Our work

Many law students arrive at law school interested in a career in politics. Too often they leave without knowledge of how lawyers can most effectively run for office or gain appointment to an office. Leaders From Law, a start-up initiative launched in the wake of the 2016 U.S. elections, is a co-curricular program aimed specifically at law students and young attorneys, with an emphasis on holding state and local office. By focusing on law students and young attorneys, Leaders From Law aims to support the relationship between the rule of law, constitutional democracy, and American ideals of justice.

Law students and young lawyers interested in holding office are a unique population for purposes of developing a candidate pool. They have knowledge and skills non-lawyers may not, but they also have concerns and knowledge gaps particular to young professionals. Leaders From Law workshops teach law students and lawyers how to inventory all the offices they are suited for, build fundraising skills, cover the basics of setting up a campaign, explore the value of skills honed in law school when seeking office, address the challenges of simultaneously building a career in the law and seeking office, and more. Participants have an opportunity to raise their specific questions and to build ties with one another.

We hold one to two workshops a year, usually in coordination with a chapter of the American Constitution Society. Past workshops have been held at Temple University Beasely School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, University of Las Vegas William M. Boyd School of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and University of Missouri School of Law. Some programs have been conducted virtually and some at American Constitution Society National Conventions. Our next workshop will be held at the University of Minnesota Law School.