Pursue your passion
Connect with peers. Deepen your knowledge. Expand your horizons.
Our student organizations offer an opportunity for you to explore academic work beyond the classroom, through events that bring you together with peers of similar (or different) cultural backgrounds and philosophical beliefs. Participate in activities that will broaden your knowledge of specific areas of the law, become involved in pro bono work, and connect with BLS alumni and legal pros in the community.
Clubs and organizations are the heart of Brooklyn Law School. They connect students who share similar interests and allow for learning and growth in specialized legal areas. The extracurriculars that BLS offers also create personal relationships that extend far beyond law school. I am thrilled to be representing the student body, working side-by-side with administrators and peers to strengthen our law school community.
Danielle Yurkew is a third-year student at Brooklyn Law School, pursuing a specialization in IP, Media and Information Law in conjunction with her JD. She serves as President of the Student Bar Association and was a 1L Delegate for the Legal Association for Women and If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.
Before enrolling in law school, Danielle worked as an associate producer for "CBS This Morning," CBS News's national morning news show. She received her MS from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and completed her undergraduate studies at New York University, where she graduated with Honors and received a BA in Media Studies.
Student Organizations
More than 40 student organizations represent a variety of practice areas and cultural groups. Meet with representatives early in the academic year, when the Student Bar Association conducts its annual Organization Fair.
Contact:: sba@brooklaw.edu
Website: BLSConnect SBA Website
The SBA acts as the umbrella organization for all student organizations at the Law School, and serves as the student voice to the Law School faculty and administration. The SBA also plans, supervises, and sponsors educational and social events throughout the academic year.
Contact: acs@brooklaw.edu
The American Constitution Society of Brooklyn Law School is a group of students concerned about American law and politics. We believe deeply in the importance of law as the mechanism which governs the relationships between and among the individuals and institutions that form our society, and we recognize the direct relationship between legal theory and the broader political debate about the kind of society in which we live. The mission of the American Constitution Society is to harness the constitutional values of compassion and respect for each individual, and to re-incorporate them into American law and politics, in order to continue building a strong and decent national community.
The Art Law Association (ALA) provides a forum for students, faculty, and practitioners, to explore and debate the wide range of legal issues associated with the creation, collection, presentation, and preservation of the visual arts. The ALA promotes these goals by organizing and publicizing art law events and networking opportunities on campus and in and out of New York City.
Contact: apalsa@brooklaw.edu
Please visit our Facebook page and friend us to stay up to date with our upcoming events.
The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) is dedicated to serving the BLS student community by providing service opportunities and events in the areas of academics, professional and career development, community service, cultural awareness, and social events. APALSA offers a variety of resources to its members, including a blue book quiz review, final exam preparation, and outline distributions. APALSA also offers several social events throughout the year including mixers, cultural nights, dinners, and happy hours. Additionally, APALSA provides valuable mentorship and guidance to the incoming 1L students, whom are paired with 2Ls and 3Ls who devote their time and effort to assisting the 1L students with their transition into law school.
The Brooklyn Board-Gaming Group (B²G²)’s mission is to create an inclusive and inviting community for students to come and play a variety of tabletop games, which would include board games, card games, role-playing games, etc. Given the highly competitive and stressful nature of law school, our goal is create a space, outside of the classroom, where students can build friendships and network with each other in an easy, fun environment. B2G2 meets on-campus to board game monthly and partners with the SBA in hosting a board game event during finals week wellness breaks.
Contact: bbla@brooklaw.edu
The Brooklyn Business Law Association (BBLA) is a student organization at Brooklyn Law School (BLS) made up of students interested in the practice of business law. BBLA seeks to provide educational, social and networking opportunities for its members and the greater BLS community with the goals of (i) giving students an opportunity to better understand various business law practices – including but not limited to the areas of bankruptcy law, commercial law, financial law, corporate law and securities law – and (ii) providing students with opportunities to meet fellow students, BLS alumni and other practitioners interested in or involved in the practice of business law.
Contact: besls@brooklaw.edu
Website: www.besls.org
BESLS educates members on current legal issues in the entertainment industry and provides networking opportunities for members and alumni with an interest in entertainment law.
Contact: blis@brooklaw.edu
The Brooklyn Law Immigration Society (BLIS) shall provide a forum for discussing, learning about, and seeking opportunities in immigration and nationality law for students interested in this field. BLIS will achieve this through our educational speakers series as well as peer-to-peer social networks, networking information sessions and updates on relevant local conventions and current legal developments.
Contact: blsa@brooklaw.edu
The purpose of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is to serve the needs of the black law student, the black attorney, and the black community. It works with local units at other law schools to promote the professional needs of minority communities, and foster and encourage political and community involvement.
Contact: blsdemocrats@brooklaw.edu
The Brooklyn Law School Democrats are committed to raising awareness of the effects of politics on law-making. It encourages students to become politically involved through participation in campaigns, election-day activities, and campaign training sessions. The organization invites political speakers and organizes symposia to bring current political issues into legal debate at BLS.
Contact: blspi@brooklaw.edu
Website: blspi.org
Brooklyn Law Students for the Public Interest (BLSPI) is a student-run, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization at Brooklyn Law School that encourages and enables student participation in public interest and public service legal work.
BLSPI provides both legal and non-legal opportunities for engagement at BLS. We are committed to finding opportunities for students to explore public interest legal careers, which we facilitate through a mentorship program for incoming students and by bringing in lawyers and alumni to speak and interact with students about their practice through our programming. We also provide much-needed funding through fellowships for summer internships for first- and second-year students, as well as bar course grants for graduating students pursuing public interest legal careers.
Additionally, BLSPI offers a common tie between the many on-campus pro bono organizations and the Brooklyn community. We organize a number of charity drives throughout the year, often working with other student groups, including: blood drives, canned food drives, clothing drives, Halloween candy drives for children living in domestic violence shelters, and voter registration drives. BLSPI will also organize a number of days of service this coming year.
Contact: realestatesociety@brooklaw.edu
Our organization is geared towards providing an educational and social network for students interested in all areas of real estate law. Events during the year include practical training seminars with current practitioners and networking events with alumni who work in the real estate sector. Our goal is to enable our members to further their knowledge of the industry, hone the skills needed to succeed as real estate lawyers and provide them valuable opportunities to help achieve their career goals.
Contact: softball@brooklaw.edu
The BLS Softball Organization is a club devoted to playing softball. The organization will consist of a number of softball teams who will meet for practices and scrimmage one another. The softball organization will also register teams for various law school softball tournaments including the Fordham Law School tournament, the NYU tournament, and the UVA tournament (The World Series of Law School Softball). In addition to playing softball, the BLS Softball Organization will also host various fundraisers and social events throughout the year in order to fund our entrance into aforesaid tournaments, especially the UVA Law School Softball Tournament.
Contact: cla@brooklaw.edu
Cannabis Law Association’s goal is to promote honest conversations on cannabis legalization and break the stigma around cannabis in the legal field. We work to understand the unique legacy of cannabis injustice, and how to leverage our power as aspiring attorneys to enact change in the justice system. CLA is building a network of conscious cannabis attorneys, both on campus and in the industry at large. We intend to uplift the New York State cannabis community and follow their lead in advocating for robust legalization. Through our events, we want to educate students and provide them with connections and opportunities in the cannabis industry.
Contact: crimlawsociety@brooklaw.edu
The Criminal Law Society (CLS) at Brooklyn Law School represents the academic, social, and professional interests of the student body interested in pursuing a career within the criminal law system. Through networking events, alumni engagement, panel discussions, and social mixers, the CLS works rigorously to address the needs of students on both the prosecution and defense-oriented side of the criminal justice spectrum. By maintaining close relationships with public interest organizations (i.e. Legal Aid Society) and private-practice firms, the CLS affords students an opportunity to engage with those organizations that most closely align with their interests.
Contact: dalsa@brooklaw.edu
Disability Advocacy Law Student Association(DALSA) is a student group at a law school, the second in the state of New York (NYU DALSA forming a few months ahead of BLS DALSA), promoting disability inclusion, awareness, and advocacy at the intersection of life and law. We are happy to help other law schools form their own DALSA and work with other DALSA's to promote a broader reach.
Contact: els@brooklaw.edu
The Brooklyn Law School Environmental Law Society is comprised of students and faculty members whose interests and experiences include environmental law, international law, the laws of war and bio-terrorism, real estate law, and land use and zoning laws. The ELS strives to create professional opportunities for its members by hosting events where students can meet with leading experts in a variety of fields.
Contact: fls@brooklaw.edu
Fashion Law Society (FLS) is dedicated to providing an extensive and enthusiastic network for BLS students who have an interest in legal matters as they apply specifically to the fashion industry. FLS seeks to spread awareness about Fashion Law as a growing field of specialty and educate students about various career opportunities. FLS hosts many events throughout the academic year which keep students informed about current affairs in the industry, encourage discussions, teach skills, and provide opportunities for students to network, mentor, and train with alumni and other experts in the field. It is the mission of FLS to provide an active and inclusive community for students to learn about Fashion Law together, while creating lasting professional connections and friendships.
Contact: fedsoc@brooklaw.edu
The Federalist Society is a non-partisan conservative and libertarian organization dedicated to freedom, federalism, and judicial restraint. The Federalist Society seeks to educate the legal community through its programs and publications about how limited constitutional government based on the rule of law can have a positive effect on law and public policy.
Contact: hlpa@brooklaw.edu
The Health Law and Policy Association works to o provide a support and networking system for law students with an interest in Health Law and Policy and promote Health Law and Policy throughout the Law School by sponsoring various events on and off campus.
Contact: blhs@brooklaw.edu
The Historical Society of the New York Courts is an organization founded in 2002 by the late New York State Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye. The purpose of the BLS Student Chapter of the Historical Society is to better engage young lawyers in the Historical Society's mission and events to preserve, protect, and promote the legal history of New York; and to work with the Historical Society to host events at, or in conjunction with, BLS.
Contact: if-when-how@brooklaw.edu
If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice is dedicated to ensuring access to medically accurate, age-appropriate, culturally competent sex and sexuality education, as well as comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including prenatal care, postnatal care, contraception, abortion services, and alternative reproductive technologies for women and men, free from coercion, discrimination and violence.
Contact: ipla@brooklaw.edu
IPLA was established to increase BLS student body awareness of the cutting edge issues and opportunities that arise in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. IPLA accomplishes this through academic events, alumni interaction, roundtable discussions, and other events that focus specifically on the interests of our members.
Contact: ils@brooklaw.edu
The International Law Society promotes the awareness, study, and understanding of international law and related issues. The society aims to educate students about the significance of international legal issues and publicize internships, educational, and career opportunities in this field. It holds regularly scheduled meetings and host guest speakers and panel discussions on various issues of international law.
Contact: ilsa@brooklaw.edu
The Irish Society is dedicated to the furtherance of Irish heritage. Its goal is to increase Irish-American participation in the legal profession and to help promote relationships between its members and practicing Irish lawyers. The group will host various social activities and invite guest speakers throughout the year to help achieve these objectives.
Contact: ialsa@brooklaw.edu
The Italian American Law Students Association sponsors parties in and out of school, sporting events, an annual dinner dance, and a speakers program. Its goal is social service and the encouragement of greater participation by Italian-Americans in the legal profession.
Contact: jlsa@brooklaw.edu
The Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) is a cultural, social, educational, and religious organization that reflects the varied interests of the Jewish student community of Brooklyn Law School. JLSA sponsors a variety of educational and social activities designed to increase students' knowledge of Jewish issues, customs, and holidays. It also hosts various social activities and frequently invites speakers to address current cultural, religious, and political issues.
Contact: lela@brooklaw.edu
Labor and Employment Law not only deals with issues such as employment discrimination, illegal workplace harassment, wrongful termination, denial of employee benefits, and the relationships between unions, employers, and employees, but it also touches on issues that arise in a wide range of other disciplines, like sports law and entertainment law. Our mission is to raise awareness of legal issues involving aspects of labor and employment law, educate BLS students about the kinds of job opportunities in these fields, and provide valuable connections and networking resources to help students develop their legal careers.
Contact: lalsa@brooklaw.edu
The Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) seeks to increase the awareness and performance of Latin American students at BLS through our mentoring program, workshops, and presentations on topics of current interest and importance. Members enhance communication with the local Latin American community through our established public service program, and also work to create and foster strong connections with the greater legal community.
Contact: law@brooklaw.edu
LAW is an organization committed to mobilizing law students in action concerning issues that affect women and the law. Some of its programs and projects include: the fight against domestic and international violence against women, access to reproductive choice and family planning, pay and career equity, women-friendly workplaces, and judicial nominations.
Contact: legalhackers@brooklaw.edu
The Brooklyn Law School Legal Hackers Student Organization explores the developing creative solutions to some of the most pressing issues at the intersection of law and technology. Additionally, the organization pushes members to enhance their technical skills, and apply those skills in the contexts of law and entrepreneurship.
Contact: mlsa@brooklaw.edu
MLSA seeks to increase effective Muslim participation and representation in the legal field by providing a supportive atmosphere for incoming and current Muslim students. It aims to provide professional networking opportunities, maintain a growing network via MLSA alumni, and build a bridge between Muslims and non-Muslims through educational and cultural exchange.
Contact: nlg@brooklaw.edu
Our aim is to bring together all those who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, LGBTQ people, farmers, people with disabilities and people of color, upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.
Contact: nsls@brooklaw.edu
The National Security Law Society is a non-partisan student organization that aims to foster interest and understanding in the area of national security law. Our main functions include sponsoring related speakers and events, assisting members in their pursuit of a career in national security law, and providing an open forum for members to discuss the legal aspects of U.S. national security policy and foreign affairs.
Contact: outlaws@brooklaw.edu
OUTLaws is a student organization that serves the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and straight allies within the BLS community. Our organization sponsors frequent educational, political and social events throughout the year as we aim to foster connections with the BLS student body, BLS alumni, and the legal profession at large. Our primary goals are to inform the Law School community about legal issues affecting LGBTQ rights, increase the visibility of LGBTQ persons within the legal profession, support BLS students who identify as LGBTQ, and raise funds to offset costs at LGBTQ-related endeavors for our members. In short, OUTLaws advocates for the inclusion of multiple perspectives within the Law School and pursues solidarity with allies within the community.
The Parent Association of Brooklyn Law School (PABLS) is meant to be a support group for parents, many of which are evening students, and to build community bonds of parent-students within the school. We promote and facilitate family-friendly events for the enjoyment of children that can be easily accessed by the law school's students and faculty.
Phi Delta Phi National Organization Website: www.phideltaphi.org
Phi Delta Phi is an international legal fraternity that seeks to promote the highest standard of ethics and professionalism in law schools and the legal profession. Each local chapter is required to complete community service projects and organize an annual school-wide Ethics Week.
Contact: salsa@brooklaw.edu
SALSA's vision is to serve the cultural, religious, community, social, and professional needs of our South Asian Law Students. SALSA will continue working with the South Asian Bar Association of New York and SALSA organizations across the city to foster relationships among our peers and promote community-based projects that address the growing legal needs of underrepresented South Asians in New York.
Contact: seals@brooklaw.edu
The Slavic Eurasian-American Legal Society provides a support and networking system for students of Slavic and Eurasian heritage but more so a resource for our entire BLS family. This is an organization that is open for anyone who shares a desire to accomplish our shared goals. Our mission is to provide solutions to legal problems within the local Slavic and Eurasian communities as well as opening connections between students and Slavic-Eurasian professionals in the legal community.
The Tax Law Association was formed in order to provide networking opportunities for those interested in tax law, to encourage interest in the field of tax by hosting talks by specialized experts in the field, and to give Law School students a chance to participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program sponsored by the IRS.
Women of Color Alliance, WOCA, will serve as a safe space for women of color in law to discuss intersectional issues related to student life and careers as future attorneys. In addition to providing spaces to network, hold discussions, acquire academic support and career opportunities, the club will also focus on collaborations with outside organizations to provide information and advocacy work for communities in need.
We aim to bolster conversation about specific needs and struggles that women of color in this industry uniquely experience, and challenge the current limitations they may face in the legal sphere. Through these conversations, this group intends to alter the legal space and create a strong presence for women of color, where we can encourage confidence and provide support for one another. Ultimately, the group intends to foster and expand a network of Women of color and build fearlessness through unity.