The Georgetown Law Student Bar Association (SBA) received the 2016 Student Bar Association Award from the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Law Student Division this past year. Law schools from around the nation compete for the award, which recognizes the efforts of an SBA organization to “create a better environment for law students and a more positive image of the legal profession.” Georgetown Law SBA was awarded the top prize during the 2016 ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California.

“I’m delighted that the tremendous work of student leaders on this campus has been recognized by the ABA,” said Sandor Callahan, the 2016-2017 SBA president.

The SBA helps coordinate various events at the Law Center such as Barrister’s Ball, Fall Float, Wednesday Wine Down, Bar Review and the annual Day of Service. Through these SBA-sponsored events, students are afforded the opportunity to meet one another, build friendships and socialize with their peers outside of the classroom setting. Other events, such as “Take a Professor to Lunch” and the SBA Speakership Series, help students to build relationships, to effectively communicate with faculty and staff, and to prepare for a legal career in the public or private sector.

SBA also helps provide funds for the 118 student groups on campus and oversees student involvement on Student-Faculty Committees. This helps ensure that student groups at the Law Center are able to continue to sponsor first-rate events and contribute to the Law Center’s top-tier reputation for being on the forefront of various legal issues.

Over the last year, the SBA has addressed issues such as the mental health of students and diversity and inclusion in the classroom. It has also sponsored various events to allow students to network with professionals in private firms, in Congress and elsewhere in the legal community.