All students enrolled at Santa Clara University School of Law are members of the Student Bar Association (SBA). Nationally, the Student Bar Association is a part of the 50,000 member American Bar Association-Law Student Division (ABA-LSD).
Santa Clara University School of Law
Student Bar Association Executive Board 2017-2018
On our campus, the SBA Executive Board represents the interests of law students in their relationship with faculty administration, alumni and the surrounding community. The SBA also oversees the function of the approximately 41 student organizations that are present on our campus. Managing these organizations enriches the career, professional, community, and social offerings for the Santa Clara Law community. The Executive Board also provides opportunities for social interaction, community service, and pre-professional activities. Day-to-day responsibilities of the SBA include facilitating student events, communications, including publication of The Grapevine, and management of the Student Life website.
Christian Girgis and Kris Octabiano, SBA Presidents: cgirgis@scu.edu and koctabiano@scu.edu
Mikaela Burkhardt, SBA Internal Vice President: mburkhardt@scu.edu
Karin Hjorth, SBA External Vice President: khjorth@scu.edu
Sarah Swaty and Kevin Lee, SBA Vice Presidents (Part Time): khlee@scu.edu and sbummer@scu.edu
Kelly Watkins, SBA Secretary: kwatkins@scu.edu
Ariel Keller and Chase Carlile, SBA Treasurers: a1keller@scu.edu and ccarlile@scu.edu
David Williams and Sean Phillips, SBA Directors of Internal Communications: dawilliams@scu.edu and sphillips@scu.edu
Justin Jimenez, SBA Community Service Chair: jajimenez@scu.edu
Business Cards for Students
The SBA Executive Board has formed a business card printing arrangement for SCU Law students; business cards can be ordered here.
Click here for your SBA Constitution & ByLaws (Revised 2013)
ABA Representatives:
ABA Reps serve as the link between the ABA and law students in their school. The primary purpose of the ABA Representative is to advocate on behalf of ABA Law Student Division members at their school, serve as the school’s point person on the ABA, to promote the ABA, and communicate the benefits of the ABA
Irene Koularis and Heim Kirin Grewal: jkoulouris@scu.edu and hgrewal@scu.edu
Class Representatives:
Class Representatives work closely with the SBA to promote the interests of their class or division and are encouraged to serve on various SBA committees. Additionally, Class Representatives sit on the Board of Governors to enact SBA legislation and approve law student organization budgets. Up to four representatives are elected from each class/division (1L, 2L, 3L, PT, LLM), and elections are held within the first four weeks of school.
- Part-Time Reps: Angel Martinez and Taylor Feher
- 3L Reps: Jojo Choi and Christopher Rosario jchoi@scu.edu and crosario@scu.edu
- 2L Reps: Evan Miller, Dylan Wade and Katherine Rubschlager emiller@scu.edu, dwade@scu.edu, and krubschlager@scu.edu
- 1L Reps: Shadi Kaileh and Caitlin Mitchell skaileh@scu.edu and cemitchell@scu.edu
- LLM Rep: Suvra Roy skroy@scu.edu
SBA Board of Governors
Board of Governors Chairs: Christian Girgis and Kris Octabiano, SBA Presidents: cgirgis@scu.edu and koctabiano@scu.edu
In the fall, each class/division elects Class Representatives. The Class Representatives and the SBA Executive Board form the Board of Governors, the governing body of the SBA. The Board of Governors supports, promotes, and encourages the SBA’s goals and interests.
SBA Committees
If you are interested in being on any of the following SBA or Dean Committees, please contact Miguel, Brit, or the designated Committee Chair.
Student Action Committee
Committee Chairs: Christian Girgis and Kris Octabiano, SBA Presidents: cgirgis@scu.edu and koctabiano@scu.edu
Sarah Swaty and Kevin Lee, SBA Vice Presidents (Part Time): khlee@scu.edu and sbummer@scu.edu
The Student Action Committee is dedicated to maximizing student influence at Santa Clara Law. It serves as an open forum for students to raise issues, ideas, and concerns, and it works to implement solutions to bring positive change to Santa Clara Law.
Social Committee
Committee Chair: Mikaela Burkhardt, SBA Internal Vice President: mburkhardt@scu.edu
The SBA Social Committee serves to plan Santa Clara Law social events for law students. These events include Barrister’s Ball, Bar Reviews, and various other law student gatherings throughout the year.
Finance Committee
Committee Chairs: George Buckham & Tereza Guzman, SBA Treasurers: a1keller@scu.edu and ccarlile@scu.edu
The SBA Finance Committee serves to make recommendations to the Board of Governors concerning the expenditure of SBA funds.
Community Service Committee
Committee Chair: Justin Jimenez, SBA Community Service Chair: jajimenez@scu.edu
The Community Service Committee develops and promotes community service activities on behalf of the SBA.
Legislative Committee
Committee Chair: Kelly Watkins, SBA Secretary: kwatkins@scu.edu
The Legislative Committee makes decisions regarding the interpretation of the SBA Constitution, and creates and recommends amendments to the SBA Constitution for the Board of Governors consideration.
Dean Committees:
Student Conduct
Student Affairs
Academic Affairs
Minority Affairs
Admissions
Appointments
ASP Advisory
