Law school is more than lectures and late nights. It is also about connecting with new friends, engaging your interests, and building a unique three-year experience. As a student in the Faculty of Law, you will have opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that achieve these ends. Several student clubs host networking events and offer programs that will connect you to legal industry. Others provide a chance to learn about a particular area of the law, like environmental law, for example. Some, like rugby or hockey, offer a chance to stay active in a social setting. Each provides a chance to tailor your experience.
Learn about the various clubs at the Faculty of Law below, and don’t be afraid to reach out for more information.
Club Descriptions
The Alberta Law Review
The Alberta Law Review (ALR) is a student-run publication whose primary purpose is to enhance discourse on Canadian legal issues. Founded in 1955, the ALR is published by the Alberta Law Review Society, an organization consisting of second- and third-year law students at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. Built upon the hard work of student editors at both law faculties, the ALR is published every quarter and has roughly 1,000 pages per volume. Student editors assist in the editing of legal notes and comments submitted by legal scholars and practitioners. ALR accepts applications from incoming 2L and 3L students each summer.
Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
AWL is committed to promoting the achievement, interests, equality and well-being of all women in the legal profession. Our members come from varied personal backgrounds as well as from diverse professional milieus including practitioners of all ages and in all areas of the law. Our members include sole practitioners, associates or partners in small, medium or large firms, in-house counsel, Crown prosecutors, businesswomen, faculty, law students, articling students, retired lawyers, politicians and the judiciary. Benefits of joining AWL include networking with other members and the exposure to the wide variety of talent, experience, and mentoring capabilities of the mentorship at large.
The Black Law Students’ Association
The Black Law Students’ Association at the University of Calgary (UCalgary BLSA) was founded in 2018 and is an affiliate of the national student-run non-profit organization, Black Law Students' Association of Canada. The club was established to identify and work towards the removal of institutionalized and other barriers facing Black/African individuals in relation to law school and the legal profession.
UCalgary BLSA is committed to supporting and enhancing academic and professional opportunities for Black law and pre-law students. The club promotes various initiatives to increase the representation of Black students in law schools. The Club seeks to create a sense of community and belonging for law students while supporting members towards a successful legal career. UCalgary BLSA assists members by linking prospective, incoming, and current students with resources and opportunities including mentorship, scholarships, and networking. The Club facilitates relationships between the University of Calgary and the wider community through special events with legal practitioners and community organizations. UCalgary BLSA focuses on challenges faced by the Black community as they relate to the legal system by creating space for discourse around many subjects including legal policy issues, effective career strategies, evolutions in substantive law, and access to justice for marginalized groups.
UCalgary BLSA reflects the diversity of the Black/African experience and welcomes allies from all backgrounds who also seek to make a meaningful contribution to the furtherance of justice.
Past Events:
• Black History Month Events (Black Legal History in Alberta, Seminar: An Enslaved Black Family at the Crossroads of Slavery and Freedom in New Brunswick)
• BLSA National Conference
• UCalgary BLSA Annual BBQ
• Black Shirt Day
Email: calgaryblsa@gmail.com
Website: https://www.ucalgaryblsa.ca
Facebook: calgaryblsa
Instagram: ucalgaryblsa
The Business Law Association
The Business Law Association (BLA) is a student organization that was established in 2011 at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law. The BLA is dedicated to proving educational, networking and social events that provide students with practical business skills. The BLA will provide students with opportunities to develop practical skills that will serve to enhance their understanding of the business environment and their ability to excel in a business context, as well as opportunities to network with business law practitioners and academics. Look for the “The Art of Networking and Fine Dining - Torys LLP” event early in your first year
The Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) is a professional and voluntary bar association which was formed in 1896 and represents over 37,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers and law students from across Canada.
CBA members has many benefits: you can save up to 40% off regular GoodLife gym memberships, 30% off Lenovo purchases, 30% off at Purolator, and many more.
As a 1L, the most beneficial offers CBA gives are probably its section meetings and the Mentorship Program. CBA has 41 sections that represent common interest groups or focus on substantive areas of law and the legal profession (e.g. aboriginal law, civil litigation, insurance law, intellectual property). These section meetings give great updates about issues within a particular area of law. Currently, due to the pandemic, the section meetings are online.
Student Leaders of the UCalgary CBA Law Students Section help organize the Mentorship Program that connects law students with practitioners in different areas, wine and cheese receptions, speaker meetings featuring a variety of legal topics and the Small Firms: Big Connections Breakfast. We will be sending updates on how the mentorship program will work this year.
Calgary Women Studying Law Association
The Calgary Women Studying Law Association’s mission is to be a positive platform for discussion of issues pertaining to all in the legal community, and serve to education, empower and inspire our students in the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. The CWSLA’s mandate is two-fold: the CWSLA wants to change the learning and social environment at the U of C and ensure all individuals in the Faculty feel welcome and safe on campus. Second, the CWSLA wants to provide women (including trans women, non-binary and femme-identified individuals) with the same mentorship and social opportunities offered to men.
CWSLA hosts a variety of events, including educational panels, networking receptions and professional development workshops. Our aim is to advance women in law by addressing areas of concerns as well as by connecting our members with strong successful women in Calgary’s legal community. CWSLA’s mentorship program provides female and femme-identified law students with the ability to connect with and be mentored by supportive female lawyers, furthering our vision of women promoting women.
CWSLA also provides a secure and confidential platform for women in the Faculty to disclose and seek assistance with harassment issues related to their early professional and academic environments. We support these women and act as their liaison with the Faculty to determine and enact appropriate solutions.
Our virtual plan this year is to continue to organize similar events as we have held in the past, but with additional focus on education, rather than networking for the first half of the year. We will still be offering our mentorship program, and although we will not be having any networking events in the Fall semester, will be working to foster our community virtually.
UCalgary Financial Markets Club
The UCalgary Law Financial Markets Club (FMC) is a new club dedicated to connecting UCalgary Law students to the legal fields related to financial markets. Through roundtable discussions and engaging dialogues with professionals, the FMC gives students an inside perspective into various financial areas, such as financial services, securities, and cryptocurrency law. No professional or academic financial experience is needed, just an enthusiasm for learning more about the field!
Due to the club being so new we have only had orientation and 'meet and greet' style events but this semester we will be hosting small group round-table style events in which academics and professionals speak to interested students in order to create an open-ended dialogue in which students can actively participate and explore new topics related to financial markets within the law.
Facebook: “UCalgary Law Financial Markets Club”
Instagram: “@uofcfinancialmarkets”
Criminal Law Society
The Criminal Law Society (CLS) is a student run organization established in 2019 at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. Because one of the best ways to secure criminal law positions is through networking, the CLS was created to be law students’ connection to the criminal law bar. As a member, our goal is to ensure students have access to Crown and defense practitioners and are well-informed on how to get into the field. The CLS provides a support network of likeminded criminal law students and works hard to put on engaging and informative events to help you along your criminal law journey! During our first year, the CLS put on the Criminal Law Mixer, Crown v Defense Practitioner Panel, the Criminal Law Articling Panel and the CLS Blood Drive. The CLS is open to all students and welcomes anyone interested in learning more about criminal law! Find us on campus, at Facebook.com/UCalgaryCLS or on Twitter @UCCLS
The Diversity and Law Society (DLS)
The Diversity & Law Society (DLS) aims to promote diversity and multiculturalism in the study and practice of law. DLS is affiliated with the national organization, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) and associated with the Canadian Bar Association's (CBA) Diversity Section. Opportunities exist to allow for our members to connect with people in the legal community and broaden their network. We will be hosting our annual mentorship program, where we match our members to a diverse set of lawyer mentors. Going forward into the year, we hope to provide students with opportunities to develop professionally, meet with industry professionals (virtually, or not, situation depending!), and to get involved with fostering diversity both on campus and in the industry itself.
DLS membership is free and open to all students! Sign up with DLS and stay tuned for updates! Contact us at dlawsociety@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DLS.UofC/
Health Law Association
The purpose of the Health Law Association is to generate, foster and develop student interest in the field of health law. Our goal is to create a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas to discuss current issues regarding health policy, bioethics, medical malpractice and mental health. We seek to explore related careers through a variety of educational and social events aimed at expanding student’s awareness of health law opportunities. We also aim to serve as an academic and professional resource for Association members and for the greater community.
Events in the past include a lunch and learn series, as well as a wine and cheese mixer with practising health law lawyers located in Calgary. This year, we plan to have similar events, but will ensure that they can be accessed remotely for students who cannot attend in person.
Indigenous Law Club
Are you interested in Indigenous Law? Then become a founding member of the Indigenous Law Club! The club has two purposes: to promote awareness among law students in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action (#27 and #28) and to be a hub for law students interested in Indigenous law, as well as Indigenous students interested in attending law school. Possible events for the year include social functions, guest speakers, a documentary viewing, and hosting an informal Q & A session for Indigenous U of C undergrads interested in attending law school. The club is open to everyone and there will be an opening for a 1L representative.
The Moot Times
The Moot Times is our law school’s student-run news and entertainment publication. From fun photo contests hot legal takes on serious issues, the Moot Times is a great source of information for the student body. Our fabulous executive team is always on the lookout for contributors to write articles for us. We also LOVE people who share our passion for correcting the spelling mistakes and grammatical errors of others. All story ideas for our paper are welcome at our planning meetings, which once upon a time in a pre-pandemic land would involve free food and beer from the LDL for those who attended.
In these – wait for it – “unprecedented times” (yes, we said it), the Moot Times has migrated to our online platform (https://www.themoottimes.com) as our primary mode of disseminating stories to the masses. We continue to publish a few print copies of our publication for the benefit of our sponsors, faculty, and contributing writers, and these are available upon request to members of the student body.
If you are interested in joining our happy bunch or contributing a piece as a featured guest writer, please feel free to contact our head honcho: Heidi J. T. Exner, at adelheide.exner@ucalgary.ca.
The Environmental Law Society (ELS)
The Environmental Law Society (ELS) is dedicated to promoting education, discussion and practical experience in the area of environmental law. Why should you join us? Because we connect you with "real life" experience in environmental law through speakers, volunteer opportunities, and field excursions; we build community through the enjoyment of the great outdoors; we facilitate the understanding of environmental law issues amongst club members and the wider Alberta community; and we encourage the responsible and informed management of Canada's precious environmental resources, and the creation of environmental solutions.
Labour and Employment Law Association
The Labour and Employment Law Association (LELA) provides opportunities for students to learn more about this area of the law as well as to network with academics, lawyers, and other professionals in this field. Formed in 2021, the club has also been a forum for students to discuss latest developments in this field. LELA has previously partnered with other clubs and organizations to educate students about the intersection of labour and employment law with areas such as human rights and immigration law.
Introductory Panel with Labour & Employment Law Instructors, Workplace Rights Lunch & Learn, Documentary Night Social.
lela.ucalgary@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/LELA.UCalgary
www.instagram.com/lelaucalgary
https://discord.gg/3Bte63gP
LEVEL
Are you interested in raising awareness about social justice and human rights? Then LEVEL is the club for you! LEVEL aims to break down barriers, increase equality and improve access to justice for vulnerable and marginalized populations worldwide. It was founded over ten years ago to promote human rights overseas, and now aims to increase access to justice through education, research and advocacy in Canada. The U of C chapter of LEVEL raises awareness on important topics such as: human trafficking, refugee rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, Indigenous rights and transitional justice. We host panels and guest lectures throughout the year and partner with other law clubs on campus in order to raise awareness.
OUTLaw
OUTLaw, UCalgary Chapter is the LGBTQ2SIA+ student club for the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. OUTLaw provides a social, educational, and political forum for LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals and their allies to engage in discussion and networking, and to promote awareness within the legal and wider communities. OUTLaw works to create a safe forum for the LGBTQ2SIA+ community to interact, provide mutual support and foster inclusive and positive attitudes toward sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Further, OUTLaw offers opportunities for law students to meet lawyers who advocate for the LGBTQ2SIA+ population, and assist and educate LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals on legal matters.
Pro Bono Students of Canada (PBSC)
Pro Bono Students Canada is a national program with 22 chapters in Canada. PBSC has three goals: to provide vulnerable communities with legal services free of charge; to provide law students with out-of-classroom legal experience; to instill the pro bono ethic in future lawyers from their first day of law school. The Calgary Chapter currently has over a dozen different projects - there is a project to suit everyone's interests! There are court-based projects, legal research and advocacy projects, public legal education projects and projects that involve direct legal assistance.
Faculty of Law Litigators Rugby
Both women and men are invited to come play rugby! Absolutely no experience needed! The rugby club is the best way to have fun and meet people at school and in the broader legal community. You only need to commit until October 14th when the team will head to Edmonton for a weekend tournament, competing against other law schools. Until then, practices will be a couple of times a week, which is not a major commitment. It is easy to balance this practice schedule with school. Not only does the rugby club get you in shape, it very often comes up in job interviews as a topic of conversation. If you’re on the fence, come try it out, we are sure you’ll stick around!
Student Animal Legal Defence Fund Calgary
SALDF Calgary, (Student Animal Legal Defence Fund Calgary), and/or informally called “SADCLawS” (Society of Animal Defence Calgary Law Students) is a law student group that promotes animal welfare. We are affiliated with, and financially assisted by, the Animal Legal Defense Fund. We share the ALDF’s mission to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Specifically, our work includes: (a) assisting humane societies, animal rescue organizations and animalprotection and rights groups, such as Animal Justice and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, by providing pro bono legal research and writing legal documents; (b) writing articles, white papers, and letters to educate the public and/or lobby government to improve animal protection and welfare legislation; and (c) promoting awareness of animal protection, welfare and rights legal issues at the university and in the community.
Law Negotiation Club
Our club aims to expose students to learn the skill of negotiation through diverse areas of law through our negotiation clinics and arbitration panels each year. During our events, we hope to allow students a chance to enjoy a stress and judgement-free way to try their hand at negotiating with their fellow classmates. Joining and participating in the club is an excellent opportunity to get a taste of negotiating and getting valuable feedback from experienced practitioners. Negotiating is a vital skill to build as future lawyers, so get a head start and come negotiate with the Law Negotiation Club!
Past Events: The club aims to run two negotiation clinics/competitions every year in two diverse areas of law. Some of the past areas of law have included a family law negotiation and a personal injury negotiation. Additionally, in years past, the club has aimed to host panels and information sessions (i.e. Alternative Dispute resolution, arbitration, etc.).
Contact Information: lawnegotiation@gmail.com
The University of Calgary Association of International Petroleum Negotiators Student Club (AIPN)
We are the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) Club. The AIPN club takes components of the oil and gas industry and the environment, in the context of international negotiation. We are a no commitment and no fees club.
In the pre-COVID-19 era, we had two events in the year. The event in the fall was a speed networking event with professionals who negotiate contracts with host countries or international oil companies. The event in the winter was either a training session where professionals taught about working internationally, or a seminar regarding current issues facing the oil and gas or environmental industry. The training session included topics such as how to adjust your customs to come towards a deal, and how to incorporate environmental compliance into contracts. Though the events for this year are uncertain, AIPN is currently considering Zoom seminars on similar topics.
Participation in this club is highly recommended if you are interested in working in corporate law in Calgary. Showing an interest in oil and gas and being able to speak the 'lingo' is an asset during recruit!
Other Clubs
There are other clubs that have been a part of the U of C Faculty of Law, including:
• Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association
• International Law Association
• Rural, Energy and Agriculture Law (REAL)
• Women’s Legal Education Action Fund (LEAF)
• Sports & Entertainment Law Society