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Student Organizations
Students are encouraged to involve themselves in the
life of the law school community through participation
in activities and organizations. The
Student Bar Association and numerous other student organizations offer programs and activities
of interest to our diverse student body. They also provide opportunities
for leadership and service to the school and the community.
Aggie Law Students
Aggie Law Students seeks to assist those law students who have obtained
a degree from Texas A&M and/or have some Aggie connection and wish to
realize the benefits of being plugged into the Aggie Network. To that end,
the organization invites Aggie attorneys to speak at its meetings, often
in a more informal setting where students can ask all types of questions.
Aggie Law Students has organized happy hours to gather and watch Texas A&M
athletics BTHO their Big 12 opponents. In addition, Aggie Law Students
provides a connection to the organization's professional counterpart,
the Texas Aggie Bar Association.
Asian American Law Students Association
AALSA aims to educate, advocate and promote Asian-American
interest by encourageing Asian law students' participation,
leadership and community involvement at the law school and
throughout the Dallas, Fort Worth area. AALSA
also works to build strong bonds between other
minority organizations at SMU. AALSA provides a
network of support for its members, all incoming
first-year students and alumnus. Our meetings,
events and forums allow all members, and the
greater law school community, to benefit from sharing
experiences and to build relationships that will
last long beyond law school.
Association for Public Interest Law
The Association of Public Interest Law is dedicated to helping SMU law students and graduates incorporate public service into their education and careers.
Black Law Students Association
The mission of the Black Law Students Association is to promote the educational needs and goals of Black law students at SMU Dedman School of Law and to facilitate job placement initiatives in such a manner as to enhance the development of professionally competent, legally trained individuals, who are responsive to the needs of the Community.
Board of Advocates
The Board of Advocates is a student organization formed to train and educate law students in trial and appellate advocacy by means of mock trial, moot court, negotiation, and client counseling competitions. The purpose of the BOA is to provide a forum for training law students to be effective advocates. This purpose is furthered through involvement in hosting, or assisting with hosting, any local, regional or national competition.
Christian Legal Society
We encourage and support students through relevant and inspiring speakers, provide events of interest to all students, and build a network with other Dallas Christian attorneys through our new mentor program.
Corporate Law Association
The CLA seeks to further the individual welfare of its members, to foster education and research in the fields of law and commerce, and to educate the student body to appreciate the integration of law and commerce.
Criminal Law Association
The Criminal Law Association's purpose is to educate students about the different aspects of criminal law and provide them with opportunities to network with professionals who have already made their mark in the field.
Energy Law Association
The SMU Energy Law Association's (ELA) objectives are to raise awareness of energy related legal issues; to generate student interest in energy law, to facilitate an ongoing dialogue regarding energy law and related legal issues; and to embrace the educational opportunities of law students interested in energy law. ELA meets these objectives through meetings, speakers, and mentoring.
Environmental Law Society
We create opportunities for students to understand issues and meet people involved in the use and management of natural resources and provide a forum for discussion of environmental law.
Family Law Association
The FLA has as its goal to raise awareness of family law issues in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex.
Federalist Law Society
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state and legal order. The Society is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that the judiciary's duty is to say what the law is, not what it should be. The Society seeks both to promote the awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities. This entails reordering priorities within the legal system to place a premium on individual liberty, traditional values, and the rule of law.
Health Law Association
The objectives of the SMU Health Law Association (HLA) are to raise awareness of health related legal issues; to generate student interest in health law, to facilitate an ongoing dialogue regarding health law and related legal issues; and to embrace the educational opportunities of law students interested in health law. HLA meets these objectives through meetings, speakers, and mentoring.
Hispanic American Law Students Association
HLSA's purpose is to serve as a support organization for Hispanic students, to facilitate awareness of education and professional opportunities to these students, and to promote Hispanic interests and awareness in the larger community through involvement with other campus minority organizations, community service projects, and interaction with the Dallas Hispanic legal community. By planning meetings and events that welcome all students at SMU Dedman School of Law, HLSA aims to serve the larger law school community, as well as those who choose to be HLSA members.
Intellectual Property Organization
The IPO is one of the most active interest based organizations of Dedman School of Law. Meetings are frequently held to cover various aspects of Intellectual Property including Copyright, Trademark, Tradeservice, and Patent Law. IPO also hosts numerous speaker events to discuss topics such as the practical business application of IP law and how to prepare for the the Patent Bar. IPO also serves as a career base for students interested in IP law as we are the first to hear about job, moot court and out-of-school networking opportunities specifically designed for students interested in IP.
International Law Review Association
Statement Pending
International Law Society
Mission Statement: promote awareness, study, and understanding of international law and related issues; to encourage communication and cooperation among law students and lawyers internationally; to contribute to legal education; to promote social responsibility in the field of law; to increase opportunities to learn about other cultures and legal systems worldwide; and to publicize career opportunities in international law.
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
We affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction. Our goals are to foster public service and professional excellence in order to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.
Jewish Law Students Association
JLSA is a cultural, social, and educational organization that reflects the varied interests of the Jewish student community of SMU Dedman School of Law.
Muslim Law Students Association
Statement Pending
Older Wiser Law Students (OWLS)
We support older, married and non traditional law students and their spouses/significant others.
Phi Alpha Delta
The purpose of this Fraternity shall be to form a strong bond uniting students and teachers of the law with members of the Bench and Bar in a fraternal fellowship designed to advance the ideals of liberty and equal justice under law; to stimulate excellence in scholarship; to inspire the virtues of compassion and courage; to foster integrity and professional competence; to promote the welfare of its members; and to encourage their moral, intellectual, and cultural advancement; so that each member may enjoy a lifetime of honorable professional and public service.
Phi Delta Phi
Statement Pending
Real Estate Law Association
The Real Estate Law Association serves the unique interests of law students interested in pursing a career in real estate through connecting law students to the larger real estate legal community. We invite real estate practitioners in the fields of law and finance to speak at workshops and seminars at the law school. We encourage networking in the real estate community by keeping students updated on DFW real estate events and organization membership opportunities.
Science and Technology Law Review
Statement Pending
Second Amendment Foundation
Statement Pending
SMU Law Review Association
Statement Pending
SMU OutLaw (formally LEGALS)
Outlaw is a student organization dedicated to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender persons and their allies in society, in the legal community, and at SMU Dedman School of Law. Outlaw provides a forum for the discussion of legal, social, political, and academic issues affecting our community.
Sports & Entertainment Law Association
The objectives of the Sports and Entertainment Law Organization shall be to: bring together students interested in the field of Sports and Entertainment law; present speakers who are experts in their respective fields of Sports and Entertainment law; facilitate student/faculty relationships; develop relationships between students and Sports and Entertainment Law attorneys in the Dallas/Fort Worth area; act as a source for Sports and Entertainment Law information at the SMU Dedman School of Law and the Dallas/ Fort Worth area; and to promote academic and career opportunities for all SMU Dedman School of Law students interested in Sports and Entertainment Law.
Student Bar Association (SBA)
The SMU Student Bar Association is composed of all students in the School of Law. Officers, second-year, and third year class representatives are elected in the spring semester of each academic year. Class representatives for first-year students are elected approximately one month after the fall semester has commenced. Find more information about the Law School’s SBA on their website.
Texas Trial Lawyer's Association
Promotion of plaintiff rights.
Women in Law
Women in Law (WIL) is a student organization that strives to increase career, mentoring and networking opportunities for all women at the Dedman School of Law. WIL is a platform for the professional advancement and collaboration of women in the legal profession. The organization develops programs in alumnae outreach, professional and personal development, recruiting and community service. In addition to a full calendar of events, WIL hosts an annual Spring Tea for all Dedman Law women students, professors, and alumnae. In 2007, WIL launched a new program, the Women's Welcome, as a fall kick-off event to welcome new and returning women students to the Dedman Law community.