Student Organizations

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Asian Pacific American Law Student Association

Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the facilitation of character, community, and culture amongst Asian Pacific American students, professionals and community members.

For more information about the organization and its activities, please join the the APALSA page.

Black Law Students Association

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is one of the largest student-run organizations in the country. Mr. A.J. Cooper founded the organization on the campus of NYU Law School in 1968 to nurture the educational needs of black law students and affect change in the academic and legal communities. Today the SMU BLSA chapter perpetuates that mission through academic and professional programs that help students of all ethnicities navigate through law school. Our programs seek to empower students with the tools they need to learn business etiquette, networking, and professionalism, in a legal framework. We offer opportunities to participate in various community service initiatives, so students may start learning early in our legal careers how to balance professional demands and community involvement.

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the BLSA page.

Disability Law Association

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the Disability Law Association page.

First-Generation Law Student Association

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the First Generation Law Student Association page.

Hispanic Law Student Association

The Hispanic Law Student Association's (HLSA) purpose is to serve as a support organization for Hispanic students, to facilitate awareness of education and professional opportunities to these students, and to promote Hispanic interests and awareness in the larger community through involvement with other campus minority organizations, community service projects, and interaction with the Dallas Hispanic legal community. By planning meetings and events that welcome all students at SMU Dedman School of Law, HLSA aims to serve the larger law school community, as well as those who choose to be HLSA members.

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the Hispanic Law Student Association page.

Jewish Law Students Association

The Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) is a cultural, social, and educational organization that reflects the varied interests of the Jewish student community of SMU Dedman School of Law. We open our group to anyone and host Shabbat dinners, events on holidays, doing our best to unite a strong Jewish community on and off campus.

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the Jewish Law Students Association page.

Muslim Law Students Association

The Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) is a student-run organization that serves the unique interests and needs of Muslim law students through community-building, increased awareness of particular issues that impact Muslims, and through collaborations with other organizations dedicated to meaningful discourse. We will have educational and social events throughout the semester. Everyone is welcome!

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the SMU Muslim Law Students Association page.

Non-Traditional Law Students Association

The Non-Traditional Law Students Association is dedicated to meeting the needs and concerns of the non-traditional SMU Dedman Law student, including but not limited to married students, students with children, those who hold full time jobs and/or are returning to school from the position of an established career, and part-time and evening students. We also sponsor SMU Law Babies, a social group for law students with small children.

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the Non-Traditional Law Students Association page.

OUTLaw

SMU OUTlaw is a diverse group of law students, faculty, staff, and their significant others and friends who all support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons and initiatives. OUTlaw works to enrich the SMU Dedman School of Law community by providing:

Educational programs open to the entire student body
Career-related events linking students with the local Dallas legal community; and
Social and small group events both on and off campus.

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the OUTLaw page.

South Asian Law Students Association

The South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) exists for three reasons. First, to increase the visibility of South Asian and Middle Eastern (SAME) culture on campus. Second, to advocate for increased professional and academic advancement opportunities for (SAME) students. Third, to create a conduit with the SAME legal community in Texas. This year, one of the organization's purposes involves setting up a South Asian Law Student Scholarship for one of our members who tragically died last year.

When and where does the organization meet? Meetings will be held biweekly to monthly, location and time TBD. Our members have varied interests and schedules and so flexibility is warranted in setting standards for organizational meetings.

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the South Asian Law Students Association page.

Veterans Law Association

SMU Veterans Law Association (VLA) strives to ensure that veterans and their families are supported by legal representation in all matters. VLA also supports legislation that benefits those who served to keep America's freedoms safe from those that would try to end them.

For more information on the organization and its activities, please join the SMU Veterans Law Association page.

Women in Law

Women in Law (WIL) is a student organization that strives to increase career, mentoring, and networking opportunities for all women at SMU Dedman School of Law.

For more information on the organization or its activities, please join the Women in Law page.