Law School Democrats of America

The Law School Democrats of America (Law School Dems), or the National Democratic Law Students Council (NDLSC), is the law student arm of the Democratic National Committee. Membership consists of over 1500 law students at more than 85 law schools located throughout the United States.

History

Law School Democrats of America was founded in 2006 at Harvard Law School by David Burd. The organization's first event was a national convention, keynoted by DNC Chairman Howard Dean, at Harvard Law School.^[1] Originally consisting of a small number of the Ivy League law schools, the organization has grown substantially since its founding, and now has chapters at law schools in every region of the United States. The NDLSC works with the Democratic National Committee and other organizations on issues such as election reform and voter protection. NDLSC continues to found new chapters and expand membership, and coordinate the placement of law students to work on Democratic campaigns, including the upcoming 2012 presidential re-election.

Activities

Since 2006, hundreds of law students have taken an active role in Democratic politics, and local and national elections as members of the Law School Democrats.^[2] Student activities have included canvassing, legal research, phone banking, voter protection, and other activities.

The Law School Democrats seek to ensure that every eligible voter is allowed to cast a vote and that every vote is counted, support Democratic campaigns and candidates, connect law students and attorneys interested in Democratic politics, and cultivate the next generation of Democratic leaders.

National Convention

Every year the Law School Democrats holds a national convention. The convention generally takes place in February or March over a weekend, and consists of discussion panels, keynote speakers, receptions, and an election for a new board of directors (President, Vice-President of Communications, Vice-President of Finance, Vice-President of Membership, Vice-President of Programming).^[3] During election years, regional directors are often appointed by the board of directors to help coordinate law student involvement in Democratic campaigns and voter protection efforts.

Past conventions were held in Boston, New York City, Columbus, OH, Chicago,^[4] and Washington D.C..^[5] Notable convention speakers include former DNC Chairman and Vermont Governor Howard Dean, New York Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Democratic political consultant Bob Shrum, Illinois Treasurer and former U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, and Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

The 2011 Law School Democrats National Convention took place April 1–3 at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C.

Chapters

• American University Washington College of Law
• Appalachian School of Law
• Capital University Law School
• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Brooklyn Law School
• Case Western Reserve University School of Law
• Catholic University Columbus School of Law
• Charlotte School of Law
• Charleston School of Law
• City University of New York School of Law
• Cleveland-Marshall College of the Law
• Columbia Law School
• Cornell Law School
• Creighton University School of Law
• Drake University Law School
• Duke University School of Law
• Emory University School of Law
• Florida Coastal School of Law
• Florida State University College of Law
• Fordham University School of Law
• Georgetown University Law Center
• George Mason University School of Law
• George Washington University Law School
• Hamline University School of Law
• Harvard Law School
• Hofstra University School of Law
• Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Lewis and Clark Law School
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law
• Loyola Law School Los Angeles
• Marquette University Law School
• McGeorge School of Law
• Monterey College of Law
• New York Law School
• New York University Law School
• Northwestern University School of Law
• Ohio State Moritz College of Law
• Pepperdine University School of Law
• Roger Williams University School of Law
• Rutgers School of Law–Camden
• St. John's University School of Law
• Seton Hall University School of Law
• South Texas College of Law
• Southern Illinois University School of Law
• Stetson University College of Law
• Seattle University School of Law
• Suffolk University Law School
• Temple University Beasley School of Law
• Texas Tech University School of Law
• Tulane University Law School
• University at Buffalo Law School
• UC Berkeley School of Law
• UC Davis School of Law
• UC Hastings College of the Law
• UCLA School of Law (inactive)
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law
• University of Chicago Law School
• University of Colorado Law School
• University of Connecticut School of Law
• University of Denver College of Law
• University of Florida College of Law
• University of Georgia School of Law (inactive)
• University of Illinois College of Law (inactive)
• University of Iowa College of Law
• University of Maryland School of Law
• University of Miami School of Law (inactive)
• University of Minnesota Law School
• University of Mississippi School of Law (inactive)
• University of Missouri School of Law
• University of Pennsylvania Law School
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• University of Richmond School of Law (inactive)
• University of St. Thomas School of Law
• University of San Diego School of Law
• University of South Carolina School of Law
• University of South Dakota School of Law
• University of Southern California School of Law
• University of Virginia School of Law
• University of Wisconsin Law School
• University of Texas School of Law
• Valparaiso University School of Law
• Vanderbilt University Law School
• Villanova University School of Law
• Washington & Lee University School of Law
• West Virginia University College of Law
• Whittier Law School
• Widener University School of Law
• Yale Law School

References