Please refer to the drop-down menu to your right for a list of the organizations by category. Please note that many organizations fit into more than one category.

AFRICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
The purpose of the African Law Students Association is to articulate, promote, and provide a forum for students, professors, and professionals to meet and pursue their interest in African cultures, languages, societies, and laws. Our goal is to sponsor and support formal and informal events that provide insight into African law and culture, and into current issues concerning the relationship between Africa, the United States, and the rest of the world. We also hope to build a network between current members and alumni.
Contact:  alsa@law.columbia.edu. 

ALPINE SOCIETY
The Alpine Society is a group of approximately fifty law students dedicated to promoting group-oriented social outlets for the Law School community by organizing outdoor recreation trips. Our activities include, among others, skiing and snowboarding, rock climbing, and hiking. We also aspire to foster increased awareness in the Columbia Law School community of legal issues affecting outdoor recreation. In the past, the Alpine Society has organized weekend trips to ski areas in New England and spring break trips to resorts in British Columbia and Utah. We welcome members of all levels, from novices to experts.  Contact:  alpine_society@law.columbia.edu

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was founded in 1920 by citizens concerned about mass arrests of suspected radicals by the Justice Department. Since then, the ACLU has continued to fight to protect and secure the rights guaranteed by our Constitution. Belief in civil liberties for all Americans has sometimes required the ACLU to defend unpopular groups and unsympathetic characters. The Columbia chapter, established in April 1991, serves to focus attention on constitutional law and civil liberties issues of national, regional, and campus interest through many events, such as debates, seminars, training sessions, and speaker programs. Chapter members can get involved in other activities, including assisting ACLU lawyers with legal research, drafting position papers about civil liberties issues, contributing newspaper items about civil liberties topics or events, and speaking about civil rights issues. As a relatively new organization here, the ACLU continues to refine its mission to meet the needs and interests of our members and the Law School and University communities. Students, faculty, and staff are all welcome to join and participate. 
Contact:  aclu@law.columbia.edu

AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is a new national organization of students, professors, practicing lawyers, and others who want to counter the narrow conservative vision of United States law that we believe lacks appropriate regard for the ways in which the law affects people's lives. We believe that the fundamental principles of respect for human dignity, protection of individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice should be returned to their rightful, and traditionally central, place in United States law.

To those lofty ends, our humble chapter sponsors many programs throughout the year, including speakers and panels, a brown-bag policy series, and our famous monthly happy hours. We also provide an ever-growing national network of like-minded alums and local practitioners.
Contact:  acs@law.columbia.edu

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Thousands of people are in prison because of their beliefs. Many are held without charge or trial. Torture and the death penalty are widespread. In many countries, men, women, and children have "disappeared" after being taken into official custody. Still others have been killed without any pretense of legality. These human rights abuses occur in countries of widely differing ideologies. Amnesty International is an independent, worldwide movement of people dedicated to the protection and promotion of internationally-recognized human rights.

The Columbia chapter shares this vision and works towards its fulfillment through campaigns touching on all areas of human rights. In addition to conducting monthly meetings and sponsoring letter writing events, we work with other student groups and outside organizations to educate the law school community about pressing human rights issues through speakers, panel discussions, and film screenings. We invite you to get involved, and we welcome your questions and ideas.
Contact: amnesty_international@law.columbia.edu

ASIAN AND PACIFIC AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION The Asian and Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) facilitates awareness and discussion of issues and events which affect the Asian Pacific American and other minority groups within the legal world and society at large. Columbia's APALSA chapter is one of the most active and cohesive Asian American law student organizations in the country, with a history of social change and responsibility. In 1997, APALSA was responsible for setting up a seminar about Asian American Jurisprudence, one of the first of this type in the nation. Our alumni have spread across the world, creating a strong network of connections and offering professional advice in several fields. Since the law school is pre-professional as well as academic, APALSA makes a concerted effort to provide guidance services to our members.

During the school year, APALSA sponsors a job search workshop to assist those seeking public interest and firm jobs. In addition, APALSA is involved with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), and professionals from both the public and private sectors, including judges, district attorneys, public interest lawyers working in the Asian American community, and partners in private law firms, all of whom keep APALSA informed about current events, issues, and opportunities. During the academic year, APALSA attempts to ease the anxieties of first-year students by providing an upper-class student advisor or "mentor." APALSA organizes study workshops and review sessions, and compiles and makes available study aids and outlines for all foundation courses. Scattered throughout the year are social events, such as happy hours, cultural and arts activities, and dinner parties.
Contact: apalsa@law.columbia.edu

BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is a chapter of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). NBLSA is the largest student-run organization in the United States, with more than 200 chapters at law schools throughout the country. These chapters represent more than 6,000 black law students. The organization's purpose is two-fold: to facilitate the academic and professional development of African-American students at Columbia and to instill in them a greater commitment to the needs of the black community.

BLSA is a very active organization at the Law School. It is involved in the recruiting of African-American students and professors to Columbia. It provides many services to first-year law students in order to make their transition to Columbia as smooth as possible, including mentoring, course review sessions, and resume and career workshops. BLSA celebrates the rich culture of its diversity, which includes those of African, African-American, and Afro-Caribbean descent through its Black Solidarity Day luncheon, Kwanzaa celebration, and Black History Month events.

BLSA enjoys strong support and continued contact with Columbia's African-American professors and administrators. BLSA also maintains strong ties with alumni through career panels, alumni speakers, and a spring alumni dinner. BLSA recognizes the responsibility that black law students and attorneys have to serve the black community. Accordingly, BLSA is involved in several community outreach programs where students serve as mentors and teach basic legal rights in nearby elementary and junior high schools. Through other community service events, such as toy and food drives, and voter registration drives, BLSA reaches out to the Harlem community. The Columbia chapter participates in BLSA activities on a sub-regional, regional, and national level. It routinely plans and participates in joint events with other New York area law schools and attends and participates in both regional and national conventions and the National Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition.
Contact:  blsa@law.columbia.edu


CALIFORNIA SOCIETY
The California Society of Columbia Law School is dedicated to
representing and developing the ties of the many CLS students and
alumni with an interest in California. In fact, almost 200 CLS
students are from California, and 2000 alumni live in the state.
We are committed to developing a social, intellectual, and
professional environment for students and alumni through events,
job resources, panels, speakers, and mentoring programs. Through
collaboration with other organizations and the administration, we
aim to become the central resource for students and alumni in
connecting California and Columbia Law School.
Contact: CaliforniaSociety@law.columbia.edu

CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY
The Christian Legal Society (CLS) is a non-denominational Christian fellowship which conducts weekly meetings and social events open to all. The focus of the gatherings is discussing and learning how the Christian faith can play a vital role in one's study and practice of law. CLS weekly meetings generally involve student-led Bible studies, although outside speakers often are invited to talk. CLS also sponsors various outreach events, retreats, and meetings with other Christians at Columbia and in New York.
Contact:  christian_legal_society@law.columbia.edu

CIVIL RIGHTS LAW SOCIETY
The Civil Rights Law Society is an organization dedicated to initiating discourse on civil rights issues, both domestic and international. CRLS provides a forum for scholars, practitioners, and law students to share their ideas and experiences through guest lectures, panel discussions, conferences, and community service/pro bono events. Past events have included a panel on careers in civil rights with practitioners from government, academia, private practice, and non-profits; a dinner and panel discussion on criminal law and civil rights; and a panel on voting rights fifty years after Brown vs. Board of Education. CRLS also aims to help prepare Columbia Law School graduates to enter both the public and private sectors armed with a stronger consciousness of civil rights issues. 
Contact:  crls@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LATIN AMERICAN BUSINESS AND LAW ASSOCIATION
The Columbia Latin American Business and Law Association (CLABLA) was founded by a group of LL.M. students at Columbia. Our purpose is to bring together students, faculty, and alumni interested in the relationship between the law of Latin American countries and the United States legal system. We promote integration among our members; develop contacts with law firms, business organizations, and governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations; and assist incoming Latin American students. CLABLA members will gladly to answer any inquiries you may have.
Contact:  clabla@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW REVUE
The Columbia Law Revue is a student group founded for the purpose of bringing hilarity to the Law School. Each year, we put on two shows—a cabaret in the fall, and a musical parody of life at the Law School in the spring, written and produced entirely by students. We promote stress relief through cheesy comedy, silly songs, and beer, both for our cast members and for the Law School community at large. Though we do provide a place for Law School divas to strut their stuff, talent is not a requirement for membership.
Contact:  law_revue@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL LIBERTARIANS
The mission of the Columbia Law School Libertarians is to promote the principles of libertarianism through educational, legal, and political activity. We seek to provide a forum to explore the connection between individual liberty and the law. Previous events have included speakers from public policy think tanks and public interest litigation firms, such as the Cato Institute and the Institute for Justice. In addition, the Law School Libertarians supports its members in finding pro bono and fellowship opportunities. The group also maintains close ties with the Columbia College Libertarians.
Contact:  clsl@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL REPUBLICANS
Columbia Law School Republicans is the hub for a progressively-more-visible community of Republicans at Columbia Law School. We welcome with open arms Republicans of every stripe, color, affiliation and denomination, and encourage you to speak proudly of your political leanings to your classmates and in the classroom. We serve to provide forums for balanced political discussion, to act as a place to meet and mingle with your co-politicos, and as a launching pad for networking and political involvement.
Contact:  clsr@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL SOCCER ASSOCIATION
The Columbia Law School Soccer Association (CLSSA) organizes teams to play in intramural tournaments as well as in city-wide leagues. CLSSA also organizes pick-up games and games against other Columbia graduate schools.
Contact:  lssa@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL SOFTBALL CLUB
The Columbia Law School Softball Club provides students of all skill levels a chance to escape the tedium of textbooks and the cement of the city for the exercise and excitement of softball. Humble your favorite professor in the bi-annual Student-Faculty Tournament, help defend the Law School's title as Columbia University Intramural Champions, or travel to Virginia to participate in a national law school softball tournament.
Contact:  clsc@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL TRIAL TEAM
The Columbia Law School Trial Team (CLSTT) represents Columbia at a variety of interscholastic trial advocacy tournaments, most notably competitions sponsored by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), the Texas Young Lawyers' Association (TYLA), and the American Bar Association (ABA). Team members selected via a selective tryout process that takes place each fall semester have an opportunity to participate as attorneys or as witnesses and to explore their interest in potential future careers in litigation practice. Attorneys write and deliver their own opening and closing statements and examinations at trial, while witnesses employ their acting skills to portray credible characters on the stand. In addition to attending tournaments, team members also have the chance to attend valuable workshops on evidence and procedure and to participate in Team social events interspersed throughout the academic year.
Contact:   trial_team@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL DEMOCRATS
The Columbia Law School Young Democrats provides a link between students and the Democratic party, and it campaigns at all levels. We serve as a forum for information and discussion about political issues and a resource for political activism for Democratic causes in New York and nationally.
Contact:   cld@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA REAL ESTATE LAW SOCIETY
The Columbia Real Estate Law Society (CRELS) aims to spark dialogue about real estate law, development, and property management; present networking opportunities with practitioners in those fields; and inspire creative approaches to real estate. CRELS organizes panels and speakers on a range of topics relating to real estate law. Last year, we heard from a lawyer from a large New York law firm who handled complicated hotel acquisitions, hosted a panel on trends in real estate, and discussed innovative urban development with an environmentally-friendly developer. Next year, we will be working with real estate groups at the New York University's Real Estate Association to plan more events.
Contact:   crel@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA SECURITIES LAW ASSOCIATION

The Columbia Securities & Private Equity Law Association was founded to provide a forum for students to meet and discuss current topics affecting securities, private equity firms, hedge funds, and investment banks with professors, practitioners, and professional organizations. Our Association offers consistent and ongoing academic and professional support for those students interested in the fields of Capital Markets, Hedge Funds, Securities Regulation, and Private Equity.
Contact: csla@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA SOCIETY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
The Columbia Society of International Law (CSIL) is Columbia Law School's principal student group dedicated to issues involving international law. The Society informs its members about opportunities to practice international law and current issues in international law; provides members in-person access to many of the top international firms; allows members the opportunity to meet leading scholars in the field; offers guidance and advice on career paths in the fields of public and private international law; and permits opportunities for American and international law students and alumni to form connections with each other that span the globe after graduation from Columbia Law School.
Website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/csil/ 
Contact:  csil@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA STRATEGIC SIMULATION SOCIETY
The Columbia Strategic Simulation Society (CSSS) is a group of Law School students, faculty, and staff dedicated to the enjoyment of strategic simulations. CSSS aims to benefit the Columbia Law School community by providing a group-oriented social outlet through promoting strategic board and card games, particularly imported games of Germanic origin, such as Die Siedler von Catan, Carcassone, and Löwenherz. CSSS provides an extracurricular opportunity open to all members of the Columbia Law School community and actively seeks new members to teach the hobby of strategic gaming.
Contact:  csss@law.columbia.edu

COLUMBIA LAW WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
The Columbia Law School Women's Association (CLWA) works to advance the position of women in the Law School, legal profession, and society at large. Although women have increased their opportunities in the legal profession, gender bias remains a problem. Such bias continues to present obstacles to women in the profession and to hinder the development of laws reflecting the needs and perspectives of women. Each year, CLWA conducts a mentoring program where first-year students get matched with second- and third-year student members. There is also an academic panel to pass along studying tips and an exam de-stressing session in the fall.

CLWA brings speakers to Columbia for discussions and forums about important issues. Past topics have included: women in law firms, women in public interest, women on the bench, international women's rights, sexual harassment, feminist jurisprudence, and the balance between professional and family obligations. Every spring, CLWA sponsors the Myra Bradwell Dinner, a day to celebrate women in the legal profession. In 1869, Myra Bradwell was denied admission to the Illinois bar because she was a married woman. Past speakers have included Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, and Geraldine Ferraro.

CLWA serves as a liaison to alumnae and to the administration about issues of concern to women. The group also coordinates an outreach program to admitted women students and networks with women's groups at the University to inform the Law School community about their campus events.
Contact: clwa@law.columbia.edu

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK
The Criminal Justice Action Network (CJAN) is an organization of students dedicated to increasing the justice in the criminal ‘justice' system. Our main focus is the abolition of the death penalty. We also work on related issues such as improved indigent defense and prisoners' rights. Our mission is twofold: to increase awareness of such issues in the Law School community and to assist attorneys on various cases. Each year, we organize spring break caravans, in which students travel to New Orleans, Atlanta, and San Francisco to work with organizations doing capital defense work. There are also opportunities to do pro bono work throughout the school year. In addition, we sponsor speakers, film screenings, and opportunities for students to visit prisons in the area. This should be a really exciting year—we hope you'll be a part of it.
Contact: cjan@law.columbia.edu

DEANS' CUP
The Deans' Cup is an annual basketball competition between teams from Columbia and NYU Law School. Started in the spring of 2002, the Deans' Cup raises funds for public interest organizations at both schools. The Deans' Cup unites students, faculty, and alumni while fostering camaraderie between two of the foremost law schools in the city. With firm sponsorship and student dedication, the Deans' Cup is one of the most exciting events at the Law School.
Contact:  deanscup@law.columbia.edu

DE VINIMUS
De Vinimus is an organization that provides the opportunity to learn about and enjoy wine. De Vinimus conducts several tastings each semester focused on different regions and styles of wine production. Tastings are led by wine producers, writers, sommeliers, and other experts in the field. Yearly membership dues guarantee a spot at all events, although guest spots are frequently available.  
Contact:  DeVinimus@law.columbia.edu

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT
The Domestic Violence Project (DVP) raises awareness about domestic violence and provides legal services to battered women. Our activities include the Courtroom Advocates Project, Uncontested Divorce Workshop, Battered Immigrant Women's Project, and Domestic Violence Awareness Week.

The Courtroom Advocates Project (CAP) is a joint program with five other New York City law schools. CAP participants help women obtain orders of protection against abusive partners by drafting petitions and advocating for them in family court. The project is supported by several full-time attorneys and six different New York agencies which specialize in legal problems associated with domestic violence. Through the Uncontested Divorce Workshop, students work with attorneys to assist low-income women who are victims of domestic violence to obtain divorces from their batterers. Students complete and file all the necessary papers in New York Supreme Court. Participants in the Battered Immigrant Women's Project assist abused immigrant women in obtaining residency status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petition process. Students are assigned a client and complete the petition from beginning to end, learning skills such as interviewing clients and drafting affidavits. During Domestic Violence Awareness Week, DVP organizes speakers, panels, fundraising, and other activities aimed at raising awareness and educating the Law School community.
Contact:  dvp@law.columbia.edu

ENTERTAINMENT, ART, AND SPORTS LAW SOCIETY
The Entertainment, Art, and Sports Law Society (EASLS) is one of the largest and most active student organizations at the Law School, with more than 70 members interested in legal careers in the professional entertainment, arts, or sports industries. EASLS explores legal issues and trends affecting these industries and educates students about career opportunities through panel discussions, roundtables, and lectures. EASLS members are afforded the chance to meet top entertainment and sports law practitioners, including many Columbia alumni. EASLS also tries to enrich the cultural life of the Law School community through many cultural offerings in New York City. In addition, EASLS members have access to job lists and job panels and to special deals and free tickets to sports, arts, and social events throughout the city.
Contact: easls@law.columbia.edu; Click here for the EASLS website.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SOCIETY
The Environmental Law Society (ELS) is for students who are concerned about environmental issues and/or interested in environmental careers. We actively pursue expansion of the environmental curriculum and promote improved environmental efforts by the Law School. ELS hosts events with top environmental practitioners from the government, public interest groups, and private law firms. In addition to these panel discussions and informal lunches, we also host large-scale events, such as an Earth Day celebration and outdoor events such as hiking trips, park clean-ups, and tree-planting. ELS welcomes all interested new students and offers ample opportunity to become involved at any level.
Contact:  els@law.columbia.edu

FEDERALIST SOCIETY
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. It 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 it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. At Columbia Law School, we sponsor debates and events to help promote an awareness of these principles. We encourage everyone to join and participate.
Contact: federalist_society@law.columbia.edu

FOR ENACTING HUMANE DRUG POLICY
For Enacting Humane Drug Policy (FEHDP) is dedicated to bringing justice and humanity to the "War on Drugs." FEHDP's goal is to eradicate the encroachment of individual civil liberties and human rights caused by current drug enforcement policies and to promote effective ways to reduce and prevent drug abuse in society. FEHDP offers students a unique, safe forum for the expression and exchange of ideas regarding drug reform policy. FEHDP is the first law student organization in the country to focus on drug reform policy. We welcome all students interested in drug policy issues, regardless of political affiliation or personal beliefs.
Contact:  fehdp@law.columbia.edu

HARLEM TUTORIAL PROGRAM
The Harlem Tutorial Program was established in 1982 in partnership with a local junior high school to provide academic assistance and mentoring to students. Each semester, approximately fifty Law School and Business School students tutor and serve as role models for approximately the same number of local high school students. We meet with our students once a week for one-and-a-half hours. In that time, we make an enormous difference in the lives of young people. Each tutor is paired with one student to provide very focused, one-on-one attention. During each session, tutors assist students with homework and spend time with books and games that are supplied. We also plan off-site events for the group. Harlem Tutorial is a wonderful opportunity to share with and give back to the community in which we live. Tutors regard the program as fun and rewarding, not to mention a much needed escape from the rigors of law school life. We value this program as a way to keep us connected to our neighboring children. Please join us.
Contact:   htp@law.columbia.edu

HIGH SCHOOL LAW INSTITUTE

Classes are held Saturday mornings on Columbia 's campus. Beyond introducing the high school students to advanced legal subjects, HSLI focuses on sparking student participation and conversation, exploring the relevance of legal topics to students' everyday lives, and honing the tools necessary for the students to effectively express their opinions. Over the course of the program, teachers come to serve as mentors, advisors, and friends to their students.

If you enjoy working with kids, inspiring them to learn in a dynamic and lively setting, and can spare time to teach for an hour a week, please be in touch for more info. P.S. Don't worry if you've never even read the Constitution, a syllabus and tons of support are provided!
Contact: hsli@law.columbia.edu

IMPACT
Impact is a national, nonpartisan network of law students organized to ensure the integrity of the voting process. Impact is organizing thousands of law students across the country to serve as poll monitors in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin. To create a broad coalition of students, Impact uses existing national student networks, including the National Black Law Students Association, the Latino/a Law Students Association, and the National Lawyers Guild. Impact is a member of Election Protection, a coalition of more than 60 nonprofit organizations dedicated to ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to cast a vote that will be counted. Individuals, small groups of students, and organized chapters make up the foundation of Impact. At its core, Impact provides volunteers with poll monitor trainings, media and fundraising support, and assistance in transportation to targeted states and precincts.
Contact:  IMPACT@columbia.edu

J. REUBEN CLARK LAW SOCIETY
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society has been an organized association at Columbia for more than twenty years. It serves members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the "Mormons") and all others interested in participating in the group's discussions and activities. We meet weekly to discuss topics of interest. In the past, we have invited scholars, attorneys, religious leaders, and students to lead these discussions. The group also sponsors social activities and an occasional forum. Anyone (no matter his or her degree of affiliation with the Mormon community) should feel welcome.
Contact:  jrcls@law.columbia.edu

JEWISH LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
The Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) is a group whose purpose is to unite Jewish law students of all backgrounds for social, religious, and educational activities. We serve as a meeting point for social activities. We attend to Jewish student concerns in the Law School (classes missed due to holidays, for example). We are a resource for information about Judaism and Jewish activities in New York. We are a liaison to pro bono, public interest, and legal career options within the Jewish community.

There is a membership drive made in the beginning of the first semester, and all students are encouraged to join throughout their years at Columbia. Our past events have included a debate between Alan Dershowitz and Nat Lewin about the wall between Church and State, a Friday night dinner with the editor of a controversial Jewish magazine, many intra-graduate student Shabbat dinners, an apples ‘n honey table providing information for the High Holy Days, an awesome Chanukah party, and many events in conjunction with the Columbia University Hillel graduate student committee. We have assisted the UJA in its fundraising drives and worked with Koleinu (Law Students for Israel) to sponsor the sale of trees planted in Israel. We welcome any level of commitment and participation. We hope you will join us and look forward to meeting you. Shalom!
Contact:   JLSA@columbia.edu

KOLEINU LAW STUDENTS FOR ISRAEL
Koleinu was founded in the spring of 2001 by students committed to the existence of an independent Jewish state. Koleinu allows those with an interest in Israel, the Middle East, and the practice of law in Israel to come together and share ideas, exchange information, learn from one another's experiences, and establish a wide-ranging network. In particular, Koleinu aims to educate and to promote an open dialogue between ourselves and the larger student body about issues facing Israel. Koleinu has benefited from a large increase in membership during the past year. We also have begun to collaborate and strengthen our working relationship with other graduate and undergraduate school programs.

During the past year, we sponsored lectures by professors and international law experts from Israel, the United Nations, and the Columbia community about many legal issues regarding the conflict in the Middle East. We viewed several documentary films to generate a greater appreciation and awareness for the challenges and hopes of Israel. Most recently, Koleinu participated in organizing a celebration for Israel Independence Day on the Columbia campus. Koleinu members meet monthly for a pizza lunch to discuss current events and plans for upcoming events. We encourage faculty members and visiting professors to join our meetings. As one of the newest student organizations, we are eager to build our membership, and we welcome your involvement.
Contact:  koleinu@law.columbia.edu

LATINO/A LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
The Latino/a Law Students Association (LaLSA) sponsors academic, cultural, social, and community service activities to promote understanding of the Latino community. We discuss issues that affect and/or interest Latinos. LaLSA serves as a liaison between its members and the administration, the general student body, alumni and other professionals in the legal field. LaLSA also works to increase the number of Latino/a students and faculty at Columbia Law School and to ensure that students receive the necessary support to achieve academic and professional success. Most activities focus on first-year students. LaLSA offers many programs to ease the transition to law school and the legal profession, including an adviser program in which upper-class students are paired with first-year students to provide advice and support, as well as course outlines, textbooks, and old exams. Several tutorials and review sessions take place throughout the year about topics ranging from study tips to finding summer employment. LaLSA welcomes everyone to join and participate.
Contact:   llsa@law.columbia.edu

MOOT COURT
Columbia University's Moot Court Programs consist of the first-year Foundation Program, the Harlan Fiske Stone Honors Competition, and the Jerome Michael Jury Trial. Each provides students with the opportunity to develop their written and oral advocacy skills. Participation in the first-year Program is mandatory for all first-year students, whereas Stone and Jerome Michael are elective activities for upperclass students. In addition to these "intramural" programs, Columbia participates in other national moot court competitions (e.g. Frederick Douglass, NALSA, and Jessup). First-year students may use participation in these national competitions to satisfy their Foundation Moot Court requirement.

MUSLIM LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
The Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) was founded to provide for the social, religious, and intellectual needs and interests of Muslim students and to increase exposure to domestic and international legal, cultural, and political issues affecting Muslim communities. Many of MLSA's activities are conducted in conjunction with the larger Muslim Students Association on the Columbia campus, such as weekly Friday prayers and weekday iftars during Ramadan.

In its inaugural event, MLSA organized a panel discussion and reception focused on the use of "secret evidence" in immigration cases, a civil rights issue in the United States affecting mostly Muslim and Arab immigrants. In October 2002, MLSA sponsored the Third Annual National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML) conference, which brought together Muslim lawyers from across the United States for a weekend-long conference to discuss the most relevant issues that the Muslim legal community faces today.
Contact:   mlsa@law.columbia.edu

NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is a radical coalition dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. We seek to unite United States lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers to function as a political and social force in the service of the people—human rights shall be more sacred than property interests. We actively seek to eliminate racism and to protect the civil rights and liberties of all in the face of oppression.

Columbia University's chapter has more than 100 members. We serve as a link between students and both the New York City chapter and the national NLG organization. We are invited to attend many of the national organization's events and projects. We also initiate projects of our own, such as the Tenants' Rights Project (TRP), which assists unrepresented tenants who have pending eviction cases in housing court. Participation in TRP counts toward the law school pro bono requirement and is a wonderful opportunity to receive practical experience in landlord-tenant and poverty law. NLG also trains legal observers to serve at rallies and demonstrations, presents educational and political panels, and engages in activism at the law school.
Contact:   nlg@law.columbia.edu

NATIVE AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
The Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) was founded in 1989 to foster academic support for Native American students and others interested in American Indian Legal issues. NALSA provides an informational and support network for students interested in indigenous legal and cultural issues. NALSA seeks to increase awareness of Indian issues, viewpoints, culture and societies. In addition to providing support and help to Native American law students, NALSA has focused on increasing Indian recruitment in response to the historically low Indian enrollment at law schools. NALSA works with the Office of Admissions to build a vital and diverse Native American student body.

NALSA sponsors several educational and social events annually. These include cultural events, speaker presentations, and a potluck dinner. NALSA has worked with other student groups to sponsor cultural events and to foster a dialogue enhancing student faculty appreciation for the voices of diverse groups. For example, NALSA was the sponsor of the 2003 National NALSA Moot Court Competition. NALSA played a central role in the 1993 presentation of the Pueblo Jemez Repatriation Project. This involved the largest repatriation in United States history of sacred Indian objects. The tribal delegation honored us by speaking about the repatriation process along with museum officials and well-known community leaders. Members of NALSA attend the Annual Federal Indian Bar Conference conducted each spring in Albuquerque and attend the mid-year D.C. Indian Conference. Some NALSA members participate in the Human Rights Program and receive grants to work in their respective native communities or other indigenous communities during the summer.
Contact: nalsa@law.columbia.edu

NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS TUTORIAL PROGRAM
Neighborhood Kids is a weekly tutoring program to work with kids from the neighborhood around Columbia University. The children in the program range in age from six to fifteen. For two hours every week, students tutor these children by helping them with their homework and/or using the workbooks and books the program has acquired. There is also "play time" at the end of each session, allowing tutors to also serve as mentors to the children. Beyond our goal of improving the basic reading, writing, and math skills of our tutees and having fun, Neighborhood Kids is uniquely designed to have an impact on the community immediately surrounding Columbia. 
Contact:  nkt@law.columbia.edu

NHK: JAPANESE LEGAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION
As a proud contributor to Columbia University's unrivaled commitment to Japanese studies, Nihon Houritsu Kenkyuukai (NHK), or the Japanese Legal Studies Association, serves the legal community by organizing social, cultural, and educational events related to Japan, as well as providing information on the many opportunities available at Columbia and in New York for people with Japanese interests. In addition, we strive to facilitate interaction between Japanese members of the Law School community and those interested in Japan or Japanese law. Many of our members come to Columbia as accomplished business, government, or legal professionals in Japan and provide an opportunity to exchange ideas about Japanese and/or international law and practice.

We welcome anyone with an interest in , regardless of level of familiarity with its culture or language. Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have.
Contact:   nhk@law.columbia.edu

OLDER AND WISER LAW STUDENTS
While it is uncertain how many of us are actually wiser, most of us are at least a little bit older than the average law school student and are returning to school after a break in our formal education, married or with a partner, have children, or any combination of the above. Students of all ages, however, are welcome to join. Older and Wiser Law Students (OWLS) provides a forum to meet other non-traditional students with similar interests. The group sponsors various social events throughout the year, including happy hours and panels about conducting a job search, working in a law firm, and balancing life as a law student with family commitments.

OUTLAWS
Outlaws is Columbia Law School 's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student organization. Outlaws has three goals: to provide a social forum for LGBT students, to encourage political activism regarding LGBT rights and to ensure an inclusive academic environment for the LGBT community. We welcome the participation of all students, including those who do not identify as queer. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to simply express your interest.
Contact:   outlaws@law.columbia.edu

PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FOUNDATION

PILF supports using legal education in public service as a way of enriching local communities, as well as the careers and personal lives of law students and attorneys.  Last year, PILF won a major victory! We saw the fruition of years of effort when Columbia Law School promised to guarantee funding for public interest oriented summer jobs to all students.  Of course, this promise depends on PILF's continued financial support.  We are thrilled about this announcement.

But PILF is not finished yet! PILF believes that it should be easier for law students to engage in public interest work, while in law school and after graduation, in all capacities—government jobs, corporate work, non-profit employment—and we are determined to meet that challenge.

We are an independent non-profit organization, but more importantly, we are a community of law students and alumni devoted to public interest advocacy.  We are unique from other CLS student groups in the leadership opportunities we offer to law students, and in the access we provide to working attorneys and alumni.

Ways to get involved:

• PILF Student Board: PILF wants YOU to be a 1L student board rep.  Elections are held in early September.
• Community Grants: PILF provides grants to public interest legal organizations.   Be a part of the important decision-making process!
• Student Events: PILF hosts mixers, panels and forums on a wide variety of topics. Have a great idea?  Help us plan some great events for the upcoming year.
• Fundraising: Last year PILF raised $100,000 through various initiatives!
• We host a classy dinner each fall where PILF honors an attorney who has made significant contributions to public interest work.  Help plan this incredible event.
• PILF puts on an Annual Auction each spring in our biggest bash of the year! Donate services and goods, help plan the big night, and make sure to bid!
• PILF supports the Dean's Cup basketball game in late spring and is a recipient of funds raised from this awesome night.  Be a volunteer at the big game!
• Help run PILF's used law bookstore and buy our very cheap books!

Contact: pilf@law.columbia.edu

QANUN
Qanun, Columbia's North African and Middle Eastern Association, aims to raise awareness in the Law School community as well as the University community about the legal, political, social, and cultural realities lived by the peoples of North Africa and the Middle East. Qanun plans to organize a joint panel regarding the current situation in the Middle East. This year, our Arabian Nights party will be even bigger and better. Other initiatives include the film series, guest speakers, and an Arab American Comedy Night. All are welcome to join and participate in these events throughout the year.
Contact:  qanun@law.columbia.edu

RIGHTSLINK
RightsLink was founded in 1993 by students who believed that the rich resources of the Columbia and New York area would provide assistance to groups working for human rights around the world. It has since expanded to include individuals in the New York legal and academic community, and it has developed strong ties with the Center for the Study of Human Rights at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Students working with RightsLink research various issues on the request of human rights organizations, ranging from death penalty jurisprudence to language discrimination issues. Research projects include fulfilling requests for domestic and international legal information, and substantive legal research and writing. Students gain legal research skills and experience, and they help develop a new concept in human rights assistance. RightsLink also serves as a bridge between the Law School and the Center for the Study of Human Rights at SIPA.
Contact:  Rightslink@law.columbia.edu

STUDENT ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND (SALDF)
Columbia Law School ’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapter consists of students who understand the rapidly growing field of animal law and seek the skills to protect animal welfare through law reform.  The chapter is devoted to publishing animal law scholarship, doing research for attorneys working on animal law cases, and educating the wider law school community about this new area of law that constantly intersects more "traditional" areas- including tort, criminal, contract, trust & estates, family, and constitutional law.  Activities include local pro bono opportunities, speaker events, vegetarian/vegan socials, and film screenings.  Additionally, SALDF is committed to supporting the effort to ensure that Columbia Law School continues to offer animal law classes and seminars.  ALDF helps student animal law groups get off the ground, provides educational resources and activities, and assists with worthwhile projects.  To learn more about SALDF, click here. 
Contact: mailto:saldf@law.columbia.edu

SOCIETY FOR CHINESE LAW

The Society for Chinese Law is an organization for those interested in legal development and legal practice in the greater region, to come together to share ideas, exchange information and experiences, and establish contacts that extend beyond the Law School. The Society works to generate interest and raise awareness about the exciting legal developments taking place in the greater region.
Contact:  scl@law.columbia.edu

SOCIETY FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS
The Society for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (SIRR) is dedicated to promoting a dialogue about legal rights of refugees and immigrants in the United States and globally. Students sponsor panels, conduct immigration and asylum workshops, and organize a career forum about immigration and refugee laws. Additionally, SIRR helps run the Battered Immigrant Women's Project and Pro Se Immigrant Rights Project.
Contact:   sirr@law.columbia.edu

SOCIETY FOR LAW, HEALTH, AND BIOETHICS
The Society for Law, Health, and Bioethics (SLHB) is a group of law students who meet to explore legal, ethical, and practical problems raised by contemporary issues in medical ethics, health policy, and technology. SLHB provides a forum for students to explore emerging topics with legal and medical experts, gain career advice and networking opportunities in the fields of health policy and technology law, and interact with other students who share similar interests. Previous events have included: a discussion with Pfizer, Inc. executive Heather Lauver on the philanthropic distribution of pharmaceuticals in Third World countries; a lunchtime forum about antitrust and labor issues in the medical residency selection system, hosted by George Washington University professor, Warren Greenberg; a lecture by Dr. David Adamson, an infertility expert, on the ethics and regulation of assisted reproductive technologies; and a career panel with four prominent New York technology law firms.
Contact:  slhb@law.columbia.edu

SOUTH ASIAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
The South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) promotes discussion and awareness of issues affecting South Asians and South Asian Americans, particularly in law. In the past, SALSA has organized a voter registration drive among the South Asian community in New York; a gathering with South Asian alumni to discuss legal opportunities in New York; a discussion with Georgetown Professor Neal Katyal about the dearth of minority clerks at the Supreme Court; a speech by Dr. Rajat Gupta, CEO of McKinsey and Co.; and a faculty panel discussion with Dinesh D'Souza. SALSA also strives to create a sense of community between students of South Asian heritage and other individuals with ties to the region. SALSA sponsors numerous social and cultural functions throughout the year including potluck dinners, a university-wide Diwali event, trips to Jackson Heights (New York's version of little South Asia), and film screenings. SALSA has developed a mentor system whereby upper-class students provide guidance and support to first-year students and LL.M. students. Additionally, we conduct a workshop about classes, examinations, and job searches.
Contact: salsa@law.columbia.edu

STRAPHANGERS STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Commuting students attending a largely on-campus school have unique needs, and the Columbia Straphangers Student Association serves as a community, a social forum, and an advocacy group for those law students who, by choice or of necessity, live outside the immediate environs of Morningside Heights.  It's easy to feel like the lone commuter as a new student, but we promise that there are many, many others, and we hope to introduce you to each other to dispel that sense of isolation every time another cool on-campus event is scheduled for 9 PM.  Our activities are designed to bring the commuter community together, as well as to raise commuter awareness within the greater law school community.  In a dream-come-true, we have recently been allocated campus space of our own, and are in the process of setting up and furnishing a commuter lounge, which will serve as a home-away-from-home for all our members (and their law school friends!).
Contact:  straphangers@law.columbia.edu

STUDENT ALLIANCE FOR GENDER EQUALITY
The Student Alliance for Gender Equality (SAGE) is a progressive feminist organization dedicated to empowering all people to overcome gender and sexual inequality. Through education, activism, and dialogue, we explore and challenge the meaning of feminism and gender in the twenty-first century. We use the law as both a lens for our examination and as a tool for action.
Contact:  sage@law.columbia.edu

STUDENT SENATE
The Student Senate is the official representative body for all Columbia Law School students. It comprises 52 students: 15 students are elected from each J.D. class, five students are elected from the LL.M. and/or J.S.D. classes and two additional students are elected from the first- and/or second-year classes to serve as representatives to the University Senate. The Senate's primary responsibility is to address student concerns, either through direct action or by acting as a liaison to the administration and faculty. All senators are required to be members of at least one student-faculty committee. Other functions include: the organization of school-wide social events, the allocation of funding to all recognized student groups, the coordination of orientation and graduation activities, and the general oversight of student-run extracurricular affairs. Overall, the Senate's job is to serve the student body and to make life at Columbia as interesting, rewarding, and enjoyable as possible.
Contact: Sonya Mirbagheri, smm2128@columbia.edu

TENANTS' RIGHTS PROJECT
The Tenants' Rights Project (TRP) is a program that was created in partnership with the West Side SRO (Single Room Occupancy) Law Project. The SRO Law Project is staffed by attorneys and tenant organizers who work with SRO residents to preserve their buildings and improve conditions. It was created in 1980 in response to the alarming decline in SRO housing as a result of emptying tactics used by many owners who wanted to convert their buildings to luxury housing. TRP works with the SRO Law Project to provide legal representation for individuals and tenant groups in housing court. Members of the project meet with tenants and investigate the conditions of their building, file papers with the housing court to initiate litigation, and accompany the tenant at housing court. While in court, student advocates negotiate a settlement with the landlord and later take part in the enforcement process.
Contact:  trp@law.columbia.edu

TRANSFER AND VISITING STUDENT ORGANIZATION
The Transfer and Visiting Student Organization (TVSO) is open to all students. The organization is designed to ease the integration of transfer and visiting students into the Columbia Law School community. TVSO aims to achieve its goals by (1) establishing a support network through which these students may gain insight and information about the law school from experienced students and faculty, and (2) providing opportunities for transfer and visiting students to gather and discuss important issues particular to their status.
Contact: tvso@law.columbia.edu

UNEMPLOYMENT ACTION CENTER
The Unemployment Action Center (UAC) enables law students to gain valuable litigation experience while providing an important public service. During your first semester, you can represent real clients before real judges to make a substantial impact on the community. Each year, more than 25,000 administrative hearings take place in New York City to evaluate claims for unemployment insurance. Claimants often go to these hearings without a lawyer and cannot argue their cases as well as their former employers, who usually are represented by counsel. Thus, many claimants who should receive benefits under the law nevertheless lose their appeals. UAC seeks to turn this situation around. Our advocates handle all stages of the case: interviewing the claimant, researching the law, and representing the claimant before the administrative law judge. UAC comprises students from NYU, Columbia, Cardozo, Fordham, New York, and Hofstra law schools. More than 100 Columbia students take part each year. UAC provides students with the opportunity to develop practical lawyering skills. For many advocates, the experience gives real meaning to the abstract doctrines and rules that they are learning in the classroom. It inspires students to think like lawyers, fight social problems, and explore careers in public service.
Contact: uac@law.columbia.edu

YOGA CLUB
Yoga is a simple and effective way to manage stress and force yourself to connect with your body. The Columbia Law School Yoga Club meets weekly for a ninety-minute session with a trained yoga instructor. Beginners are more than welcome, but we accommodate all experience levels.
Contact:  yc@law.columbia.edu

YOUTH JUSTICE ASSOCIATION
The Youth Justice Association (YJA) was founded five years ago to focus students' attention on juvenile justice, child welfare, and education. We are dedicated to getting involved in community projects and promoting awareness of youth justice and advocacy issues. We bring leading practitioners to Columbia to discuss their work and experience in youth advocacy as well as sponsor panel discussions about current issues and problems.
Contact: yja@law.columbia.edu