration continues to grow in importance and relevance. When businesses across borders try to make deals and enforce contracts, they often turn to arbitration. The International Arbitration Club (IAC) gives University of Chicago Law School students exposure to arbitration on the international stage and participates in the Willem C. Vis Moot competition in international arbitration. This year, IAC plans to host a wide range of events for the student body, including a number of talks ranging from what international arbitration is to the challenges arbitrators face. Most critically, we aim to give law students experience with international arbitration and expose them to the opportunities in the field. We look forward to advancing our predecessors’ work to make international arbitration an important part of life at UChicago, and we thank you for your consideration and support. The Wilhelm C. Vis Moot International Arbitration Competition is the biggest event the International Arbitration Club participates in. The Competition takes place during spring term in Vienna, Austria, and involves more than 300 law schools from around the world. Participation is open to 2Ls and 3Ls, with 1Ls shadowing and contributing to the preparatory work. The International Arbitration Club hopes to host a networking event with international arbitration practices for the benefit of all law students who are hoping to gain exposure to international arbitration. This event provides a unique opportunity to connect with top professionals in the field, gain insights into international arbitration, and explore potential career paths. The goal is to host the even in winter quarter so as to grant students exposure as they are developing their lists of firms to apply with.
The International Law Society is dedicated to the promotion of international law scholarship and practice, in and out of public interest. We seek to expose students to the full range of practice areas within international law and foment an internationally minded community. Accordingly, our proposed programming recognizes the breadth of topics germane to international law. This year, we expect to invite speakers like the Honorable Ann Claire Williams, the first Black woman appointed to a district court in the Seventh Circuit and an expert on rule of law in Africa, Professor Mara Revkin, whose research centers on armed conflict and peace-building, and Professor Andra Pozas-Loyo, a leading scholar on constitutional theory in Mexico. We hope to promote thoughtful, serious, and nuanced discussion on the legal matters underpinning geopolitical themes like peace talks in South Sudan, democratic backsliding in Zambia, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the invitation of speakers like Nick Turse, journalist at The Intercept, and Professor Sishuwa Sishuwa, a scholar at Stellenbosch University. We plan to represent work in international trade through lunch talks with experts like Judge Clark Cheney, Chief Administrative Law Judge at the United States International Trade Commission and Professor Jennifer Hillman, a former member of the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body. While many students intend to work domestically, we recognize that the practice of law is increasingly transnational, and we hope to offer a forum for students interested in engaging meaningfully with these topics.
We are the University of Chicago Law School's chapter of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), a national organization that organizes law students and lawyers to develop and enforce a set of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced persons. Mobilizing direct legal aid, litigation, and systemic advocacy, IRAP serves the world’s most persecuted individuals and empowers the next generation of human rights leaders. Since its founding in 2008, IRAP has helped resettle over 4,200 refugees to 18 different countries and has trained over 2,000 law students and lawyers in the process. The University of Chicago Law School is one of IRAP’s 30 student chapters across the United States and Canada. IRAP’s primary goals for the 2024-25 academic year are: to offer UChicago Law students casework opportunities under the supervision of practicing attorneys (through IRAP and partner firms in Chicago), giving students valuable experience and the chance to apply their studies outside the classroom; and to provide programming centered on various aspects of international refugee law and policy, including educational presentations, a trip to the border to participate in hands-on volunteer work, and a speaker event featuring an IRAP alumnus who will discuss their work in international refugee advocacy. IRAP stands out as a unique campus organization, being one of the few groups that provides first year law students with tangible work experience. We hope that you share our vision, and we thank you for your consideration.
The Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) is the student organization supporting UChicago Jewish law students. With rising antisemitism on university campuses, JLSA is committed to building a healthy, close-knit, and vibrant Jewish law student community, where students can proudly explore and express their Jewish identities and connect with other Jewish students and their shared heritage. Our programming includes bringing prominent Jewish lawyers and legal professionals to speak to the law school community, hosting Shabbat and holiday meals and receptions, offering regular community lunches, visiting the Illinois Holocaust Museum, networking with Chicago’s Jewish bar, and providing support for student participation in Chicago-wide Jewish community events. JLSA members also participate in Chicago’s vibrant Jewish legal community, including the Jewish United Fund’s Young Lawyers Group mentorship program and social events hosted by the Decalogue Society, Chicago’s Jewish bar association. We hope that your firm will join us in fulfilling this mission.
The Latinx Law Students Association (LLSA) aims to create an academic, social, and professional network to help students adjust to the rigors of law school. Our diverse membership includes people from all parts of Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, and the United States. LLSA offers programs that focus on professional, academic, social, and community development. These programs include mentoring from law students and legal professionals, hosting influential legal Latinx speakers, engaging in community service around Chicago, and networking with influential law firms. LLSA is proud to say that it is one of the most active and inclusive minority organizations at the Law School.
The Law and Business Society (LBS) is a registered student organization devoted to keeping the University of Chicago Law School community abreast of relevant developments in the intersection between law and business. The organization provides professional networking opportunities for members to engage with attorneys working in transactional practice areas and in-house corporate roles. LBS hosts guest speakers related to topics in business law, including finance, restructuring, M&A, private equity, venture capital, and legal technology. LBS plans numerous events and panel discussions that offer opportunities for students to prepare for their future careers and learn about a field that is rapidly expanding. The Law and Business Society is excited to host programming in the 2023-2024 academic year that builds upon our past events which have highlighted corporate and business-related careers in law. This year we want to add a focus on community and amplifying voices of minority and local business owners and attorneys.
By way of informal education and community building, the Law and Economics Society helps keep the “law and economics” intellectual tradition—and engagement with social science, more generally—alive and well within the University of Chicago Law School student body. In the coming year, the group plans to invite a wide array of academics, practitioners, and jurists to discuss pressing questions in the law and social science, including issues surrounding international aid, health care markets, Freakonomics-style journalism, and monetary policy regimes. Your support helps enrich the University of Chicago Law School experience, both by directly supporting the educational opportunities referred to above and by indirectly helping to carry forward the Law School’s proud tradition of engagement with cutting-edge social science.
Now more than ever, the legal industry needs bright attorneys who understand technology. Law students need an opportunity to explore this major area of modern legal practice, from legal issues the tech sector confronts to applications of tech innovation in the legal field. The Law and Technology Society (LTS) at the University of Chicago Law School is the premier organization for exposing students to issues and career opportunities at the intersection of technology and the law. LTS focuses on building a community of leaders with passion, knowledge, and experience in this area through professional, academic, and social events. We seek to build on our increased engagement from previous years with topical programming, events with major tech and law firms, and collaboration with other affinity and interest groups on campus. Our ongoing mission is to kindle passion and position students as future leaders and innovators within the legal profession. To do so, LTS depends on external funding and contributions to continue organizing programs that nurture the diverse, talented, and intellectually curious students at the Law School. Thank you for your consideration and support!
The best show you'll see during your law school career is right under your nose. Even law students can have a good time, and the Law School Musical proves that. Original lyrics to familiar tunes supply the structure for a satirical take on life in the Law School. No one is immune from parody, and no one leaves without a roll in the aisles. In past years, the musical has proved to be the humorous highlight of the Spring Quarter, drawing over 600 viewers per year. Titles like "The Lawyer King", "Herculaws", and “Law School Musical (The Musical)" set the tone, and the students and faculty in the audience bring the show to life as they laugh and applaud the hard work of the students in the cast and crew.
Law School Veterans seeks to bolster a Veteran presence and provide resources for Veterans at The University of Chicago Law School. We work to provide the Military Affiliated Community with the social and academic resources necessary to ensure their success, and additionally work with admissions to increase Veteran visibility and outreach. Veterans at our Law School bring with them both the diversity of experience common to military members and the rich exposure to the military life that is underrepresented in law schools and in elite professional services. Many Veterans also bring with them unique challenges that a community of shared understanding, support, and mentorship can help to turn into opportunities. LSV seeks to achieve these goals through events that bring both our Law School Veterans and Military Affiliated Students across the Law School together as a community. Veterans are part of a small and shared community that can immediately recognize commonality and shared achievement. This year, we hope to actively extend our community to Military Affiliated Students, including those with spouses or family who have served or are actively serving in the armed forces. With your generous support we can provide a full roster of programs supporting and elevating the Military Affiliated Community at The Law School.
Law Students for Israel (LSI) exists to serve as the Law School home for all students committed to the unity and protection of the Jewish People and the flourishing of the State of Israel. Founded in response to the October 7th attacks, LSI is dedicated to promoting Zionist principles and combating rising antisemitism on campus and beyond. LSI is a non-partisan organization offering educational forums to empower future legal professionals with the knowledge and cultural competence necessary to navigate Israel-related legal matters and appreciate the multifaceted nature of Israel's identity. We seek to promote nuanced understandings of Israel's significance in international law, human rights, diplomacy, and Jewish cultural heritage. We are excited to bring scholars, policymakers, lawyers, and others to speak to students on campus to enrich our future legal professionals’ and world leaders’ ability to critically analyze Israel-related issues, contribute to informed discourse, and become effective advocates while engaging with all relevant perspectives. With your generous support, LSI looks forward to addressing these timely issues and fostering an environment of engaged advocacy, informed scholarship, and thoughtful discourse while supporting Zionist students and combating antisemitism.
The Law Women’s Caucus (LWC) promotes the interests of women at the law school and beyond. Our mission is to create a space in which women in the University of Chicago Law community can find comfort and mentorship, cultivate new skills and passions, and grow as lawyers and as people. Independently, and in collaboration with other student organizations, we provide student support and professional development coaching, cultivate relationships among students and alumni of the Law School, and amplify the richly diverse voices of women and underrepresented genders in the legal profession. With your support, we will host informative guest speakers, hold social and wellness events to forge friendships, and invest in the Chicago community through volunteer work.
Legal Recess is dedicated to fostering well-being for members of the Law School’s student body, while building the strength of our community overall. Legal Recess provides opportunities to develop healthy approaches to managing the intensity and stress that sometimes accompany both law school and legal careers. Our programming seeks to keep students active and refreshed, to encourage healthy work-life balance, and to promote community support. Events include group walks in Chicago, a Law School Field Day, and outings to local events. Building on our success from this past year, we will have another professor-led bike ride along Lake Michigan. Many of our events are also open to faculty, staff, and alumni. Additionally, we plan to publish a newsletter highlighting opportunities for students to get involved with activities already beloved by members of our extended community, like intramural sports teams and local choruses and orchestras. Many students have expressed strong interest in our programming. These gatherings will allow firms to make organic connections with the student body and to contribute to a thriving Law School community. With a focus on well-being and connection, we believe these initiatives deserve widespread support as they prepare future lawyers for sustainable success.
The Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) is a community devoted to seeing Native people represented in the law. Our organization seeks to promote the success of Native law students and bring awareness to the unique legal challenges facing Indian Tribes. NALSA is dedicated to forming lasting relationships with not only Native members of the legal profession, but also the legal community as a whole. NALSA is committed to programming that involves the entire law school community and brings visibility to the often overlooked yet valuable contributions of Native attorneys. This year’s programming––which includes beading classes, educational lectures from notable Native attorneys and scholars, and conferences––will actively provide the law school community with opportunities for academic engagement with federal Indian law and a supportive community of peers for NALSA’s membership.
The New York Law Students Association (NYLSA) is a community that supports, informs, and encourages students interested in pursuing careers in New York, and connects them with like-minded students and professionals. The purpose of this organization is threefold: to create a community of University of Chicago Law students built around those who are connected to New York or are interested in working in New York post-graduation; to establish professional relationships with alumni of the University of Chicago Law School working in the New York legal field and to provide mentorship to our members; and to hold lunch talks and networking events where we invite attorneys from New York to speak to our members about legal careers in New York. Subjects may include navigating the legal market in New York, preparing for OCI, applying to clerkships and public interest fellowships, and more.
OutLaw is a student-run organization that works to cultivate a community of LGBTQ+ students at the University of Chicago Law School through professional, academic, social, and community service events. We bring openly LGBTQ+ judges from around the country to speak at the Law School, host career panels for LGBTQ+ law students to learn how to navigate the legal profession, and provide a platform for LGBTQ+ trailblazers to discuss the current landscape of LGBTQ+ rights. The goal of our programming is to empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ lawyers.
From samosa parties to political discussions, the South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) was formed to promote an understanding and appreciation of South Asian political, legal, and social issues. In the past, we have invited South Asian political, judicial, and academic figures to speak, screened films about South Asian history and culture, and engaged in a variety of social events with the University of Chicago and broader Chicago communities. Your sponsorship will help support those initiatives and our efforts to provide students who identify as South Asian with many opportunities to meet with firms, engage in pro bono initiatives, and explore different areas of the legal field. Thank you for your consideration and support!
The Southwest Asian and North Afrikan Law Students Association (SWANA) strives to create a community for students with an interest in Southwest Asian and North Afrikan cultures, politics, and legal institutions. SWANA seeks to foster a professional community for a largely underrepresented group in the legal field while also creating educational opportunities for the larger UChicago Law student body to connect with the rich heritage and cultures of the SWANA region. Members of SWANA will spend the year building on their networks and community to establish themselves in the legal profession. Your sponsorship will be used to host gatherings for community and mentorship at the law school, professional development through dialogue with accomplished attorneys, and connection between SWANA alumni (at your firm and beyond) and the UChicago SWANA organization. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to building on our robust institutions at the law school.
The Students for Religious Liberty Clinic is a newer student organization at the Law School. We are an organization composed of students interested in the creation of a Religious Liberty Clinic (“Clinic”) at the University of Chicago. The prospective clinic will teach students litigation skills in the context of First Amendment jurisprudence. Over the course of the year, this organization will bring in lunch speakers to discuss a number of issues related to religious liberty including: pro bono opportunities, upcoming Supreme Court cases, and our hallmark event—an interfaith panel. Modeled after the Stanford Religious Liberty Clinic, the Clinic will be inclusive to all and focus on helping disadvantaged religious minorities who face discrimination over the exercise of their faith.
The Supreme Court and Appellate Society (SCAS) is a new student organization at the Law School. SCAS will provide a forum for students to discuss, debate, and discover evolving trends in the law of the nation’s various circuit courts and of its Supreme Court. SCAS will take a broad approach to this mission, facilitating discussion that ranges from the high-theoretical to the practical. To this end, SCAS plans to have events including moderated discussions with professors regarding how to properly theorize the Supreme Court, conversations with practicing appellate and Supreme Court litigators, panels on incipient circuit splits, and a planned signature event where we will take a group outing to observe 7th Circuit deliberations and speak to a judge in their chambers. Through this bevy of events, SCAS hopes to both jump-start students’ thinking about the nation’s varied appellate law and demystify the practice of Supreme Court and appellate advocacy as a career.
The Texas Law Society (TLS) is committed to providing the University of Chicago Law School with opportunities to learn more about the legal landscape of the great state of Texas. As a growing number of UChicago law students look to Texas as their final destination after law school, we hope to facilitate that career choice by partnering with Texas law firms to give students a head start on building connections and a community in the Lone Star state. TLS will invite attorneys from firms across Texas to talk about their work and life in this unique legal community as well as summer and early career opportunities available to current students. We would promote your firm throughout the year for your contribution. In 2023-2024, we also hope to expand our programming to include perspectives on practicing law from legal professionals such as judges. Please reach out with your interest, and we look forward to sharing this opportunity with you.
The St. Thomas More Society is the association for Catholic students at the Law School. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning about Catholic perspectives on legal questions and social issues. Our goals are to help facilitate discussion on the Catholic perspective on legal issues or legal issues impacting the Catholic Church, to help students see how the Catholic faith and the legal profession interact in daily life, and to build community through social events and prayer. As our name indicates, we celebrate and honor the traditional connection between Catholic theology and legal scholarship.
The University of Chicago Trial Team provides a forum for the law school community to learn, practice, and refine their trial skills through both national and intra school competitions. We also plan to bring in speakers to discuss the intricacies of conducting a trial and how students can gain skills in law school related to trial practice. As the only club at the University of Chicago Law School dedicated to trial practice, we offer a unique opportunity to introduce students to what a career in trial advocacy looks like. Additionally, as a competitive team we hope to represent UChicago on a national stage and showcase how well our school can prepare students for a career in trial advocacy. One cool event we hope to put on with the competitive team is a scrimmage with another local Chicago school but structured as a sporting event. This would allow the school to get a better picture of what trial team does while also allowing students to cheer on their friends in a way that would not normally be allowed during the competitions. Your firm can benefit by sponsoring our organization, thus connecting with law students interested in trial practice—an opportunity that only we offer. Thank you for your support.
All sponsorships are to be confirmed and received by December 1, 2024
Contact Us
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, to confirm your sponsorship, or to learn more about getting your firm engaged at the Law School, contact Brandi Welch, Dean of Students, at brandiwelch@uchicago.edu.