The information below is intended for College of Law audiences only.

Student Organizations

Our staff advocate for student involvement as we recognize its value in personal and scholarly success. Join your fellow students by participating in a recognized student organization; volunteering; or even launching your own student group.

At Syracuse, we encourage you to fully engage in campus life. Getting involved in one of our student organizations and professional associations is a great way to connect with other students, gain valuable leadership experience, and have fun. 

Student involvement is valuable to both personal and scholarly success. Join your classmates in our Student Bar Association to volunteer for service activities and to take an active role in shaping the College of Law experience, and explore the many ways to participate and make an impact.

How will you get involved? Browse the organizations in the list below. 

Starting a New Student Organization

Don’t see a student organization below that captures your interest? Consider starting a new one! If you would like to start a new student organization, here are the steps:

1. Set up an appointment with the Director of Student Affairs (Suite 220 | 315.443.1146) to discuss the organization and review the approval process.
2. Assemble at least 15 students to support the creation of your new student organization.
3. Select and confirm a faculty advisor.
4. Fully complete the Student SBA Addendum.
5. Draft a constitution or bylaws.*
6. Submit the completed Addendum and organization constitution to the SBA Secretary.

After you have fully completed the above steps, you will be scheduled to appear at the next meeting of the SBA. You will be asked to present the purpose, goals, objectives, and intent of your organization. The SBA may ask follow up questions based on your presentation. Please review the organization recognition guide [PDF].

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at 315-443-1146, or lawstudentaffairs@law.syr.edu

*The constitution must contain (but is not limited to) the following information:

A. Purpose. Describe the purpose of the organization.

B. Membership. A statement of open membership to all Syracuse University College of Law Students who have paid their activity fee; and further that the organization shall not discriminate regardless of race, color, sex, handicap, age, or political and religious affiliation in any of its policies, procedures or practices.

C. List of Officer Positions. Each organization must have at least two officers, including:

i. A President or Chair who will serve as the liaison between the organization and the Office of Student Affairs. This person will be the primary contact for all things relating to the student organization.
ii. A Treasurer or financial officer who will be the primary contact for the organization’s budget. This person will be responsible for signing all reimbursements and tracking the budget progress of the organization.

D. Method for electing officers.

E. The need and function of the Faculty/Staff Advisor.

F. A statement regarding the supervising authority and an agreement to comply with SU and College of Law Policies & Procedures, along with federal, state and local laws.

G. Process for amending the constitution.

H. Use the available sample constitution [DOC] as a guide.

Student Organization Financial Forms & Guides​

• Financing Workshop [PDF]
• Orders and Reimbursement Guide [PDF]
• SU Employee Expense Reimbursement Form [XLS]
• Basic Budget Template [XLS]

List of Student Organizations

American Constitution Society 

The mission of the American Constitution Society is to harness the values of compassion and respect for each individual, and to re-incorporate them into American law and politics, in order to build a stronger and more decent national community. We seek to restore the fundamental principles of respect for human dignity, protection of individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice to their rightful—and traditionally central—place in American law. We want to strengthen the intellectual underpinnings of—and the public case for—a vision of the law in which these values are paramount. Our goal is a rekindling of the hope that by reason and decency, we can create an America that is better for us all.