University of Florida Levin College of Law

Extracurricular Organizations
All Extracurricular organizations within the law school are the responsibility the Law College Council. The Law College Council funds and coordinates the activities of the law school's Extracurricular organizations.

LAW COLLEGE COUNCIL
LCC has funding control over Extracurricular organizations within the law school and operates under the Board of College Councils and Student Government. In addition, LCC presents law student views and interests to the administration and UF Student Government, allocates budgeted Student Government funds to eligible member organizations, and encourages interaction between member organizations. LCC hosts a Student Organization Fair at the beginning of each semester to enable incoming students to become familiar withe the many organizations available at the college.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION-LAW STUDENT DIVISION
ABA-LSD offers networking on a national level at annual meetings, section and division meetings, and student competitions, and its many sections and divisions help students explore practice specialties and areas of interest. It is involved locally with community projects and charity events such as the “Heart Walk.”

AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY FOR LAW AND POLICY
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is a national organization comprised 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 at UF Law sponsors speakers, debates and other programs on subjects such as federalism, affirmative action, and the scope of congressional power. Among those who have spoken at ACS at UF Law events are former Attorney General Janet Reno, Justice Peggy Quince of the Florida Supreme Court and renowned constitutional law scholar Erwin Chemerinsky.

ANIMAL LAW ASSOCIATION
ALA at UF Law is dedicated to the four goals of 1) educating the community about forms of animal abuse, 2) fostering awareness about combating this abuse through litigation, and other means, 3) providing opportunities for students to work on litigation and community projects aimed at protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals, and 4) raising the profile of the field of animal law. Their activities include: hosting speakers and conducting educational events on current issues in animal rights and animal welfare law and carrying out research projects for attorneys and organizations involved in animal welfare and animal rights litigation. ALA at UF Law is a student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (hereafter referred to as ALDF) and further recognizes and abides by the purposes and goals of the ALDF.

ASIAN & PACIFIC AMERICAN LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
APALSA members are interested in the growth of the Asian legal community and development of Asian and Asian-American legal and cultural issues. Its events and activities have included symposia on issues such as Afghan Women Under the Taliban, Chinese New Year celebrations, and member-organized trips to Asia. UF’s chapter of this national organization has been active since 1994.

ASSOCIATION OF FUTURE LITIGATORS [e-mail]
It provides a forum for law students interested in pursuing careers in litigation (criminal or civil; plaintiff or defense). This is NOT a competitive group engaged in mock trials or appeals. Instead, it encourages its members to acquire litigation knowledge through seminars, court attendance, and visiting practitioners. Its approach to litigation is more theoretical than the purely skills-based groups like trial team or moot court. The Future Litigators Association is opened to any law student who foresees being in a litigation career path upon graduation.

ASSOCIATION FOR LAW AND BUSINESS
The ALB is the premier student organization for the advancement of business law study in the State of Florida. Members share an interest in all areas of business law, including Securities, Corporate, Bankruptcy, and Intellectual Property law. Through its relationship with the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar, the ALB brings law students, professors, and practicing attorneys together by offering distinguished guest speakers, social events, and research and publication opportunities to the student body. The ALB also provides guidance to its members in choosing business law as a curriculum and career.

ASSOCIATION FOR TAX LAW
UF is ranked 2nd in the country for tax law. Association for Tax Law is the only JD student organization which promotes the study of tax law at the JD level. The organization will participate in two national tax competitions, National Tax Moot Court and ABA Tax Challenge (a transactional competition), host related speakers, host a panel of professors who answer questions about their course offerings, and maintain an alumni database that allows members access to a national networking system. Participation in VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Association) is one of the most important aspects of the organization.

ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC INTEREST LAW
APIL distributes information on public interest law and brings numerous speakers to the law school. Members organize LawLawPalooza —an annual fundraiser for fellowships for law students pursuing a public interest career — and other events to support students volunteering at non-profit legal organizations.

ASSOCIATION OF TRIAL LAWYERS OF AMERICA
The objective of this organization is to encourage law students and future trial lawyers to become actively involved in promoting the civil justice system and championing the cause of those who deserve redress for injury to person or property. This is a not-for-profit organization.

BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, W. GEORGE ALLEN CHAPTER
BLSA provides a voice for students of color within the law school and strengthens the bond between the administration, faculty and students. Members hold weekly meetings and conduct numerous events each year, including mentor and tutorial programs, Black History Month activities and the Virgil Hawkins Awards Gala.

CARIBBEAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
CLSA educates the law school community about the Caribbean and highlights legal issues affecting the Caribbean community. Students interested in learning about the Caribbean culture, regardless of whether they have ties to the region, are encouraged to join. Meetings are held monthly to give members an opportunity to network, eat, and learn about current legal issues from prominent Caribbean Speakers. CLSA partakes in various community service projects within the Gainesville community. Pease sign up on the CaribLaw Twen site to learn more.

CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY
CLS is a local and national network of attorneys and law students who provide members with support for their profession and Christian beliefs. Its weekly meetings include Bible study, discussion, forums, guest speakers and social activities. Activities include a welcome-back dinner at the beginning of the semester and Thanksgiving Pie Festival. Members also host “Ice Cream & Bingo Night” each semester for cancer patients at the Hope Lodge.

CRIMINAL LAW ASSOCIATION
CLA gives students interested in criminal law and litigation a more realistic idea of what practice entails. Members get hands-on interaction by talking with speakers, going on police ride-alongs and prison tours, and getting a close look at state and federal courthouses. It has numerous social events each year and was co-recipient of the Law College Council’s 2001-2002 Organization of the Year.

DRUG & ALCOHOL CRIMES LAW ASSOCIATION
It brings information on the prosecution and defense of drug and alcohol crimes to the campus community. Some of our activities include: guest speakers from the legal community that specialize in the prosecution or defense of drug and alcohol criminal offenses.

ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & SPORTS LAW SOCIETY
EASLS serves students interested in sports and entertainment law through opportunities to network in the field. Members organize a yearly conference co-sponsored by the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of The Florida Bar. EASLS co-coordinates the college’s Music Law Conference.

ENTERTAINMENT LAW REVIEW
The Entertainment Law Review at the University of Florida is a journal that provides a forum for the discussion of legal issues in connection with entertainment, arts, sports, literature, mass communication, and the First Amendment.

ENVIRONMENTAL & LAND USE LAW SOCIETY
ELULS promotes environmental and land use law while providing educational and professional expertise to law students. Members organize an annual three-day Public Interest Environmental Conference, which attracts lawyers from around the country and enables students to network and learn about environmental law issues. ELULS also works to resolve local environmental issues, and last year helped restructure the law school’s recycling program to make it more efficient.

ESTATES, TRUSTS, & ELDER LAW SOCIETY
ETELS works with law students interested in estate planning, probate administration, probate litigation and elder law.

FAMILY LAW SOCIETY
The objectives of the group are as follows: 1. To acquaint the student body with the important and prevalent issues in family law affecting students and practicing lawyers. 2. To conduct charitable works in the community focused on family law issues. 3. To make contacts in the family law field for the graduates of the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. 4. To conduct fundraisers for specific charities within the University of Florida and the surrounding Gainesville community. 5. To create community outreach programs, specifically directed at the children of Alachua County.

FEDERALIST SOCIETY
The Federalist Society enlivens campus discussion and debate by raising awareness of the libertarian/conservative viewpoint. The organization sponsors speakers and coordinates a trip for members each year toWashington D.C. to meet other members from around the country.

FLORIDA LAW TOASTMASTERS
Toastmasters provides a supportive learning environment for those who wish to improve their verbal and nonverbal communication skills. The organization also sends students to area speech contests — on speech techniques such as evaluation, humor and impromptu speaking — sponsored by Toastmasters International. Members meet regularly during the school year and have several social events.

FLORIDA LAW & VEGETARIAN ASSOCIATION
This a group of students concerned about issues related to being a vegetarian in the legal field. They believe deeply in the importance of a vegetarian diet, and recognize law as the mechanism which governs the relationships between and among the individuals and institutions that form our society. The mission of the Florida Law And Vegetarian Association is to harness the values of compassion and respect for each invididual, strenghtening the knowledge of a vegetarian diet, and address issues related to law.

HISPANIC AND LATINO/A LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
HLLSA promotes and sustains the academic success of Hispanic and Latino/a students at UF Law. The organization seeks to bring about positive change in the law school community and society at large by addressing a variety of legal issues. The organization also focuses on community outreach, mentoring for law students, professional networking and career opportunities. Email: ufhllsa@gmail.com

INSURANCE DEFENSE LAW ASSOCIATION
It educates future attorneys on insurance law matters and attract future insurance defense civil litigators through insurance industry training and involvement. Insurance and Insurance Defense education through seminars, guest speakers, and insurance industry involvement.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & TECHNOLOGY LAW ASSOCIATION
IPTLA provides a forum for students interested in intellectual property law to socialize and learn more about the field and career opportunities. The club meets every two to three weeks and hosts social events. Members have conducted an intellectual property & computer law symposium and are currently organizing an intellectual property moot court trial team to participate in national competitions.

INTERNATIONAL LAW SOCIETY
ILS promotes interest and understanding of international law and global affairs by hosting numerous events throughout each semester, including a theme party with professors who specialize in international law. The organization also hosts a potluck dinner each semester to swap international recipes and meet incoming foreign LL.M. students and exchange students.