American Bar Association - Law Student Division
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American Constitution Society
The USD chapter of the American Constitution Society (ACS) is comprised of law students who are working to ensure that the fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice are in their rightful, central place in American law. The American Constitution Society is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization. ACS encourages members to express their views and make their voices heard. Organizational activities include fall and spring programs to interact with students, faculty, and guest speakers.
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American Indian Law Program
The Indian Law Program at the University of South Dakota School of Law is truly extraordinary. Where better to find an impressive American Indian Law Program than in South Dakota, in the heart of Indian Country? Nine federally recognized tribes reside in the state, with some straddling its borders. Nearly 10 percent of South Dakota's population is American Indian, with Reservation borders encompassing the equivalent of 20 percent of the land in the state. |
Black Law Students Association
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is active in providing opportunities and venues for participation by its members to promote the awareness of minorities on the campus and surrounding communities. The Black Law Students Association hosts BLSA Week annually, which is a culmination of events taking place during February in conjunction with Black History Month. BLSA is instrumental in helping recruit potential students to the School of Law and are committed to helping build a foundation for the future.
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Corporate and Business Law Association
CBLA 's purpose is to unite USD law and business students with current practitioners to create a social getaway to learning how the law and business relate in today's economy. The CBLA will strive to make the joint degree program (JD/MBA) more fluid and transparent while encouraging and supporting continued development of the curriculum.
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Christian Legal Society
The Christian Legal Society is a non-denominational organization designed to provide students with fellowship and support in understanding the integration of Christian life and the law. The organization meets on a weekly basis for reading and discussion. Local attorneys are occasionally invited to meetings to present guest lectures.
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Client Counseling & Negotiations
The South Dakota Client Counseling and Negotiations Board is devoted to educating law students on the practical aspects of law. Its members develop and perfect the skills of negotiating and counseling on behalf of a client.
The Board is comprised of twelve members who host an intra-school competition each semester. Both the Negotiations and Client Counseling competitions are sponsored by the American Bar Association Law Student Division, which also provides the problems for the competitions. In addition, Board members are given the opportunity to compete against law students from across the nation in regional and national competitions.
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The Domestic Violence Legal Program
A pro bono organization to primarily provide pro bono services to victims of domestic violence such as assisting in ex parte protection orders and actions for permanent protection orders. There are also opportunities to do research for community attorneys. The Domestic Violence Legal Program works closely with the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and the South Dakota Bar Pro Bono Coordinator.
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Environmental Law Society
The University of South Dakota Environmental Law Society is a Law School student organization dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of environmental issues. The Society sponsors speakers, panels, and seminars on contemporary environmental problems. It participates in such community activities as recycling campaigns and pro bono assistance to various environmental organizations.
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Equal Justice Works
The Law School is a member of Equal Justice Works, formerly the National Association of Public Interest Law (NAPIL). Through its membership, law students at The University of South Dakota are eligible for summer internships and fellowships upon graduation from law school. Several opportunities exist in South Dakota on the Indian reservations and elsewhere in the United States.
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Federalist Society
Their founding principles are that the state exists to preserve individual freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. The Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities. Organizational activities will include sponsoring debates, discussions, and speeches, assisting other organizations in recruiting nationally known speakers, and hosting informational and social gatherings.
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First-year Summer Federal Judicial Externship
Students who have completed their first year of Law School may apply to participate in the Summer Federal Judicial Externship program. The student, under supervision of the judge's law clerk, is involved in all aspects of chambers activity, such as legal research and writing, courtroom observation, and is exposed to chambers procedure.
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Great Plains Natural Resources Journal
The Great Plains Natural Resources Journal provides readers with scholarly and practical articles dealing with environmental law and policy and natural resources management pertinent to the Great Plains regions of the United States and Canada.
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Innocence Project of South Dakota
The purpose of the Innocence Project of South Dakota is to provide pro bono legal assistance to South Dakota inmates that have cognizable claims of wrongful conviction. The IPSD is an entirely voluntary endeavor - from the volunteer attorneys, law professors, and law students. The IPSD Law Student Organization, located at the University of South Dakota School of Law, will provide law students with valuable experience concerning the criminal justice system, as well as providing students with the opportunity to work for, and come in contact with, practicing lawyers in the community. IPSD law student responsibilities may include researching an inmate's claim, conducting follow-up investigations, and interviewing clients, witnesses, or law enforcement personnel. In addition, other opportunities include legal research and the preparation of legal documents. Law students in this organization will be closely supervised by the attorney they are matched with, and by the faculty advisor.
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International Law Student Association
The School of Law Chapter of the International Law Student Association provides students with exposure to current issues in international law through participation in seminars, conventions, and competitions which focus on international law, including an international competition in Vienna, Austria.
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Law School Democrats
The Law School Democrats is not associated with any national organization, nor does it endorse specific political candidates in primary elections. However, the group provides law students a forum to discuss issues of the day and often works with USD College Democrats. It allows students and professors to interact in a social setting and make contact with others to share ideals.
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Legal Fraternities
There are two legal fraternities serving the School of Law: Delta Theta Phi and Phi Alpha Delta. The fraternities are primarily social and service organizations whose activities include dinner meetings, guest speaker programs, and social functions.
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Legal Research Service
This service is provided by the Law School Foundation and directed by the Director of the Law Library. It provides traditional and computerized research services to practicing attorneys.
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Military Veterans Law Society
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Native American Law Student Association
The School of Law Chapter is a member of the National American Indian Law Student Association. Its principal goals are to provide a local and national network of mutual support, to focus attention on Indian Law issues of interest to the Law School community, and to serve as a minority and cultural resource within the University community.
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Public Interest Law Group
The mission of PILG is to provide students interested in public interest careers with information and resources about internships, fellowships, career development and other related opportunities; to hold public interest-related events at the law school; to provide support to students who do not want to pursue a traditional private-sector legal career; and to educate the student body as a whole about public interest law.
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R.D. Hurd Volunteer Law School Society
The R.D. Hurd Volunteer Law School Society is a program designed to give 2L and 3L law students an opportunity to provide pro bono legal services to low-income persons. Though the program offers more participation for 2L and 3L students 1L students are encouraged to attend and can gain an understanding of the process by sitting in with other participants. The students interview clients, perform research, prepare documents, and in some instances, make court appearances. Students are assigned an attorney supervisor who offers assistance to the students throughout the cases.
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South Dakota Law Review
The South Dakota Law Review is a journal of critical commentary on current legal issues with a state, national, and international circulation. Published three times per year, the Law Review contains articles by leading members of the legal profession, as well as student notes and comments. Students involved in the Law Review develop their research and writing skills.
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South Dakotan Lawyer
The South Dakotan Lawyer is the magazine for the Law School and the Law School's Alumni/ae. Faculty, staff, and student editors participate in the production of the annual publication, which distribute 5,000 copies nation-wide. The emphasis of the publication includes alumni/ae, students, faculty, career counseling news, and information about the efforts the Law School is making toward excellence in the law.
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South Dakota Moot Court Board
The South Dakota Moot Court Board is dedicated to mastering the art of appellate advocacy. Its members enjoy a unique opportunity to develop and perfect the skills of appellate brief writing and oral advocacy.
The Board is comprised of six third-year and six second-year students. Board members compete in various regional and national competitions. At tournaments in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, and other cities, Board members compete against law students from across the nation. Teams from the University of South Dakota have placed first and received awards for Best Oral Advocate and Best Brief at twelve regional tournaments since 1970.
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Special Events
The Law School hosts many special events that include guest speakers, debates, and symposiums throughout the academic year. The Law School's events are open to the public. Ongoing special events include the Gunderson Lecture, biennial Indian Law Symposium and its Dillion Lecture, and the March session of the South Dakota Supreme Court.
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Student Alumni Association
The Student Alumni Association consists of student volunteers and graduate assistants who assist the Office of the Dean with activities on behalf of the Law School's alumni/ae and friends.
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Student Bar Association
The Student Bar Association introduces the law student to a professional legal organization and the activities and responsibilities of the organized legal profession. The Student Bar Association is affiliated with the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association. Delegates are sent each year to the national convention of the organization.
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Trial Advocacy
Participation in trial advocacy competitions requires a commitment of time and offers unique educational opportunities to hone skills for courtroom presentation. Team members compete with students from other law schools.
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Trial Advocacy Group
The USD School of Law Trial Advocacy Group (TAG) is a student chapter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ALTA) and is dedicated to providing information and opportunities to students interested in trial work. Through ATLA and the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association (SDTLA), the USD Trial Advocacy Group brings practicing attorneys to the Law School to enlighten students on the practice aspects of preparing for a trial TAG also supports USD Mock Trial team, which travel to competitions during the spring semester to test their trial advocacy skills against teams from other law schools from around the nation.
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Women In Law
Women In Law is an organization composed of both male and female law students, faculty members and members of the South Dakota State Bar. The group works to increase awareness of current issues affecting women in law. It solicits speakers for the annual State Bar meeting. Past speakers have included Sarah Weddington, an attorney who argued before the United States Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, and Pat Clark, Director of the Klan Watch.
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Law Students in VITA prepare income taxes for students and low income people at no charge.
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