evolution

origin

In January 2003 reproductive rights were only vaguely present or vanishing completely from the coursework, conversations, and campus activism taking place at law schools throughout the United States. Only a handful of schools offered elective courses in reproductive rights law, and coverage in other courses was often deficient. An even smaller number of schools had student organizations dedicated to reproductive health advocacy or staff who could connect interested students to legal leaders in the field. That winter a recent law school graduate named Cari Sietstra set out to provide law students with the much-needed learning, training, and networking opportunities she had lacked while in school. Her efforts have evolved into a powerful nonprofit network of law students, professors, and lawyers committed to reshaping the law school experience and guaranteeing the future of reproductive justice by preparing those who will protect it for generations to come.

progress

Since its founding, Law Students for Reproductive Justice has:

• grown a presence on 75 law school campuses in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and 4 Canadian provinces;
• connected with over 5000 law students through email digests, newsletters, listservs, conference calls, webinars, events, and other communications;
• helped to create 15 reproductive rights law courses and reading groups;
• distributed thousands of electronic and print publications, including the Constitutional Law Primer, Direct Action Guide, Easy-Events-in-an-Envelope, Fact Sheets, Internship and Fellowship Guide, Model Curriculum, Resource Guide, Speakers Directory, and Student Activist Binder;
• presented 5 national events, 18 regional conferences, and 7 intern trainings;
• hosted or placed 37 summer legal interns in the field; and
• supported over 800 activist and educational events on law school campuses.

Today, thanks to LSRJ’s dedicated members, staff, and supporters, reproductive rights are reappearing on law school campuses across North America with renewed vitality and reassuring promise.

annual reports

• Annual Report 2004/2005 (PDF)
• Annual Report 2005/2006 (PDF)
• Annual Report 2006/2007 (PDF)
• Annual Report 2007/2008 (coming soon)