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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:

2025 Assembly Information

This year, ABA LSD Annual Assembly will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025 from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

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

Resolutions

  • Resolution 503: Encourages law schools to implement trauma-informed teaching practices, particularly in courses addressing sensitive legal topics.
  • Resolution 504: Encourages law schools to promote and support student-led organizations that fosters a culture of professionalism, civility, and free speech.
  • Resolution 505: Urges law schools to adopt clear, specific, and transparent policies governing the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools by students.
  • Resolution 506: Urges law schools to adopt and implement policies that provide comprehensive accommodations for pregnant students and student parents.

For more resolutions being considered by the ABA House of Delegates, read the 2025 Executive Summaries.

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 Annual Meeting. Assembly is required for ABA Reps, SBA Presidents and LSD Liaisons.

  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. All delegates must Certify . You MUST be a current ABA Rep, SBA President, or Liaison to certify.

  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, also known as the Salmon Slip. Please be advised that resolutions adopted through the consent calendar shall not be subject to reconsideration via the Salmon Slip process, as they have been duly approved with quorum.

Past Assembly Information