Most, if not all, law schools have student bar associations on their campuses. Many student bar associations have chosen to list their online contact information through the American Bar Association website at americanbar.org. The California law schools with ABA-listed student bar associations include Chapman University School of Law, Santa Clara University School of Law, Southwestern Law School, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, UCLA Law School and the University of San Francisco School of Law. Interested individuals can also contact specific California law schools directly to ask whether they support student bar associations.
Each California law school with a student bar association elects its SBA representatives each year. SBA elections must occur according to the association's bylaws. Only registered Juris Doctor students and Masters of Law students can run for election. The school's election guidelines may require a representative from each class year, as well as students elected to specific positions such as president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. Students choose from the available candidates and cast their votes. Once elected, the SBA group may need to follow standard procedures for meetings. Chapman University School of Law's SBA, for example, states in its constitution that the SBA should meet at least once a month and allow all students to observe, if interested.
SBA representatives serve many roles on the campuses of California law schools. A law school's SBA often coordinates social events to draw students closer together and promote campus unity. For example, the UCLA Law SBA plans an annual barrister's ball for students, as well as smaller weekly events and opportunities for students to perform community service. Besides planning social events, the SBA also facilitates communication among students, professors and campus administrators. SBA representatives often hold open meetings during which students can voice their concerns and complaints, which the SBA later presents to the law school administration.
Besides serving on their own campuses, SBA representatives also participate in nationwide student activities, such as the American Bar Association's law student division. SBA presidents represent California law schools at the ABA law student division assembly, serving as voices for local and statewide concerns regarding the ABA's national standards and educational standards. Without participation from SBA presidents and other student representatives, Californian law students would have a lesser voice in the ABA's national policies affecting law schools. SBA presidents who attend national ABA meetings also return to California with information about student events and programs from which many other students may benefit.