SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The proposed Amendment is to update the SBA constitution to align with current practices. There have been three 1L Representatives since the 2020-2021 Academic year, meaning SBA practices have been out of alignment for the past six years. Due to a historic increase in class sizes, during the 2025-2026 academic year, that number was further increased to four. The amount of 1L reps required to operate effectively will be determined by the President prior to the Fall Elections when 1L Representatives are elected. The amended text is highlighted in red. The Article is available to read, in full, below. 

This change will be voted on during the October 29th, 2026 SBA Meeting in Room 119, which is open to all students. 

PROPOSED AMENDED TEXT

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1.  

The officers of this organization shall be as follows: President, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Seasonal Programs, Vice President for Reoccurring Programs, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Student Organizations, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Secretary, Treasurer, two 3L Representatives, two 2L Representatives, two at least two and up to four 1L Representatives, two three Graduate Student (LLM, PhD, or MJ) LLM Representatives, two Graduate and Professional Student Senate Senators, American Bar Association Representative, Washington State Bar Association Liaison,  and King County Bar Association Liaison, and a Mental Health and Wellness Advocate.

Section 2.  General duties of the SBA officers

A. President: 

Shall serve as the chief administrative officer of the SBA, preside over meetings of the Association and Executive Board, direct the implementation of policies adopted and authorized by the Association and Executive Board, represent the Association to the UWLS Administration and the public, and report on his or her activities at each Executive Board meeting. 

B. Executive Vice President: 

Shall assist the President in the performance of the President's duties, preside over meetings of the Association and Executive Board in the President’s absence, coordinate the applications process for student appointments to SBA and UWLS committees, facilitate communication between such student appointees and the Board, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or Executive Board.

C. Vice Presidents

• Vice President of Communications, 

• Vice President of Student Organizations, 

• Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion,

• Vice Presidents for Programs: 

  • Vice President for Seasonal Programs, 

  • Vice President for Reoccurring Programs, 

Shall coordinate programs and events sponsored by the Association, manage SBA elections, organize programs to assist the law school’s student organizations in their efforts, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or Executive Board.

D. Secretary: 

Shall serve as the Secretary of the Executive Board and the Association, maintain all Association files and records in a safe and orderly manner, forward timely notice of Executive Board and Association meetings to the Association’s officers and the student body, maintain and update the Association website on a regular basis, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

E. Treasurer: 

Shall maintain records of all receipts and disbursements of Association funds in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, chair the Board’s Budget Committee, keep all organizational financial records in balance, make a full disclosure of the financial status of the Association in written form to the Executive Board at least once each quarter and at any time the Executive Board deems necessary, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

F. 3L Representatives: 

Shall represent the concerns of their class to the Board, coordinate graduation ceremonies with the LLM Representatives, organize class events, disseminate relevant information to the class, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

G. 2L Representatives: 

Shall represent the concerns of their class to the Board, organize class events, disseminate relevant information to the class, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

H. 1L Representatives: 

Shall represent the concerns of their class to the Board, organize class events, disseminate relevant information to the class, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

I. LLM Representatives: 

Shall represent the concerns of LLM students to the Board, coordinate graduation ceremonies with the 3L Representatives, organize LLM student events, disseminate relevant information to LLM students, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

J. Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) Senators: 

Shall represent the Association to the GPSS, fulfill duties of GPSS Senator as determined by the GPSS Constitution and By-laws, notify the Executive Board of relevant business before the GPSS, notify the UWLS student body of opportunities to participate in GPSS activities and programs, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board. 

K. American Bar Association (ABA) Representative: 

Shall represent the Association to the ABA, promote opportunities to participate in the ABA to the student body, notify the Executive Board of relevant business before the ABA Law Student Division, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board. 

L. Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Liaison: 

Shall represent the Association to the WSBA, serve as the UW Law Student Trustee on the WSBA Young Lawyers Division (WYLD) Board of Trustees, promote opportunities to participate in WSBA and WYLD programs and activities to the student body, notify the Executive Board of business before the WSBA and WYLD Boards relevant to law students and young lawyers, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

M. King County Bar Association (KCBA) Liaison: 

Shall represent the Association to the KCBA, serve as the UW Law Student Trustee on the KCBA Young Lawyers Division (KCYLD) Board of Trustees, promote opportunities to participate in KCBA and KCYLD programs and activities to the student body, notify the Executive Board of business before the KCBA and KCYLD Boards relevant to law students and young lawyers, and perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board. 

O. Wellness Advocate: 

Shall advocate for all students to ensure that they are provided with holistic and complete resources addressing mental health and addiction including but not limited to: medical and therapeutic resources, counseling resources, mindfulness resources, healthy eating resources, and exercise resources. Shall chair the Standing Committee on Wellness as outlined in the SBA Bylaws 5.02, publicize wellness resources to the student body, publish an annual wellness report by the first day of winter quarter that details existing resources and plans for the following year, and give an officer’s report during each SBA meeting.  

Section 3.  

No individual shall hold more than one SBA office simultaneously.

The Original 2004 UW SBA Constitution, and the 2020 amendments can be found below.