Student Organizations
We have a diverse group of student organizations for a diverse population of students. Student organizations are a great way for students to serve the law school and the Cleveland community, grow personally and professionally, and network with attorneys and other persons who provide legal services. Every year our student organizations change depending upon the interest level of our students; some grow, some become inactive, and new organizations develop. The faculty and staff are here to help organizations thrive and achieve their missions.
A list of all currently authorized student organizations, with contact information, is provided below. For more information about our existing students organizations, please contact Inga Laurent, Manger of Student Affairs in LB 140A, by phone at (216) 687-4596.
American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS)
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. Cleveland-Marshall’s ACS Student Chapter furthers dialogue on constitutional philosophy and collaborates with the Northeast Ohio Lawyers Chapter, which recently won the ACS Chapter of the Year Award.
Fore more information contact Kevin Kovach (president)
Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association (APILSA)
The APILSA was formed to address the concerns of Asian students as well as to provide support to its members. APILSA welcomes and encourages all students to participate in the many events sponsored by APILSA through the year. Many of these events are aimed at educating persons to the many issues facing Asian Americans. APILSA also offers a forum for its members to meet Asian American lawyers working in the Cleveland area through its guest speaker series and through its close ties with the Asian American Bar Association of Ohio.
For more information contact Susanna Ratsavong (president)
Association for Environmental Law and Sustainability (AELS)
The Association for Environmental Law and Sustainability (AELS) at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law is a center of information and education for students, faculty, alumni and the community. Members are dedicated to being fully informed of the issues of a school in an urban environment and the challenges not only of co-existing with nature but of improving the world in which they live.
For more information contact Estina Munoz-Goertz (president)
Black Law Student Association (BLSA)
BLSA is a national organization with chapters at law schools across the country. The C-M chapter of BLSA sponsors and co-sponsors various educational and social events throughout the year. Our biggest event is the BLSA Scholarship Banquet, which is held every year in April. Although BLSA's primary purpose is to provide assistance in preparation and retention of African-American law students, BLSA membership is open to all students.
For more information contact Aja Brooks (president)
Business Law Association
The Business Law Association is dedicated to providing students with an understanding of the intimate relationship between business practices and legal application. For students intending to practice corporate law or join a corporate institution, or for students who possess an entrepreneurial spirit, the Business Law Association is devoted to exposing students to this interdisciplinary relationship. Please join us as we seek to prepare students to be future leaders in the business and legal community.
For more information contact David Moore (president)
Canadian Law Student Association (CLSA)
CLSA represents the interests of prospective and current Canadian students at the law school. Canadians applying for admission to the law school are encouraged to contact the CLSA for answers to various questions they are encountering. CLSA seeks to be an information source for Canadian students and provide assistance with respect to course selections, housing, visa issues, health insurance, employment, and getting licensed to practice law in the United States and various Canadian provinces. Additionally, CLSA serves as a liaison between the law school and Canadian students. During the school year, CLSA hopes organize information forums, and invite speakers to talk about important aspects of US-Canada law practice.
For more information contact Arunesh Sohi (president)
The Catholic Lawyers Guild
The Catholic Lawyers Guild fosters spiritual growth and fellowship within the legal community, encourages observance of high ethical standards, and calls attention to legal and societal issues that affect morality, justice and faith. The Guild is affiliated with the Lawyer's Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and sponsors speaker events as well as social and volunteer opportunities.
For more information contact Elizabeth Cullivan (president)
Christian Legal Society (CLS)
The Christian Legal Society provides law students with an opportunity for fellowship and spiritual growth through prayer, Bible study, mutual support, get-togethers, speaker events, and volunteer work. Our purpose is to integrate our faith with our life as law students, and ultimately, our faith with our future profession. "Don't lose Christ in the footnotes" is our motto.
For more information contact Tyessa Howard (president)
Cleveland-Marshall ALLIES
CM Allies is a social and political student organization dedicated to serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community at the Cleveland-Marshall School of Law. Allies sponsors speakers, events, and panel discussions on legal issues that affect the LGBT communities. In addition, Allies provides a forum for social and professional interaction by hosting social events for CM students. Reformed in the Fall of 2008, the Allies mission is to provide a welcoming environment for LGBT law students and faculty, and a voice for issues that are specific to the LGBT community both within the law school and the greater legal community. We welcome all LGBT students and straight allies to join our email list, and to become a part of CM Allies.
Fore more information contact Maya Simek (president)
Cleveland State Law Review [website]
The Cleveland State Law Review is a journal with a proud tradition. Four times each year, the Law Review publishes articles of both local and national significance. Students may be invited to join the Law Review as an Associate member at the end of their first year by either class ranking in the top ten percent or by successfully competing in a writing contest during the summer following their first year. Students in the evening division may choose to wait until the summer following their second year to enter the writing competition.
During the first year of Law Review participation, Associate members take part in the editorial work of the Law Review and produce a comprehensive Note on a topic of their choice. A select number of Notes are published in the Law Review the following year. Successful completion of the Note may also satisfy the upper level writing requirement.
For more information contact Alana Jochum (editor-in-chief)
Criminal Law Society
The purpose of the Criminal Law Society shall be to facilitate student association with practicing criminal defense lawyers, prosecutors, and other facets of the criminal justice system. Last year the Criminal Law Society hosted speakers and organized a police ride-along program. This year the Society plans to again engage in the police ride-along program and host guest speakers or panel discussions; the Society also may be involved in a program aiding those with criminal records obtain jobs.
Leadership roles are available currently due to a shortage of returning members.
For more information please contact Scott Forsman (president)Delta Theta Phi
The Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity is an international professional law fraternity with over 100,000 members. Delta Theta Phi bridges the gap between law school and the successful practice of law. Through networking at fraternity functions, mutual benefits are derived for both students and alumni. Many attorneys that utilize law clerks look to the Fraternity first when hiring. In general, the Fraternity provides a framework for its student members to substantially further their range of personal contacts and professional opportunities.
For more information contact Nicholas Costaras (co-dean) or Emily Honsa (co-dean)
Dual Degree Law Students Association
DDSA is an organization for those students that are enrolled in a dual degree program (JD/MPA, JD/MBA, JD/MAES, JD/MSES, and JD/MUPDD) or are interested in doing so. The purpose of DDSA is to advocate for the interests of dual degree students and assist with knowledge and information regarding the dual degree programs whenever it can.
Fore more information contact Joy DeMarco (president)
Employment and Labor Law Association (ELLA)
Employment and Labor Law Association (ELLA) is a student organization formed to meet the strong interest in employment and labor issues at Cleveland-Marshall. Founded in 2004, this group is supplementary to the ongoing success of the faculty’s Employment and Labor Law Group, which hosts a stimulating lecture series each year. ELLA sponsors employment and labor law themed “movie nights,” wherein a movie or documentary is viewed followed by a discussion of the issues presented. ELLA annually contributes to Multiple Sclerosis, and other such degenerative diseases that bring rise to ADA related claims. ELLA also offers specialized networking opportunities through its participation with the labor and employment section of the Cleveland Bar Association. ELLA is a non-partisan organization and respects both the labor and management perspective.
For more information contact Sunny Nixon (president)
Entertainment & Sports Law Association
Our mission shall be to help promote the concept of entertainment & sports law for student's desirable of a concentration and better understanding of these areas of study.
Our goal is to promote these ideals through guest-speaker lectures, fundraising events, community service, volunteer opportunities, and the institution of sports & entertainment internships and networking opportunities.
For more information contact Anthony Rich (president)
The 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.
For more information contact Karri Peck (president)
The Gavel [website]
The Gavel is the student publication of the College of Law. Its purpose is to inform, entertain, and comment on the law school, the legal community, and related topics of interest. Students become staff members after having two articles or equivalent contributions printed in the publications. Staff members participate in editorial elections at the end of the year. Three editorial positions provide a full tuition stipend.
For more information contact Kevin Kovach (editor-in-chief)
Global Business Law Review [website]
The Global Business Law Review provides an innovative platform for scholars and practitioners to explore novel and transformational issues in the field of international business law. At the end of their first year, students may be invited to join the GBLR by either ranking in the top five percent of their class or by successfully competing in the annual Summer Writing Competition.
The GBLR publishes volumes in the Fall and the Spring, and each year, the GBLR sponsors a Symposium that addresses the most significant legal issues in international business.
For more information contact Reginald Russell (editor-in-chief)
Hispanic Law Student Association
The Hispanic Law Student Association is dedicated to the advancement of Hispanics within the legal profession. The organization provides a support network for all Hispanic law students. It seeks to establish and maintain mutual cooperation with the larger Hispanic legal community.
Fore more information contact Albert Pena (president)
Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA)
JLSA is dedicated to furthering the religious, social, and educational needs of law students who identify with any branch of Judaism. It is affiliated with the Cleveland Hillel Foundation, the Jewish Joint Graduate Student Board and many other organizations. It also is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and religious tolerance for all members of the law school community. It sponsors speakers, social events, and religious functions. JLSA also helps students to become connected to the Cleveland Jewish Community and beyond through alumni events, coordination with the Young Leadership Division of Cleveland Federation and distribution of information from local synagogues and Jewish newspapers. All law students are invited to attend.
For more information contact Sergey Kats (president)
Journal of Law and Health [website]
The Journal is a law review devoted to publishing timely and informative articles in the area of health and the law. Two issues of the Journal are published each year. Students are not eligible to become members of the Journal until they complete their first year. Students ranking in the top twenty percent of their class in terms of grade point averages are automatically extended invitations to join the Journal as Associate Members. Students not scoring in the top twenty percent are invited to join the staff upon successfully competing in the annual Summer Writing Competition.
Students who satisfactorily complete their Associate year attain the rank of Editor, assuming supervisory duties over the Associates and becoming more involved in both the editorial and policy-making functions.
For more information contact either Stefanie Baker (co-editor) or Eric Steiger (co-editor)
The Justinian Forum
The Justinian Forum is a bar association representing 250 attorneys and 14 judges of Italian American descent in Cuyahoga County. The organization here at Cleveland-Marshall was developed in conjunction with the bar association to promote and foster understanding of the roles of Italian Americans in the legal system and to encourage advocacy of Italian Americans in matters involving social justice issues. As an auxiliary chapter to the bar association we are invited to attend and be involved in all functions of the bar association. The auxiliary chapter works to elevate and maintain the standards of integrity and honor among the student body of the law school, while promoting legal, cultural and social activities.
For more information contact Luisa Taddeo (president)
Moot Court
The Cleveland-Marshall Moot Court program is an organization designed to provide students the opportunity to develop, refine, and showcase brief-writing and appellate advocacy skills. All students are eligible to compete for a position on the team at the end of their first year by submitting their final Legal Writing course paper. Submissions are reviewed anonymously by the Moot Court Board of Governors, and selected students then participate in an intramural competition. Second year students also have an opportunity to compete in an intramural competition to join the team after completion of the Advanced Brief Writing course. Once a member of the team, students compete in interscholastic competitions against other teams from across the nation. The award-winning Cleveland-Marshall Moot Court team provides students the unique opportunity to obtain and develop real-world advocacy skills, both written and oral, while still in law school. Team members benefit from the advice and guidance of experienced alumni, faculty, and practitioners.
For more information contact David Thomas (chairman)
Student Bar Association (SBA) [website]
The SBA is the student governing body of the college. Four officers are elected each spring and each class of students has its own senators. First year elections for both day and evening students will be held soon after classes start. The SBA's primary responsibilities are to be the voice of the student body, oversee student organizations, and maintain programs and opportunities.
For more information contct Lindsay Wasko (president)
Student Intellectual Property Law Association (SIPLA)
The Student Intellectual Property Law Association (SIPLA) is an organsation dedicated to representing the interests of students wishing to practice Intellectual Property law. Intellectual Properties are products of the mind manifested as a ideas, inventions, work of art, collection of words, and trade secrets. One of the many benefits of practicing intellectual property law is its ubiquitous nature. It encompasses the obvious fields such as the hard sciences but also fine arts, literature, and even baseball stats! Nearly every field in which you may have an interest probably has a need for intellectual property protection. Due to its wide-spread demand, Intellectual Property law is one of the fastest growing, highest paid segments of law. Even if you are just thinking about intellectual property as possible field, join us at our meetings. You'll hear from the area's leading practicioners about the protection of products any where from Kleenex to the cure for cancer.
Fore more information contact John Stryker (president)
Student Public Interest Law Organization (SPILO)
SPILO is an organization of students, faculty, and staff which recognizes the inequities that exist in our legal system and is dedicated to developing a more just society. SPILO serves as a resource center for students seeking employment or volunteer opportunities which focus on public service. The groups sponsors summer interns in public interest law, guest speakers, fund-raisers, workshops, and social functions.
For more information contact Brad Eier (president)
Women's Law Students Association (WLSA)
The Women's Law Students Association provides a forum for discussion and debate to promote an awareness of women's and societal issues. WLSA sponsors a Silent Auction, which is held in the fall. The group is a member of the National Association of Women Law Students and is open to all students.
For more information contact Nicole Lester (co-president) or Melanie Shwab (co-president)