Welcome to the Federalist Society at UVA

UVA Federalist Society
with Justice Clarence Thomas

The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians that seeks to promote an awareness and application of the following principles: that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is the duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.

The legal profession is currently dominated by a form of orthodox liberal ideology which advocates a centralized and uniform society. In 1982, a group of students at Yale Law School founded the Federalist Society to facilitate the consideration of libertarian and conservative alternatives to this legal orthodoxy. By providing a forum for legal experts of opposing views to interact with members of the legal profession, the judiciary, law students, academics, and the architects of public policy, the Society has redefined the terms of legal debate.

The Student Division of the Federalist Society is represented by nearly all ABA-accredited law schools. The UVA chapter sponsors speaker events, social events, and an annual trip to the Supreme Court. It also offers resources including a job bank, alumni database, and information on pro bono and career opportunities. All law students who are interested in legal debate are encouraged to join; the Society is non-partisan, and libertarian or conservative viewpoints are not required.

Speaker events sponsored by the UVA Federalist Society are always open to anyone who would like to attend. Some resources and social events, along with our annual Supreme Court trip, are limited to dues-paying members. The membership fee is $10 per year, which pays for both local and national membership. Click here to fill out our membership form. Please return the form to David Merritt's mailbox.