Student Chapter Resources
Running an ACS Student Chapter
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ACS Student Chapter Handbook
The ACS Student Chapter Handbook is intended as a resource for incoming and current student leaders and those interested in organizing new chapters.
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ACS Student Chapter Template Constitution
The ACS Student Chapter Template Constitution is meant as a framework document necessary for setting up a Student Chapter.
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2023-2024 Faculty Advisor Checklist
Reach out to your ACS Faculty Advisor and provide them with the 2023-2024 Faculty Advisor Checklist. P
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2023-2024 ACS Model Calendar
An example and potential starting point for programming ideas for your student chapter.
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Student Chapter Engagement Opportunities
Check out how your chapter can get engaged with ACS opportunities and programs.
SPREADSHEET
Student Chapter Board Template Update
Use this spreadsheet template to keep your student chapter board members' contact information up to date. Download as an excel (.xls) file.
Recruiting and Building a Chapter
- To familiarize students with our mission, have a chapter leader recite the following description about ACS before introducing the speaker(s) at each event.
“For those not familiar with ACS, we are a national network of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges and policymakers who believe that the 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 the development and promotion of high-impact ideas. If you support these efforts and are not a formal part of our network, I encourage you to become a national member of ACS today.”
- Bring a laptop to each event so that members can sign up for national membership on-site.
- Encourage students to become national ACS members by directing them to: acslaw.org/join.
- Encourage students to sign-in using the ACS Sign in Sheet during social and networking events.
- Screen the “We Are ACS” video and discuss the benefits of national membership at informational and introductory meetings. Benefits include:
- Access to ACS’s online job bank.
- ACS’s weekly e-mail bulletin, which summarizes law and policy news from around the country, as well as upcoming ACS events.
- The chance to connect and build relationships with lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students with expertise in virtually every area of the law.
- Electronic versions of the Harvard Law & Policy Review, the official journal of ACS, and Advance, the official journal of the ACS Issue Groups.
- Eligibility to apply for student scholarships to attend ACS conventions.
- Access our flyer to reach out to pre-law undergrads.
ACS Student Membership
Programming Ideas and Resources
- Review our program guides for ideas and resources on programming.
- View our blueprint for student chapters looking to get involved in Election Day class cancellation efforts.
- Sign up for any of our volunteer projects.
- Take the Pledge to Become a Poll Worker and learn more about ACS’s Run.Vote.Work initiative.
- Consider hosting film screenings and discussions. See our Documentary Films Available Upon Request document for ideas for suggested films.
- Learn about these additional ACS Resources: ACS Broken Law Podcast, ACS National Blog, ACS Analysis, and ACS Projects.
- Post your upcoming events on social media and livestream/tweet them (with the consent of your speakers)! Check out our Social Media Guidelines for tweeting and taking photos at events.
Event Logistics
- Inviting Speakers: Sample Invitation Letter.
- Posting Events: Review our Event Posting Instructions for submitting events to the ACS website. You must post your event to the ACS website prior to receiving funding.
- Funding and Reimbursement Requests: Review instructions.
- Use the Event Checklist to plan a successful event.
- Have speakers complete the Speaker Release Form.
- Advertising: Use the ACS Flyer Template (Microsoft Word doc).
- Sign In sheets for your event.
- Social Media Tips for Events