Student Legal Society

 

Clubs

 

Unlike committees, clubs are autonomous groups of students interested in a particular area of law or other legitimate social endeavour which are officially recognized by the SLS.  Currently, there are 21 recognized clubs at Western Law.

Clubs Day, held during the Fall Term, gives students the opportunity to learn about and join any and all clubs.

Aboriginal Law Club law.aboriginalclub@uwo.ca
The goal of the Aboriginal Law Club is to help acquire the background to apply the law to important issues affecting society and have fun at the same time. The main focus is to develop relationships with Aboriginals and their communities within the city of London , Ontario. The club provides a framework in which these networking opportunities can occur at Western Law by making connections with Aboriginal lawyers and others active in the Aboriginal community. On the social side, the group participates in local cultural events such as pow-wows. In the end, the hope is to further justice through the group's various initiatives.
Contact: Trisha Cowie

Black Law Students's Association law.Black@uwo.ca
The Black Law Students' Association of Canada (BLSAC) recognizes the essential role that we will play as lawyers in furthering the aspirations of our community and Canadian society as a whole.  We are committed to supporting and enhancing the academic, professional and networking opportunities for Black law students in both official languages.  We also recognize the need to 'pay it forward' and have a very active mentoring program for high school and university students interested in a legal career.

Our main goal is to assist our members to create careers that fulfill their goals whether their desire is to work domestically or internationally.  We are proud to provide opportunities for formal and informal discussions about legal policy issues, effective career strategies, and evolutions in substantive law or furthering the discussion about challenges faced by the Black community within the administration of justice.  We reflect the diversity of the African/Black experience and see our national organization as providing the means for us to take our rightful space and make a meaningful contribution to the furtherance of justice.

Contact: Keri Wallace

Business and Insolvency Group law.BIG@uwo.ca
The Business and Insolvency Club helps its members gain practical knowledge of various aspects of business law.  In the past, this club has organized negotiation competitions, contract drafting competitions, and visits to surrounding law firms.

Contact: TBA

Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights slafran@uwo.ca
Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, established to promote human rights globally through legal education, advocacy and law reform. The CLAIHR Western Law Chapter is new this year and aims to promote student awareness and involvement in international human rights issues. Student activities include, but are not limited to research projects related to current CLAIHR involvements (Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Munyaneza genocide trial before the Quebec Court of Appeal, etc.), films and documentary showings, followed by informal discussions, and a speaker series.
Contact: Stéphanie Lafrance

Christian Legal Fellowship law.Christian@uwo.ca
CLF is a nation-wide organization of lawyers, law students, judges, and other people in law-related professions who are committed to integrating Christian faith with law.  A student chapter exists at Western Law, seeking to provide a community, fellowship, and outreach.  It is a nondenominational group and events are open to people of all faiths and beliefs.

For more information about the national CLF organization, please visit www.christianlegalfellowship.org
Contact: Ian McFadgen

Criminal Law Students Association law.CrimLaw@uwo.ca
The Criminal Law Students' Association strives to bridge the gap between academic studies of criminal law and life as a criminal lawyer. Our aim is to increase interest in criminal law and to provide information and experiences to students already interested in this area. In past years this has been done through excursions to the Kingston Penitentiary and the Ontario Police College and through speakers such as lawyers and judges in the criminal courts and experts in areas such as forensic sciences. For several years, we have organized and funded participation in the Criminal Lawyers' Association's annual conference in Toronto and we hope to continue this new tradition in coming years. We also help run the Police Witness Training Program which allows students to participate in mock direct and cross examination of actual police officers on actual charges. For information on upcoming and past events visit: http://criminallawstudentsassociation.blogspot.com
Contact: Joel Welch

East Asian Law Students Federation law.ealsf@uwo.ca
The East Asian Law Students Federation (EALSF) discusses and addresses issues facing Asian Canadian lawyers, and to create a cultural community for East Asian law students. EALSF attends the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) conference, participates in charitable endeavours and cultural events in London and Toronto and provides outreach to high school or undergraduate students who wish to attend law at the University of Western Ontario
Contact: Andrea Yau

Entertainment and Sports Law Association law.ESLA@uwo.ca
Contact: Nick Slinko

Gender and the Law Association (GALA) law.gender@uwo.ca
This student association will explore ideas about gender discrimination in law, the legal system, legal education, and the legal profession. The association seeks to examine law's contribution to women's legal, social, political, and economic in equality. The association will focus on feminist legal theory, along with the way in which gender issues intersect with issues of race, class, sexual orientation, and disability. We will explore various topics dealing with gender issues in the law. These topics include violence against women, transgender challenges to women-only spaces, reproductive rights and ideas of motherhood, and the relationship between cultural equality and gender equality. We plan to organize events such as lecture series and fundraising events in order to create discussion forums and increase awareness of these issues within the law school community.
Contact: Jennifer Del Vecchio

Health Law Club law.Health@uwo.ca
Interested in health and its application in the field of law?  The Health Law club strives to expose students to practical knowledge in the area of health law.  We wish to facilitate liaisons between students and to make students aware of potential career opportunities.  This club aims to promote student interest and awareness through the participation and organization of activities.  Past events have included firm tours, speakers, and volunteer opportunities.
Contact: Lynne Sweeney

International Law Association (ILA) law.international@uwo.ca
The goal of the ILA is to expose students to knowledge and opportunities in both private and public international law.  The association brings in monthly guest speakers, organizes trips to academic conferences, facilitates discussion panels and hosts on “International Law Week” in the spring.  It also coordinates a trip over reading week to visit major international law institutions: past trips have been to New York City and The Hague, Netherlands! 
Contact: Nicole Morand

Labour Law Society law.LLS@uwo.ca
The Labour Law Society has traditionally been a good resource for bringing in speakers on a variety of labour and employment law issues.  These speakers are helpful to students who want a glimpse of what practicing labour law entails.  As well, they help to keep us up-to-date with what is happening in legislation and case law.  This year, the executive of the Labour Law Society has decided to make participation more active.  A number of projects will be undertaken which will be helpful to anyone with an interest in labour and employment law.  For more information, attend the first general meeting.  A date and time will be announced.
Contact: Sharon Naipaul

Phi Delta Phi law.phideltaphi@uwo.ca
Phi Delta Phi is an international legal fraternity established in 1869 and is one of the oldest legal organizations in North America.  With over 200,000 members, including notable judges and public figures, it is also the world’s largest legal fraternity of legal students and practitioners.  

The Rand Inn, UWO’s chapter, is focused on celebrating individuals in the law school community who contribute to the law school and broader community.  Those interested in membership should contact the President directly.
Contact: Omar Ha-Redeye

Jewish Law Students' Association law.Jewish@uwo.ca
The JLSA is a cultural, social, educational, and religious organization.  We address and raise awareness about the needs, interests, and concerns of the Jewish community.  Our events include Shabbat dinners and other holiday celebrations with other graduate students, guest speakers and more.
Contacts: Mara Banack and Brie Lastman

Mature Students Club law.WisePeers@uwo.ca
The Mature Students Club exists to facilitate connections between members of this large and important section of the student body.
Contact: Joel Welch

OutLaw Western outlaws@uwo.ca
OutLaw Western provides a safe space for self-identified LGBT law students. It attempts to nurture an LGBT-positive community at UWO Law and facilitate networking between LGBT students. OutLaw Western is also a forum to examine LGBT legal issues by hosting speakers, engaging in discussion and holding events. The club explores matters including, but not limited to, transgender rights, hate speech legislation with respect to the LGBT community, workplace "closeting" and international LGBT right issues.
Contact: Daina Search
Faculty Advisor: Professor Andrew Botterell

South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) law.SALSA@uwo.ca
Contact: Avneet Grewal and Saran Ragunathan

Student Environmental Law Association law.SELA@uwo.ca
The Student Environmental Law Association (“SELA”) aims to create awareness and interest in environmental law.
Contact: Kathleen Chung

Western Law Advocacy Club law.AdvocacyClub@uwo.ca
The UWO Advocacy Club is committed to promoting an interest in advocacy and litigation by presenting guest speakers, liaising with London and Toronto litigation firms, and conducting the First Year Advocacy Competition.  Rather than maintaining a specific membership list, all law students are members of the Club, as our mandate is to serve the entire student body.
Contact: Kit Scotchmer

Western Intellectual Property Association law.WIPA@uwo.ca
WIPA's mandate is to promote student interest in the areas of intellectual property law through the participation and organization of activities involving members from academia, industry, and practice in the new economy.  The club meets on an informal basis to discuss current issues in copyright, patent, and trademark law, as well as some of the hottest developments in the IP world.
Contact: Casey Vandeputte

Western Law Karaoke Club karaoke@uwo.ca
The Western Law Karaoke Club promotes awareness of karaoke.... Sunday's at Winks.
Contact: Logan Rathbone