Student Organizations
The University of Houston Law Center extends learning beyond the classroom with a full range of student organizations, extracurricular activities, alumni networking opportunities and interscholastic competitions. Student groups represent special interests and provide important avenues to help law students succeed. Many arrange mentoring programs and match first-year students with second- or third-year students or working professionals. Others coordinate resume-writing workshops, guest speaker forums, preregistration discussions of specific course offerings, or law-related charitable efforts that benefit the community. Student groups recognized by the Law Center include:
The Advocates
Office:713-743-2190
Executive Chair: Erin Epley, emepley@Central.UH.EDU
The Advocates is a student-run law school organization that is devoted to developing oral advocacy and improving trial and appellate presentation skills through mock trial and moot court competitions. The Advocates provide students with an opportunity to experience litigation and to develop the advocacy tools used by practicing attorneys.
American Civil Liberties Union; UHLC Club
President: Jeff Rank, JARank@Central.UH.EDU
The American Civil Liberties Union; University of Houston Law Center Club works to ensure that students are educated about their rights and that those rights are protected. ACLU: UHLC Club also seeks to educate and inform the Law Center and its surrounding community with respect to outside civil liberties/civil rights issues. ACLU; UHLC Club fulfills its mission through educational events and various campaigns targeting specific issues.
American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
Scott Looper: salooper@central.uh.edu
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations. Founded in 2001, ACS is a rapidly growing network of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges, policymakers and other concerned individuals. Our mission is to ensure that fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice enjoy their rightful, central place in American law.
ACS aims to revitalize and transform the legal and policy debates occurring in law school classrooms, federal and state courtrooms, legislative hearing rooms and the media. Through student and lawyer chapters all across the country, and programs and projects at both the national and local level, ACS:
- promotes a progressive vision of the Constitution, law and public policy;
- educates lawyers, law students, decision-makers and the public about the historic basis and vitality of such a vision and its importance for the lives of real people;
- strengthens the intellectual underpinnings for progressive law and policy in the United States; and
- continues to build a diverse and dynamic national network.
Asian Law Students Association (ALSA)
Office:713-743-2220
President: Clinton Yu, cyu8@Central.UH.EDU
The Asian Law Students Association (ALSA) is an organization of students who share an interest in Asian affairs. The organization shares as a forum for exchanging views concerning the Asian community - both abroad and domestic. Topics of discussion include affirmative action, immigration reform, and available employment opportunities.
The Association of Women in Law (AWIL)
Office:713-743-2196
President: Victoria Slater, vlslater@Central.UH.EDU
The Association of Women in Law (AWIL) is an organization at the UH Law Center that provides female UHLC students with guidance, support and encouragement during their years in law school. AWIL also gives its members an opportunity to better serve their community and strives to provide a forum for law students to become familiar with women's issues in the legal profession.
Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
President: Jamila Patten, jmpatten@Central.UH.EDU
Office:713-743-2221
The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) is the local chapter of the National Black Law Students Association. BLSA fosters and encourages the success of Black law students in law school and the legal community. Seeking to utilize the talents and resources of its members, BLSA promotes and encourages professional competence, community service and meaningful change in the local community.
Christian Legal Society (CLS)
President: Thomas Meriwether, TSMeriwe@Central.UH.EDU
This a wholly religious student organization organized to promote the concept of the Christian lawyer and help Christian lawyers integrate their faith with their professional lives. The organization provides a forum for the discussion of problems relating to Christianity and the law, and with bar associations and other organizations in asserting and maintaining high standards of legal ethics.
Corporate & Taxation Law Society (CTLS)
President: Derek DuBois, dcdubois@Central.UH.EDU
The Corporate & Taxation Law Society is an organization dedicated to promoting the fields of Corporate and Tax law to students of the Law Center. The organization seeks to meet this goal through facilitating informative meetings, providing guidance, and promoting awareness of legal opportunities in the community.
Criminal Defense Law Students Association (CDLSA)
President: Jacob Henderson, jahender@Central.UH.EDU
The Criminal Defense Law Students Association is an organization established to protect and ensure individual rights guaranteed by the Texas and Federal Constitutions. CDLSA members are members of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, an Association of over 2400 attorneys licensed by the State Bar of Texas and actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases. CDLSA also interacts with the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. CDLSA's mission is to be responsive to the needs and interests of future criminal defense lawyers. CDLSA provides networking and real-world education to the law student actively seeking to defend both criminally accused adults & juveniles after graduation from law school.
Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, International Cullen Senate
Co-Dean: Jeremy Want, JAWant@Central.UH.EDU
Co-Dean: Matthew Toohley, MJToohey@Central.UH.EDU
Cullen Senate of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, International purpose is to promote academic excellence and professional growth, enhance the law school academic experience, and uphold the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct in the study, practice and teaching of the law. Further, this Fraternity shall associate together with the brothers and sisters for fraternal, scholastic and social purposes.
Energy and Environmental Law Society (EELS)
President: Ashlee Duncan, amduncan@Central.UH.EDU
The Energy and Environmental Law Society introduces the burgeoning fields of environmental and energy law to its members, as well as, addressing all aspects of the professions. ELS is active in community service by performing pro bono research and assisting in activities such as the Texas Coastal Cleanup.
The Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal
Editor in Chief: Robert Mitchell, rgmitche@central.uh.edu
Managing Editor: Ashlee Duncan, amduncan@Central.UH.EDU
Office: 713-743-3040
The Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal's goal is to be the premier interdisciplinary publication dealing with the intersection of environmental and energy law and policy issues. EELPJ will bring together a broad constituency of industry representatives, legal practitioners and academics, and policy makers and regulators. The journal will publish two issues a year. One issue will include feature articles, casenotes and comments. The second will be based around a symposium on topics relevant to the journal's diverse audience. Both publications will include a Recent Developments section that provides brief updates on interesting cases, administrative actions, publications, and events. Because environmental and energy technologies, regulations, and markets can change quickly, the journal will offer a rolling online publication in addition to its biannual print publication.
Evening Law Students Association (ELSA)
Co-President: Elizabeth Wiehle, eawiehle@Central.UH.EDU
Co-President: Luke Gilman, ljgilman@Central.UH.EDU
Students enrolled in the University of Houston Law Center part-time or evening programs compose a student body with extraordinary life experience, employment expertise and maturity. This student body, with these inherent traits, suffers from fairly unique difficulties as well. Evening students must balance the demands of school with those of career and family, and they must persevere through these arduous challenges without the benefit of a myriad of student group and University-sponsored programs because such programs often do not cater to the constrained schedule of the evening students. To meet their collective needs, the evening law students at the University of Houston have joined to form the Evening Law Students Association (ELSA).
Federalist Society
President: Kacie Bevers, klmorave@Central.UH.EDU
The Federalist Society is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of legal order. The Society seeks to promote an awareness of the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of 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 Organization (HLO)
President: Nathan Petersen, nhpeters@central.uh.edu
The Health Law Organization (HLO) is an organization for students who share an interest in legal issues related to health and the health care industry. HLO provides a forum for discussion of the legal, medical and ethical issues which pertain to health law and policy, and participates in community outreach and public service events.
Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA)
President: Georginna Del Valle, gdelvall@Central.UH.EDU
Office:713-743-2219
The Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA) is an organization dedicated to promoting a more successful representation of Hispanics in the legal profession and community as a whole. The organization strives to meet these goals through facilitating Hispanic students transition into Law School, providing guidance and fostering social awareness in the community.
The Honor Court
Justices: Dominique Donaho, dddonaho@central.uh.edu; Jessica Goldman, jmgoldma@central.uh.edu; Matt Juren, mcjuren@central.uh.edu; Gavin Justiss, gbjustis@central.uh.edu; David Lane, dllane@central.uh.edu; Chris Ponder, csponder@central.uh.edu
The Honor Court is a student organization created to adjudicate violations of the Law Center's Honor Code, to educate students about the Honor Code, and to promote ethics in the Law Center's aspiring lawyers. The Honor Court provides students with the opportunity to make ethics a part of their everyday lives, and to use trial advocacy and evidentiary skills in a real proceeding.
Houston Business and Tax Law Journal
Editor in Chief: Christopher Marchand, CLMarcha@Central.UH.EDU
Managing Editor: Terri Brooks, TLBrooks@Central.UH.Edu
Office:713-743-0922
The Houston Business and Tax Law Journal ("HBTLJ") is a scholarly journal managed and distributed by students at the University of Houston Law Center. The Journal serves the scholarly interests of students, academics, and professionals within the legal community. HBTLJ is a medium for thought provoking academic discussions and practical application insights in the following areas of law: Corporate, Securities, Bankruptcy, Antitrust, Intellectual Property, Employment, Labor, Mergers/Acquisitions, and Tax.
Houston Journal of Health Law and Policy
Editor in Chief: Jeff Wise, JTWise@Central.UH.EDU
Managing Editor: Brian Deitch, bhdeitch@Central.UH.EDU
Office:713-743-0768
The Houston Journal of Health Law and Policy ("HJHL&P") publishes two issues devoted to health law and policy topics each year. HJHL&P is operated by student editors and candidates, with the assistance of faculty editors Professor Richard Saver, J.D. and Professor Barbara Evans, Ph.D., J.D., L.L.M. HJHL&P publishes an issue devoted to general health law topics in the fall and an annual symposium issue in the spring. HJHL&P uses an anonymous peer review process for the selection of professional articles; the peer reviewers are nationally recognized legal and medical experts from across the country. Student candidates also write articles, which may be published in HJHL&P's fall issue. HJHL&P provides members with many networking opportunities with local health law attorneys during the year. Student members are selected from the top twenty-percent of the class and through the Law Center's annual write-on competition. Members typically have either a background in health care or a strong interest in the field.
Houston Journal of International Law (HJIL)
Editor in Chief: Robyn Rosen, rjrosen@Central.UH.EDU
Managing Editor: Adam Inch, AEInch@Central.UH.EDU
Office:713-743-2212
The Houston Journal of International Law is a scholarly legal journal that is published three times annually. Each issue includes articles by leading legal scholars, book reviews by both scholars and legal practitioners, and student- written case notes and comments on topics of international legal significance.
Houston Law Review
Editor in Chief: Stephanie Cecere, sececere@Central.UH.EDU
Managing Editor: James Garrett, jmgarret@Central.UH.EDU
Office:713-743-2247
The Houston Law Review is a student organization that publishes quarterly issues annually, in addition to a symposium issue each spring. The Houston Law Review contains articles on current legal issues written by academicians, judges, practicing attorneys, and other legal scholars, as well as selected Law Review students. The Review serves the local and national legal communities through its publications, but also provides its members with an opportunity to perfect their research, writing, and organizational skills.
Human Rights Alliance
President: Kristina Kontak klkontak@central.uh.edu
The Human Rights Alliance at the Law Center promotes awareness of human rights issues through media presentations, conferences, and informational lectures by guest speakers who are active in the human rights arena. HRA encourages law students to participate in fighting human rights abuses within the United States and abroad through community involvement, letter writing campaigns, interning with human rights organizations, and other activities.
Intellectual Property Student Organization (IPSO)
President: Kenny Kincaid, klkinca2@central.uh.edu
The Intellectual Property Student Organization is an association of Law Center students dedicated to helping its membership enhance their professional development in conjunction with the Law Center’s Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law (IPIL), the greater Law Center community, and the Houston bar. IPSO members have opportunities for networking with leading Houston attorneys who are involved in both litigation and transactions for IP & IL, both at IPSO-organized presentations at the Law Center, and at various other events. IPSO also: facilitates student involvement in various local and national competitions such as moot court opportunities in IP & IL; develops materials and venues to assist its members with their employment search; maintains an active IPSO alumni outreach through the IPSO membership web site; provides mentoring to incoming Law Center students with an engineering, science or technical background in order to allow such students to leverage their strengths in the academic matters of law school while avoiding the pitfalls often encountered by such students; and, through the IPSO Officers, maintains a collaborative relationship with the Law Center IPIL faculty.
International Law Society (ILS)
President: Nicol Eilan, nteilan@central.uh.edu
The International Law Society is an organization of students sharing an interest in international law and affairs. ILS endeavors to integrate students into this increasingly vital area of law by providing a forum for domestic and foreign students, practitioners, and academics to exchange ideas and opportunities in international law.
Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law
Editor in Chief: Emery Ellis, ESEllis2@Central.UH.EDU
Chief Managing Editor: Daniel Frayne, DTFrayne@Central.UH.EDU
Office:713-743-5701
Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law is one of the few publications in the country devoted to issues related to consumer law. The Journal has been in existence for more than twenty years and is published four times a year. It is the official publication of the Consumer Law Section of the State Bar and is distributed to more than 2000 lawyers, judges, and law professors. Membership is open to any student following the completion of the first year of law school.
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
The Law Society is guided by the philosophy, personal example, and values of its namesake, J. Reuben Clark, Jr. Those values include: (1) public service; (2) loyalty to the rule of law; and (3) appreciation for the religious dimension in society and in a lawyer’s personal life. We affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction. We strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.
Law-Horns at the University of Houston Law Center
President: Micaela Alfaro, mnalfaro@Central.UH.EDU
The purpose of the this organization is to promote unity among former students of the University of Texas at Austin who attend the University of Houston Law Center, and to develop contacts with other alumni of the University of Texas involved in the field of Law. The organization intends to meet this goal through social events, fundraising, community service, networking opportunities and informational meetings.
Legalese
Office:713-743-2197
Legalese is the student publication of the University of Houston Law Center. It focuses on law and Law Center related news and activities. Students are encouraged to contribute articles as guest writers, or join our staff.
Military Law Society
President: Walter Nightingale, WKNighti@Central.UH.EDU
The purpose of the Military Law Society is to encourage and provide informed discussion regarding issues of military law, primarily focusing on current legal issues affecting the military. The Military Law Society is not an advocacy organization, and will not take positions on any issues, instead providing viewpoints from all sides of a given issue. In addition, the Military Law Society will work to enhance students' career opportunities after law school by networking with current and former members of the military, whether Judge Advocate General or otherwise, assisting students with internships in positions related to military law, and educating students regarding the benefits arising from military service.
Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA)
President: Sumera Khan, sikhan3@Central.UH.EDU
Muslim Law Students Association's purpose is to serve the social, spiritual, and intellectual needs of the Muslim students at UHLC. MLSA intends to provide a needed forum open to all students and faculty designed to encourage free dialogue and debate on issues relating to Islamic law, society, and politics concerning the U.S. and the Muslim world. MLSA seeks to encourage understanding and harmony between people of all faiths.
Order of The Barons
Chief Baron: Harrison Tucker, HCTucker@Central.UH.EDU
The Order of the Barons is the student-run scholastic honor society of the University of Houston Law Center. The purpose of The Order of the Barons is to recognize outstanding students who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their law studies.
OutLaw: Students for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Concerns
Executive Director: Christina Gorczynski, ccgorczy@Central.UH.EDU
OutLaw: Students for GLBT Concerns is an organization devoted to the issues of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender students at the law school. All students are welcome to join regardless of sexual orientation.
Phi Alpha Delta ( PAD)
Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) is an international organization that encourages student leaders to discover and develop important skills as leadership, public speaking, public relations, etc. PAD provides its members with support through educational aids, professional programs, job preparation, networking, scholarships and loans, and law-related education.
Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity - Hutcheson Inn
Phi Delta Phi is an international legal fraternity established to promote a higher standard of legal ethics. Phi Delta Phi is an honor fraternity that offers camaraderie. networking, good fellowship, and promotion of the highest standard of professional and personal ethics. Tangible benefits include scholarships, loans, and regional and international meetings and conventions.
Public Interest Law Organization (PILO, formerly Equal Justice Coalition)
President: Kris Banks, kabanks@Central.UH.EDU
The Public Interest Law Organization provides support to students who choose to pursue a career in public interest law or want to make service a large part of their private practice. PILO administers a voluntary pro bono program recognized by the Dean, funds as many grants as possible to financially support students who work in the public interest during the summer, and provides information on possible job opportunities to the students.
Society on Law and Politics (SLAP)
The Society on Law and Politics at the University of Houston Law Center endevors to raise the level of political discourse at UHLC and to promote inter-organizational dialogue between the various student political groups. SLAP has no political agenda other than to promote the thoughtful consideration and interrogation of all political agendas.
Sports and Entertainment Law Organization (SELO)
Co-President: J. Mark Deaton, jdeaton@Central.UH.EDU
The Sports and Entertainment Law Student Organization is an organization of students that focus on career prospects and opportunities in the field of Sports Law and Entertainment.
St. Thomas More Society (STMS)
President: Joseph Frank, JCFrank@Central.UH.EDU
The St. Thomas More Society (STMS) is dedicated to the ideals of St. Thomas More, Patron Saint of Lawyers and Statesmen. STMS is an organization formed to promote education and enrichment on the moral and ethical duties of lawyers as Catholics and Christians in the world.
The Student Bar Association (SBA)
Office: 713-743-5807
Bookswap: 713-743-7441
Student Organizations Suite: 713-743-9333
President: Michael West, mcwest2@Central.UH.EDU
The Student Bar Association (SBA) is the students' organization at the Law Center. SBA represents the needs and concerns of the student body to faculty and UHLC administration, represents UHLC in the local and national law communities, serves as the umbrella organization of all other UHLC student groups, and sponsors a variety of social and networking events throughout the school year. The SBA also runs Bookswap as a student service. You can find the most up-to-date Bookswap hours and SBA news by visiting the SBA web page, updated daily.
Texas Aggie Law Students Association (AgLaw)
President: Daniel Frayne, DTFrayne@Central.UH.EDU
The Texas Aggie Law Students Association promotes the unity of Former Students of Texas A&M University who attend UHLC. The organization intends to meet this goal through social events, fundraising, community service, networking opprotunities, and informational meetings. |
