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Law Student Division

Leadership Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in joining the ABA Law Student Division 2008-2009 Leadership

NOW AVAILABLE
Information and nomination forms for the three 2008-2009 Division Delegate positions to the ABA House of Delegates and the Vice Chair-SBA.

Through the ABA Law Student Division, members have the opportunity to gain leadership experience while still in law school. The Law Student Division offers something for every student at every level of their legal education. There are opportunities at the local, regional and national level.

Nominations for 2008-2009 leadership positions will be disqualified if they are received on an outdated nomination form. The official 2008-2009 Law Student Division Nomination Form is the only acceptable form to be used.

National Officers of the ABA Law Student Division

Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary-Treasurer

Election Method
Elected each year by the Law Student Division Board of Governors during their Spring Meeting in March.

Term
Successful candidates for each of these positions serve as Officers-Elect from March to August before assuming office. Official office term is one year (August to August) beginning at the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting and concluding upon adjournment of the following ABA Annual Meeting.

Position Description
National Officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary-Treasurer

Eligibility
 To qualify as a candidate, an individual must be:

  • A law student attending an ABA-approved law school;
  • An ABA Law Student Division member in good standing (dues must be paid in full for the current bar year by the filing deadline);
  • A law student in good standing at law school (not on academic probation or suspension) during the 2007-08 academic year;
  • A student who has not received his/her first degree in law;
  • A law student attending law school during the academic year subsequent to June 1, 2008;
  • A student who has received the support of his/her law school dean to run for office. All nomination forms must be approved and signed by each candidate's dean; and
  • A law student who is in compliance with the nomination submission deadlines and requirements.

Nomination Deadline
The nomination form, candidate's statement and resume must be postmarked by February 1, 2008 using an overnight mail service (i.e., Federal Express) to furnish clear proof of sending and receipt. Nominations sent via regular mail are not eligible for certification. This is a "strict liability" deadline and requirement. No exceptions will be granted.

Additional Information

Please review the job description for the position you are applying for before continuing to the Nomination Form. In order to access the Nomination Form, you will be required to read the Election Procedures and accept the Code of Election Regulations.

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Division Representative to the ABA Board of Governors

Election Method
All applications for this position will be fully considered and interviewed by the Division's Nominations Committee. Certified and approved candidates for consideration/election by the Division's Nominations Committee will be notified in mid-February. All certified candidates are required to attend the Law Student Division Board of Governors spring meeting, March 12-16, 2008 in a location to be announced, where the election will take place. The representative will be elected by the Law Student Division Board of Governors which consists of four officers, three delegates to the ABA House of Delegates and fifteen regional circuit governors.

Term
The successful candidate for this position, who will also serve as a voting member of the Law Student Division Board of Governors, will serve as the Division's Representative-Elect from March 2008 until August 2008 before assuming office. The one-year term of office will begin at the conclusion of the August 2008 ABA Annual Meeting.

Position Description
Representative to the ABA Board of Governors: Job Description

Eligibility
To qualify as a candidate by the Law Student Division Nominations Committee, an individual must be:

  • A law student attending an ABA-approved law school;
  • An ABA Law Student Division member in good standing (dues must be paid in full for the current bar year by the filing deadline);
  • A law student in good standing at law school (not on academic probation or suspension) during the 2007-08 academic year;
  • A student who has not received his/her first degree in law prior to the beginning of the term;
  • A law student who has received the support of his/her law school dean to run for office. All nomination forms must be approved and signed by each candidate's dean;
  • A law student attending law school during the academic year concurrent with the beginning of the term; and
  • A law student who is in compliance with submission deadlines and requirements

Nomination Deadline
The nomination form, candidate's statement and resume must be postmarked by January 15, 2008 using an overnight mail service (i.e., Federal Express) to furnish clear proof of sending and receipt. Nominations sent via regular mail are not eligible for certification. This is a "strict liability" deadline and requirement. No exceptions will be granted.

Additional Information

You will be required to review the job description for this position, read the Election Procedures and accept the Code of Election Regulations in order to access the Nomination Form.

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Vice Chair-Student Bar Associations

Election Method
Elected by the SBA Conference (SBA Presidents from each ABA-approved law school) and confirmed by the Law Student Division Board of Governors. Election takes place in conjunction with the ABA Annual Meeting in August of each year.

Term
Official office term is one year (August to August) beginning at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting and concluding upon adjournment of the following Annual Meeting.

Position Description
National Officer: Vice Chair - Student Bar Associations

Eligibility
To qualify as a candidate, an individual must be:

  • A law student attending an ABA-approved law school;
  • An ABA Law Student Division member in good standing (dues must be paid in full for the current bar year by the filing deadline);
  • A student in good standing at law school (not on academic probation or suspension) during the 2007-08 academic year;
  • A law student who has not received his/her first degree in law;
  • A student attending law school during the academic year subsequent to June 1, 2008;
  • A law student who has received the support of his/her law school dean to run for office. All nomination forms must be approved and signed by each candidate's dean;
  • A law student who is in compliance with the nomination submission deadlines and requirements; and
  • A law student who has previously participated in a student bar association.

Nomination Deadline
The nomination form, candidate's statement and resume must be postmarked by June 1, 2008 using an overnight mail service (i.e., Federal Express) to furnish clear proof of sending and receipt. Nominations sent via regular mail are not eligible for certification. This is a "strict liability" deadline and requirement. No exceptions will be granted

Additional Information

You will be required to review the job description for this position, read the Election Procedures and accept the Code of Election Regulations in order to access the Nomination Form.

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Division Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates

Election Method
Three Division Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates are elected by the Law Student Division Assembly (ABA School Representatives and Student Bar Association Presidents from each ABA-approved law school). Assembly delegates who wish to participate in the election must be members in good standing of the ABA Law Student Division. Election takes place in conjunction with the ABA Annual Meeting in August of each year.

Term
One year (August to August) beginning at the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting and concluding upon adjournment of the following ABA Annual Meeting.

Position Description
National Officer: Division Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates

Eligibility
To qualify as a candidate, an individual must be:

  • A law student attending an ABA-approved law school;
  • An ABA Law Student Division member in good standing (dues must be paid in full for the current bar year by the filing deadline);
  • A student in good standing at law school (not on academic probation or suspension) during the 2007-08 academic year;
  • A law student who has not received his/her first degree in law;
  • A student attending law school during the academic year subsequent to June 1, 2008;
  • A law student who has been certified by his/her law school dean. The nomination form must be approved and signed by the candidate's law school dean; and
  • A law student who is in compliance with the nomination submission deadlines and requirements.

Nomination Deadline
The nomination form, candidate's statement and resume must be postmarked by June 1, 2008 using an overnight mail service (i.e., Federal Express) to furnish clear proof of sending and receipt. Nominations sent via regular mail are not eligible for certification. This is a "strict liability" deadline and requirement. No exceptions will be granted.

Additional Information

You will be required to review the job description for this position, read the Election Procedures and accept the Code of Election Regulations in order to access the Nomination Form.

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Circuit Governors

There are 15 Circuit Governors who serve on the Law Student Division's Board of Governors

Election Method
Elected by the SBA Presidents and the primary ABA Representatives from each of the ABA-approved law schools in the circuit where the candidate has been nominated for Governor. SBA Presidents and ABA Representatives who wish to participate in the election must be members in good standing of the ABA Law Student Division.

Term
One year (March to March) beginning at the conclusion of the ABA Law Student Division Board of Governors Spring Meeting and concluding upon adjournment of the following Spring Meeting. Successful candidates for Circuit Governor are required to attend the Governor Training Session held in conjunction with the Law Student Division Board of Governors Spring Meeting, March 12-16, 2008 in a location to be announced.

Position Description
Circuit Governors

Eligibility
To qualify as a candidate, an individual must be:

  • A law student attending an ABA-approved law school;
  • An ABA Law Student Division member in good standing (dues must be paid in full for the current bar year by the filing deadline);
  • A student in good standing at law school (not on academic probation or suspension) during the 2007-08 academic year; A law student who has not received his/her first degree in law;
  • A student attending law school during the academic year subsequent to June 1, 2008;
  • A law student who has received the support of his/her law school dean to run for office. All nomination forms must be approved and signed by each candidate's dean; and
  • A law student who is in compliance with the nomination submission deadlines and requirements.

Nomination Deadline
The nomination form, candidate's statement and resume must be postmarked by February, 1, 2008 using an overnight mail service (i.e., Federal Express) to furnish clear proof of sending and receipt. Nominations sent via regular mail are not eligible for certification. This is a "strict liability" deadline and requirement. No exceptions will be granted.

Special Note
Successful candidates for Circuit Governor are required to attend the Governor Training Session held in conjunction with the Law Student Division Board of Governors Spring Meeting, March 12-16, 2008 in a location to be announced.

Additional Information

You will be required to review the job description, read the Election Procedures and accept the Code of Election Regulations in order to access the Nomination Form.

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Student Editor - Student Lawyer Magazine

Election Method
Appointed each year by the Law Student Division Chair

Term
One year (March to March) beginning at the conclusion of the ABA Law Student Division Board of Governors Spring Meeting and concluding upon adjournment of the following Spring Meeting. The law student appointed to the Student Editor position is required to attend the Law Student Division Spring Board of Governors Meeting and Governor Training Session, March 12-16, 2008 in a location to be announced.

Position Description
Student Editor-Student Lawyer Magazine

Eligibility
To qualify as a candidate, an individual must be:

  • A law student attending an ABA-approved law school;
  • An ABA Law Student Division member in good standing (dues must be paid in full for the current bar year by the filing deadline);
  • A law student in good standing at law school (not on academic probation or suspension) during the 2007-08 academic year;
  • A student who has not received his/her first degree in law;
  • A law student attending law school during the academic year subsequent to June 1, 2008;
  • A law student who is in compliance with submission deadlines and requirements; and
  • A law student experienced in journalism or public affairs with strong news writing, editing, and reporting skills

Nomination Deadline
To apply, send a cover letter with your resume and three published news writing clips or news releases to American Bar Association, Law Student Division, Attn: Student Editor Applicants, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610. To be considered, all applications must be postmarked by February 1, 2008 using an overnight mail service (i.e., Federal Express) to furnish clear proof of sending and receipt. Applications sent via regular mail are not eligible for consideration. This is a "strict liability" deadline and requirement. No exceptions will be granted.

Additional Information

  • Job Description
  • Finalists will be interviewed by telephone, and the student editor will be appointed in early March.
  • Questions should be directed to: abalsd@abanet.org

Liaisons to ABA Entities

Election Method
Appointed each year by the Chair of the ABA Law Student Division

Term
One year (August to August) beginning at the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting and concluding upon adjournment of the following Annual Meeting.

Position Description
Law Student Division Liaison to Other ABA Entities

Eligibility
To qualify as a candidate, an individual must be:

  • A law student attending an ABA-approved law school;
  • An ABA Law Student Division member in good standing (dues must be paid in full for the current bar year by the filing deadline);
  • A law student in good standing at law school (not on academic probation or suspension) during the 2007-08 academic year;
  • A law student attending law school during the academic year subsequent to June 1, 2008; and
  • A law student who is in compliance with submission deadlines and requirements.

Nomination Deadline
To apply, complete the Liaison Application and mail it with your resume to the American Bar Association, Law Student Division, Attn: Liaison/NSD Applicants, 321 North Clark Street, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60610. To be considered, all applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2008. This is a "strict liability" deadline. No exceptions will be granted.

Additional Information

You will be required read the Liaison job description in order to access the Application Form.

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National Student Directors

There are five National Student Directors (NSD):

Those interested in a position as National Student Director must complete the Application and mail it with a resume to the American Bar Association, Law Student Division, Attn: Liaison/NSD Applicants, 321 North Clark Street, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60610. To be considered, all applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2008. This is a "strict liability" deadline. No exceptions will be granted.

  • Job Description*
  • Applicants will be interviewed by telephone in April and Liaisons will be appointed around May 15.
  • Questions should be directed to: abalsd@abanet.org

You will be required to read the National Student Director job description in order to access the Application Form.

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Lt. Governors

Information for applying for Lt. Governor positions is sent out by the respective Circuit Governors immediately following their appointment in March. For a list of current Lt. Governor positions, refer to your circuit webpage.

ABA Representatives

Those interested in serving as the ABA Representatives should contact their SBA Presidents or current ABA Representative or consult with their law school Dean for more information and eligibility requirements.

See the ABA Representatives Homepage for a brief overview of the position's responsibilities and duties.

SBA Presidents

Those interested in serving as their school’s SBA President should contact their current SBA Presidents or current ABA Representative or consult with the law school Dean for more information and eligibility requirements.

Application and Nomination Deadline Dates

January 15

February 1

February 15

June 1

May/June

Please note that all positions (except Lt. Governors) have "strict liability" deadlines and delivery requirements with no extensions granted. Please refer to the guidelines for more information. ABA Law Student Division membership is a prerequisite to leadership in the Division. A nominee/applicant must be a member in good standing at the time their application is filed. A member in good standing constitutes an individual who has paid their dues in full for the current Association year.

National Level Positions

Circuit Level Positions

School Level Positions

Other Important Links

Questions

If you have any questions regarding any of these positions, please feel free to contact your Circuit Governor, your school's ABA Representative or SBA President.

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