All Student Organizations and Journals

Manhattan Courtwatch

Manhattan Courtwatch intends to cultivate a culture of “sousveillance” or “watching from below.” Court watchers across the country challenge institutional ideas of justice and safety by attending courtrooms to draw attention to the systemic harms caused by criminal punishment and the legal system and to ensure the presence of the community is felt by the court. 

Manhattan Courtwatch arranges for volunteers to attend sessions at Manhattan Criminal Court. Volunteers fill out data forms while at court and the data is used in abolition focused advocacy efforts. Volunteers are eligible to record the hours they spend on the project as pro bono hours.

Contact: Jacob Turner [email protected]

Mentoring Youth through Legal Education (MYLE)

Mentoring Youth through Legal Education is a debate coaching program at Columbia Law School, which functions as the law student-run portion of Legal Outreach. Legal Outreach prepares youth from underserved communities in New York City to compete at high academic levels by using intensive legal and educational programs as tools for fostering vision, developing skills, enhancing confidence, and facilitating the pursuit of higher education.

Contact: [email protected]

Middle Eastern and Northern African Law Students Association (MENALSA)

Middle Eastern and Northern African Law Students Association (MENALSA) is an affinity group for students of Middle Eastern and Northern African descent and all students who have an interest in Middle Eastern and Northern African cultures, languages, and issues. It seeks to raise awareness and promote dialogue on a range of topics, including human rights, democratic transitions, gender issues, and the conflicts in the region. MENALSA encourages students from all backgrounds and with all viewpoints to join.

Contact: [email protected]

Midwest Society

The Midwest Society of Columbia Law School is committed to creating a cozy community of unabashed lovers of the Midwest. United by friendliness, we are dedicated to fostering the social, intellectual, and professional development of the many Columbia Law School students and alumni with an interest in the Midwest.

Contact: [email protected]

Mindfulness Law Students Association / Yoga Club

Currently Inactive

The Yoga Club provides weekly open-level yoga classes to the Columbia Law School community. Classes are in the flowing vinyasa style and are taught by Om-certified yoga instructors.

Contact: [email protected]

Murder Mystery Society (MMS)

The Columbia Law School Murder Mystery Society is a group dedicated to writing and producing live-action murder mystery games for CLS students to participate in.

Contact: [email protected]

Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA)

The Muslim Law Students Association connects Muslim students and allies, advocates for the particular needs of our community at the Law School, and provides relevant programming on justice-related issues affecting Muslims locally, nationally, and globally. We are a diverse group of law students from all walks of life and with varied professional interests. We hope to connect with you throughout your time at CLS and help make your law school experience one of mutual support, growth, and enjoyment.  

Contact: [email protected]

National Lawyers Guild (NLG)

The National Lawyers Guild is the nation’s oldest and largest progressive bar association and was the first one in the US to be racially integrated. Our mission is to use law for the people, uniting lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers to function as an effective force in the service of the people by valuing human rights over property interests. The NLG is dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. Our aim is to bring together all those who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, LGBTQ people, farmers, people with disabilities and people of color, upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.

Contact: [email protected]

National Security Law Society (NSLS)

The National Security Law Society promotes discussion around vital issues of national security, privacy, the laws of war, and more. It works both to promote greater understanding of the legal issues at the heart of current national security policy and to advance careers in national security law.

Contact: [email protected]

Native American Law Students Association (NALSA)

The Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) fosters academic support for Native American students and others interested in American Indian legal issues and provides a social and academic network for students interested in indigenous legal and cultural issues by increasing awareness of viewpoints, cultures, and governments across the world.

Contact: [email protected]