Liaison Notes

The Benefits of Being a Law Student Liaison

Almost two years ago, I received what I thought was just another memo in my student mailbox from my law school's administration. But it was actually a letter explaining the liaison positions available through the American Bar Association's Law Student Division.

Because I was just starting my second semester of law school, I nearly threw the letter away. But a few days later, I saw the letter in my backpack after class. So I read it over and then became mildly interested. It said something about working with the ABA in a committee where I would represent law students nationally. Although I was now very interested, I was also very discouraged. A position like that must be very competitive. But I figured, just like applying to law school, I would never know if I didn't apply.

And so I filled out the form, interviewed with my Law Student Division circuit governor, and forgot all about it. On the last day of exams that spring, I received a very large envelope from the American Bar Association's Law Student Division. After opening it, I was completely shocked to read, "Congratulations, you have been selected as a liaison."

But that was only the beginning. In August when I was attending the Law Student Division's Annual Meeting in Toronto with my school's delegation, I reflected on what has been-without question-the most rewarding experience in law school.

Over the past two years, I have served as a liaison to the ABA's Criminal Justice Section. I have met other law students, lawyers, judges and legal scholars from all over the country. I've traveled to San Francisco, Mexico and Canada. And I submitted two of my student-written works for publication in ABA section journals. Along the way, I've spoken with employers I met at the ABA's Annual Meeting with whom I am working to secure post-graduation employment. But most importantly, I've seen how dynamic the Law Student Division is because I was able to participate in it first hand.

I've gained so much from this experience as a liaison that I will continue my association with the ABA by joining when I graduate: I want to continue to see what is on the cutting edge of the law by hearing it from the experts; I want to be involved in national legal policy recommendations; but, most of all, I want to make a contribution to the profession through all the ABA has to offer.

So I encourage any law student who wants to see another side of law school life to apply to become a Law Student Division liaison. Just see your ABA school representative or student bar association president for details, or fill out and send in the application on page 40 of this issue of Student Lawyer. Or you could always actually start reading the never-ending memos in your student mailbox.

And remember, you don't have to be a liaison to participate in the ABA. As a Law Student Division member, you can join any of the association's numerous sections or committees-often at a discount. As a section or committee member, you can attend the entity's meetings, receive its publications and submit articles for publication. For more information, talk to your law school's ABA representative.

Terry O'Neill

Terry O'Neill (oneter@students.stcl.edu), a third-year student at Texas A&M University Law Center in Houston, is the Law Student Division's liaison to the Sentencing and Corrections Sub- committee of the ABA's Criminal Justice Section.