The Judiciary Law Club, formally known as the Law Club, has been revived on campus. Students interested in law school, law-adjacent careers, or any student interested in the club are welcome to join.
“I signed up to join the Law Club last year, but it was inactive and later on suspended,” President Lionela Guiterrez said. “After speaking to students who share the same interests as me, I knew that I had to do something about it.”
JLC had its first interest meeting of the semester on Thursday, Sept. 21. Students discussed the club’s goals, picked officers, and got to know other members.
Officers and the advisor of the club are as follows: Club Advisor Dr. Devaney; President Lionela Gutierrez; Vice President Anslee James; Treasurer Amber Burnette; Social Media Manager Abbie O’Steen; Secretary Amy Hernandez; Event Planner Jennipher VanBrackle; and RSO Representative Divya Patel.
Club members plan to participate in a mock trial, a competitive trial simulation activity for college undergraduates. There are 2-3 plaintiff attorneys and 2-3 defense attorneys. Students can also utilize their drama skills and act as witnesses.
Students receive a large packet with case information, and they are then required to create a case argument, learn the laws for the district the case was in, and learn about the rules of evidence.
In hopes of hosting a significant event by the end of the spring semester, members of the club plan to practice for the fall and spring semesters. The goal for the club’s pursuit of mock trials is to compete against other colleges in the region.
If disinterested in mock trials, the club offers many more prospective opportunities and events—one of which is guest speakers. The club wants to get law students, attorneys, paralegals, judges, and other law professionals to speak about their experiences and how they got to where they are today.
Trips are not set in stone for the club; however, some ideas are floating around. One is a trip to D.C. to witness a Supreme Court hearing. Watching the Supreme Court firsthand enables students to learn about the law through experience, which is rare in most classrooms.
JLC also wants to make what students love most: T-shirts. Making t-shirts is challenging, so the club members have been brainstorming fundraising ideas that would bring the club profit, such as a bake sale.
The up-and-coming club will participate in events to get their name out to prospective members. JLC, CLC, and the History Government Club will work together on the Haunted Trail at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture.
Working together with smaller clubs and organizations is best because it gives students more resources and numbers. JLC will also have a table at the SGA’s trick-or-treat event and Stallion Day, so be on the lookout for them!
Member meetings are held every other Wednesday at 5:00 p.m., the next of which is Nov. 1. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings, and feel free to ask questions to learn more about the club.
For more information on joining JLC and its mission, contact President Gutierrez at lgutierreznava@stallions.abac.edu or the faculty advisor, Dr. Devaney, at jdevaney@abac.edu.
