Public Interest Law Society By-Laws
Article I - Name 1.1 The name of this organization shall be called the Marquette University Law School Public Interest Law Society, referred to as the Public Interest Law Society (PILS). 1.2 PILS is a member of Equal Justice Works, formerly known as the National Association of Public Interest Law. Article II - Purpose 2.1 The purpose of the PILS is to act as a resource for Marquette University Law School (MULS) students interested in public interest law, and to stimulate interest in this area of law. This purpose shall be carried out by sponsoring programs, seminars, and social activities that deal with current topics in public interest law and by acquainting members with professionals in the community. The PILS is also dedicated to providing community service and enhancing public opinion of the profession. Article III - Membership 3.1 PILS shall be open to all MULS students. 3.2 PILS shall not discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of creed, ethnic origin, gender, race or sexual orientation. Article IV - Meetings 4.1 The organization as a whole shall meet monthly. The co-Presidents shall be authorized to call additional meetings from time to time as needed. In the absence of the co-Presidents, the Vice President for Business Administration (VPBA) shall be authorized to call meetings. In the absence of the co-Presidents and the VPBA, the authority to call a meeting shall pass to the Vice President for Programming (VPP) or the Vice President for Fundraising (VPF). Upon request of two officers, the co-Presidents or the officer authorized to call a meeting shall do so. 4.2 The Executive Board, consisting of the co-Presidents, the VPBA, the VPP, the VPF and the Legal Eagle Coordinator, shall meet during the summer as needed to plan for the following academic year. The Executive Board shall meet as necessary throughout the academic year. 4.3 At meetings of the organization, the co-Presidents or the officer authorized to call the meeting shall preside and provide an agenda. To get an item on the agenda, it shall be submitted to the presiding officer in advance of the meeting. Generally the meeting shall be conducted informally, but following Robert's Rules of Order:
the names of persons in attendance may be taken;
reports by officers and committee chairpersons shall be given; time for discussion of items on the agenda shall be provided; and a reasonable time for discussion of other items of business not on the agenda shall be provided. 4.4 All disbursements or reimbursements shall be authorized or ratified at a meeting of the Executive Board by a majority of the members present. 4.5 Reasonable notice shall be provided for all organization meetings. Notice must be given for the purpose of amending the By-Laws and for election of officers. Notice may be given by posting notice in conspicuous places within the law school or a law school memorandum. 4.6 Ten percent of the members of the organization, but no less than six (6) members of the organization, present at any general membership meeting shall constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws, a simple majority of a quorum shall be sufficient to act upon any issue. 4.7 Voting rights are conferred upon payment of annual dues to all members of PILS except the co-Presidents, who will vote when a majority cannot be determined. Article V - Officers 5.1 The elected officers for the PILS Executive Board shall be:
Co-Presidents (2)
Vice President for Business Administration (VPBA) Vice President for Programming (VPP) Vice President for Fundraising (VPF) 5.2 The appointed officer of the PILS Executive Board shall be:
Legal Eagle Coordinator
5.3 These officers shall compose the Executive Board (Board). The Board may create and appoint such committees as it deems necessary. These committees shall be responsible to and report to the Board. 5.4 It shall be the affirmative duty of all officers to attend meetings of the organization, participate in the programs and activities of the organization and promote PILS. 5.5 Qualifications and terms of office shall be:
Qualifications
All officers shall be MULS students throughout their term of office. All officers shall have had active membership in PILS or a PILS event. All officers may only hold one position within PILS at a time. All officers must return for fall orientation for first-year students. All officers shall be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University.
Terms of office
The elected officers of PILS Executive Board shall hold office for one year, from April to April. The appointed officers shall hold their office for one year or until the position is filled.
5.6 Duties of the Executive Board Officers.
Co-Presidents
To preside over bi-monthly Executive Board meetings and monthly PILS meetings. To serve as a liaison for the administration and other organizations. To serve as the official Equal Justice Works representatives and a liaison to Equal Justice Works. To ensure that each officer of the Executive Board is performing his/her specified duties. To maintain the course of activities geared toward the objectives of the organization. To enforce the provisions of the PILS By-Laws. To assist the Board in the appointment of any Board office vacated. To prepare agendas in consultation with the PILS Board. To prepare a budget with the VPBA. To call special meetings when deemed necessary of either the Board or of the membership. Voting among the Board shall be decided by a majority vote. Co-Presidents will be voting members of the Board. To exercise veto power in the PILS Meetings that can be overruled by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the PILS Membership, not including the co-Presidents. To provide feedback and follow-up to each member of the Board. In case of a tie in a PILS membership meeting, the co-Presidents may break that tie with a vote. Otherwise, the co-Presidents are not considered voting members at the PILS membership meetings. To have co-signature authority on all contractual agreements with the VPBA. To provide an annual report of PILS activities to members and administrators. To have co-signature authority on all financial accounts. To report to the PILS membership at each monthly meeting.
Vice President for Business Administration
To assume the duties of the co-President if either of the co-Presidents are unable to complete the full term of office. To oversee the preparation and the expenditures of the annual PILS budget in conjunction with the co-Presidents. To maintain a working budget and present it twice yearly to the PILS membership and upon request. To work in conjunction with event coordinators to prepare a budget for each event. To sign jointly with the co-Presidents on the PILS account. To collect dues from all PILS members and report delinquent members to the co-Presidents. To keep official and accurate records of current and past members, finances, and organization files. To maintain an updated set of by-laws and minutes from all meetings, Board and membership meetings. To distribute meeting minutes to all PILS members within five days of the meeting. To attend all Board meetings. To report to the PILS membership at each monthly meeting. To provide a monthly financial report. To fulfill any other responsibilities as assigned by the co-Presidents.
Vice President for Programming
To plan and coordinate all social and educational programs within PILS. To plan and coordinate all service and community outreach programs within PILS. To research and provide public interest job opportunities to PILS. To plan and implement programming for First Monday events, a Pro Bono Week and at least two additional programs. To appoint event coordinators as needed. To attend all Board meetings. To report to the PILS membership at each monthly meeting. To fulfill any other responsibilities as assigned by the co-Presidents.
Vice President for Fundraising
To plan and coordinate all fund raising events for PILS, including the annual auction. To oversee the Legal Eagle Coordinator and act as a resource. To maximize the fundraising efforts for the loan repayment assistance program and the summer fellowship program. To appoint event coordinators as needed. To attend all Board meetings. To report to the PILS membership at each monthly meeting. To fulfill any other responsibilities as assigned by the co-Presidents.
Article VI - Election of Officers, Vacancies, Removal
6.1 Only members who have paid their dues for the current academic year may run for office and serve as an officer. 6.2 Only members who have paid their dues for the current academic year may vote. 6.3 The annual election of officers shall be in April of each academic year. 6.4 The newly elected officers shall assume their positions at the end of the academic year in which they are elected. 6.5 A member who desires to run for officer may be nominated or volunteer before or during the election meeting. The member who is nominated or who volunteers shall be given an opportunity to make a statement of his or her qualifications and his or her reasons for desiring the position. 6.6 The vote shall be by secret ballot and a majority of the quorum shall be required. In the event that a majority vote is not obtained, then there shall be a run-off between the two members who received the highest number of votes. The votes shall be counted by two of the previous officers or their designees. 6.7 Proxy votes shall be permissible under the following procedure:
a form shall be provided listing all candidates;
this form may be obtained from any officer; the proxy form shall be filled out and placed in a sealed envelope and returned to an officer prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be taken; and the proxy form shall be opened and counted by the presiding officer. 6.8 Vacancies shall be filled by the same procedure as elections of officers at the earliest meeting held after the creation of the vacancy. 6.9 Any officer may be removed for cause from his/her position by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of a quorum. However, before a vote may be taken, the officer in question shall be given seven (7) days personal notice of the proposed vote and the reason therefore. Before a vote for removal, the officer in question shall be given an opportunity to defend himself/herself from any accusations or explain why he/she should not be removed from office. Article VII - Committees 7.1 Any committees as are necessary for the success of PILS may be created and members thereto appointed or solicited by the Board. Article VIII - Amendments 8.1 These By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) of a quorum, provided one week notice is duly given to the members of the organization. These By-Laws were duly accepted and ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the quorum of the membership of the organization and thereby shall be binding upon all members and officers of the MULS PILS.
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