Fowler School of Law boasts an impressive array of student organizations that offer
the best combination of camaraderie and legal exploration.
The Student Bar Association
The Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law Student Bar Association is the
official student organization for the law school. The Student Bar Association (SBA)
is a multi-functional organization. First, the SBA Board serves as a liaison between
the student body and administration and faculty. To facilitate this communication
and to address student-specific needs, board members serve on several committees.
The SBA is also responsible for funding student activities and organizations. Finally,
the SBA executive board provides social opportunities for students at several school-wide
functions annually.
All registered Fowler School of Law students are members of the SBA and pay annual
dues. The SBA board consists of student representatives from each class and has an
executive board composed of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and
parliamentarian. Student Bar Association elections take place in the spring and fall
semesters. Members of the SBA participate in a number of committees essential to school
life at Fowler School of Law: American Bar Association Representative, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Alumni Affairs and School Events.
Other Bar Association Websites
Fowler School of Law boasts an impressive array of student organizations that
offer a remarkable combination of camaraderie and practical, experiential legal education.
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Team consists of students who have
previously participated in client counseling or negotiation competitions. These programs
provide participating students with simulated real-life experience in the practice
of law in a controlled environment, a forum to develop important skills that they
will use as practitioners, and networking opportunities with fellow students and attorneys.
Chapman Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is a law student group affiliated with
the ALDF national organization. This student organization shares the national ALDF
mission to provide a forum for education, advocacy, and scholarship aimed at protecting the
lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system and raising
the profile of the field of animal law.
The Art Law Society focuses on the intersection of fine art/visual arts and the
law. Throughout the year, the organization offers a variety of programming that views
intellectual property, contract, constitutional, tort, tax, commercial and international
law through the lens of protecting, regulating and facilitating the creation of art.
The Asian Pacific American Law Student Association was created at the Fowler School
of Law in 2002. The organization seeks to bridge the gap between law students and
the Asian American legal community while providing support to students on the journey
towards a legal career.
The Black Law Student Association strives to empower students and improve cultural
diversity by engaging law students in dialogue to effect positive change and provide
a support system for Black students. The organization provides a safe space for minority
students and focuses on how to actively participate in voicing a unique perspective,
advocating for equal rights and opportunities, and bridging the gap between minorities
and legal professions.
The Chapman E-Sports Law Society (CELS) is a student group where students can delve
into the unique legal issues surrounding and relating to the Esports industry. We
serve as a meeting point for social activities, including but not limited to professional
development workshops, social mixers and guest speakers. We are a resource for information
about Esports Law in Orange County and the surrounding areas. We are a liaison to
pro bono, public interest and networking opportunities within the Esports legal community.
The Chapman Law Review is a student-run scholarly journal that publishes a scholarly
journal each academic year. The editorial staff of Chapman Law Review runs the publication,
edits the works of their peers, conducts independent legal research and drafts their
own notes and comments for publication.
Members of Chapman Law Review also plan and host the annual Chapman Law Review Symposium, which brings together various scholars, professors, and practitioners to discuss
far-reaching legal questions.
Learn more about the Chapman Law Review
The Chapman Women Lawyers Association seeks to empower women by providing leadership,
networking, and mentoring opportunities, offering resources and strategies for success
as law students and practicing attorneys, and by providing a forum for students to
connect with industry professionals about the challenges that women face in their
careers.
Additional Resources
Ms. JD: Serving women in law school and the legal profession, Ms. JD is an online community
that provides a forum for dialogue and networking among women lawyers and aspiring
lawyers.
League of Women Voters: Nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation
in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and
influences public policy through education and advocacy.
National Organization of Women: Press releases and other information about N.O.W. concerns and links to other sites.
The Children's & Family Law Society is open to students with an interest in family
law. Throughout the year, the Children's & Family Law Society brings in speakers to
educate students about family law-related topics and issues, and how to work towards
a career in this area of law.
The Christian Law Student Society strives to provide spiritual support, encouragement,
fellowship and networking opportunities for Christian law students. The organization
liaises between the law student body and the Christian legal community and works throughout
the year to educate the law student body about Christian values through various educational,
professional, and social events. Students of all denominations and faiths are invited
to attend general meetings and programs.
The Corporate Law Society aims to educate students about opportunities in corporate
litigation and transactional law. The organization meets regularly during the academic
year for general body meetings and offers programming with a special emphasis on networking
with attorneys in the community.
The Criminal Law Society promotes and encourages the study of criminal law through
panels and guest speakers at the Fowler School of Law. The organization aspires to
the highest standards of personal integrity, diligence, and individual responsibility
in the study, teaching, and practice of criminal law and the criminal justice system.
For more information, check out the Criminal Law Society TWEN page.
The Diversity and Social Justice Forum is an organization whose goal is to provide
a space for expression and representation to a wide spectrum of progressive and diverse
voices. The organization published a student-run publication and organized an annual
symposium focused on issues relating to diversity and social justice.
The Entertainment and Sports Law Society endeavors to educate its members on the
relevant legal issues that accompany the field of sports and entertainment law. Entertainment
and Sports Law practice incorporates broad and varied practice areas, including intellectual
property, contract law, labor law, antitrust law and corporate finance, as well as
an understanding of a client's experience within the world of athletics and/or the
entertainment industry.
By organizing on-campus lectures,
an annual symposium and social gatherings, the society seeks to work with individuals and organizations
within the profession and provide information, networking opportunities and assistance
concerning potential employment opportunities.
The Environmental Law Society aims to educate and provide networking opportunities
to students who are interested in the expanding field of environmental law. The Environmental
Law Society hosts general meetings and programming with expert speakers in environmental
law and has previously organized environmental clean-up events.
The Chapman Federalist Society is a guild of conservative, libertarian and moderate
law students dedicated to discerning, discussing and defending America's founding
principles of individual freedom, limited government and judicial restraint. Membership
is open to all who wish to engage in a healthy exchange of ideas.
Contact the Chapman Federalist Society
The Health Law Society is a practice-oriented student organization devoted to bringing
awareness to the evolving field of health law. The organization offers a student-led
forum where students, faculty, staff and legal professionals can discuss emerging
legal issues in the healthcare industry.
The Health Law Society collaborates with other student organizations to highlight
the crossover between health and other areas of law. It also seeks to connect students
with professionals practicing in the field while provides networking opportunities
for interested students.
The Intellectual Property Law Society is aimed at educating law students about the
field of intellectual property law, which primarily focuses on patents, copyrights,
trademarks and related issues. The organization offers a forum for discussion about
current issues in intellectual property, and opportunities for networking with professionals
in the field, as well as offering the opportunity to explore related fields such as
business and entertainment law.
The International Law Society (ILS) promotes informed awareness of diverse issues
that relate to international law and global affairs. The organization educates and
provides resources to students who are interested in international law as a career
and area of legal specialization. The ILS regularly hosts events on campus through
its speakers program, diverse lectures, and discussions by internationally minded
experts to promote interest in international studies and foster connections between
students and the international law community.
Links
ABA Section on International Law
United Nations
The American Society of International Law
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society emphasizes the relation between law and ethics,
morality and religion. The J. Reuben Clark Society affirms the strength brought to
the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction and strives, through public service
and professional excellence, to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule
of law.
The Jewish Law Student Association provides Jewish educational, professional, cultural,
and social programs and resources for the law school. The organization strives to
foster Jewish life and community on campus, as well as to connect students to Jewish
professionals in the Orange County area. Activities include general meetings and speakers
on various Jewish or legal topics. Students of all denominations and religious affiliations
are welcome to all events.
The Korean American Law Student Association aims to promote Korean culture and awareness
while providing all members a platform for support, professional outreach, and social
networking. The organization seeks to foster attorneys who are successful and prepared
to deal with diversity issues on a global scale.
The Latinx Law Student Association is dedicated to supporting the Latinx law student
community at the Fowler School of Law. The organization brings speakers to the law
school to address concerns and issues specific to Latinx and minority communities.
The organization's purpose is to create, promote, and serve as a presence on the Fowler
School of Law campus, as well as the County of Orange, for law students with ethnic
and/or national backgrounds based in the Middle East and/or North Africa regions.
Further, this organization creates a base for networking opportunities with attorneys
in order to serve as a social and professional community for Fowler School of Law
students and attorneys of MENA backgrounds.
The Mock Trial Board represents the Fowler School of Law at various mock trial competitions
around the United States. Student teams prepare and argue a case in a courtroom, with
members of the bench and bar serving as judges. The cases that are argued are carefully
drafted legal problems that present the students with an opportunity to practice and
develop their trial advocacy skills in a courtroom setting.
The Appellate Moot Court Competition Board offers selected students the opportunity
to develop oral and written advocacy skills learned in the classroom by applying them
in simulated arguments before the Supreme Court. Board Members represent the Fowler
School of law at regional and national competitions.
The Muslim Law Student Association provides support and a voice for Muslim law students
and the law school community. The organization aims to promote an interreligious community
and is a space for students of all faiths to receive academic, professional and moral
support throughout their law school journey. The organization also provides programming
to educate about the Islamic faith.
The National Lawyers Guild is a national network of lawyers from different fields
and practices. The organization brings together a diverse group of legal professionals
to lend their voices to a variety of issues, and to instigate changes at various levels.
OUTLaw is a multifaceted collaboration of law students, faculty, and staff who are
interested in working with both the Chapman and local communities to foster a supportive,
positive, and safe environment for individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community. While a
vital function of the organization is to stimulate and assist students in their professional
careers, the organization also serves as a forum in which the law school community
may coordinate their efforts to combat discrimination and prejudice.
The Public Interest Law Foundation is dedicated to creating new and innovative opportunities
for law students to engage in critically needed public interest work. The organization
supports and promotes public interest work by funding law students through summer
grants so they can serve in unpaid or volunteer positions in the public interest field.
The Public Interest Law Foundation also hosts an annual benefit to raise funds for
the summer grants.
This organization’s purpose is to educate its members about current legal practices
and issues in the area of Real Estate Law. We provide opportunities for members to
meet and gain insight from attorneys seasoned and experienced in various practice
areas within Real Estate Law. Additionally, this organization provides networking
opportunities with practicing attorneys in this practice area.
The St. Thomas More Society is dedicated to faith and community within the legal
profession. The society seeks to provide a Catholic voice on issues of relevance to
judges, lawyers, public officials and law students, and to promote an understanding
of Church teaching. Membership in the society is open to persons of all religions
who are interested in exploring the rich teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Tax Law Society promotes and encourages the study of taxation law and fosters
strong relationships between students and the business/legal community. The Tax Law
Society organizes many events throughout the year to offer networking opportunities
and invites speakers to campus so that students may learn about opportunities and
hear discussions on current issues.
