Student Organizations

Asian Pacific American Law Students Association

Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of Asian Pacific American law students by educating the community about Asian Pacific American issues, providing a network with the legal profession and the community at large, and providing a forum to discuss Asian Pacific American topics.  Our organization strives to raise awareness and keep our members informed of legal issues surrounding the Asian Pacific community by inviting guest speakers, volunteering, and raising funds for international charities through organizing fundraisers, such as the famous campus chili contest and campus food sales.

Association of Women Law Students

The Association of Women Law Students (AWLS) is among the largest and most active student organizations on campus. Our mission is to promote the awareness of the advantages and disadvantages women may encounter in the legal profession, support the advancement of women in the legal profession, and serve the community in which we live. Membership is open to any law student who supports the goals of the organization. As part of our mission, the association hosts speakers on issues unique to women in the field of law, offers scholarship opportunities for women, and sponsors networking opportunities to promote interaction between its members and legal professionals. Members of the association receive exclusive benefits including access to the AWLS outline bank, the opportunity to participate in the association’s mentor-mentee program, and the opportunity to be selected for a 3L bar scholarship. Each fall, the association hosts an annual 5K in remembrance of one of our members, Lauren Giddings. In addition, each spring the association hosts its annual charity gala and auction where students and faculty members place live and silent bids on items ranging from dinner with your favorite professor, to a weekend beach getaway, to VIP parking at the law school.

Connect with AWLS: Instagram @mercerawls and Facebook.

BearCare

Mercer Law BearCare (MLBC) is a low-commitment organization whose missions is to provide a platform for students to improve their mental and physical wellness in a safe environment. Through holding regular activities, such as yoga, volunteer days, and more, students will have the opportunity to improve their mental and physical well-being that will prove useful in their professional lives and to network and interact with fellow students. In partnership with the Student Bar Association, BearCare hosts a Wellness Week each semester. Wellness Week consists of chair massages, therapy dogs, professionally led workout classes, self-care workshops, and more. BearCare also provides an introduction to the Georgia Bar Association’s Lawyers Living Well program. BearCare’s goal is to equip law students with tools to help them excel in their careers in good health and feeling whole.

Connect with BearCare: Instagram @MercerLawBearCare and Facebook.

Black Law Students Association

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is one of the largest and most active organizations on Mercer Law School’s campus. The Mercer BLSA chapter is affiliated with the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) and the Southern Region Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA). Our participation in various activities keeps BLSA highly visible within the law school and the community. Working to benefit its membership, the entire student body, and the community at large, the organization sponsors such events as Minority Orientation for incoming students; academic programming and support for all class years; a Book Swap and participation in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition. BLSA’s community outreach initiatives include: feeding the homeless at a local church, clothing and food drives, mentoring students at an after school program and sponsoring blood and health awareness drives. The organization has brought to the law school community prominent speakers such as the Honorable Judge M. Yvette Miller, Virgil Adams, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol W. Hunstein.

Connect with BLSA: Instagram @mercerlawblsa and Facebook

Child Welfare and Family Law Society

The Child Welfare and Family Law Society is dedicated to providing networking opportunities and educational resources related to child advocacy and family law. As a society, CWFLS strives to be a community for students passionate or simply interested in the intersect of families and the law. From hosting panels with seasoned legal professionals to partnering with local non-profit organizations, serving Mercer Law and Macon-Bibb County is the heart of CWFLS.

Connect with CWFLS: Instagram @mercercwfls

Christian Legal Society

Founded in 1961, Christian Legal Society (CLS) is a national organization that seeks to fulfill God’s command found in Micah 6:8 by bringing glory to God by inspiring, encouraging, and equipping Christian lawyers and law students, both individually and in community, to proclaim, love, and serve Jesus Christ through the study and practice of law, through the provision of legal assistance to the poor and needy, and through the defense of the inalienable rights to life and religious freedom.

Connect with CLS: Facebook and Christian Legal Society website

Fellowship of Adolescent Mentors

Environmental Law Society

The Mercer Environmental Law Society (ELS) is an organization dedicated to raising awareness of environmental issues affecting the legal community. ELS provides students  opportunities to get involved with local environmental problems and developments.

Hispanic Law Student Association

The Hispanic Law Student Organization (HLSA) is an organization that seeks to provide a variety of educational experiences that will encourage organization members and the student body to broaden their knowledge of Hispanic culture through conferences, special events, and other networking opportunities. Membership is open to any law student that is interested in the Hispanic culture and issues. HLSA’s objective is to create a diverse and supportive, learning, working, and living environment in which Hispanic students, as well as the Law School community, can discover and develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Hispanic cultural heritage and the issues that face Hispanics residing in the United States. HLSA does this by having movie nights, guest speakers, and participating in Cultural Awareness Week. Each Spring, HLSA hosts its annual Latin Night celebration to bring awareness to the Hispanic culture.

Historians in Law School

Historians in Law School (HILS) is for law students at Mercer who are interested in history. This group seeks to provide an outlet for history conscious students to engage in the subject with their fellow students, faculty, and community members. We recognize the importance of history to the law and a legal education and we aim to maintain an awareness of history within the student body at Mercer Law. We gather to casually discuss predetermined topics, led by fellow students, and we also bring speakers to the school to discuss their own research and topics of interest related to history.

Connect with HILS: Facebook 

Immigration Law Society

Mercer’s Immigration Law Society (MILS) is a student organization focused on creating a space for students interested in pursuing immigration law or advocacy. Whether you know you want to practice Immigration law or are merely curious about the field, MILS is prepared to help its members succeed. MILS annually hosts group service projects like Tamale Hospitality and Casa Colibri. These projects are close to our heart and our efforts help provide food, shelter, and other comforts to families who are visiting loved ones at the Irwin Detention Center. Our organization realizes that employers seek well-rounded candidates who are not only great students academically but who are also active in their communities. In addition to service opportunities, MILS offers its members professionalism workshops throughout the year that will set its members apart.

Each year MILS hosts a variety of events on campus to help its members learn more about the field of immigration law and help them gain exposure to up-and-coming opportunities. MILS hosts Immigration Professional Panels where students may learn from some of the best Immigration and Advocacy professionals. We have also been fortunate to allow members to view hearing sit-ins at the Irwin Detention Center.

Connect with MILS: Facebook

International Law Student Association

The International Law Student Association (ILSA) aims to promote awareness, study, and understanding of international law and related issues. Through its events and involvement on campus and throughout the community, ILSA seeks to encourage communication, cooperation, and exchange between students, professionals, and others interested in the vast world of international law.

Connect with ILSA: Instagram @mercerilsa and Facebook 

Joshua’s Wish

Joshua’s Wish Committee was created to coordinate with the Joshua’s Wish Charity founded by Mercer Law School staff member, Labrina Solomon. We work to raise funds to raise awareness and find the cure for childhood brain cancer (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma).

Legal Aid Volunteer Organization

The Mercer Legal Aid Volunteer Association (LAVA) seeks to promote the integrity of our community’s justice system by endeavoring to ensure that all those who require legal representation have meaningful access to it.

Mercer Animal Legal Defense Fund

The Mercer Animal Legal Defense Fund is a student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund found at aldf.org. We share the mission to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Our goal is to raise awareness of the growing national movement towards recognizing the important body of law known as animal law, as well as support our local rescues through volunteering and fundraising.

Connect with Mercer Animal Legal Defense Fund: Instagram @mercersaldf and Facebook 

Mercer Association of Veteran Students

Mission Statement: “To serve those who have sacrificed so much”

The Mercer Association of Veteran Students (MAVS) serves the community of Veterans at Mercer Law. Keeping in mind always the immeasurable sacrifices of so many service members, their families, and even their friends, we continually strive to build supportive relationships between and provide outreach to those persons within the Mercer community and abroad. We are comprised of members of the armed forces, former policemen and firefighters, and their families and friends.

Mercer Law Criminal Defense Association

“Love is the motive, but justice is the instrument.”

The Mercer Law Criminal Defense Association seeks to inspire, develop, and mentor Mercer Law students who aspire to become criminal defense attorneys by hosting renowned speakers, conducting trial skills workshops, and establishing a mentorship program with state and national criminal defense organizations. The ultimate goal of our organization is to promote equal justice for all.

Connect with Mercer Law Criminal Defense Association: Instagram (@MercerLaw_CriminalDefense) and Facebook 

Mercer Federalist Society

The Mercer Law Chapter of the Federalist Society is the local branch of the national chapter and is made up of libertarians and conservatives who are interested in the current state of the legal order. We strive to bring interesting and unique speakers to campus to foster debate of important contemporary legal issues – particularly those relating to individual liberty, the separation of governmental powers, and economic freedom.

In the past, we have hosted discussions on issues including social media development and the law, environmental regulation, alcohol and drug regulation, and immigration with lunches second to none offered here at Mercer Law!

Connect with the Federalist Society: Facebook 

Mercer Health Law Society

The Health Law Society at Mercer Law aims to provide students with the opportunity to gain exposure to and be involved with the ever-growing and changing field of health law while giving back to Mercer and the greater Macon community through volunteer work. Our goal is to provide a forum for discussion of issues, provide opportunities to hear from practitioners in the field, and facilitate access to careers in health law.  The Health Law Society has also partnered with the Beverly Knight Olsen Children’s Hospital to create a program that allows law students to facilitate an activity with patients that are hospitalized for longer terms.

Mercer Law Democrats

The Mercer Law Democrats support the philosophies and platform of the Democratic party. To this end, it is the goal of the Mercer Law Democrats to support all efforts to increase student participation in Democratic affairs. In doing so, this organization seeks to 1) educate its members and the student body as a whole about the philosophy of the Democratic Party; 2) assist in the election of local, state, and national Democratic candidates; and 3) affect political change on the local, state, and national level. Open to any student who has the best interests of the Mercer Democrats and the Democratic Party at heart, the Mercer Law Democrats are reorganized and reenergized to bring an intentional focus to the political process and issues facing all students, regardless of party affiliation.

Connect: Instagram @MercerLawDems and Facebook 

Mercer Law Republicans

The Mercer Law Republicans promote Republican and conservative principles among the Mercer University School of Law study body and the community at large. The purpose of the Mercer Law Republicans is to foster American values of good citizenship, political participation, and political literacy. Mercer Law Republicans work with all members of the Mercer community in order to advance discourse and respect for our country’s rich history and each other and aid in the organization and election of Republican candidates at all levels of government.

Mercer National Security Law Association

The National Security Law Society at Mercer University School of Law is a student organization whose mission is threefold: we aim to foster greater interest and understanding of legal issues pertaining to national security; engage our members by stimulating debate surrounding legal issues regarding national security including hosting panels and events with practitioners in the field; and to serve our community of law students by increasing their access to career and internship opportunities in national security, networking opportunities, and resources to help with resume development, interview practice, and more.

Mercer Sports and Entertainment Law Society

Mercer Sports and Entertainment Law Society (SELS) is an organization that promotes inclusion for all Mercer students and focuses on issues of law in the sports and entertainment industries. SELS provides an opportunity for students interested in sports and entertainment Law to have resources that can further their interest. Along with hosting speakers from the sports and entertainment industries, SELS will host events outside of the law school such as tailgates, and watch parties. The organization will be member driven as most meetings will consist of interactive discussions among members.

Mercer Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA)

Mercer Trial Lawyers Organization provides its membership with the opportunity to develop trial practice and litigation skills through hands-on workshops and information/Q&A sessions with experienced trial lawyers from throughout the state of Georgia. While generally focusing on litigation, MTLA also provides opportunities and experiences for those interested in other areas of law. While learning practical skills that will give our members a strong foundation when they begin to practice, we also provide several networking and philanthropic opportunities throughout the year.

Connect with MTLA: Instagram (@MercerTLA) and Facebook

OUTLaw

OUTLaw is Mercer Law’s LGBTQ+ student alliance. Our primary goal is to ensure that Mercer Law is a welcoming place for students of all identities and backgrounds. We use education and outreach to improve inclusion and diversity at our school and in the legal field. Although we focus on promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance and education, all students are welcome in OUTLaw. Throughout the year, members participate in networking events, informational panels, service initiatives, and mentoring programs. Our biggest annual events typically include a charity drag show, participation in Atlanta Pride, and hosting our annual Transgender Life and the Law Symposium. We also connect students with Georgia’s LGBTQ+ legal professional network, the Stonewall Bar Association, and encourage engagement with the LGBT Bar Association, particularly at its annual Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair.

Connect with OUTLaw: Instagram (@MercerOUTLaw) and Facebook 

Older Wiser Law Students

Older, Wiser Law Students (OWLS) is an organization endeavoring to support to all law students, but especially students who are married, beginning their second career, or separated geographically from their family. OWLS assists members in using previous career skills and life experiences when applying for legal jobs. OWLS provides peer advice and support for both academic and social aspects of law school. OWLS encourages students of all backgrounds to join and create community among one another. Finding a community in law school is a tricky balance, but OWLS know how to nest. We hope to see you at our events!

Phi Alpha Delta

Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) is among the largest and most active organization on campus. PAD is a professional law fraternity advancing integrity, compassion and courage through service to the student, the school, the profession and the community. PAD strives to further this community by providing a professional, academic, and social venue for students to interact and further their education together. Our on campus activities range from the Mercer Law Talent Show to Time Management Seminars, Exam Prep Seminars, and Karaoke Nights. Membership is open to any law student who supports the goals of the organization and is not a member of any other legal fraternity. Membership in PAD extends beyond law school and creates commonalities among PAD alumni all over the country. As the largest legal fraternity, our alumni network is extensive and gives students an opportunity to share a common activity with potential employers and mentors. Bound together by tradition and our common interest in the law, we share these core values: Integrity, Compassion, Courage, Professionalism, Service, Diversity, and Innovation.

Connect with PAD: Facebook 

Phi Delta Phi

Founded in 1869, Phi Delta Phi is the first professional Society in the United States and is one of the oldest professional organizations in the Western Hemisphere. Phi Delta Phi pre-dates all other societies including the American Bar Association. Phi Delta Phi has chartered chapters – called Inns – at laws schools in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Poland and Germany. Phi Delta Phi has initiated in excess of 200,000 members since its founding in 1869. More judges, American presidents, governors, senators, representatives, cabinet members, ambassadors, bar association presidents, Association of American Law School presidents and law school Deans are from the ranks of Phi Delta Phi than any other legal Society. From 2001 to 2003, the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of Canada, Mexico and the United States were Phi Delta Phis. Additionally, Phi Delta Phi has more international chapters than any other law Society having chartered its first international Inn in 1896, several years before any other law Society was founded. To be eligible to become a member of Phi Delta Phi, a student must be a member of the Mercer Law Review, Mercer Advocacy Team, or rank in the top third of their class. Annually, Phi Delta Phi publishes the annual “Law Dogs” calendars, hosts a school-wide corn hole tournament, and the Rehberg golf tournament.

Real Estate Law Society

The Real Estate Society advocates for the advancement of real estate law opportunities throughout the state of Georgia and the local community. The Society hosts speaking events which feature community leaders, attorneys, and organizations that works with real estate attorneys to address legal issues pertaining to real estate conveyances. The Real Estate Society focuses on raising awareness of real estate law practice and providing networking opportunities for its members.

Connect with Mercer Real Estate Law Society: Instagram (@mercer_rels) and Facebook

Rural Law Student Association

The Rural Law Student Association is an organization dedicated to recognizing the importance that rural areas have on the legal field. Through our events, students will have the opportunity to engage with fellow students and legal professionals from rural areas or currently serving in rural areas to further define themselves in their budding legal careers.

Second Amendment Society

The mission of the Second Amendment Society (SAS) is to preserve the Second Amendment and raise awareness at Mercer Law about issues related to the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. SAS has numerous events including range days, self-defense and gun safety classes, member only shooting events and an annual charity skeet shoot.

Student Bar Association

The Student Bar Association (SBA), consisting of every member of the student body, is the student government and umbrella organization for all student organizations at Mercer Law. The SBA Board of Governors serves as the primary avenue of communication between law students, law school student organizations, Mercer’s administration, the Macon Bar, the State Bar of Georgia, and the American Bar Association. The SBA Board of Governors consists of class representatives and appointed students who serve on student and faculty law school committees and who sponsor social activities, speakers, and community service events.