DePaul University College of Law
The Evening Law Student Society
Purpose

ELSS Constitution

Article I. Evening Law Student Society

The name of the organization shall be the Evening Law Students' Society (ELSS).

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the organization shall be supplemental to those of other programs and organizations in place at DePaul University and the College of Law (DePaul) and shall be geared towards the interests and schedules of the evening law student.

  • Social Purpose: To provide opportunities for student interaction on an extracurricular level and encourage participation through financial sponsorship or co-sponsorship of social events, organization of unfounded group events, and announcements of other social activities that may be of interest to students. ELSS recognizes that evening students in particular may not be otherwise able to get involved in school activities.
  • Education Purpose: To promote and encourage academic growth. ELSS shall act as a liaison between the law school administration by sharing information about scholarship opportunities, writing competitions, course work strategies, and other helpful information as it is presented. The ELSS will also sponsor or co-sponsor academic-related activities in cooperation with the Academic Support Program (ASP), the Legal Writing Department, and other academic departments as opportunities are sought and presented.
  • Professional Purpose: To promote and encourage a strong and ethical professional character. ELSS shall act as liaison to the Career Services Office to assist in providing relevant and helpful information for career strategies and opportunities, shall provide information regarding programs and seminars specific to practice areas as the information becomes available, and shall create and encourage networking opportunities. The ELSS shall be the collective voice for the evening law students for future potential professional evening school activities.

Article III. Membership

Membership of the Evening Law Student Society is open to any evening DePaul Law student who is currently enrolled in the full- or part-time evening programs. Members shall be willing to participate in the development of the organization and activities that will address the concerns of the evening law student body. Further membership requirements and expectations will be addressed through the Bylaws of the ELSS.

Article IV. The Executive Board

The Executive Board is jointly and severally responsible for preserving the integrity of the organization.

The Executive Board shall have a minimum of five elected offices which shall consist of the following: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and the Special Events Coordinator. The Executive Board may also include other positions deemed necessary to facilitate the purposes of the ELSS as proscribed by the Bylaws. The total number of executive positions shall not exceed 9. The Board has all the authority, powers, and duties which are granted to it and each of its members by the Bylaws of the ELSS.

The election of the Executive Board shall comply with the policies and procedures of DePaul and the Bylaws of the ELSS, especially regarding the duties of the officers encumbent at the time of election. Each officer in accepting his or her elected position agrees to uphold the bylaws and constitution of the ELSS and policies/procedures of DePaul University. Elections shall be held at the last general meeting of each Spring semester, during the last month of school during the Spring semester, according to the procedure proscribed in the Bylaws. In the event any officer should resign or become unable to complete his or her term in office, the vacancy shall be filled as deemed qualified by the President and residential Board, or according to the election procedures in the Bylaws.

Article V. Meetings

Meetings of the Executive Board and the general body shall be called by the President. The Executive Board shall meet at least once per month during each semester. A meeting of the general body shall meet at least three times during each semester.

Article VI. Amendments

Any amendments to this Constitution or to the Bylaws must be proposed to and discussed by the Board, according to the procedures outlined in the Bylaws.

Article VII. Bylaws

There shall be Bylaws that will be under a separate document. The Board has the authority to amend the Bylaws as they see necessary.

ELSS Bylaws

Article I. Board of Officers

Section 1.1 Duties of Executive Board

Section 1.01 President

  • Meetings. The President shall: schedule and give reasonable notice of meetings of the current elected officers (the “Board”) and meetings of the members of the ELSS, named on the current roster (the “Members”, each as “Member”); preside at meetings of the Board and the Members; prepare an agenda for review and approval by the Board in advance of Board meetings; and prepare an agenda for review and approval by the Board in advance of Member meetings; encourage motions, productive and succinct discussion, and delegation or voting as appropriate among the Board; report at each meeting to the Members of the Board’s agenda for the semester and its progress on planned activities. The President has the power of impeachment for Executive Board members based on vote by acting Board members.
  • Purpose. The President shall coordinate the efforts of the Board; initiate programs that will encourage student involvement; effectively manage the plans and activities of the ELSS; and represent the organization, generally and with the Vice President, before school faculty, administration and the DePaul Student Bar Association (SBA).
  • Transacting Business. The President shall register ELSS annually with the office of the Dean of Students; conduct each meeting according to its approved agenda and consistent with the adopted parliamentary procedure and bylaws of the ELSS; provide Members and the Board with information to assist them in their roles within ELSS; delegate tasks among committees and officers; and conduct elections.

Section 1.02 Vice President

  • Activities. The Vice President shall lead the organization in the planning of social, educational, and professional activities by working with the President to devise an agenda for approved activities and delegating tasks among committees and officers. The Vice President has the power of impeachment for Executive Board members based on vote by acting Board members. In the event that the President is unavailable for any function, the Vice President shall preside over the function.
  • School Relations. The VP shall initiate communication among other student organizations, ELSS committees, ELSS Members, and the Board; represent the organization with the President before the SBA, faculty, and administration of DePaul; report at each meeting to the Board and Members on opportunities for ELSS participation in events at DePaul and in the legal community.

Section 1.03 Treasurer

  • (a) Membership. The Treasurer shall collect and record dues, if any, from the Members and submit records of the same to the Secretary as soon as practicable after payments are made.
  • (b) Financial Matters. The Treasurer shall: manage and keep accurate records of the organization's finances; prepare a preliminary budget for presentation after the budget has been allocated to the organization and the events for the semester have been planned;; present the final budget, as approved by at least a 2/3 majority of the Board, to the SBA according to their imposed deadlines; prepare any budget appeal (SBA) approved by at least a 2/3 majority of the Board; and handle requests for checks and reimbursement of funds as necessary from the organization's account.
  • (c) Fundraising. The Treasurer shall: report to the Board and the Members at each meeting on the balance of the organization's account; advise on financial planning activities, making efficient use of ELSS funds, and co-sponsoring (optional) programs with other student organizations; and prepare requests for donations and requests for use of the SBA speaker fund.

Section 1.04 Secretary

  • Record Keeping. The Secretary shall take minutes of each ELSS meeting and distribute the same to the Board; keep and make available the current Member roster and Board roster (to includes sufficient contact information); provide Members and the Board with a clean and current copy of the organization's Constitution and Bylaws; maintain current forms necessary for program planning; maintain all records for the organization, including and especially copies of ELSS registration, correspondence, officer reports, parliamentary procedure, agendas and minutes, and keep such records organized and accessible in the organization's office.
  • Assembly. The Secretary shall distribute any copies of the order of business and reports or proposals subject to vote of the Board or Members, which have been submitted to the Secretary at least one day prior to any scheduled meeting but after any review and comment or notice period.
  • Newsletter. The Secretary shall be responsible for submitting information to the evening student newsletter, if any. If the newsletter is sponsored by the ELSS, the Secretary shall ensure that the newsletter is distributed weekly or monthly and its content features future activities of the organization, meeting information from the Secretary, and other information deemed necessary.

Section 1.05 Special Events Coordinator

(a) Organizing events. The Special Events Coordinator is responsible for being liaison to law school administration for event planning, working with the university to secure an event, being administratively responsible for all event planning, and being the leader, where needed, in new endeavors of the organization. The Special Events Coordinator shall reserve rooms or space for meetings and events and give adequate notice to the Board and Members of such location. The Special Events Coordinator will act as the liaison between the student body and the Board, and relate relevant ideas and suggestions for events.

Section 1.2 Duties of other Board position possibilities (not required)

Section 1.01 Mentor Program Coordinator

(a) The Mentor Program Coordinator is responsible for pairing mentors at the beginning of each school year and planning events to facilitate mentor contact throughout the year.

Section 1.02 Family Day Coordinator

(a) The Family Day Coordinator is responsible for reviving and organizing the day of law school events for friends and families of students, as traditionally hosted by the ELSS.

Section 1.3 Required and Extracurricular Events

There are several Required Events that the ELSS should produce each year. All Events are tied to the approved Budget. Any Events that cannot be covered by the approved Budget must be paid by the individual students of the student body, should they choose to attend.

Required Events.

The ELSS shall:

  • provide a table for the evening division at Orientation;
  • shall introduce itself to the incoming 1L class via email and in person;
  • coordinate with the Academic Support Program Office (ASP) to provide test preps and seminars for the 1L’s and 2L’s;
  • establish and provide a mentoring program for current students;
  • co-sponsoring Dinner with a Lawyer with the Career Services Office;
  • sponsor networking opportunities monthly;
  • sponsor a Wine & Cheese for Professors; and
  • sponsor the Incoming 1L party.

There are many opportunities for Extracurricular Events that include other network gatherings, the End of Year Party for all classes, a Wine and Cheese for Professors, and others as time permits and ideas come forward.