Get Involved

You can stay connected to SLU law school by volunteering your time and expertise through a variety of opportunities.

Reunion Committee Member
Reunion volunteers serve as ambassadors for the School of Law by connecting with former classmates. These volunteers assist with the planning of Reunion and encourage fellow alumni to attend Reunion Weekend events. For more information, contact Liz Bolen at 314.977.3978 or ebolen1@slu.edu.

Small Group Speaker
Food For Thought: Three times each semester the Alumni Relations office hosts the Food for Thought speaker series. This series is an opportunity for an alumna or alumnus of the law school to share insights and practical experience with 10-12 current students. The speaker shares his or her area(s) of expertise with the students on campus over lunch. For more information, contact Liz Bolen at 314.977.3978 or ebolen1@slu.edu.

Lunch with a Lawyer: One Friday each month during the school year, the SLU Pre-Law Program hosts a practicing attorney to speak to undergraduate, pre-law students over lunch. Volunteer speakers are needed. The speaker addresses topics such as what to consider when students are contemplating an area of interest in the law and what can be done to develop this interest. For more information, contact Kelley McCottrell at 314.977.3695 or mccottkm@slu.edu.

Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Speaker: Each month during the school year, the pre-law Phi Alpha Delta organization hosts a speaker to present a topic to its members. Volunteer speakers are needed. In addition to sharing information about his or her law practice, speakers share insight about what it takes to be a successful law student and lawyer. For more information, contact Kelley McCottrell at 314.977.3695 or mccottkm@slu.edu.

Moot Court Judge
Billiken Barrister Invitational Tournament: Lawyers are needed to serve as volunteer judges for the Billiken Barrister Invitational Tournament mock trial program held on SLU's campus. Thirty-two teams of 8-10 undergraduate, pre-law students from colleges across the U.S. compete against each other for top honors in this program. Volunteer judges work with volunteer SLU law students to evaluate the competing teams. Volunteers are asked to serve in 3-hour blocks of time. The tournament takes place each fall. Self-study CLE credit is available; program CLE credit is possible. For more information, contact Kelley McCottrell at 314.977.3695 or mccottkm@slu.edu.

Appellate Advocacy: Each fall and spring approximately 30 attorneys are needed to help critique our second and third year students as they argue in teams before mock appellate benches. Attorneys sitting in two or three person benches hear arguments from teams of students. Evening or Saturday morning commitments are available. Complete bench briefs are provided. For more information, contact Paige Canfiled at 314.977.3476 or canfield@slu.edu.

First Year Arguments: Each spring over 50 attorneys are needed to coach first year law students through their 1L oral arguments. Students argue a motion before a mock trial bench. One student represents the moving party, the second the non-moving party. Evening or Saturday morning commitments are available. Complete bench briefs are provided. For more information, contact Chris Rollins at 314.977.2763 or rollinsc@slu.edu.

Public Interest Law Volunteer
Stand Down for Homeless Veterans: Law students, faculty and alumni volunteers provide free legal services to homeless veterans at the annual Stand Down for Homeless Veterans event. Several hundred veterans attend the event, which takes place on a Saturday in April, and receive a variety of free services, from haircuts to job counseling. Students and faculty primarily assist those veterans with outstanding warrants on minor criminal matters. Along with the various judges, prosecutors and clerks in attendance, students are usually able to resolve veterans' cases that same day. For more information, contact the School of Law Legal Clinics at 314.977.2778.

Tax Assistance Project: Every January through March, law students work in partnership with local attorneys and accountants to provide free tax return preparation for low-income families. SLU law alumni are encouraged to volunteer. Local accountants provide training through an I.R.S.-endorsed volunteer program. Volunteers work on Saturdays at local community centers preparing returns for the families. The primary goal is to maximize each family's use of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Each year, volunteers help families collect close to $1 million in credits and refunds. For more information, contact the School of Law Legal Clinics at 314.977.2778.

Pre-Law Outreach Program: The SLU Pre-Law Program works with two local high schools, Northwest Academy of Law and Cardinal Ritter, to foster and encourage an interest in considering law as a profession. Pre-law and current law students connect with the high school students during social events and service and teaching activities. SLU law alumni are invited to attend these events and provide the perspective of a practicing attorney. For more information, contact Kelley McCottrell at 314.977.3695 or mccottkm@slu.edu.