Upcoming Meetings & Events:
4/15- INTERNAL AFFAIRS/SOCIAL COMMITTEE MEETING: Downtown Room 109 D @ 9:30pm
4/19- SENIOR FAREWELL DINNER: University Club downtown @ 6:30pm
Law Society Info
Recent Posts
Pre-law FAQ
January 10, 2008
October 05, 2007
Notes from Law Forum
I wrote up my notes from our Law Forum last night and posted them on GV PS. Check it out!
February 18, 2007
Membership Form
Download member20application.pdf
print and send to the address listed, thank you. Try not to send cash please.
February 16, 2007
Links
The following are links that may be of interest to law society members-
- GVSU Academic Pre-Law Page
- GVSU School of Criminal Justice
- GVSU Political Science Department
- GVSU Political Science Department Blog
- GVSU/MSU LEAP Program (Bachelor's & J.D. in 6 years)
- LSAC Admissions Data (statistical probabilities based on LSAT & GPA)
Committees
Internal Affairs
This group will focus on communications, contacting future speakers, organizing campus visits, internal relations, organizing LSAT/GRE preps, planning of events, and preparing agendas. The purpose of this committee is to organize the future events that law society will hold. If you are organized, precise, and have great communication skills this group is fit for you.
Contact: Malorie Alton
Social
This group will focus on branding, marketing, public relations, and non-law related events. The purpose of the social committee is to help recognize and promote the Law Society around GVSU and Grand Rapids legal community. Some events will include: beach parties, a homecoming tailgate, and much more. If you are outgoing, organized, and have great communication skills, then this group is for you.
Contact: Shawn Cox
Community Service
This group will focus on philanthropic work. As a Law Society, we encourage and stress on community service. Our help within the community is a great way to build and promote our organization. Getting the GVSU and Grand Rapids community aware of our organization will lead to strong relations and awareness that our group needs. If you are interested in philanthropic work, then join this committee. This committee requires commitment, organization, creativity, and responsiveness.
Contact: Lauren Lutz
Fundraising
This group is a key to the Law Society, In order for us to achieve future plans on campus visits, law forum trips, and events on campus we need to generate profit. In this committee, you will contact the legal community for possible sponsorship and donations, you will hold fundraising on campus and off campus, and also create budgets for the social committee. If you are an individual whom is creative, money conscious, and organized, than join this group.
Contact: Alyssa Desgranges
Contact Info
Student Executive Committee
President: Malorie Alton
Vice President: Shawn Cox
Secretary: Lauren Lutz
Treasurer: Alyssa Desgranges
General Contact: Lawsoc@student.gvsu.edu
Faculty Advisors
Kristine Botsford Mullendore, J.D.
Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
271C DeVos
(616) 331-7147
mullendk@gvsu.edu
Profile
Mark Richards, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair of Political Science
1106 AuSable Hall
(616) 331-3457
richardm@gvsu.edu
Profile
John Uglietta, J.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
275 Lake Superior Hall
(616) 331-2846
ugliettj@gvsu.edu
Profile
Tami Passeno
MSU Law School Admissions Advisor
305C DeVos
(616) 331-6827
passenot@law.msu.edu
(source: here)
Mailing List
The law society maintains an email list for announcements and notice of upcoming events.
To sign up for the listserv, send an email containing only the words "SUBSCRIBE PRELAW" in the body of the message to listserv@listserv.gvsu.edu. Do not place anything in the Subject field of your message.
To sign off of the listserv, send an email containing only the words "UNSUBSCRIBE PRELAW" in the body of the message to listserv@listserv.gvsu.edu. Do not place anything in the Subject field of your message.
Also join the Facebook group for updates GVSU's Law Society
Constitution
The Constitution of the Law Society
Of Grand Valley State University
Preamble:
We, the Law Society of Grand Valley State University, exist in order to strengthen and increase the awareness of the undergraduate legal or law-related education programs at Grand Valley State University and to expand the opportunities of all students of every major interested in an undergraduate legal or law-related education.
Article One: Name
The name of the organization shall be known as the Law Society of Grand Valley State University.
Article Two: Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to educate students that are interested in an undergraduate legal or law-related education. This organization will provide students with information and opportunities related to law school and legal professions, including careers as paralegal professionals and attorneys. The organization will also enable students to develop relationships with legal professionals within the community. These purposes shall be achieved through regular meetings, presented speakers, and personal contacts with the legal community.
Article Three: Affiliation with Other Organizations
The Law Society shall not be affiliated with any local, state, or national organization. The organization shall cooperate with other student organizations, but shall make no commitments that bind the organization(s) at Grand Valley State University. The organization shall be nonpartisan.
Article Four: Membership
Section One: General assembly Membership
4.1.1 The membership of the Law Society shall consist of any interested student currently enrolled at Grand Valley State University. It is the policy of Grand Valley State University and the Law Society that no person on the basis of age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight shall be discriminated against.
4.1.2 Every member of the Law Society must attend at least five meetings, participate in one fundraiser, and complete 20 hours of community service before the completion of each calendar year in order to maintain membership standing.
Section Two: Fees/Dues
4.2.1 There shall be a $20 membership fee for members of the Law Society for each calendar year.
Article Five: Executive Board
Section One: Description
5.1.1 The Executive Board shall consist of four or five members: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Liaison if necessary as defined in 6.5.1.
Section Two: Qualification
5.2.1 Each Executive Board member must be registered for at least six semester hours of credit at Grand Valley State University.
5.2.2 Each Executive Board member must carry a 2.75 cumulative GPA at time of election, and be in good academic standing.
Section Three: Elections
5.3.1 The officers shall be nominated by any Law Society member, other than themselves.
5.3.2 The officers shall be elected by the members of the Law Society.
5.3.3 The new Executive Board shall serve from January to December.
5.4.1 The newly elected Executive Board shall appoint a Liaison, if necessary as defined in 6.5.1, within two weeks of an election. Candidates for the position of Liaison shall be responsible for stating their interest to the Executive Board.
Article Six: Executive Board Responsibilities
Section One: President
6.1.1 Preside over all meetings of the Law Society.
6.1.2 Make an agenda for each Law Society meeting.
6.1.3 Serve as chairperson of the Networking Committee.
Section Two: Vice-President
6.2.1 Address any duties deemed necessary by the organization or President.
6.2.2 Perform the duties of the President in his/her absence.
6.2.3 Serve as chairperson of the Student Relations Committee.
Section Three: Secretary
6.3.1 Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President and Vice-President.
6.3.2 Be responsible for recording the minutes for each meeting.
6.3.3 Serve as chairperson of the Public Relations Committee.
Section Four: Treasurer
6.4.1 Continually update all financial records and report them to the members of the Law Society once per month.
6.4.2 Serve as chairperson of the Fundraising and Budget Committee.
Section Five: Liaison
6.5.1 If there is not at least one Legal Studies major among the four officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer), the Executive Board shall appoint a Liaison to represent Legal Studies majors. If there is not at least one student planning to attending law school among the four officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer), the Executive Board shall appoint a Liaison to represent students planning to attend law school.
Article Seven: Advisors
Section One: Advisors
7.1.1 The Advisor(s) to the Law Society shall be chosen by the membership. Each advisor shall serve his/her term from January to December.
Article Eight: Meetings
Section One: Meetings
8.1.1 The first general assembly meeting in the fall semester shall be held within the first three weeks of the semester.
8.1.2 General assembly meetings shall be held once a month at the time and location announced one week prior to the meeting.
8.1.3 Committee meetings shall be held according to demand but at least once a month.
Section Two: Quorum
8.2.1 Quorum shall be composed of one-fourth of the total membership.
Article Nine: Amendments
9.1.1 Any member of the Law Society may propose amendments. All proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the President before reaching the general membership.
9.1.2 The President must have the proposed amendment two weeks before an amendment may be voted upon.
9.1.3 A two-thirds vote is required to pass an amendment.
Article Ten: Impeachment
Section One: Executive Board
10.1.1 Impeachment proceedings and charges may be moved by three of the five Executive Board members.
10.1.2 A vote of two-thirds of the members is necessary for impeachment.
10.1.3 Any member may recommend impeachment to the appropriate Executive Board members.
Article Eleven: Dissolution
Should the Law Society cease to exist, all monies remaining in the non-Student Life fee accounts should be donated to the Young Lawyers Association, Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.
Article Twelve: Roberts Rules of Order
Section One: Roberts Rules of Order12.1.1 Look to “Roberts Rules of Order” to resolve any disputes, conflicts, or rulings.
