Resilience, Advocacy, and Community: A Year in Review for USD Law Student Organizations
Most lawyers would say that law school is one of the most challenging endeavors they have encountered in their educational journeys. Beyond the academic rigor, transformative legal perspective, competitive environment, and exhausting study regimen, there are some students who strive for more. These students are focused on expanding their educational reach and are excited to join one of the 51 USD School of Law student organizations, journals, and advocacy teams. Some even rise to the challenge and assume leadership roles.
USD School of Law is proud of the student driven organizations at the law school. They are communities where law students can discuss issues, make friends, expand their network, and get hands-on legal experience. These student-led groups organize events, offer opportunities for professional development, advocate for change, serve local communities and create a space for meaningful connection.
Student organizations at the law school encompass a diverse array of legal areas – whether students are passionate about advocacy, looking to expand their professional network or eager to dive into special areas of law they can find the perfect forum. Former Older Wiser Law Student (OWL’s) President Dan Pike is eager to reflect on his time as a law student, highlighting his involvement in student organizations. Dan says, “I believe the student organizations are so beneficial to the law school experience at USD because there are so many different ones to choose from that each student can find a group that interests them or supports a cause they believe in. On top of that, the diverse areas of law covered by the org really opened my eyes to just how many practice areas can be pursued. There are so many more options than I had ever imagined.”
This year has been a busy year for law students involved in student organizations. The Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VICAM) team was bustling this year as they hosted their annual fundraising gala in the fall, welcomed 6 teams from around the world to compete in their own 18th Annual Michael Thorsnes Pre-Moot Tournament, and then moved on to advance to the semifinals for the first time in program history during the 2026 VIS East Moot in Hong Kong.
Student organizations Employment and Labor Law Society (EALLS), Business Law Society (BLS), Women’s Law Caucus (WLC), and Tax Law Society (TLS) banded together this year to host a very successful fundraising event – Bona Fide Bash. The lively event featured an extensive silent auction, networking with alumni and current students, as well as live entertainment supplied by USD Law alumnus Rich Paul. The proceeds from this event provides scholarships in each of the student organizations' names.
There were also insightful panels and networking mixers hosted by the Real Estate and Land Use Society (RELUS), Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Golf Law Society (GLS), Military and Veterans Bar Association (MILBAR), and the Sports and Entertainment Law Society (SELS) Beyond that, the National Mock Trial Team and Transactional Law Team (TLT) completed a very successful year of competitions.
You can find a listing of all USD Law student organizations and events here. Consider attending some of the amazing events, panels, or tournaments that student organizations at USD host each year. Supporting student organizations plays a role in enabling USD law students to compete on the global stage, learn more about a special area of law, and build their legal skills.
You never know, you may meet your next great hire through your involvement.
About the School of Law
Each year, USD Law educates approximately 800 Juris Doctor and graduate law students from throughout the United States and around the world. The law school is best known for its offerings in the areas of business and corporate law, constitutional law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, public interest law and taxation.
USD School of Law is one of the 88 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school’s faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks 34th nationally among U.S. law faculties in scholarly impact and 35th nationally in past-year faculty downloads on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN). The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.