The Red Velvet Lawyer

The Appalachian School of Law Republican Law Society The Appalachian School of Law campus hosts two student organizations reflecting party politics: The Democratic Law Society and the Republican Law Society. The Mission Statement The Constitution of the Republican Law Society provides: The mission of this association is to give voice to Republican ideals on and off campus.  The goal of this organization shall be to support Republican candidates on the local and national level as well as encouraging debate and thoughtful awareness of the issues of the day on campus.   It holds membership open to any and all ASL students and alumni.  It also expressly provides a non-discriminatory clause in the Constitution.  An "active" member must attend two meetings of the group. Sponsored Events and Activities   The RLS is perhaps best known for its annual fall event called the All American Ball.  Proceeds from tickets sales ...

The Gay/Straight Legal Association at the Appalachian School of Law Students organized this association in 2003 to stimulate an active discussion on issues pertinent to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.  It's unofficial motto:  "We love everyone!" Mission Statement The Gay/Straight Legal Association (aka Outlaws) strives to provide a social network for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied students with the law school and the legal community.  It also works to provide education about legal issues which impact the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.  It also strives to help build a safe and tolerant society that respects diversity and offers gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons equal protection of the law. Membership Requirements Membership in the association is open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni and shall not be denied to any person based on age, race, sex, religion, handic...

The Appalachian School of Law Democratic Law Society The Appalachian School of Law campus hosts two student organizations reflecting party politics: The Democratic Law Society and the Republican Law Society. The Democratic Law Society, founded in 2003, dedicates its members to the principles that have historically sustained the Democratic Party. The Mission Statement The Preamble to the Constitution of the Democratic Law Society provides: We wish to stimulate in people active participation in governmental affairs and promote their involvement in the political process. We believe all people should have individual freedom in the framework of a just society, political freedom in the framework of a meaningful participation by all citizens. We are aware that a party must be responsive to be worthy of responsibility. We pledge to promote student activity within the boundary of  the Appalachian School of Law as well as within the local community.  We wish to...

The American Constitution Society at the Appalachian School of Law The ASL American Constitutional Society is a recognized  chapter of the national organization of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. The American Constitutional Society offers a view of constitutional law that sharply contrasts with the view of the Federalist Society.   The website of the national organization explains the context for the group: SHAPING DEBATE, BUILDING NETWORKS,  MAKING A DIFFERENCE  The American Constitution Society (ACS) believes that law should be a force to improve the lives of all people. ACS works for positive change by shaping debate on vitally important legal and constitutional issues through development and promotion of high-impact ideas to opinion leaders and the media; by building networks of lawyers, law students, judges and policymakers dedicated to those ideas; and by countering the activist conservative legal mo...

The Appalachian School of Law Hamilton Society No government could give us tranquility and happiness at home which did not possess sufficient stability and strength to make us respectable abroad.” ALEXANDER HAMILTON Speech at the Constitutional Convention,  June 29, 1787 This student organization, founded in 2006, serves military veterans, current service members, families of service personnel, and veterans' organizations.  It seeks to support a link between duty to country and our legal system. I have a great interest in this organization even though I never served in the military.  I did, however, provide pro bono legal services to Viet Nam veterans who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder shortly after the Veterans Benefits Administration  recognized PTSD as a compensable military injury.   The diagnosis of PTSD first appeared in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980.  Shor...

The American Association for Justice at the Appalachian School of Law This student organization falls under the umbrella of the national organization as an affiliated Student Chapter. The national organization recognizes, with awards and scholarships , those skillful students, lawyers, and consumer advocates who support the fight for justice. It also publishes the magazine, Trial , which examines complex legal questions arising in litigation practice. The National AAJ Mission   "The Mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system—and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests." History of National Organization   I remember when this powerful organization had a much different name:   The Association of Trial Lawyers...

The Appalachian Women in the Law at the Appalachian School of Law The Appalachian Women in Law get to the point quickly and efficiently. The Mission Statement The Mission Statement set out in its Constitution simply states that the organization "strives to educate, support, and empower women not just in the legal field but within our entire community, as well." Membership is open to all students and alumni. Students created this organization in September 2009. Events and Activities Sponsored by AWIL This active organization sponsors many events.  It is best known for its work on behalf of the local women's shelter.  Among other programs, it collects toiletry items for women using that facility and sells T-shirts to raise cash funds for the shelter.  One notable shirt read: "We want to be on top." Over the last several years, AWIL has hosted lectures and presentations by distinguished women lawyers. Most rece...

Appalachian School of Law's Blackwell Inn Phi Delta Phi International  This posting profiles the second legal fraternity on campus.  I profiled Phi Alpha Delta  here.    The Blackwell Inn of Phi Delta Phi International, named after beloved ASL Professor Tom Blackwell,  identifies the following mission. Mission Statement [T]his organization promote[s] the advancement of the highest intellectual, professional, and ethical standards within the Appalachian School of Law community.  To this end, Blackwell Inn hereby establishes . . . an honor fraternity with . . . minimum academic standards.  It shall be the responsibility of this Inn and the charge of each of its members to seek excellence in scholastic and ethical standards towards the achievement of this goal.   The ambitious goals of this fraternity are supported by an international organization . The ASL inn is one of only five fraternal inns established in Province 14 ...

Appalachian School of Law Criminal Law Society The Criminal Law Society is one of the oldest student organizations on campus. Mission Statement The Criminal Law Society furthers, within the law school and the legal community, education about criminal law issues. It also provides a forum for individuals within the law school to express views about criminal law. Activities and Events The CLS sponsors the annual Barrister's Ball, a black-tie event that benefits local charities. It also hosts an annual Opening Statement Competition.  The Criminal Law Society also invites speakers and hosts panel discussions on current topics of interest in criminal law.  It collaborated with the Innocence Project to bring Daryl Hunt to campus to discuss his exoneration in 2005 after DNA evidence matched an incarcerated man with the crime scene.  That man later admitted the crime. In 2011, it hosted a debate between Tamara Ne...

The Black Law Students Association of the Appalachian School of Law I am using this week to profile organizations I would describe as affinity groups based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs and values.  I'll focus today on the Black Law Students Association of the Appalachian School of Law. Students at ASL founded the chapter early in the history of the law school. National Affiliate As background, the national affiliate of this local chapter -- the National Black Law Students Association  arose in 1968.  It has over 200 chapters and nearly 6,000 members, and so, is the largest student organization in the U.S. It sponsors two competitions in honor of distinguished African-Americans: The Frederick Douglass Moot Court  Competition  and the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. It also sponsors the Nelson Mandela International Negotiations Competition. The NBLSA offers regional career fairs and hosts int...