The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is a progressive national bar association dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. We seek to unite the lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers of America in an organization that shall function as an effective political and social force in the service of the people, to the end that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests.
Our aim is to bring together all those who regard adjustments to new conditions as more important than the veneration of precedent; who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, farmers, and minority groups upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.
The National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (NLGSF) is the largest and most active chapter in the country, offering The Guild Mentorship Project to Bay Area students, connecting law students and recent graduates with experienced Guild attorneys who offer guidance, support, and other resources. Santa Clara Law is known for its commitment to social justice. We work with other clubs and organizations at the law school, and act as a liaison between NLGSF and law students who want to be involved with local NLG causes and events.
The Guild Mentorship Project was created to support progressive law students, promote new leadership within the Guild and develop lasting bonds among our members. NLGSF links law students, recent graduates, or legal workers with experienced Guild attorneys and legal workers. Mentors offer guidance and support for less experienced members and are encouraged to attend Guild events together and meet several times a year.
We do not only meet on campus. We have the unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience by volunteering out in the field while meeting other local law students and attorneys as legal observers at demonstrations and protests.
Officers 2020-2021:
| Co-President and Treasurer | Joaquin Torres | jtorres@scu.edu |
| Co-President and Treasurer | Shyam Rajan | srajan@scu.edu |
| Co-President | Courtney Mangus | cmangus@scu.edu |
| Co-President | Gilbert Benavidez | gbenavidez@scu.edu |
| Co-President | Robert Sisco | rsisco@scu.edu |
| Co-President | Robert Feldman | rfeldman@scu.edu |
| Co-President | Sydnie Mitchell | stmitchell@scu.edu |
| Co-President | Leah Mesfin | lmesfin@scu.edu |
| Co-President | Leo Kim | lkim2@scu.edu | Co-President | Morgan Willis | mwillis@scu.edu |
