SBA Purpose
The purpose of the SBA is:
1) to promote, establish, and run such activities and organizations as are deemed beneficial to the Michigan State University College of Law and to represent student concerns and interests;
2) to promote academic and social interaction among the students, faculty, alumni, administration, and board of trustees of the College of Law;
3) to develop a mutual awareness and appreciation of the profession of law among the College of Law and community at large, including the American Bar Association;
4) to serve as a representative of the student body to the faculty, alumni, administration, and board of trustees of the College of Law;
5) to promote professionalism among Law school students by providing an opportunity to participate in an integrated Bar modeled on the State Bar of Michigan;
6) to promote service in the College of Law and the community at large; and
7) to promote and encourage diversity in the College of Law and the community at large.
SBA Involvement
In an effort to fulfill the purposes outlined in our Constitution, the SBA plans a number of events and activities, and also takes action regarding a variety of issues. Below is a list of some of the work the SBA has done, and continues to do for the MSU Law community.
Events & Activities
MSU v. Cooley Basketball Game
Community service event to raise money for charity by promoting friendly competition between the MSU Law and Cooley Law communities.
Coffee in the Office
SBA provides a steady flow of coffee every Wednesday in order to invigorate the student body and encourage students to stop by and chat with SBA Senators.
Welcome Party
Event designed to provide an informal atmosphere for students to meet for the first time, or reunite at the beginning of every fall semester.
Election Party
Celebration inviting people from all sides and biases to come together at MSU Law and watch the results come in on November 4th.
Study Aid Sale
Discount study aids and books sold to the student body as a service, and a fundraiser.
Charity Date Auction
Students volunteer to auction their time in order to raise funds for a selected charity.
Blood Drive
Community service event which provides the MSU community with an opportunity to give back to the community.
Harvest Week
Week long food drive designed to help local food banks prepare for the holiday season.
5K Run
Event which unites the MSU Law community with the greater university and East Lansing communities for a good cause, and a good race.
Halloween Party
Social event designed to help students get away from studying and relax by dressing up and celebrating Halloween together.
Barrister’s Charity Ball
Charity Ball designed to contribute to charity, provide a break from studying, and create opportunities for students to network with faculty, alumni and local practitioners.
Diversity Week
Week long event designed to promote understanding and acceptance within the law school, and to increase awareness of some of the realities of the legal profession.
Friday Football
Co-ed pickup touch football games every Friday evening during the fall semester organized by SBA Senators to give students an outlet for pent up energy.
Silent Auction
Fundraising effort allowing students to bid on the opportunity to spend time with faculty and administration outside of the law school setting. Donations have included a trip to a Red Wings game, a day skiing, a home cooked dinner for 4, and a BarBri course.
End of the Year Celebration
Social event at the end of the Spring semester to celebrate the end of a successful term.
Work within MSU Law
Student Organization Funding
SBA is responsible for distribution of school funding to all requesting student organizations.
Student Advisory Council Meetings
SBA meets with the Deans of MSU Law and the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review to address student concerns and ideas.
Res Ipsa Loquitur
SBA funds and has a hand in producing the MSU Law newspaper consisting of student, faculty and staff written articles covering a range of topics.
Free Outlines
The SBA keeps an outline bank available for all students
Admissions Recruiting
SBA helps recruit students to MSU Law by calling prospective students and talking to them about the benefits of attending out law school.
Pizza with the Dean
The SBA encouraged Dean Howarth to make herself available to students on a regular basis in order to eliminate disconnect and facilitate communication.
Space Planning Representation
MSU Law is experiencing the usual growing pains of an expanding law school, and SBA will make sure that decisions regarding changes in the law school will be made with student concerns in mind.
Faculty Committee Representation
Many of the faculty committees provide for a student representative, and SBA organizes these representatives in order to ensure that students have a voice when decisions are being made.
Alumni Board Relations
The President of the SBA meets regularly with the Alumni Board to address the needs of students, and make sure students are updated on the work of the Board
