×

Race Judicata Team: The Student Bar Association organizes a team of students, faculty, and staff to participate in the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services annual 5K Race Judicata. The race begins in Grant Park and participants run and walk up the lakeshore through the Museum Campus and then return to Grant Park for food, music, and a night of fun.

Big Sib/Little Sib Program: All incoming first year law students are paired up with a Big Sib before they even begin classes at Loyola. These Big Sibs are second and third year law students that serve as mentors to students just beginning their law school career. In early September, the Student Bar Association puts on an event for all the Big and Little Sibs. Throughout the year, students meet with their Big Sibs for coffee, lunch, or just to hang out after a long week of classes.

Boat Cruise: In the middle of September, the Student Bar Association plans the annual Boat Cruise around Lake Michigan for law students and their guests. Once the boat leaves Navy Pier, students are treated to dinner, drinks, music, and a boat cruise along the beautiful Chicago skyline.


No Talent Show: To kick off Loyola University’s Hunger Week, the Student Bar Association plans a No Talent Show that takes place during the first week of November. All law school students are invited to attend the show by paying a nominal entrance fee and donating a canned good item. Participants in the show dance, sing, play an instrument, perform a comedy routine, or some combination of all of these. All participants receive a prize for showing off their talents. All proceeds from this event go to support the mission of Southwest Chicago PADS, a homeless rehabilitation center in Chicago.

Hunger Week: Each year, Loyola University hosts a Hunger Week to raise awareness about hunger and poverty in the Chicago area and throughout the world. The Student Bar Association coordinates a committee of other student organizations that plan activities and events for Hunger Week at the Law School. Some of these activities include: guest speakers and panelists, movie screenings, a chili cook-off, clothing drives, school supply drives, a virtual food drive, and a food stamp challenge. Each of these activities is aimed at making students more aware of issues of hunger and poverty by giving them a chance to learn about the affects of these hardships first hand.

Blood Drives: Twice a year, the Student Bar Association hosts a blood drive for the American Red Cross. Throughout the day, students, faculty, staff, and community members stop by to donate blood.

Finals Party: At the end of each semester for the first year students, the Student Bar Association plans a Finals Party for first year students to celebrate the completion of their first semester and year of law school. There is also a finals party at the end of each semester for the entire student body to celebrate the end of another law school semester.

Student/Faculty Basketball Game: In February, the Student Bar Association sponsors a student/faculty basketball game where a team of law students plays against a team of law school professors and administrators. The other students come to the game to cheer on their friends and professors. After the game, SBA hosts a pizza party at a local establishment.

Alumni Reception: The Student Bar Association teams up with the Office of Career Services to plan an Alumni Reception. Over 100 alumni from all different legal fields attend this reception to meet students in an informal setting. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about different fields of law and to learn how Loyola helped these alumni get where they are today.

SBA/ABA Employer Day: The Student Bar Association also works with the American Bar Association to set up an Employer Day at Loyola in the spring. During the day, students are encouraged to have their resume reviewed by employers, do a mock interview, and meet employers in their chosen field to learn more about the opportunities and experiences in that field.

Cubs Rooftop: Each April, students attend a Cubs Rooftop event at Murphy’s Bleachers to support the Public Interest Law summer stipend program. Tickets include food, drinks, and the opportunity to watch a Cubs game from a rooftop.

Barrister’s Ball: The Barrister’s Ball is the formal law school event in the spring. Students are treated to an elegant night of cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a whole night of fun. In the past, Barrister’s Ball has been held at the Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Crystal Ballroom at Navy Pier.

Bar Reviews: Every Thursday night, the Student Bar Association sets up the Weekly Bar Review. This is a chance for students to interact with each other at the end of the week outside of the classroom. Bar Reviews take place at different establishments around Chicago, and there is usually a special deal for Loyola Law students and their guests. The Student Bar Association also hosts a Halloween Party Bar Review in late October and a St. Patrick’s Day Bar Review in the middle of 
March.

Weekend Activities: In addition to planning the weekly Bar Reviews, the Student Bar Association also organizes monthly weekend activities for students to participate in if they choose. Some of these activities include: Second City Comedy Show, Murder Mystery Dinners, Fright Fest at Six Flags, Ice Skating in Millennium Park, and more.

Loyola Apparel: During the spring semester, the Student Bar Association also sponsors t-shirt and sweatshirt sales. These shirts are designed by students and are generally sold for a few weeks at the beginning of the semester. In the past, some of the items sold were short sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, zip-up sweatshirts, and hooded sweatshirts.:The SBA also serves as a liaison between students and faculty when there are pressing issues that the student body would like to see addressed.

Dean’s Town Hall Meetings: Each semestesr, the law school Deans host a Dean’s Town Hall meeting where students can bring concerns to the attention of the administration. The Student Bar Association attends all of these meetings. In addition, SBA hosts meetings prior to the Town Hall Meetings to give students a chance to voice their concerns to us, and then SBA will bring up those concerns at the Town Hall Meeting.

SBA Affairs Committee: Part of the Student Bar Association is the SBA Affairs Committee. This committee is composed of students both on SBA and some that are not who work together and with the administration to create solutions to some pressing issues in the law school. In the past, this committee put all professor evaluations in the library for students to see before selecting classes.

Other Committees: Student Bar Association members also sit on a variety of other committees within the law school or appoint other students to sit on those committees. Some of these other committees include: Loyola School of Law Board of Governors, Career Services Advisory Committee, Faculty Curriculum Planning Committee, and the Graduation Speaker Selection Committee.

The SBA is open to suggestions regarding event planning, charity work, and general concerns of the student body as well. It is the SBA's primary concern that the unique law school environment at Loyola is preserved, in the sense that (to whatever extent possible) the stress level is low, and the mood of the student body is positive and responsive.