Student organizations are an integral part of the School of Law experience. Our diverse clubs, associations, societies, boards and activities provide students an opportunity to contribute time and talent in ways that are both personally and professionally gratifying.
Many students are involved in more than one organization, and even with a rigorous academic schedule, participation becomes a vital avenue of self-expression and socializing.
To participate in any of the organizations listed below, contact any of the individuals listed below.
Planning an Event: The Student Life Office helps student organizations with event planning and provides you with a single point of contact when planning your event. Please contact the Director of Student Life Amy Hayes Atkinson, aatkins@buffalo.edu, with questions.
The "Event Date and Notification Form" must be submitted prior to any event planning.
Alternative dispute resolution is an increasingly popular form of case resolution in the legal community. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Society concentrates mainly on mediation and provides multiple opportunities for students to become involved with and learn about the mediation process. Each year the ADR Society hosts a Representation in Mediation Competition, which allows students to enhance their skills and provides them with an opportunity to participate in mediation.
Co-Presidents: Mel Whyman, April VanOrman
Advisor: Steve Sugarman
Contact: Room 404, O’Brian
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) promotes the vitality of the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental values it expresses: individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, access to justice, democracy, and the rule of law. ACS chapters offer platforms for debate and discussion about both enduring principles and the issues of the day, as well as provide opportunities for networking, mentoring and organizing around matters of both local and national significance. Every year ACS holds a national convention in DC and provides scholarships to members of the student chapters. Past speakers including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Senator Wendy Davis, and former Attorney General Eric Holder.
President: Karen Lillie
Vice President: Nicholas Ramirez
Treasurer: Kimberly VanOpdorp
Secretary: Roxanna Herreid
Membership Chair: Dorothy Shuldman
Diversity and Inclusion Chair: Nicholas Ramirez
National Chapter Chair: TBD
Community Engagement Chair: Margaret Drzewiecki
Faculty Advisor: Professor Michael Boucai
The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association mission is to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community, provide support for law school students, and create a social and professional network to connect students and alumni. Our goal is to promote a greater understanding of APA issues and culture, as well as to provide opportunities for law students to engage with the APA and minority community at large.
President: Emily Liao
Vice President: Haekyung Kim
Secretary: Alexis Fretwell
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is a professional, nationally affiliated organization of black law students dedicated to improving opportunities and diversity in legal education. As the School of Law's BLSA chapter, our goal is to articulate and promote the educational, professional, political and social needs of our black law students while also giving back to our communities.
President: Aldiama (Dee) Anthony
Vice President: Khalil Williams
Parliamentarian: Sarah Gyimah
Treasurer: Shelbi Molin
Secretary: Deborah Amponsah
Social Action and Community Services Director: Davewin Meade
Pre-Law Director: Alex Sanchez
Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Director: Khalil Williams
Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Chief Justice: Aldiama (Dee) Anthony
Contact Us: Room 9 O'Brian Hall, buffalo@nblsa.org
The Buffalo Performing Arts Law Society provides a creative and expressive outlet for students at the School of Law. BPALS believes that the performing arts offer an opportunity to collaborate, network, unwind, and find joy. BPALS strives to create opportunities for students and graduates to connect with others in the legal community with similar interests, and to share their talents with their peers at events like "UB Law’s Got Talent."
President: Emily Liao
Vice President: Mickey Mahr
Treasurer: Nick Kaiser
Secretary: Stephi Verhage
The Buffalo Public Interest Law Program raises money to support students who work in the public interest each summer during law school. BPILP also hosts networking events for students to meet public-interest employers from neighboring communities. The organization is affiliated with Lawyers for Learning and participates in the Student Bar Association’s Volunteer Service Days.
President: Alexander Kaczmarek
Vice President: Jessice Senske
Outreach Coordinator: Jennifer Bigelow-Carlson
Chair of Fundraising: Lizzy Vinal
Programming Chair: Madison Nash
Advisers: Clinical Legal Education Program and Lisa Patterson
Contact: Room 507 O’Brian Hall, law-bpilp@buffalo.edu
The Buffalo Sports & Entertainment Law Society (BSELS) is a community of law students, alumni, faculty and friends who are interested in sports and entertainment law in all of its many facets. To that end, they have created a student group as well as an online forum to provide a space for publication of articles addressing sports and entertainment law topics, discussion of current issues and most importantly, facilitation of interaction among our growing community of sports and entertainment law enthusiasts.
President: Jake Cercone
Vice President: Courtney Dec
Vice President: Emma Powlin
Secretary: John Conti
Treasurer: Trent Citarella
Outreach Coordinator: Kallie Banker
Outreach Coordinator: Tyler O'Neill
Adviser: Nellie Drew
The Domestic Violence Task Force (DVTF) strives to raise awareness and educate students, Law School staff and community members about domestic violence through various activities such as panel nights and information dissemination at events. Our organization holds an annual "Dress for What's Next" spring event for survivors of domestic violence. It is a relaxing day for the women filled with shopping, makeup lessons, resume drafting and practice interviews. This empowering day encourage domestic violence survivors to remember their worth and improve their self-esteem.
President: Abbi Fuhrken
Vice President: Jackie Robertson
Treasurer: Rachel Wade
Advisers: Lisa Patterson and Judith Olin
Contact Us: Room 607 O'Brian Hall, buffalodvtf@gmail.com
The Family and Children's Law Society (FCLS) provides students with an opportunity to shadow experienced Family Law attorneys in Erie County Family Court proceedings, perform client intakes, and observe other relevant appointments. In addition, the FCLS will offer mentors, contacts and networking events for students interested in the fields of family law and education law. For those interested students, the FCLS will afford summer employment and year-round volunteer opportunities in the family and education law fields, specifically through Volunteer Lawyers Project.
President: Colleen Stelley
Vice President: Claire Esmonde
The Federalist 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 it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. The Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities. The student Chapter of the Society at the University at Buffalo School of Law exists to both provide Law Students with the opportunity to become involved in this organization and to provide any students who share the organization's views a network of fellow like-minded students.
President: Daniel Caves
Vice President: Ryan Mulcahy
Treasurer: Patrick Callahan
Outreach Coordinator: Timothy Keane
Chapter Clerk: Morgan Flitt
Adviser: Todd Brown
Contact Us: BuffaloLawFederalistSociety@gmail.com
The Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) offers interested law students a forum in which to discuss issues arising in the field of intellectual property law, to learn more about the practice of IP law, and to engage with faculty and attorneys familiar with this specialized field.
In addition to organizing both speaking and networking events for law students on campus, IPLS also strives to connect law students with the intellectual property legal community WNY area by promoting off-campus events related to IP. No science or technical background required! IP law encompasses copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets in addition to patents.
IPLS is a great opportunity for law students to pursue their interests beyond the classroom and interact with their like-minded students.
President: Emily Liao
Vice President: Steven Brachmann
Treasurer: Kimberly VanOpdorp
Secretary: Gabriella Alfano
Contact: law-ipls@buffalo.edu
Presidents: Ranja Bose
Faculty Advisor: Meredith Lewis
The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from over 550 law schools in more than 80 countries. The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations.
The Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) supports its wide variety of members and is committed to the advancement of minorities in the legal profession. LALSA welcomes students of all backgrounds and seeks to create a local network for students of color, Latino students in particular, as well as a partnership between the legal community and the Latin community. Above all, LALSA is dedicated to the academic success of its members.
President: Rina Hernandez
Vice President: Alexis Fretwell
Treasurer: Claudia Flores-Montecisnos
Secretary: Sharmila Porter
Social Media Chair: Catherine Polanco
Contact Us: lalsa.ub@gmail.com
President: Melissa Whyman
OUTLaw promotes a positive atmosphere at the School of Law for LGBT students and their allies. Our primary objective is to educate our colleagues about the legal issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. OUTLaw sponsors activities, panels, social events and service projects that build a network for members and supporters of the LGBT legal community.
President: Stephi Verhage
Vice President: Keith Jensen
Treasurer: Austin Mann
Secretary: Catherine Polanco
Parliamentarian: Rachel Farr
Community Outreach & Social Justice Chair: Elias Schmidt
Advisers: Michael Boucai and Lisa Patterson
Contact Us:
law-outlaw@buffalo.edu
Phi Alpha Delta (PAD), the largest professional coed law fraternity in the nation, is open to all students. PAD hosts academic, community service, professional and social events each semester, including its own national mock trial competition. Additional benefits include lifetime membership and a nationwide alumni networking system.
Justice: Dan Caves
Vice Justice: Kevin Rood
Clerk: Timothy Keane
Treasurer: Connor Godfrey
As a student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, SALDF's purpose is to educate the law school and surrounding community about forms of institutionalized animal abuse, and engage in projects that combat that abuse. SALDF is equally dedicated to protecting the lives and advancing the interest of animals through the legal system and expanding the field of animal law.
President: Jillian Stenzel
Vice President: Alyssa Mings
Secretary: Gianna Florentino
Treasurer: Lauren Baker
The Student Bar Association is the elected body that represents student interests at the School of Law. SBA provides information for current students, organizations, alumni and general audiences seeking a glimpse into life at the law school.
Visit the SBA website for guidelines, resources, and handy forms for your student organization.
President: Rina Hernandez
Vice President: Rachael Sparacino
Treasurer: Patrick Kanzler
Parliamentarian: Heather Bashaw
Events & Fundraising: Savannah Figueroa
Contact: Room 207 O'Brian Hall, 716-645-2748
Administered by the National Black Law Students Association, the Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Board is the premier civil rights moot court competition in the nation. Each year, over 125 teams from schools from six regions compete at regional conventions for the chance to compete at the national level. The School of Law has been a top contender and has won various awards such as Best Oral Advocate, Best Petitioner/Respondent Brief, and Second Runner-Up for the entire Northeast Region.
Chief Executive Justice: Aldiama (Dee) Anthony
Contact: Room 404 O’Brian Hall
Co-Presidents: Mike Ryman & Gabrielle Gannon