The Law School Democrats of America (Law School Dems), or the National Democratic Law Students Council (NDLSC), is the law student arm of the Democratic National Committee. Membership consists of over 1500 law students at more than 85 law schools located throughout the United States.
Law School Democrats of America was founded in 2006 at Harvard Law School by David Burd. The organization's first event was a national convention, keynoted by DNC Chairman Howard Dean, at Harvard Law School. Originally consisting of a small number of the Ivy League law schools, the organization has grown substantially since its founding, and now has chapters at law schools in every region of the United States. The NDLSC works with the Democratic National Committee and other organizations on issues such as election reform and voter protection. NDLSC continues to found new chapters and expand membership, and coordinate the placement of law students to work on Democratic campaigns, including the upcoming 2012 presidential re-election.
Since 2006, hundreds of law students have taken an active role in Democratic politics, and local and national elections as members of the Law School Democrats. Student activities have included canvassing, legal research, phone banking, voter protection, and other activities.
The Law School Democrats seek to ensure that every eligible voter is allowed to cast a vote and that every vote is counted, support Democratic campaigns and candidates, connect law students and attorneys interested in Democratic politics, and cultivate the next generation of Democratic leaders.
Every year the Law School Democrats holds a national convention. The convention generally takes place in February or March over a weekend, and consists of discussion panels, keynote speakers, receptions, and an election for a new board of directors (President, Vice-President of Communications, Vice-President of Finance, Vice-President of Membership, Vice-President of Programming). During election years, regional directors are often appointed by the board of directors to help coordinate law student involvement in Democratic campaigns and voter protection efforts.
Past conventions were held in Boston, New York City, Columbus, OH, Chicago, and Washington D.C.. Notable convention speakers include former DNC Chairman and Vermont Governor Howard Dean, New York Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Democratic political consultant Bob Shrum, Illinois Treasurer and former U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, and Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.
The 2011 Law School Democrats National Convention took place April 1–3 at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C.
American University Washington College of Law
Appalachian School of Law
Capital University Law School
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Brooklyn Law School
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Catholic University Columbus School of Law
Charlotte School of Law
Charleston School of Law
City University of New York School of Law
Cleveland-Marshall College of the Law
Columbia Law School
Cornell Law School
Creighton University School of Law
Drake University Law School
Duke University School of Law
Emory University School of Law
Florida Coastal School of Law
Florida State University College of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Georgetown University Law Center
George Mason University School of Law
George Washington University Law School
Hamline University School of Law
Harvard Law School
Hofstra University School of Law
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Lewis and Clark Law School
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Marquette University Law School
McGeorge School of Law
Monterey College of Law
New York Law School
New York University Law School
Northwestern University School of Law
Ohio State Moritz College of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
Roger Williams University School of Law
Rutgers School of Law–Camden
St. John's University School of Law
Seton Hall University School of Law
South Texas College of Law
Southern Illinois University School of Law
Stetson University College of Law
Seattle University School of Law
Suffolk University Law School
Temple University Beasley School of Law
Texas Tech University School of Law
Tulane University Law School
University at Buffalo Law School
UC Berkeley School of Law
UC Davis School of Law
UC Hastings College of the Law
UCLA School of Law (inactive)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law
University of Chicago Law School
University of Colorado Law School
University of Connecticut School of Law
University of Denver College of Law
University of Florida College of Law
University of Georgia School of Law (inactive)
University of Illinois College of Law (inactive)
University of Iowa College of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
University of Miami School of Law (inactive)
University of Minnesota Law School
University of Mississippi School of Law (inactive)
University of Missouri School of Law
University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
University of Richmond School of Law (inactive)
University of St. Thomas School of Law
University of San Diego School of Law
University of South Carolina School of Law
University of South Dakota School of Law
University of Southern California School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Texas School of Law
Valparaiso University School of Law
Vanderbilt University Law School
Villanova University School of Law
Washington & Lee University School of Law
West Virginia University College of Law
Whittier Law School
Widener University School of Law
Yale Law School
