ELSA (The European Law Students’ Association) is an international, independent, non-political, non-profit-making organisation run by and for students. It is comprised of students and recent graduates who are interested in academic and personal excellence in addition to their studies at their universities. ELSA offers law students a perfect platform to develop their existing skills, acquire new skills and meet fellow students and legal professionals throughout Europe.

Five law students from Austria, Hungary, Poland and West Germany founded ELSA in 1981. Today ELSA is the world’s largest independent law students association and it is represented at nearly 300 law faculties in 42 countries across Europe with membership in excess of 30 000 students and young lawyers.

ELSA-activities comprise a large variety of academic and professional events that are organised to fulfil the vision of ELSA and in order to provide our members opportunities to enhance their skills and to interact with each other. Furthermore ELSA provides its members opportunities to develop their skills through our traineeship programme as well as through our publications. Finally working in the ELSA-network prepares active members of ELSA for their professional life through international experience gained through the association. 

ELSA‘s 300 university-based local groups and 42 national groups as well as the international board are entirely student-managed and administered. Similar to a small franchise, each group creates its own plan of operation in line with the overall goals of the association. Each group recruits and trains its volunteer executives and markets ELSA‘s programmes to the academic and business community. In combination with the university curriculum, ELSA prepares its members for their future entry into professional life, especially when working in an international environment.

ELSA members are open-minded, internationally oriented/targeted and multilingual and acquire a broader cultural understanding than other law students. They gain direct experiences with foreign legal systems and business practices

Vision:

“A just world in which there is respect for human dignity and cultural diversity.”  

Purpose:

“To contribute to legal education, to foster mutual understanding and to promote social responsibility of law students and young lawyers.”

Means:

“Providing opportunities for law students and young lawyers to learn about other cultures and legal systems

in a spirit of critical dialogue and scientific co-operation.”

 “Assisting law students and young lawyers to be internationally minded and professionally skilled.”

 “Encouraging law students and young lawyers to act for the good of society.”