SBA Election Reminder & Overview
Reminder! SBA Elections are coming up soon. See below for an overview of all the details you need to run for a position on the Administrative Council.
Were you involved in student government in undergrad? Do you want to promote engagement between all students at Memphis Law and ensure that next year we come roaring out of the pandemic? The Student Bar Association is a great way to be involved at Memphis Law and to serve as a representative of all student interests. Consider running for a position on SBA!
Elections for the Student Bar Association will be starting soon! Please read the following important information for all the details.
When and where will the elections take place?
All the elections will be held virtually on TigerZone. SBA holds staggered elections for its various positions. The dates of the elections are as follows:
March 11–16: President and Vice President
March 18–23: Executive Board
March 25–30: Board of Bar Governors
What positions make up the “Executive Board”?
Great question. Generally, the Executive Board is comprised of five positions:
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Director of Events
- Community Service Liaison
- Election Commissioner/Bar Association Representative
What about the “Board of Bar Governors”?
Well, each of the three classes at Memphis Law have direct representatives that serve as Bar Governors. The rising 3L and 2L classes will each have three Bar Governors elected to serve next year. 1L Bar Governors will be elected in early fall, after the new 1L class has settled into life at Memphis Law.
Can you explain what these positions do?
The SBA Constitution provides a relatively detailed description of each positions responsibilities as well as the overall purpose and function of SBA. But if you have specific questions about a position, please reach out to the current SBA President, Rachel Jackson (rrjcksn2@memphis.edu), and she will be happy to chat or connect you with the person currently serving in a position you’re interested in running for.
I think I want to run. What do I need to do to make that happen?
We encourage all to run! There are a number of steps that all hopeful candidates must complete before the start of the elections. The current Election Commissioner, Alexxas Johnson (Alexxas.j@memphis.edu), will be your main point of contact for election participation.
The SBA Election Rules detail everything that each candidate must do in order to be eligible to run. Read the SBA Election Rules carefully and mind the specific due dates. Here is a brief summary of the main requirements but understand that each position’s specific requirements may vary:
- Email the Election Commissioner expressing your desire to run; be sure to include which position you would like to run for.
- Submit a Grade Release to the Election Commissioner via email. (Due dates vary based on position)
- Submit a written statement (200-word limit) to the Election Commissioner via email. The statement will be included on the ballot so voting students can get a sense of who they’re voting for. (Due dates vary based on position)
- Get fellow students to “sign” your petition to run. This will be handled virtually via Outlook Forms. (Due dates and number of signatures required varies based on position) See the SBA Election Rules for more details.
If you have any additional questions about the election process after reading the Election Rules, please reach out to the Election Commissioner directly at Alexxas.j@memphis.edu.
While all the documents are linked above, the Election Rules, the SBA Constitution, and any other election documents necessary to run for a position on SBA are available on the Student Bar Association TWEN page under SBA Materials. Just add the Student Bar Association “course” like you would any other on TWEN to gain access.
