GVSU Law Society

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Updated 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 participate in at least ten Law Society functions. However we are requiring that you do attend one fundraising event and five scheduled meetings. Our functions consist of fundraising, meetings, and social events.  You may attend more of one event than the others, but must participate in at least one fundraising event and five meetings in order to maintain membership standing.  

Section Two: Fees/Dues

4.2.1        There shall be no membership fee for members of the Law Society.

 

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 2.50 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 May to April.

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 May to April.

 

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 twice a month (every other week) at the time and location announced one week prior to the meeting.

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 and Resignation

Section One: Executive Board Impeachment Procedure    

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 Upon the impeachment of the officer, a special election will be held. Beginning with the

          next scheduled General Member Meeting, nominations and elections for the vacated

          officer position will proceed as they would for a normal election (see 5.3).

10.1.4 In the time between the official impeachment and the election of the new officer,

          the president may appoint an interim officer to serve in the vacated position until

          the election of the new officer. The interim officer must be approved by the

          remaining executive board and will forfeit the position upon the election of the

          new officer.  

10.1.5 Any member may recommend impeachment to the appropriate Executive Board members.

Section Two: Executive Board Resignation Procedure

10.2.1 An officer may resign their position at any time for any reason they may deem necessary

10.2.2 The resignation of the officer will take effect immediately upon submission of a formal

          resignation notice in the form of a letter to the President.

10.2.3 Upon the resignation of the officer, a special election will be held. Beginning with the

          next scheduled General Member Meeting, nominations and elections for the vacated

          officer position will proceed as they would for a normal election (see 5.3)

10.2.4 In the time between the official resignation and the election of the new officer,

          the president may appoint an interim officer to serve in the vacated position until

          the election of the new officer. The interim officer must be approved by the

          remaining executive board and will forfeit the position upon the election of the

          new officer. 

 

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 Order

12.1.1    Look to “Roberts Rules of Order” to resolve any disputes, conflicts, or rulings.

 

Amended:   1/21/2009   

Membership Form

Download member20application.pdf

print and send to the address listed, thank you. Try not to send cash please.

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.

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.

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.

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.