BYLAWS OF

THE J. REUBEN CLARK LAW SOCIETY

AS AMENDED ON AUGUST 29, 2002

ARTICLE I 

NAME AND LOCATION

There is established a voluntary, unincorporated association affiliated with Brigham Young University and specifically with the J. Reuben Clark Law School (the “Law School”) at Brigham Young University.  The name of this organization is the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, hereinafter the “Law Society.”  In some areas of the world, to avoid confusion with associations of the bar, the Law Society will be known as the “J. Reuben Clark Law Association.”  The permanent address of the Law Society shall be 342 JRCB, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602.

ARTICLE II 

MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSES

The Law Society’s mission statement is as follows:  “We affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer’s personal religious conviction.  We strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.” 

In fulfilling its mission statement, the Law Society is guided by the philosophy, personal example, and values of its namesake, J. Reuben Clark, Jr.  Those values include:  (1) public service, (2) loyalty to the rule of law, and (3) appreciation for the religious dimension in society and in a lawyer’s personal life. 

To accomplish its mission, the Law Society will:  (1) promote the formation of local chapters around the world that meet regularly to further the standards of the Law Society, (2) encourage its members to regard the practice of law as a public trust from which compensation may be accepted but as to which service to the courts, clients and society will always be paramount, (3) promote and protect the rule of just law, (4) provide local chapters with opportunities for continuing dialogue on legal topics of significance, and (5) where appropriate, assist the Law School to achieve and maintain a position of eminence among the law Schools of the world. 

Membership in the Law Society is open to any person who holds a law degree and who shares its goals, standards, and values.  The Law Society, while affiliated with and supported by the Law School, is not an alumni association.  However, the Law Society is encouraged to assist the Law School in fulfilling its educational and professional mission. 

Since the Law Society operates under the legal umbrella of Brigham Young University, the Law Society and its chapters need to comply with BYU’s 501(c)(3) guidelines, which provide, in part, that “all lobbying and other political activities are strictly prohibited.”   

Local chapters may charge dues and solicit sponsors.  Any and all funding raised by local chapters will be retained by local chapters in order to cover operational costs of the unit (mailings, copying, etc.).

ARTICLE III 

ORGANIZATION

      The Law Society consists of the international organization, local chapters of the Law Society, and a Law School alumni component. 

The international organization consists of the International Board (the “International Board”) led by the International Chair and supporting organization.  The local chapters consist of geographically diverse chapters throughout the world led by local chapter chairs with supporting organizations. Local chapters are organized when there are sufficient numbers of members or potential members in a particular geographical area to support the creation of a local chapter structure. Members and potential members of the Law Society who live in an area not served by a local chapter may still affiliate themselves with the Law Society as at-large members.

The Law School alumni component consists of the Alumni Association chaired by a President and a supporting organization.  The Law School Alumni Association is a separate but integral division of the Law Society, devoted primarily to meeting the specific needs of the graduates of the Law School.  The Law School Alumni Association shares the same general goals and objectives of the Law Society, and graduates of the Law School are automatically made members of the Law Society upon graduation, although they must take affirmative steps to become members of a specific local chapter of the Law Society.  However, the Law School Alumni Association also has some unique goals and objectives that are specifically geared to meet the needs of the alumni of the Law School.  

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Law Society is multi-faith and is open to any person who holds a law degree and who shares in the goals, ideals and values of the Law Society.    Others may gain membership in the Law Society (both the Law Society generally and a local chapter) by completing and submitting a membership form provided by the Law Society or by a local chapter.  Eligible persons who desire to gain membership in the Law Society, but who live in an area not served by a local chapter, may still gain membership in the Law Society by completing and submitting membership forms to the International Board as at-large members of the Law Society.  Participants in student chapters of the Law Society who do not hold a law degree shall be considered to be affiliated with the Law Society, but such participants shall become full members of the Law Society only after gaining a law degree.  Law students who live in an area not served by a local student chapter may still affiliate themselves with the international organization. 

Members are listed in a professional directory of the Law Society.  Members also receive a copy of the Clark Memorandum, which is the official semi-annual publication of the Law School.  Members, Law School graduates, and others who have expressed interest in Law Society activities are given invitations to participate in local chapter events and Law Society general events.  Members also receive other services offered by the Law Society for the purpose of building and maintaining communications among and meeting the professional needs of its members.

The Law Society, at both the international and local levels, is authorized to establish and collect annual membership dues.  The International Board, if it so elects, may establish annual international dues for membership in the Law Society.  Local chapters will establish annual dues for membership in the local chapter.  International dues, if any, will be collected and dispersed as determined by the International Board.  Local dues will be collected at the local chapter level.  The local chapter dues will be retained at the local chapter level and used under the direction of the local chapter board to help defray costs associated with operating the local chapter.

ARTICLE V

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Executive Committee of the Law Society is the administrative group designated to execute matters of policy and operations of the Law Society, under the direction of the International Board.

The International Board consists of members of the Executive Committee, from seven to twenty additional at-large members (who are nominated by the International Chair, after consultation with the Executive Committee), the Development Director of the Law School (who is an employee of the BYU Development office staff designated as the Assistant to the Dean-Development for the Law School), and who serves in an ex officio capacity, and any additional ex-officio or emeritus members of the International Board as may be approved from time to time by the International Board. 

At-large members of the International Board serve for terms of three-years and may succeed themselves for one term or until such time as they are replaced.  Terms of the International Board shall be staggered so that approximately one-third of the members are replaced or reappointed each year. 

The International Board shall act as an advisory group on matters of policy, programs, and procedures for the Law Society and shall receive reports from and shall make recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Dean of the Law School. At-large directors have such duties as are delegated to them by the International Board, which may include serving as liaisons to local chapters, serving as liaisons to student chapters, serving on ad-hoc or standing committees of the International Board, coordinating activities of the Law Society with the Law School and the Alumni Association, attending International Board meetings, supporting and promoting the goals and activities of the Law Society, and actively participating in and supporting the local and student chapters of the Law Society. 

Meetings of the International Board shall be called by the International Chair.  Members of the International Board may attend meetings of the International Board by telephone (if telephone attendance is authorized at the discretion of the International Chair) or in person, and those present at a meeting will constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting Law Society business. 

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The functions and purpose of the Executive Committee are to take appropriate action between Board meetings and to report such actions to the International Board.  The Executive Committee will meet at the direction of the International Chair.

The following are the members of the Executive Committee of the Law Society:

1. International Chair:  The International Chair is elected by the members of the International Board upon recommendation and approval by the Executive Committee.  The International Chair serves for a term of two years.  The International Chair is the principal officer of the Law Society and has such duties and powers as are prescribed by the International Board.  The International Chair is also the Chair of the Executive Committee.  Upon completion of his or her term of office, an International Chair at the request of the International Board may continue for a specified term or indefinitely as an emeritus member of the International Board.

2. International Chair-Elect:  The International Chair-Elect is elected by the members of the International Board upon recommendation and approval by the Executive Committee.  The International Chair-Elect succeeds the International Chair at the expiration of his or her term.  The International Chair-Elect serves for a term of two years.  The International Chair-Elect shall assist the International Chair and has such other duties as are prescribed by the International Chair and the International Board.

3. Executive Director:  The Executive Director is an administrator at the Law School assigned by the Dean of the Law School to serve in this capacity upon recommendation and approval by the Executive Committee.  The Executive Director serves until replaced by the Dean of the Law School.  The Executive Director shall provide staff direction and support for the Law Society from the Law School.

4. Associate Executive Director:  The Associate Executive Director is an administrator at the Law School assigned by the Executive Director to serve in this capacity upon recommendation and approval by the Executive Committee.  The Associate Executive Director serves until replaced by the Executive Director.  The Associate Executive Director shall provide staff direction and support for the Law Society from the Law School.

ARTICLE VII

LOCAL CHAPTERS AND STUDENT CHAPTERS

The Law Society encourages the organization of local chapters in cities or areas where there are enough members or potential members to support a chapter.  The Law Society encourages local chapters to adopt and support the goals and objectives set by the International Board and to promote service in their communities.  The Law Society also recommends a standard organizational structure (composed of a local chapter chair and a board) to a new local chapter, but allows each local chapter the flexibility to adapt its organizational structure to meet the particular needs.  The Law Society also encourages awards, events, and leadership patterns that give visibility to local Law Society members and others whose professional and personal lives exemplify the Law Society’s values and attitudes.  Beyond these recommendations local chapters are encouraged to operate in such a manner that meets the professional needs and desires of their members.

Charters for new local chapters of the Law Society must be approved by the Executive Committee and the International Board of the Law Society.  The Executive Committee and the International Board may initiate a local chapter by appointing chapter leaders for fixed terms of office, or members in a particular area may organize themselves by working with the Law Society’s Executive Director who will seek approval for the chapter from the Executive Committee and International Board.

The Executive Committee and the International Board may also approve charters for local student chapters of the Law Society.  Membership in a student chapter is multi-faith and is open to any currently enrolled student of any law school in the area where such student chapter is located who shares in the goals, ideals and values of the Law Society.  Student chapters of the Law Society in areas where there are local chapters of the Law Society will coordinate their activities in conjunction with such local chapters.  Student chapters of the Law Society in areas where a local chapter does not exist shall coordinate their activities through their liaison on the International Board.  Student chapters shall have an organizational structure similar to the structure for a local chapter.  Student chapters are encouraged to operate in such a manner that meets the needs and desires of the student members of such chapters.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS

The Executive Committee may seek to amend the Bylaws of the Law Society from time to time by presenting proposed amendments to the International Board.  Upon a two-thirds vote of the members of the International Board, these Bylaws may be amended.  These Bylaws supersede and replace the Amended Charter of Organization of the Law Society dated October 19, 1992.  

Certified this 29th day of August, 2002.

William F. Atkin

International Chair

­­____________________________________

Lew W. Cramer

International Chair-Elect

Kathy D. Pullins

Executive Director

Mary H. Hoagland

Associate Executive Director