The American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional association in the world. With more than 400,000 members, the ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.

American Bar Association (ABA)
The ABA Mission is to serve equally our members, our profession and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative of the legal profession  ABA objectives are carried out through the House of Delegates, the ABA Board of Governors, and the sections, forums, standing committees and special committees. Return to top

ABA Law Student Division
The Law Student Division is one of the ABA's more than 30 sections, divisions, and forum committees under the Association's umbrella. Thus, the Division is subject to the Constitution, Bylaws and policies of the American Bar Association. According to Article 1, Section 1.2., of the Division Bylaws, the objectives of the Division shall be as follows:

• to further the purposes and goals of the Association, particularly to promote full and equal participation in the profession by minorities and women;
• to represent law students in the Association and to represent the Association to law students;
• to help shape the policies and priorities that affect legal education; and
• to create a deliberative forum for the exchange and expression of law student views and a voice to advocate those views.

ABA and Law Student Division Organizational Chart

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Auto and Home/Renter's Insurance (www.abiins.com)
Liberty Mutual is the American Bar Insurance* (ABI) partner for auto and homeowner/renter's insurance for ABA Law Student Division members, branded under the name, Member Plus**. This unique program allows you to purchase high-quality auto, home and renters insurance at low group rates. See for yourself how much money you could save with Liberty Mutual compared to your current insurance provider. For a free, no-obligation quote, visit www.abiins.com or call 800.955.3379.
*American Bar Insurance (ABI) is an affiliate organization of the American Bar Association.
**Group discounts, other discounts, and credits are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state.  Certain discounts apply to specific coverage's only.  To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.
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2009-2010 UnitedHealthcare Student Insurance
The Law Student Division's insurance plan, through UnitedHealthcare Student Resources, gives you the financial peace of mind knowing that should the unexpected happen, you and your dependants are covered while giving you more benefits for your buck. And providing there is no lapse in your coverage, you can keep your coverage for an additional year after graduation. Learn more about student health insurance at https://www.uhcsr.com/ABA or call 800.505.5450. Note: Residents of New York and Massachusetts have a plan specific to their state, so please be sure to access the appropriate plan. Due to state laws, plans are not available in Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Vermont or Washington.

• UnitedHealthcare 2009-2010 Insurance Plans and Enrollment Information
• UnitedHealth Allies® Discount Dental and Vision Plans (& More)
• Collegiate Assistance Program (CAP) – Help for stressful situations
• Health Insurance 101
• My Student Health Zone Newsletter

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UnitedHealth Allies® Discount Dental and Vision Plans (& More)
Available through a partnership of UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
Included at no extra cost with every ABA student health insurance policy is the UnitedHealth Allies® discount program. Although not insurance, the UnitedHealth Allies discount program provides up to 50% savings for a variety of healthcare services and products including dental, vision and wellness. Enjoy additional savings on massage therapy, sports apparel & equipment, fitness club membership and even textbooks. The discount card is accepted at thousands of locations nationwide. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at https://www.uhcsr.com/ABA or call 800.505.5450.
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The ABA Law Student Division understands the importance of achieving a competitive score on your bar exam. For that reason, we have partnered with Bar-Bri and Kaplan PMBR to offer ABA Law Student Division members opportunities to take advantage of these bar review courses and at the same time relieve some of the stress on your wallet.

• BAR-BRI: Offers ABA Law Student Division members a partial scholarship. Applications are posted in August and must be received by Bar-Bri in November for both the February and June Bar Exams.
• Kaplan PMBR Bar Review: Receive a tuition discount of $100 off of Kaplan PMBR's full-service Complete Bar Review Course for your state or the Kaplan PMBR MBE Combination Course.  Receive $50 off of the MBE Foundation or Final Review course. 

Collegiate Assistance Program (CAP) – Help for stressful situations
Available through a partnership of UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
Included at no extra cost with every ABA UnitedHealthcare student health insurance policy is a 24/7, toll free access to a team of Registered Nurses and Student Assistance Specialists that are there to help students manage common problems and stressors that can detract from academic success. CAP professionals can assist with health, personal, school, legal or financial concerns before they become unmanageable. More information, visit CAP online or call 800.505.5450.
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ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs
The Commission’s primary goal is to advance the legal community’s knowledge of health and work/life balance and provide a model for assisting lawyers and law students whose performance has been impaired by addiction and emotional health illnesses. Alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health issues are afflictions that affect a great number of professionals including judges, lawyers and law students. Reports now estimate that while 10 percent of the general population has problems with alcohol abuse, 15 to 18 percent of the legal population battles this problem. The Commission provides support programs focused on quality of life issues. These programs employ the use of intervention, peer counseling, and referral to 12-Step Programs to assist in the recovery process.

• Learn more
• Directory of State and Local Lawyer Assistance Programs
• ABA CoLAP Confidential Hotline for Law Students and Lawyers (866.529.5277)
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800.784.2433)

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List Serve for Law Students in Recovery
A list serve (electronic discussion group) has been developed by the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) to provide a confidential email vehicle for law students who want to get, or stay, clean and sober while in law school. This is a chance for students to connect with and ask questions of their law student peers throughout the US and share their experience, strength and hope. Interested law students should email the CoLAP Director, Donna Spilis and be prepared to talk a bit about your history,  need and desire to communicate with other law students facing similar challenges.  Tell me more

Law School Disability Programs Directory
In order to provide the best available information to the legal community and lawyers, as well as law students and potential law students with disabilities, the American Bar Association Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law collects data from ABA-accredited law schools concerning their disability related programming. Tell me more

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ABA Law Student Division members can find the latest information on how to get through the economic downturn. The ABA Economic Recovery Resources portal contains resources and tips on a variety of topics from job searching, to practice management, to professional development and more. Tell me more»
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Many of today’s law school graduates face debt of $80,000 or more upon graduation. Loan repayment assistance programs ("LRAPs") have emerged as a solution for relieving the debt burden of some law school graduates. LRAPs provide loan repayment or forgiveness, lower interest rates on loans, or postponed payment of law school loans to graduates entering specific types of employment, usually law-related public interest jobs. There are various types of LRAPs, administered by law schools, state bar associations and foundations and federal and state governments, providing debt relief to some law school graduates. Tell me more
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ABA American Express® Card
from Bank of America

Exceptional Rewards

• Earn 1 Point for every net retail purchase dollar you spend with your Card
• Redeem for unlimited cash rewards, airline tickets with no blackout dates, car rentals, brand-name merchandise or gift certificates
• No annual fee

Special Privileges to Simplify Your Life

• Special Cardmember Offers for dining, travel, and shopping
• 24-hour access to MyConciergeSM service - a service to help you get hard-to-find tickets or help plan a special occasion
• Around-the-clock fraud protection
• Quick, secure online access to your account to view statements and recent transactions or schedule electronic payments

Apply today for your ABA American Express® Card with WorldPoints® Rewards
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Visa Signature® Credit Card
from Bank of America

Exceptional Rewards

• Earn 1 point for every net retail dollar in purchases, from everyday items to major home remodeling projects
• Redeem WorldPoints® rewards for unlimited cash rewards, airline tickets with no blackout dates, car rentals, brand-name merchandise or gift certificates
• Visa Signature® is accepted at millions of locations worldwide
• No Pre-set Spending Limit
• 100% Fraud Protection
• No annual fee

Apply today for your ABA Visa Signature® Credit Card
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ABA Law Student Division National Awards Program
Each year, the ABA Law Student Division recognizes the achievements of individual law students, law schools and law school organizations on a national level through the Division's Annual Awards program. National awards are presented in the following categories:

• Diversity Award
• Public Interest Award
• Student Bar Association Award
• Student Bar Association President Award
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Awards
• Membership and Activity Award
• Law School News Publication Awards

Nominations must be postmarked by April 1 of each year and are presented during the ABA Annual Meeting. Tell me more
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Grant Program
The ABA Law Student Division Grant Program provides seed money and programming support to student organization for producing activities addressing public interest, diversity and professionalism, preferably in conjunction with state and local bar associations. Tell me more
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Invite the ABA To Your Law School
As an ABA Law Student Division member, you have access to one of the largest and most prestigious legal speaker networks in the country - and it won't cost you or your law school organization a cent. Law school organizations planning campus career development programming may contact the ABA Law Student Division for information and assistance soliciting law professionals in their area. We will help you recruit volunteer attorneys and other law professionals from a variety of practice setting that meet your criteria and who are willing to spend a few hours with the law students at your campus to discuss the business and practice of law.

Work-A-Day Community Service Program
Work-A-Day is a day designated by the Law Student Division for its annual public service project. Law schools are encouraged to organize community service opportunities for their student body the first two weekends of October; however, activities may be organized at any time during the month of October or throughout the year. Tell me more
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) renders tax return preparation assistance to low-income taxpayers, the elderly, indigent and non-English-speaking taxpayers. Tell me more
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National Law Student Mental Health and Wellness Day
The ABA Law Student Division has designated March 27, as the official Law Student Mental Health and Wellness Day at law schools across the country. Under the plan, law schools are encouraged to sponsor educational programs and events that teach and foster breaking the stigma associated with severe depression and anxiety amongst law students and lawyers. Tell me more
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Diversity Day
The ABA Law Student Division adopted March 2, as the official day at law schools across the country to recognize and celebrate diversity. Law schools are encouraged to sponsor activities addressing issues related to the many differences in our culture. Tell me more
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ABA Law Student Division Leadership
As an ABA Law Student Division member, you are eligible for election or nomination to a Division leadership position on the national, regional or local level. There are over 100 leadership positions (elected and appointed) offered each year by the ABA Law Student Division. Representing over 45,000 dues-paying law students is a significant responsibility and requires the commitment of our nation’s most talented and dedicated law student leaders. The various leadership positions entail interaction with practicing attorneys, advocating the needs of law students and helping shape ABA Law Student Division policy. Tell me more
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ABA Law Student Division Competitions
The Law Student Division annually sponsors four national competitions: Arbitration; Client Counseling; Appellate Advocacy; and Negotiation. These competitions offer participating students a forum to develop the very skills they will use as practitioners, and a chance to meet and network with fellow law students - future colleagues - from around the nation. Competitions also provide an excellent opportunity for law students to gain important resume-building experience and recognition. Tell me more
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Writing and Essay Competitions
Did you know the ABA presents over 100 awards and distributes over $100,000 in awards and grants each year? Over 20 of these awards and grants have been specifically designed for ABA Law Student Division members and ABA-approved law schools, including writing competitions and fellowships. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain recognition for your accomplishments, that of your law school or student organization. Tell me more
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Study Abroad
Students currently enrolled at an ABA-approved law school who desire to receive credit toward their J.D. degree for study abroad should read carefully the applicable criteria for their course of study and should consult with members of their law school staff or faculty who advise students about foreign study. These programs are only open to students who have successfully completed their first year of study and are enrolled in an ABA-approved law school. Tell me more
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Summer Internships and Judicial Clerkships
Many ABA Sections and Divisions offer Law Student Division members opportunities to participate in summer internships and judicial clerkships. We have created a page of online resources to get you started as you embark on your legal education and/or beginning your legal career. Tell me more
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ABA Career Fair
Each year during the ABA Annual Meeting in August, the ABA Law Student Division hosts a Career Fair. This event provides an opportunity for law students to meet with hiring representatives from some of the country's most prominent law firms, government legal departments, and public interest organizations to discuss their future careers and prospects for summer and associate positions. Tell me more
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Law Student Division Meetings and Events
The Law Student Division offers an array of opportunities for law students to learn from practicing attorneys and other legal professionals from around the country and from diverse practice settings. Examples of these programs include the ABA Annual Meeting, the Division's Fall Leadership Summit, and the Spring Circuit Meeting. For up-to-the minute information on Division activities, visit our calendar for national events and your circuit page for regional activities.
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ABA Legal Education Programming
The ABA Center for CLE offers a wide variety of the latest CLE and career guidance opportunities through an array of vehicles, from the traditional to the latest technologies such as videoconferencing, teleconferences, and webcasting. Whether you're looking for general nuts and bolts resources or specific information regarding an area of the law, choose from the Center's impressive library of books that will enhance all aspects of your personal and professional life. Preloaded iPods are also available with in several popular practice areas. Many of these resources are offered to ABA Law Student Division members at a substantially reduced cost. Tell me more
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Live Teleconference and Webcasts
Hear from seasoned attorneys experienced in a variety of practice setting without ever leaving home. Live teleconferences allow you to call in and listen to presentations while webcasts will transmit these live sessions directly to your computer. Special unpublished discounts and scholarships are available to ABA Law Student Division members for selected programming by calling the ABA Center for Legal Education. Tell me more

Specialty Sections, Division and Forums
As an ABA Law Student Division member, you have the opportunity to become active in over 30 specialty Sections, Divisions and Forums for free or at discounted membership rates. ABA Sections, Divisions and Forum Committees draw their membership from law professionals, at every level of the profession, with common professional interests. They address professional development, improvement of laws, and continuing legal education.  These entities also contribute to ABA policy in their subject areas and originate many recommendations that become the ABA's policy.  Most entities publish training materials, publications and periodicals, many of which have received prestigious awards for their content.

• Practice specific Sections, Divisions and Forums
• Law Student webpages offered by other ABA entities

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List Serves and Webboards
Use your ABA Law Student Division membership to network with legal professional online. ABA Law Student Division members have access to over 600 ABA list serves and more than 40 web boards. As a Law Student Division member, you are automatically added to your circuit list serve so you can communicate with other ABA Law Student Division members in your region. Tell me more
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Legally Minded
ABA Law Student Division members receive free, unlimited access to LegallyMinded, an online community serving the legal profession. This online portal has been created to provide ABA members with an unparalleled resource that gathers law students, academics, firm administrators, legal support staff, judges, paralegals, attorneys, law librarians and other professionals to contribute, network, and collaborate online. Tell me more

The community fuses cutting-edge social networking features, top-notch news and articles, and user-generated content. LegallyMinded enables you to:

• Connect with Peers. Expand your professional network using member-matching features to discover like-minded professionals. Find mentors, research employers, or meet new friends.
• Share Knowledge. Exchange ideas, files, and schedules within virtual groups and engage with other members via blogs, wikis, chats, and discussion groups.
• Explore Resources. LegallyMinded editors scour the Internet for the best content on Careers, Education, Practice Management, and Diversity, among other topics.
• Schedule Meetings. Set up meetings with community members using your integrated calendar.
• Voice Your Opinions. Rate and comment on community content.

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Duty Bound - National Veterans Service Initiative
The ABA Law Student Division introduces Duty Bound, designed to connect law students with attorneys who provide free legal assistance on behalf of veterans and their qualifying family members. This program allows case-handling pro-bono attorneys with the ability to select available law students to assist with client interviewing, case management, research and writing, and advocacy tasks. Tell me more about Duty Bound
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LegallyMinded
Find the perfect mentor in your region with similar professional interests by joining the American Bar Association's complimentary legal online community, LegallyMinded.

Mentor Program for Students with Disabilities
The ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law welcomes all Law Student Division members with physical, mental, or learning disabilities to take advantage of this mentoring program (brochure). Students are paired with practicing attorneys, based on the student's interest in either being matched according to disability, geographical location, or area of interest. Mentors offer students both academic and career advice, in addition to insights into the private and government sectors. Tell me more
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Other Mentoring Programs
Many entities throughout the ABA offer specialized mentoring programs for law students. Below are a few opportunities that may be of interest to you:

• General Practice Mentoring Certificate Program
• Labor and Employment Law Mentoring Program for Third Year Law Students
• State Bar Lawyer Mentor Programs (for new lawyers)
• Law School Disability Programs Directory

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Enjoy savings when you travel to ABA meetings or for personal enjoyment. The ABA member advantage offers an array of discounts on airlines, hotels and rental cars.

• Orbitz Travel
• Starwood Hotel Discounts
• Hertz Car Rental to ABA members under the age of 25 without a surcharge.

For details about ABA travel discounts, visit the ABA Travel website.

Let your dues dollars work for you. As an ABA Law Student Division member, you are eligible to take advantage of the many discounts available on computers, office supplies, apparel, gifts and much more. Tell me more

Hewlett Packard Computer Equipment
HP offers ABA members special promotions and discounts on all commercial products including: computers, storage, printers, scanners, handhelds, and accessories. ABA members also receive free ground shipping. Tell me more
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Mozy Computer Backup
Don't loose that grade-deciding research paper you've been working on for weeks. Mozy is a simple and safe way to back up all the important files and documents on your computer. Discounts are available to ABA members for both the MozyHome and MozyPro solutions. Tell me more
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Office Depot
ABA members save up to 35% off the Office Depot already low retail prices with the convenience of a professional, single-source solution for all your office supplies, copy & print supplies, and technology needs. Tell me more
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Sprint Mobile Telephone Service
ABA members enjoy discounts of up to 15% off regularly-priced service plans from Sprint. Tell me more
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Toshiba Mobile Electronics
Toshiba Direct offers ABA members industry-leading mobile electronics at preferred pricing. Learn how you can save on portable computers, storage solutions, and USB hard drives. Tell me more
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United Parcel Service (UPS)
UPS ABA members can save up to 26% off of UPS services. Tell me more
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Whirlpool Corporation
As an ABA member, you receive special discounts on consumer products from Whirlpool Corporation. Save on hundreds of home appliances from respected brands like KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Maytag and more. Tell me more
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FTD Florist
Order from a full line of FTD flowers, plants and gifts and save 15% when you visit www.ftd.com/americanbarassociation or call 1.800.SEND.FTD. Be sure to mention code 16879.
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Land's End
Get a professional look you can afford for that important interview. Save 10% on all logo applications and apparel. Call 1.800.419.1097 or visit ces.landsend.com/aba today!
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ABA Legal Technology Research Center (LTRC)
The ABA's Legal Technology Resource Center is where legal professionals turn for technology information. The LTRC staff educates the legal profession on technology usage and trends. The LTRC provides a comprehensive collection of technology resources and information. The LTRC strives to remain at the forefront of technology issues facing the legal community. To learn more visit LTRC.
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