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    Law Student Division Assembly

    About the Assembly

    The ABA Law Student Division Assembly is the voice of law students in the ABA. It is an opportunity for ABA Representatives, SBA Presidents, and Division Entity Liaisons to represent their law school by voting on resolutions that will help form the Division’s voice within the ABA for the coming year. 

    The Assembly meets once a year at the Division’s Annual meeting. The Assembly debates and votes on resolutions relating to legal education, student life, and Division governance. It also elects the Division’s three Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates and the Vice Chair.

    ABA Representatives and SBA Presidents will receive training about their roles as representatives, mingle with fellow leaders at other law schools, and vote for national representatives. Events begin on Thursday morning and culminate with the Assembly on Saturday afternoon.

    The Law Student Division Assembly is comprised of:

    2024 Assembly Information

    This year, ABA LSD Annual Assembly will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E Wacker Drive.

    Check back for updates concerning the Assembly agenda as well as from the meetings team on the actual programs and schedules.

    Resolutions

    Resolution 514 (Adopted)

    Submitted By the Law Student Division

    Urges That the American Bar Association urges law schools to require

    1. pay transparency during the On-Campus Interview process; and

    2. That the American Bar Association urges legal 4 employers to engage in pay transparency during the On-Campus Interview 5 process.

    Passed through Law Student Assembly and House of Delegates

    Resolution 515 (Adopted)

    Submitted by the Law Student Division

    Urges That the American Bar Association urges law schools to require pay transparency during the On-Campus Interview process; and That the American Bar Association urges legal employers to engage in pay transparency during the On-Campus Interview process.

    Passed through Law Student Assembly and House of Delegates

    Resolution 523 (Adopted)

    Submitted by the Young Lawyers Division

    Urges That the American Bar Association designates May 20 as National First Generation Lawyers Day and encourages its affiliates and national bar organizations and their affiliates to do the same to recognize and celebrate the contributions, importance, diversity, and leadership of First Generation lawyers.

    Passed through Law Student Assembly and House of Delegates

    Resolution 522 (Adopted)*

    Submitted by the Young Lawyers Division

    Urges That the American Bar Association urges all legal employers to:

    1. adopt policies and practices that promote flexible work arrangements 3 (“FWA”);
    2. establish clear, equitable, and written policies about the availability and 6 procedures for FWA;
    3. permit lawyers time off to address personal and family needs; and
    4. provide lawyers with the tools and resources necessary for them to be 11 successful with their FWA.

    *Passed through the Law Student Assembly; withdrawn from House of Delegates

    Key Assembly Documents and Links

    Assembly Voting Power

    All eligible Division Assembly members may vote. This includes:

    • ABA Representatives
    • SBA Presidents
    • Division Entity Liaisons

    Members of the Assembly decide important ABA Law Student Division legislation, and national student leadership elections. Assembly members vote on:

    • Matters before the Assembly, held during the ABA Annual Meeting in August.
    • Elected positions for the Law Student Division Council in March.
    • Resolutions submitted at the discretion of the Council for an electronic vote throughout the year.

    You do not need to be present at ABA Annual Meeting in order to vote.

    If you can’t attend Annual Meeting, a proxy can cast your vote at Annual Assembly on resolutions. Please note that proxies only apply to the in-person Assembly; proxies are not allowed in the virtual Assembly. To be eligible to be a proxy, the student must:

    • Be an ABA member.
    • Attend your law school.
    • Be attending Annual Meeting.
    • Exception: Liaisons cannot proxy their vote.

    ABA Reps and SBA Presidents must use an approved form to certify their proxy.

    Assembly Requirements

    One of your most important responsibilities at Annual Meeting will be voting in the LSD Assembly. All voting members of the Assembly are required to complete the following steps to be eligible to vote:

    1. Register for the Assembly. You MUST be a current ABA Rep, SBA President, or Liaison to register.
    2. ABA Representatives and SBA Presidents, please check that you are properly identified in our records. If you are not listed report now via the Reporting Form.
    3. Register for Annual Meeting. This step is optional for law student leaders. Assembly is required.
    4. View the Robert’s Rules webinar. This is a guide to the parliamentary rules that govern the Assembly.
    5. Read all of the Resolutions that will be up for a vote at Assembly and prepare for debate.
    6. If you wish to speak for or against, or make a motion, fill out the Proponent/Opponent Speaker and Motions Sign-up Sheet.

    Past Assembly Information