Student Organizations: National Lawyers Guild
Faculty Advisor: Stacey Platt
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is an association dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. The Guild seeks to unite the lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers of America in organization, which shall function as an effective social and political force in the service of the people, to the ends that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests.
NLG seeks to bring together all those who regard adjustments to new conditions as more important than the veneration of precedent; who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, farmers, and minority groups upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.
Loyola’s Chapter of the NLG is one of the most active organizations on campus.
Recent events NLG Loyola has hosted include:
- Citywide DisOrientation (2011)
- Race and Law Symposium (annual co-sponsor)
- "COINTELPRO 101": Viewing & discussion with the creators
- Feminism and the Law: A Discussion with Leading Feminist Lawyers (annual event)
- The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander: A discussion
- Justice and Health Care: A lecture by Dr. Quentin Young, M.D.
- A Lawyer in Dark Times: The Life and Legacy of Ernie Goodman
- The Bleak Future of Greater Israel: A lecture by Professor John Mearsheimer
- FBI Investigations of Peace Activists: A discussion with Melinda Power
NLG Loyola has also played an active role in bettering our university community through successfully advocating for initiatives such as:
- Public Interest Certificate
- Public Interest Legal Writing Sections
- Recycling bins
- Numerous environmentally friendly building upgrades
- Critical Race Theory class and professor
- Supporting unionization and living wage campaign of campus dining workers
- Feminist Jurisprudence course
- Student Representative to faculty hiring committee
2011/12 Board:
Andrew Bashi
Andrea Callow
Beth Karpiak
Candace Moore
Cynthia Cornelius
Cynthia Herrerra
Jessica Sanchez
Lara Elborno
