Student Organizations
The clubs and organizations at Duke Law run the gamut, from the Innocence Project to the Duke Law Music Association to the Business Law Society.
All registered Duke University School of Law students in good standing are eligible for membership in all student organizations. However, if your particular interests aren’t represented by the many groups listed below, you are welcome and encouraged to start your own.
The Duke Bar Association (DBA) coordinates the professional, social, and other extracurricular activities of the student body. The DBA serves as both a student government and a professional bar association. It addresses student grievances and serves as a liaison between students, faculty, and the administration. The DBA oversees all of the law school student organizations, publicizes Law School activities, sponsors athletic and social programs, and disburses its dues funds among the school's organizations. Visit the DBA website for more information.
To see the rules and responsibilities of student organizations, see the Student Organization Handbook. Please contact the Office of Student Affairs with questions.
In addition to the groups below, there are many Duke-wide organizations that welcome Duke Law students, including the Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC), Duke Chorale, the Graduate and Professional Women's Network (GPWN), the Graduate Student Dance Club, and Triangle Girls.
American Civil Liberties Union
Since its founding in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been the nation's guardian of liberty, working in our courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve individual working rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. The Duke Law ACLU seeks to contribute to the academic dialogue of the Duke community by fostering intelligent and meaningful discussion of civil and individual liberties.
- President: Jared Holeman
American Constitution Society
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations. Founded in 2001, ACS is a rapidly growing network of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges, policymakers and other concerned individuals. Our mission is to ensure that fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice enjoy their rightful, central place in American law.
ACS aims to revitalize and transform the legal and policy debates occurring in law school classrooms, federal and state courtrooms, legislative hearing rooms and the media. Through student and lawyer chapters all across the country, and programs and projects at both the national and local level, ACS:
- promotes a progressive vision of the Constitution, law and public policy;
- educates lawyers, law students, decision-makers and the public about the historic basis and vitality of such a vision and its importance for the lives of real people;
- strengthens the intellectual underpinnings for progressive law and policy in the United States; and
- continues to build a diverse and dynamic national network.
Duke's ACS Chapter
Recently named the Student Chapter of the Week by the National ACS, the Duke Law chapter hosts exciting events on emerging and evolving constitutional issues from a progressive perspective. Some ACS events from the previous academic year included screening a film on the implications of U.S. drug policies, hosting a panel on gun control, organizing presentations on current cases in front of the Supreme Court such as Fisher v. University of Texas (affirmative action) and Shelby County v. Holder (Section 5 of the Voter Rights Act), and hosting Robert Bauer (former White House counsel to President Obama) for a talk about the constitutional protections for practicing politics. Additionally, ACS organizes small group lunches with Duke professors to discuss their scholarship and perspective on constitutional issues.
- Co-Presidents: Levi Schulman and Jack Reed
The National Organization
For more information about the American Constitution Society, visit the ACS homepage or the ACS Blog for current commentary on important court rulings, political developments, and other events.
Duke Decarceration Project (formerly Clemency Project)
The Duke Decarceration Project (formerly Clemency Project) works to reduce the number of North Carolinians in prisons and jails through advocacy and education. The Project works with incarcerated people across the state to help them be free through clemency petitions, parole advocacy, and other remedies. The Project also raises awareness about the white supremacist roots of the criminal legal system, and its negative impacts on communities and individuals.
Antitrust and Competition Law Society
The Duke Law Competition Law Society organizes events across four areas of law: antitrust, consumer protection, privacy, and trade regulation. Frequently, these events also touch on the intersections between competition law and other legal disciplines. Our generally-accessible and interesting programs attempt to educate and spur interest in hot topics in competition law and beyond. Additionally, the Competition Law Society connects current students with alumni and other professionals working in the field to increase access to these workforces.
- President: Jessica Breznick
Duke Law Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Chapter
The Duke Law chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) is dedicated to providing a forum for education, discussion, and scholarship in the field of animal law for students at the law school. Furthermore, the SALDF is dedicated to helping Duke Law School students explore ways of incorporating the practice of animal law into their legal careers after law school.
- Co-Presidents: Jeremy Sharp and Jiaqi Liu
Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
The purpose of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association is two-fold. First, it provides an organization where the members of the Law School community may explore issues and engage in activities that are of particular benefit and concern to American students of Asian descent, foreign students from Asia, and other students and alumni interested in Asia and law. Second, it can enhance the quality and accessibility of Asian law resources of Duke University. Membership is open to the entire student body.
- Co-Presidents: Grace Koh and Carlos Hua
The friendships that one develops and the memories that one builds throughout the years in law school should not be forgotten at graduation. The Alumni Committee actively strives to maintain a dialogue among the ALSA alumni to facilitate ongoing interaction with the law school community and to foster new friendships with current students.
Links
Black Graduate and Professional Student Association
The Black Graduate and Professional Student Association (BGPSA) is an organization designed to represent all minority graduate and professional students on the Duke University campus. BGPSA’s primary mission is to enhance the Duke experience for our members through community service, social, and academically-based programming events. As an umbrella organization, we welcome students from the following groups: Black & Latino MBA Organization, Black Law Students Association, Black Seminarians Union, Bouchet Society, Hurston-James Society, and Student National Medical Association. Through our academic forums, luncheons, community service initiatives, social events, and recognition ceremony we hope to assist in the development of future minority leadership in the Duke community and in the world at large.
Links
Black Law Students Association
The Black Law Students Association ("BLSA") exists to address the unique needs and concerns of the black law students at Duke University School of Law, and to promote diversity within the Duke Law community and within the legal profession. Through consistent social interaction and programming geared largely towards scholarship, career development, and community assistance, BLSA fosters academic achievement, community involvement, and, ultimately, the development of future black leadership in the legal profession.
- Co-Presidents: Jorren Biggs and Wisam Mustafa
Links
Business Law Society
The Business Law Society promotes social and academic interaction among Duke Law students interested in the various aspects of business, corporate, and financial law. The BLS sponsors social activities, speakers, and symposia that encourage cultural exchange and academic discussion, and generally provides a forum through which members may pursue their interests in developing a career in business law. Our goal is to enhance the legal education of our members and to promote an inter-disciplinary curriculum in business, corporate, and financial law that builds upon the resources of Duke University.
- Co-Presidents: Raquel Dimitri, Soumya Ganti, and Hakob Shamilian
Link
Christian Legal Society
Our goal is to follow Jesus Christ at Duke Law School, learning to serve God and others as future lawyers, scholars, social servants, family members, and friends. We do so through speakers, fellowship, and outreach events. We invite you to join us for our weekly meetings as we explore what it means to be a Christian and a lawyer.
- President: Yvan Cristhyan Monreal
Coalition Against Gendered Violence
Our mission is threefold: 1) to raise awareness in the Duke Law community about domestic violence and sexual assault; 2) to foster student advocacy on behalf of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors; and 3) to identify gaps in services available to domestic violence and sexual assault victims in the Triangle area and develop projects to fill those gaps.
- President: Dakyung Ham
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Duke Bar Association
The Duke Bar Association coordinates the professional, social, and other extracurricular activities of the student body. The association resembles in its composition and purpose both a university student government and a professional bar association. It addresses student grievances and serves as a liaison between students, faculty, and the administration. The association oversees all student organizations, publicizes Law School activities, sponsors athletic and social programs, and disburses its dues funds among the school's organizations.
- President: Natalie Leon
- Vice President of Administration: Addison Smith
- Vice President of Events: Wisam Mustafa
- Treasurer: Leo Zhu
- Secretary: Emma Cline
- Academics Chair: Jody Messick
- Athletics Commissioner: Jack Lineberry
- Social Chair: Emily Bass
- Social Media Chair: Bella Pelletier
- Wellness Chair: Gretchen Lindenfeldar
- 2L Reps: Casey Byrne, Sam Ward, and Lauren Beizer
- 3L Reps: Quentin Colo, Cody Markel, and Hamza Chaudhry
Links
Duke Environmental Law Society
Founded in 1988, ELS strives to promote student discussion and awareness of environmental issues. This is achieved by hosting individual speakers and panels to facilitate student discussions, participating in national competitions and conferences, and coordinating social and community service events. Our goals are to enhance legal education through the creation of a vital environmental law program at the Law School and to promote career opportunities in environmental law in both the public and private sectors. Membership is open to all interested students.
- President: Ryan Perez
Links
- Website
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Duke Fair Chance Project
The Duke Law Fair Chance Project helps North Carolinians access better employment and housing opportunities through criminal record expunction and driver's license restoration efforts. The project works to eliminate or minimize the collateral consequences of dismissed and not guilty charges, juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony convictions, and suspended or revoked licenses. The project also aims to educate the Duke Law community on how collateral consequences inhibit people with criminal records from accessing opportunities and perpetuate inequities in the criminal justice system. Student volunteers get hands-on legal experience reviewing North Carolina criminal and driver's license records to determine clients' eligibility, writing client advice letters explaining their findings, and drafting petitions for relief.
The project partners with nonprofit organizations and local government agencies including Legal Aid of North Carolina, the Durham Expunction & Restoration Program (DEAR), and Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA). Volunteer opportunities include ongoing work sessions, special clinics, and break projects.
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Duke Law Florida Club
Duke Law Florida Club ("Duke Law F.C.") strives to strengthen and reinforce Duke Law’s presence in the Florida legal market. By fostering relationships with firms, judges, alumni and other legal professionals based in Florida, our organization aims to expand Duke Law’s reach into this growing market and introduce current students to career opportunities. Additionally, Duke Law F.C. hosts a community by providing space for students with past, present, or future ties to Florida to connect with one another.
- Co-Presidents: Sofia Seigel and Nicholas Ramierez
Duke Immigrant and Refugee Project
The Duke Immigrant and Refugee Project assists immigrants and refugees in the Triangle area to gain a sense of security and control over their lives by focusing its efforts on research, resources, and outreach for this target population. The Project offers research assistance on human rights issues and prepares legal memoranda for representatives of asylum seekers. The Project also undertakes multiple outreach efforts to provide needed resources to immigrant and refugee communities, including through the provision of "Know Your Rights" training sessions to immigrant teenagers and adults, the distribution of literature detailing rights and responsibilities in accordance with immigration law, and by assisting with other public needs as they arise.
- Executive Director: Avery Allen
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Duke Immigrant Stories Lab
The Duke Immigrant Stories Lab (DISL) strives to provide engaging community education about legal issues affecting immigrant communities by:
- Selecting visionary plays about immigrant stories written by emerging BIPOC, immigrant, and underrepresented playwrights;
- Supporting playwrights in developing their plays;
- Partnering theatre artists with law students to create educational exhibits about the legal issues portrayed in the plays; and,
- Presenting plays alongside exhibits to create an immersive, engaging educational experience.
- President: Amber Holder
Duke Law California Club
The primary purpose of the Duke Law California Club is twofold: to connect students interested in California with each other and to create a professional network for any Duke Law student looking into California employment opportunities in a manner analogous to the Duke Law Texas and North Carolina Clubs. Furthermore, we hope to increase the overall awareness of the California legal market within our school.
- President: Skylar McVicar
Duke Law Chess Club
Recognizing the unique intersection between the analytical skills honed over the chessboard and the critical thinking required in the practice of law, our mission is to offer a stimulating environment that enhances mental well-being, sharpens intellectual acumen, and nurtures professional growth. Duke Law Chess Club is open to all members of Duke Law School, regardless of skills, and is committed to building an inclusive space that nurtures diversity, collaboration, and a culture of respect.
- Co-Presidents: Sangwook Park and Robert Zavarella
Duke Law First Class
Duke Law First Class is a community for first-generation college graduates and students from low-income backgrounds. Our mission is to create a space to share and affirm our experiences, advocate for our communities, attend to our well-being, advance accessibility within the legal profession, and support our career aspirations.
- President: Nicholas Ramirez
Duke Law Human Rights Pro Bono Project
The Human Rights Project will provide research assistance to civil society and United Nations human rights actors beginning in the spring semester of 2023 through projects developed in collaboration with identified external partners.
- Co-Presidents: Julia Benbenek and Colin Dobbins
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Duke Law Lifting Club
The Duke Law Lifting Club ("DLLC") aims to promote physical fitness, provide a community and resource to law students and professors who want to lift, and serve as a non-academic way for students to connect. The DLLC is not to be relied upon as or perceived as an officially licensed training body.
- President: Emery Hansell
Duke Law Music Association
The Duke Law Music Association (DLMA) is established with the purpose of:
- Supporting the emotional and mental wellbeing of the student body
- Providing a space for social connection
- Offering networking opportunities for musicians and music lovers
- Maintaining a judgement-free zone for students to create music
- President: Cliff Gilman
Duke Law Neurodivergent Law Students Association
The purpose of the Duke Law Neurodivergent Law Students Association is to be a community that empowers Neurodivergent identifying law students. We seek to empower both by acting as an organizing space for Neurodivergent law students to associate and by working to elevate the consciousness of a neurodivergent inclusive legal profession in the Duke Law community and beyond.
- President: Garret Hoff
Duke Law Run Club
Duke Law Run Club is an open community of Duke Law runners of all levels. We host weekly group runs on campus and represent Duke Law in external running events.
- President: Ariya Roberts
Link
Duke Law Viticultural Society
The Duke Law Viticultural Society seeks to provide a comprehensive exploration of the wine world through a distinctive legal and market-focused perspective. Our goal is to provide members with an in-depth understanding of the wine market, emphasizing the intricate relationship between viticulture, copyright law, economics, history, and art law. We seek to unravel the various elements that contribute to the value of wine, from production practices, trademarks, geography, and market dynamics, while fostering an appreciation for differences in grape varietals, producers, and regions.
- Co-Presidents: Madison Detweiler and Sabrina Slagowitz
Duke Law & Technology Society
The Duke Law & Technology Society seeks to create a forum where like-minded students interested in the intersection of law and technology can share their ideas and satisfy their intellectual curiosity through peer (to-peer) instruction. We hope to increase the Duke Law community’s understanding of and interest in legal technologies, which includes looking at both their most promising applications today and the implications these technologies have for the practice of law across all industries. We will schedule guest speakers and demonstrations of cutting-edge legal tech, create and organize instructional resources, and connect our members with Duke alumni through sponsored networking events.
- Co-Presidents: Christian Ross and Matt Krasner
Link
Duke Law Texas Club
The Duke Law Texas Club aims to 1) connect students interested in the Texas legal market with employers, alumni, and fellow students working in the state, 2) provide a social atmosphere to build friendships between Duke Law students heading to Texas, and 3) increase the overall awareness throughout the law school to the Texas market.
- President: Isabelle Stewart
Links
Duke Law Womxn of Color Collective
The Womxn of Color Collective (WOCC) at Duke Law seeks to provide a supportive community space for Asian & Pacific Islander, Black, Latinx, Middle Eastern/North African, Native American, and other women and trans people of color. We are open to engage with all people ready to participate in an open and honest dialogue about race, gender and the law. Our mission is to promote the empowerment, inspiration, and personal and professional development of womxn and people of color in the legal field.
Womxn of color in the legal field face particular injustices and inequalities that often go unaddressed. WOCC seeks to advocate for womxn of color and inform the Duke law population of these issues. We seek to re-frame what it means to be a womxn and a person of color both from within and outside of the law.
We spell "womxn" with an "x" as opposed to the common way of spelling it with an "a" ("woman") because we want to consciously reject the patriarchal norms that permeate the legal field and society in general while also making sure to include the voices of trans and nonbinary people of color in our community.
Focus
- Advancement and retention of womxn of color in the legal profession;
- Create opportunities to engage in conversations about race, gender, and law;
- Raise awareness about issues affecting womxn of color.
- Chair: Camille Herring
Link
Duke Street Law
The Duke Street Law program at the Durham County Youth Home provides law students the opportunity to volunteer with young people in juvenile detention, serving as teachers, mentors, and friends. Law students prepare and lead fun lessons about civil and constitutional rights, civics, and more. Past lessons have covered the legal system’s role in society, the Supreme Court, music law, contracts, and marriage equality. This is a great opportunity for those seeking to support the greater Durham community through mentoring and spending quality time with our youth.
- Co-Presidents: Mira Metry and Emily Fung
Federalist Society
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. It 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.
- President: Frances Choi
Links
First Generation Professionals
First Generation Professionals is an enhancement program at Duke Law School for students who are the first in their families to attend professional school. Our goal is to address the transition and integration of first generation law students into Duke Law school by offering a welcoming community for our members as well as academic, professional, and social support to navigate law school and future careers.
We connect our 1L members with faculty, upper-level students and alumni mentors to build relationships and develop a network that will continue through law school and beyond. We offer programming to develop your unique First Generation Professional narrative and integrate your experiences into effective networking and interviewing. We provide opportunities for real-life perspectives from the legal industry, including breakfast with a judge and an on-site employer visit.
- President: Ian Redmond
The Global Law Student Association
The purpose of the Global Law Student Association is to advance the shared interests of international law students at Duke. We aim to achieve this by creating a centralized platform with academic, social and cultural resources and by collaborating with a diverse range of legal professionals who can provide insight into their respective practice areas and the opportunities available to international students within their respective legal markets. Through our social and cultural events, we want to build a community of all international law students while ensuring that everyone feels represented.
- President: Tuba Yesil
Government and Public Service Society
The Government and Public Service Society (GPS) is a student organization devoted to helping students interested in pursuing careers working in government or public interest. We have members interested in a wide variety of different career paths. GPS holds lunchtime events on topics of interest to students interested in government or public interest work. For instance, this past year, we held events on repaying student loans while working in government or public interest, as well as a panel discussion on strategies for success in government or public interest internships. GPS is non-partisan and non-ideological.
- President: Molly Pines
Link
Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC)
The Duke University GPSC advocates for students pursuing advanced degrees in all of the graduate and professional schools, serving as an umbrella organization for local student governments and student groups. GPSC programming aims to foster social cohesiveness and to promote increased interaction across departments and schools. In addition, GPSC oversees election of the Graduate and Professional Young Trustee, appointment to the BOT standing committees, and selection of representatives to many university committees. The General Assembly's bimonthly meetings are open to all. For more information about how to get involved, e-mail gpsc@duke.edu.
Guardian ad Litem (GAL)
Duke Law students work with the Durham County Guardian ad Litem program to become trained as independent advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused, neglected or dependent children involved in the court system. In this highly rewarding work, students carry their own caseload under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Certification is required for participation in this pro bono experience, which involves a significant training that takes place over a series of evenings in either the fall semester or spring semester.
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Health Care Planning Project (HCPP)
Health Care Planning Project (HCPP) students provide legal assistance to cancer patients and other North Carolina residents who are interested - and in need of - advanced care planning. Alongside supervising attorney volunteers, students prepare Power of Attorney, Healthcare Power of Attorney, and Advanced Directive documents. The project's goal is to help our clients ensure their voices are heard by assisting them with appointing trusted individuals to act on their behalf and documenting their healthcare preferences.
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Health Law Society
From bioethics to bioterrorism and everything in between— the Health Law Society is tackling issues at the forefront of American legal and political discourse.
The Health Law Society is an interdisciplinary organization of students and faculty with interests in exploring professional and academic aspects of health care. The Society focuses on the following general areas: curricular expansion and integration, public service and education, and professional development. HLS draws on the surrounding academic community to bring educational events to the law school, and raises awareness of diverse resources available within our membership that can build the understanding of health care law issues within the Law School.
- President: Kelsey Lu
Human Rights Law Society
The International Human Rights Law Society works to achieve three major objectives. First, we provide a forum for students interested in human rights to share their ideas and work together to put on events and initiatives. Second, we serve the Law School and the larger Duke community by providing information and discussion about human rights. Lastly, we work to make careers in human rights law a feasible option for more law students by developing connections with human rights organizations and building networks among Duke graduates.
- President: TBD
If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
Formerly known as Law Students for Reproductive Justice, If/When/How is a is a national network of law students and legal professionals who work together because reproductive justice doesn’t just happen. We believe that achieving reproductive justice will take thoughtful action and strategic activism: acknowledging the intersection of identities, collaborating across disciplines, and working toward a critical transformation of the current legal system. Ensuring that all people have the right to decide if/when/how to create families depends entirely on if, when, and how hard we fight.
The Duke Law chapter of If/When/How seeks to broaden the reproductive justice dialogue in the Duke community through lunch panel talks and social events. We are also currently mobilizing to create more community-based reproductive justice-focused pro bono opportunities for Duke Law students to engage in. Membership is open to the entire Duke Law community, and we explicitly encourage and support an inclusive environment.
- President: Emma Cline
Links
Innocence Project
The Duke Law Innocence Project® is a volunteer student organization that works to exonerate victims of wrongful convictions by investigating claims of actual innocence. After completing a careful review according to set criteria and guidelines, the various student teams present their conclusions to the Project leadership and faculty advisers.
The Duke Law Innocence Project looks at wrongful convictions not only on an individual case-by-case basis, but also engages in policy reforms, and outreach to the community in education. The organization also helps its exonerees in their reintegration to society.
For more information, please email dukelawinnocenceproject@gmail.com.
- Executive Director: Alyssa Quinlan
Links
- Website
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Intellectual Property Law Society
The Duke Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) is a student-run organization dedicated to exploring the legal issues and legal career opportunities available in the field of intellectual property. This organization will be dedicated to providing students with the necessary resources, guidance, and contacts to explore a career in intellectual property law. IPLS seeks to attract students interested in patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and other IP areas. IPLS plans to host relevant speakers and social events and provide academic and professional guidance. Through this programming, students with interests in science, the arts, technology, fashion, advertising, and more will learn about how those industries intersect with the law.
- President: Alex Neumann
International Law Society
The International Law Society promotes social and academic interaction among Duke Law students who are interested in the various aspects of public and private international law. The ILS sponsors social activities, speakers, and symposia that encourage cultural exchange and academic discussion, and generally provides a forum through which members may pursue their interests in developing a career in international law.
- Co-Presidents: Kevin Dugan and Wei Zheng
Link
J. Reuben Clark Society
We affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction. We strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.
The JRCLS represents Latter-day Saint (Mormon) law students at Duke Law, but all are welcome to join with us.
- President: James Mullen
Link
Jewish Law Students Association
JLSA is an organization of students and faculty, primarily from Duke Law School but including many other nonlaw students, who share an interest in Judaism and Judaism-related issues. JLSA offers a variety of social events, such as a Hanukkah party, wine tastings, and bagel brunches. JLSA also offers educational events, such as “lunch and learns” with local rabbis, and lectures, seminars, and religious programming, such as the Graduate Student Shabbat, Break-fast, and Passover Seder.
- Co-Presidents: Danielle Movitz and Sabrina Slagowitz
Latin American Law Students Association
The mission of LALSA is to build community within the law school, foster relationships with firms and alumni, and promote professional development within its general body. By hosting various events, LALSA brings together students and professionals to discuss the issues faced by Latin American lawyers, the responsibilities of a Latin American lawyer in society, the need for positive role models in Latin American communities, and the availability of inexpensive/free legal aid. These discussions are usually intermingled with social activities where Latin American and other law students can experience the richness of Latin American culture. Aside from its role in the law school, LALSA maintains ties with the wider Duke community through collaborations with the Duke University Hispanic Latino Alumni Association (DUHLAA) and the undergraduate group MI GENTE, which sponsors social events celebrating Latinx culture and professional development events.
- Co-Presidents: Andres Williamson-Leite and Jonathan Acosta
Links
Law & Economics Society
The Duke Law and Economics Society provides a forum for Duke Law students interested in the academic field of law and economics. We aim to further the Duke Law community experience by exposing students to emerging research in the field and by fostering discussion and thought about the interesting ways in which the fields of law and economics interact.
- Co-Presidents: TBD
Law & Entrepreneurship Society
The Law and Entrepreneurship Society recognizes the critical role of entrepreneurship in the modern world and endeavors to encourage students at Duke University School of Law to engage within its legal sphere. Accordingly, the Law and Entrepreneurship Society aims to provide students with education on entrepreneurial law, promote networking with relevant attorneys and entrepreneurs, and host social events to facilitate the creation of an inclusive entrepreneurial law community.
- President: TBD
Lawyer on the Line (LOTL)
The need for legal assistance to those with limited means far exceeds the capacity of Legal Aid of North Carolina. To bridge this gap, private attorneys throughout the state provide pro bono representation to many of these clients through the Lawyer on the Line (LOTL) program.
Legal Aid is providing Duke students the opportunity to take part in this effort. Under the supervision of a Legal Aid attorney, students will provide advice and counsel to Legal Aid clients over the phone. Cases involve four possible areas of law: consumer, employment, expunction and landlord/tenant law. Prior legal knowledge of these issues is not required.
Students will interview clients about the facts of the client's case, then research the issue presented and prepare appropriate advice. After the supervising attorney approves the advice, students will advise the client. Relevant statutes and regulations will be provided to participating students to narrow down the research process. Each case can be completed in less than 3 hours from start to finish.
This is a perfect opportunity to improve effective interviewing and advising skills, while also helping very low-income individuals who would not likely get the advice they need otherwise.
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Lyme Disease Advocacy Project (LDAP)
The Lyme Disease Advocacy Project focuses on advocating for legislative change, increased funding, better education, and the prevention of Lyme and tick-borne disease. There are a multitude of unique structural issues surrounding Lyme and tick-borne disease and many people struggle to receive unemployment and disability benefits, or even qualify for insurance coverage.
Students will work with Lyme disease non-profits to conduct research around these issues, write memos with their findings, draft legislative and advocacy pieces surrounding Lyme disease, and assist with educational programs. This project will be great experience for anyone interested in health law, public policy, government, unemployment and disability law, or anyone who wants to make a difference for a very common and misunderstood disease.
Links
Middle East and North African Law Students Association (MENALSA)
MENALSA strives to promote an understanding of Middle East and North African (“MENA”) social, legal, and professional issues. The organization seeks to expand MENA representation and develop MENA leadership in the legal community. MENALSA works toward these goals by organizing educational and cultural events.
- Co-Presidents: Joelle Jarjoura and Tugce Turner
Link
Mock Trial Board
The Mock Trial Board is a student-run organization that seeks to promote the engagement of students in mock trial competitions at both the intra- and inter-scholastic levels. In doing so, we promote the practical development of aspiring lawyers at Duke Law. The Mock Trial Board hosts the intra-scholastic Duke Law Mock Trial Tournament (Twiggs Beskind Cup), and sends teams to compete in inter-scholastic competitions such as the ATLA National Trial Advocacy Tournament, the TYLA National Trial Competition, the Georgetown National White Collar Crime Tournament, and the National Animal Law Closing Argument Competition.
- President: Fernanda Yanez
Moot Court Board
The Moot Court Board is composed of second- and third-year law students who are chosen on the basis of their performances in intramural moot court competition. The Board organizes and conducts the Law School's annual Hardt Cup and Dean's Cup intramural competitions, and selects Duke Law's representatives to the Phillip C. Jessup International Law competition. Members of the Board regularly compete in national inter-scholastic moot court competitions.
- President: Rachel Gu
Link
Muslim Law Students Association
The mission of the Muslim Law Students Association is to raise awareness of contemporary problems related to the intersection of Muslim-American identities and the American legal system and to provide community-building and networking opportunities for Muslim law students at Duke University School of Law.
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President: Zehra Hassan
National Lawyers Guild
The National Lawyers Guild is an association dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. It seeks to unite the lawyers, law students, legal workers and jailhouse lawyers of America in an organization that shall function as an effective political and social force in the service of the people. Guild members effectively network and hone their legal skills in order to help create change at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The National Lawyer Guild’s aim is to bring together all those who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities and people of color, upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression. The Duke chapter seeks to build community on the Duke campus, create opportunities for networking between progressive and radical law students and lawyers, and champion progressive and radical causes at Duke, in Durham, and beyond.
- President: Suresh Hanubal
National Security Law Society
A non-partisan organization with three chief goals:
- Exploring careers and opportunities in national security law;
- Discussing matters in the field in forums led by professional experts and by fellow students; and
- Promoting the involvement of Duke Law students in national security law, chiefly by facilitating summer internships and building an alumni network of graduates working in the field.
- Co-Presidents: Katherine French and Jimmy Scoville
Native American Law Students Association
Duke’s Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) supports Duke’s Native American law students professionally, personally, and culturally and connects students with the broader Native American community in North Carolina. We also foster discussion within the law school about Federal Indian and tribal law issues, including sovereignty, treaty-handling, legal reform, and civil rights issues.
- President: Robert Zavarella
North Carolina Club
The North Carolina Club’s mission is to 1) connect students interested in the North Carolina legal market with fellow students, employers, and alumni working in the state, 2) provide a social atmosphere to build friendships between Duke Law students planning on practicing in North Carolina, and 3) increase the school’s overall awareness of the North Carolina market.
The North Carolina Club accomplishes this mission by organizing programming and networking events with North Carolina attorneys, providing information on the North Carolina legal market, and being available to answer students’ questions or concerns regarding North Carolina.
- Co-Presidents: Sean Wilson and Christian Ross
Older Wiser Law Students
Older Wiser Law Students (OWLS) fosters a supportive community that caters to the social, academic, and professional needs of students who are transitioning into second careers, are married and/or parenting, or have unique needs and challenges due to their age, experience, or obligations outside the classroom.
- Co-Presidents: Tamesha Derkach and Rosa Gibson
Links
OutLaw
OutLaw is the student group dedicated to serving the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally student community at Duke University School of Law. Our goal is to both educate and become involved with the law school and surrounding community regarding legal and social issues relevant to LGBT/Q people, as well as to provide a fun and comfortable social network for LGBT/Q students at Duke. We feature over 25 different programs annually, making us one of the most active groups on campus, and work with other Duke LGBT/Q student groups to increase visibility on campus.
- President: Evan Ortiz
Links
South Asian Law Students Association
SALSA is committed to being a forum for interaction through social and cultural events relating to South Asian Americans. SALSA works closely with Duke Diya, one of the university’s largest student organizations, composed of hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students. SALSA also serves as a network and resource for its members to advance their academic and career goals. SALSA accomplishes this by offering advice and resources on classes and exams, sharing knowledge about summer positions, and providing practicing attorneys and law clerks as mentors. SALSA is open to all law students and encourages anyone interested in South Asian culture to join.
- Co-Presidents: Brindavani Mudhapati and Ushna Talpur
Sports and Entertainment Law Society
The Duke Sports & Entertainment Law Society is an entirely student run organization dedicated to exploring the legal issues and career opportunities available in the area of sports and entertainment law.
By expanding access to sports and entertainment law, our goal is to give interested students the opportunity to pursue this exciting, but also extremely competitive, area of legal practice. The organization is devoted to providing students the necessary resources, guidance, and contacts that will fully prepare them to engage in contemporary legal topics and further pursue these interests in a future professional career. In pursuit of these goals, the society hosts speakers and symposia on hot topics in the field, organizes trips and social events focused on sports and entertainment, and provides academic and professional guidance to students. In addition to hosting events, SELS also partners with organizations such as the Intellectual Property Society, Fuqua's Sports and Entertainment Business Association, and the Duke Law and Technology Review to further expand the possibilities to engage in activities relevant to sports and entertainment.
- Co-Presidents: Dillon Johnson and Alyssa Quinlan
Link
Transactional Law Competition Board
The Duke University School of Transactional Law Competition Board is an entirely student-managed organization established to encourage the development of negotiation and transactional document drafting as skills among law students. The Board sponsors an annual Mock Deal Competition open to all JD and LLM students. There, teams of two or three complete a mini-transaction by marking up deal documents and negotiating terms against an opposing team. The competition is judged by esteemed practitioners from all over the country, and the type of transaction will rotate each year exposing students to new and different kinds of deals. The annual competition is used to choose new board members, who will be able participate in national and regional transactional law related competitions.
- Co-Presidents: Lauren Beizer and Zehra Hassan
Tricky Dick
Named after arguably Duke Law's most famous alum and known to most as "The Hottest Ticket in Town," Tricky Dick is Duke Law's annual sketch comedy spectacular! Best known for our big show in Downtown Durham each spring as well as our online videos throughout the year, Tricky Dick raises money for the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) and serves as Duke Law’s best, most irreverent creative outlet.
- Co-Directors: Henry Spiro and Claire Simpson
Veterans Assistance Project
Started in 2006 by Duke Law students and veterans Jade Totman and Chris Dodrill, the Veterans Assistance Project helps local veterans receive the benefits they deserve. Students undergo extensive training, meet and screen prospective clients during intake sessions, and prepare initial disabilities claims and appeals under the supervision of volunteer attorneys accredited by the Veterans' Administration. The Project also participates in community veteran events and holds fundraisers for groups that assist injured veterans. This group allows students to both hone their legal skills and help those who have served our country.
- Co-Directors: Matt Chopp and Ben Leavens
Links
- Pro Bono Info
- Pro Bono Info - Internal (Requires Duke NetID)
Women Law Students Association
The mission of the Women Law Students Association is to help women thrive in our law school and to ease the transition between the academic and the work environments. WLSA strives to create a community that will raise awareness of women's issues and move toward the betterment of women in the legal profession. We also seek to provide a forum for students to enhance their Duke University School of Law experience.
All law students, male and female, may join WLSA. Additionally, our events are open to the entire Duke community. If you would like more information about WLSA or have suggestions about how we can better achieve our goals, do not hesitate to contact any of our officers.
- Co-Presidents: Casey Byrne and Christina Moss
Links