The electoral process is governed by the Law Student Division Bylaws and supplemented with procedures set forth by the Division Board of Governors. The rules, procedures and election regulations for the nomination and election of the National Officers are set forth below. Note: Campaign activities are strictly limited. Additional information, if necessary, will be sent to candidates after the filing deadline.

Certified candidates for Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary-Treasurer must attend the election held in conjunction with the Law Student Division Board of Governors Meeting in March.  Certified candidates must attend the meeting at their own expense, or seek funds from non-Division sources.

Nomination Instructions and Filing Deadline: In order for a student to be eligible for certification as a candidate for office, a completed nomination form, candidate's statement and resume must be mailed to:

American Bar Association
Law Student Division
Attn: Nominations
321 North Clark Street, 19th Floor
Chicago, IL 60654

The nomination form, candidate's statement and resume must be POSTMARKED no later than February 1, 2010 for Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary-Treasurer, using an overnight mail service with tracking services  (i.e., Federal Express, U.S.) to furnish clear proof of sending and receipt. This is a "strict liability" deadline and requirement. No exceptions will be granted.

Nomination Papers

• Nomination Form: This form declares the student's candidacy for a particular position and states that the student has read and will observe the election regulations and procedures.
• Dean's certification: The dean of the candidate's law school states that the nominee will be a law student during the term, and enjoys good academic standing according to his/her school and states approval of the candidacy on this form.
• Statement of candidacy and resume: Each candidate shall enclose with the nomination form a resume and camera-ready typewritten statement of candidacy. The resume and candidate’s statement combined must not exceed three single-sided, 8.5” x 11” pages, which may be single-spaced. Any statement, resume or combination of statement and resume in excess of the three page limit will be truncated after the third page. In the statement, the candidate should state his/her qualifications, platform, and ABA involvement. The three-page statement and resume will be printed and distributed to board members at the spring board meeting.

Procedure Following the Filing of Nominating Papers:  After the Chicago office has received all candidates’ nominating papers, the Standing Committee on Elections and the Division staff will begin the certification process.  All candidates who have met the conditions of the nomination procedures as outlined above and in the Division’s Code of Election Regulations will be considered candidates for national office.  The Committee will notify all nominees regarding their certification status approximately 10 days after the filing deadline date.

All potential candidates are required to read, accept and agree to abide by the Division election procedures and Code of Election Regulations.

Election: The 2010-2011 national offices of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary-Treasurer will be elected by the Law Student Division Board of Governors at its Spring Meeting in March. Those voting will be the current national officers, delegates and the 2010-2011 circuit governors. The Chicago office shall circulate to each voter before the call to order of the first meeting of the board, each candidate's resume and statement. Any interested party may request a list of the names/schools of the candidates.

A candidate for the position of Chair, Vice Chair or Secretary-Treasurer may, in writing or personal oral notice to the Chair, at least twelve hours before the scheduled call to order of the meeting at which the Board votes, change the office for which he/she is running.

Evaluation Process: Each candidate should be prepared to present a five-minute speech to the Division's Board of Governors, which will be followed by small-group question-and-answer sessions. The board then will elect the three national officers by a simple majority vote.

Code of Election Guidelines: The Code of Election Regulations govern all candidates’ campaigns and shall be strictly construed by the Board’s Standing Committee on Elections.   A candidate may be disqualified for failing to comply with these regulations. These regulations will be enforced in an effort to achieve adherence to the goals and principles of the election guidelines, to achieve equity and fairness, and for the purpose of giving each candidate a fair election.

You must read the Guidelines to the Code of Election Regulations followed by the Code of Election Regulations. If you agree to accept the Code of Election Regulations, you will be linked to the nomination form.

Continue to the Guide to the Code of Election Regulation

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