ELSA’s Bylaws define the following missions, which are listed below with current enabling objectives to meet them:

MISSION: In that ELSA comprises sophisticated and diverse citizens of the community, a mission of ELSA is to promote intellectual intercourse among its members by organizing, arranging, or hosting suitable venues, recognizing the unique demands of working and returning students, for candid discussion of current affairs, foreign affairs, legal issues, politics, religion, or the like.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA was conceived at one of a series of Thursday night get-togethers at a favorite pub boasting a quiet, relaxed patio. There, friendships are forged and lively debates unfold. ELSA will continue to host these warm, friendly affairs after class for students to come to know their classmates and enjoy the diverse discussions.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA schedules events at other times to enable a majority of members to partake. The annual barbeque is a family-friendly venue for light discussions.

MISSION: In that ELSA comprises students with varied and experienced backgrounds, a mission of ELSA is to promote networking among its members by hosting social venues and organizing Toastmaster style events at which members can introduce themselves while polishing oration skills. In that ELSA comprises professionals who are not easily integrated into summer internships and other career programs, a mission of ELSA is to introduce its members to legal professionals and leaders throughout the community and educate its members of various fields within the legal profession by hosting educational discussions with members of the legal community in venues appropriate for the evening students. ELSA will endeavor to maintain a close relationship with former evening University of Houston law students.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA plans to schedule at least one guest speaker from the community per month wherein students can meet and network. ELSA has an open door policy for suggestions for guest speakers. Please contact the President with suggestions.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA is seeking volunteers to man a Toastmasters Committee to arrange periodic Toastmasters-style meetings.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA has launched a plan to involve alumni who were evening students. ELSA will publish and promulgate an article introducing our organization to the alumni through the E-Briefcase newsletter.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA and the Office of External Affairs are planning a mixer in honor of the evening program alumni for the fall semester, from which we hope to build a pool of potential guest speakers, real-world mentors for ELSA members, and sponsors to underwrite a scholarship or fund a another worthwhile program to benefit the evening class.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA is working on means to promote a web database for the alumni to find evening students for permanent clerkships as an alternative to the widely accepted practice of recruiting through summer internships.

MISSION: In that ELSA comprises members with constrained schedules, a mission of ELSA is to promote involvement of its members in the myriad events sponsored by the University and the student groups, by acting as a liaison with such and by striving to create awareness of the evening law students and their challenges.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA has generated and will maintain a calendar particularly suited for evening students. Other student organizations who schedule meetings to accommodate evening students are encouraged to coordinate their events and post them on the ELSA calendar to minimize conflicts and maximize exposure.

MISSION: In that ELSA includes first year evening students who face unique challenges, a mission of ELSA is ensure the evening students of the entering evening class are provided with mentors who are readily accessible to the students, who understand the issues faced, and who are proactive to help, by working with the University and other student organizations to that end and by providing mentors from its members.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA is committed to taking care of our own. For the first incoming class since ELSA’s inception, ELSA has provided around thirty dedicated volunteers to mentor the new students. ELSA will strive to continue this provide this worthwhile service with such high levels of participation.

MISSION: In that ELSA comprises students with unique needs, a mission of ELSA is to promote its members needs to the University and other organizations, to address and seek resolution to such problems and to communicate solutions to its members, by the function of the Ombudsman and Faculty Advisor.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA is working with the University administration to improve the offering of classes, improve the visibility of what classes will be available by publishing a rolling two year forecast, and improving the communication and interaction with the evening students. For example, we should see most of the traditional noon speakers and programs moved to 5pm. Because of input from ELSA members, the University is investigating the possibility of having evening law clinics for legal work experience concomitant with full-time non-legal occupations. We should see more dedicated tutors.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: ELSA will work with the University to provide a thorough description of the part-time program to those undergoing the admissions process.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: The ELSA web site will maintain a evening student’s survival guide with a frequently asked questions section.

ENABLING OBJECTIVE: The ELSA web site will generate and maintain a knowledge base for each discipline of law as to which classes are best taken when, to ensure no unexpected scheduling pitfalls are encountered during a student’s schooling.