American Bar Association - Law Student Division
Law Student News and Activities
May 2012

The ABA Annual Meeting early-bird registration fee for law students is only $50 ($75 for ABA non-member law students*) until May 31. Beginning June 1, the student rate will increase to $75 ($100 for ABA non-member law students*). Your registration fee includes an "all access to CLE" student badge giving you free access to most educational events sponsored by the ABA's various practice-specific entities.

• Early Bird Registration
• Law Student Division Schedule of Events
• Law Student Division Annual Meeting Program Brochure

*Note: The additional $25 for non-member law students will be used to provide eligible registrants with a one-year membership in the ABA Law Student Division.

Submit Your Nominations for
Division Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates
or Vice Chair-Student Bar Associations

Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates
Position Overview and Nomination Form
The Law Student Division elects three Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates (the ABA's governing body) to serve a one-year term. In short, these delegates are responsible for:

• Representing the Division in the ABA House of Delegates and advocating Division positions to other ABA entities;
• Working for ABA House of Delegates adoption of Division resolutions, co-sponsored resolutions, and resolutions directly affecting law students and legal education filed with the House;
• Serving as the primary contact and coordinators to the 65+ Law Student Division liaisons to other ABA entities; and
• Working with Division and other ABA leaders to promote, advocate and lobby for law student and legal education legislation.

Vice Chair-Student Bar Associations
Position Overview and Nomination Form
Student Bar Associations serve as an essential link between the Division and law students around the country. SBA Presidents bring the concerns and issues of their students to a regional and national level. The Vice Chair-SBA serves as the voice and representative of SBAs on a national level. Serving a one-year term, the Vice Chair-SBA is responsible for:

• Strengthening relationships between the SBA and ABA organizations at local, regional, and national levels;
• Facilitating discussions with SBA Presidents regarding issues of concern to law schools, law students, and legal education;
• Representing the interests of student bar associations and assisting these organization leaders in drafting/filing policy recommendations on behalf of SBA Presidents; and
• Maintaining and developing resources and materials for the Division's SBA webpage, handbook, conferences and law school organizations.

The Law Student Division requests that all SBA Presidents and ABA Representatives submit a Division Reporting Form so we may communicate information about important events and responsibilities relating to your leadership position in your law school.

• SBA Presidents Reporting Form
• ABA Representatives Reporting Form

SBA Presidents and ABA Representatives, are very important leaders in the ABA, as you serve as the (2) official voting delegates in the ABA Law Student Division Assembly - the Division’s 400-member governing body. In addition to electing the circuit governor for your region, as Assembly delegates, you also represent your school at the ABA Annual Meeting in August by electing the Division Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates and the Vice Chair-SBA, and debating and voting on ABA policy issues affecting law students and legal education.  

By completing the Reporting Form, you will also be subscribed to our SBA Presidents or ABA Representatives list serves to allow you to connect with other law school leaders across the country, and receive important information and updates on legal education and accreditation issues, best practices, and other law student related issues.

ProBono and Public Service
2012 Equal Justice Conference
May 17-19, 2012 - Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront (Jacksonville, FL)

Client Protection Council
28th National Forum on Client Protection
June 1-2, 2012 - Seaport Hotel and Conference Center (Boston, MA)
Law students may attend the event free of charge, but must register by sending their names and contact information to Selina Thomas, ABA Client Protection Counsel.

Criminal Justice Section “Citizen Amicus Project”
Award: $500 and possible publication in the Criminal Justice Newsletter
Topic:  Fourth Amendment issues raised by law enforcement's warrantless use of trained narcotics dogs to detect narcotics from outside of a home based on the Florida v Jardines case currently before the Supreme Court. Submissions will be accepted until the case is decided. [Tell me more]

Labor and Employment Law
Bloomberg BNA Honors for Superior Academic Performance
Nominations taken year-round

Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law
Writing Competition
Entry deadline: June 1, 2012
Award: $2,500, free Section membership, airfare and hotel accommodations to attend the Section’s Fall Council Meeting

	Careers in Animal Law Hot off the Presses - How do I use my law degree to help animals? Combining profiles of lawyers from all areas of animal law practice with insightful, practical advice, the author lays out everything you need to know to pursue a legal career in animal law, find the job, locate the clients, identify the issues, and help the animals. [PC 5110723]
	Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers (5th Edition) This guidebook will show you what you can do with your law degree, besides practice law. More importantly, this book will illustrate how to use your legal skills to rise above the competition. The authors lead you step by step through the process of assessing the special skills that legal training provides, choosing a nonlegal career, and conducting a nonlegal job search. [PC 5110567]
	The Legal Career Guide: From Law Student to Lawyer (5th Edition) This is one of the ABA's best selling career guide books that has been updated to address the unique needs of today's law students seeking both career satisfaction and a healthy life balance in the profession. [PC 5110667]
	How to Start and Build a Law Practice (5th Edition) This definitive guide to starting, growing, and maintaining a solo law practice is full of practical advice and guidance on setting up a practice, finding clients, setting fees, maintaining ethics and professional responsibility, marketing your practice and much more. [PC 5110508]
Other Publications of Interest to Law Students Criminal Law - Careers in Criminal Law Provides the reader with insight into the type of person who will do well in a career in criminal law and how to find your niche in this specialty. Mental and Physical Disabilities Law - Directory of Bar Information for Applicants with Disabilities (BIAD) Review of state bar requirements for requesting accommodations for the bar exam in the form of questions asked for character and fitness (as they relate to disabilities). Taxation - Careers in Tax Law Book An informative guide presented in a series of offerings - autobiographies in miniature - by a broad cross section of working tax professionals. The Road to Independence:  101 Women's Journeys to Starting Their Own Law Firms  A collection of 101 letters from women who have taken the courageous and difficult step of creating a law firm of their own, either as a solo or with others.