ELSA (The European Law Students’ Association) Malta was founded in 1986, and is recognised as a student organisation by the Senate of the University of Malta. Our main objective is the representation of all law students in the University of Malta. ELSA Malta forms part of the world’s largest independent law students’ association, and is part of an international network of more than 200 law faculties in 35 countries all over Europe, with membership in excess of 30,000 students and young lawyers.
The ultimate purpose of ELSA is to contribute to legal education and to promote social responsibility of law students and young lawyers, by assisting law students and young lawyers to be internationally minded and professionally skilled. ELSA Malta is run by students, for students, and provides local students an array of opportunities both locally and on the international plane - ranging from summer law schools on a variety of topics, to traineeships with some of the most prestigious names in the field, the opportunity to publish their research in the ELSA Malta Law Review and much more.
ELSA Malta aims to provide its members with multiple opportunities for academic enrichment, and appreciates the importance of a practical approach to the study of law. In furtherance of this; ELSA Malta organises seminars, conferences and debates on current local and international legal issues, moot courts, essay competitions, trivia quizzes, and provides the opportunity for students to carry out research and submit legal pieces for publication in ELSA Malta's Law Review. Recognising the value of a holistic approach to one's University experience, ELSA Malta also injects its calendar of events with a number of social gatherings for which it is renowned.
G魔aqda Studenti Tal-Li摹i (The Law Students’ Society) is a faculty-based non-profit organisation at the University of Malta that represents all law students within the Faculty of Laws. G魔SL was set up by a group of law students in 1943, led by Joseph Ganado, who later became Professor of Civil Law at the Faculty of Laws of the University of Malta. Today, Prof. Ganado is considered one of the pillars of the Maltese legal profession.
Law students elect executive members to the G魔SL Board to represent their best interests within the faculty, while Class Representatives are appointed from every year of the law course to maintain the best possible communication between the Society, the Faculty of Laws and the students themselves.
The organisation plays a pivotal role in law students’ academic and social life at the University of Malta. G魔SL seeks to be at the forefront of local and international legal policies; naturally of interest to law students. The organisation is responsible for the distribution of authoritative law notes and past papers published by G魔SL and the University of Malta, and also organises several seminars and conferences which are often addressed by leading local and foreign speakers.
G魔SL has undergone a complete revamp, with new blood giving a fresh image to the organisation’s already solid foundation. The yearly social calendar focuses on organising a variety of parties; among these are Fresher’s, end of exams, and summer parties. Most notable in G魔SL’s social calendar is the yearly ball, more recently the seminar for law students, and participation in charitable events such as the President’s Fun Run. Such events help strengthen the link between the organisation and law student body, as well as with other university students. As part of its holistic approach to university life, G魔SL makes an effort to keep in close contact with the various organisations on campus.
The organisation has also been responsible for publishing ‘Id-Dritt’ Law Journal, first released in 1944, when a number of law students started publishing the very first University of Malta law journal. Today, this journal has gained wide popularity among law students and professionals alike, with the 25th edition being published in 2014. In an attempt to facilitate access to important legal material, the organisation set up the G魔SL ‘Online Law Journal’, providing students, professionals, and the general public with a myriad of information. These articles and legal commentaries are updated frequently to keep up with the ever-changing legal forum.
G魔SL also boasts its own Thesis Library, located at the Faculty of Laws. It contains a collection of theses written by students at the culmination of their legal education at the University of Malta, as well as a number of books and foreign journals kindly donated by the organisation’s benefactors. These materials are an invaluable source of information for research and study, and can be borrowed for a time period from the library itself.
The Junior Chamber of Advocates (JCA), is an organisation established under the auspices of the Chamber of Advocates. It was officially launched on the 1st October 2013, publicly acknowledged by the President of the Chamber of Advocates, and endorsed by the Chief Justice on the inauguration of that Forensic year. JCA seeks to ‘bridge the gap’ between the academic development of law students and the practicality of the legal profession, thus creating a closer link between students and lawyers.
The Annual JCA Moot Courts are held at the Law Courts of Malta, and presided by Members of the Judiciary. These Moot Courts provide the perfect set-up for law students to start practising their Advocacy Skills in a realistic scenario. Participants are given the opportunity to prepare written submissions, examine and cross-examine witnesses and also make their oral submissions before the Court, which ultimately delivers its judgements.
Another project, which the JCA Executive Members take pride in, is the development of the ‘Prattika-Link’ which serves to facilitate the placement of students to find the most suitable internship for their ‘prattika’ requirements; hopefully resulting in employment upon completion of the law course.
Ultimately, one of the JCA’s primary activities is that of organising seminars, chaired by different lawyers, treating various academic topics from a practical point of view.
In 2018, the JCA obtained recognition by the University of Malta Degree Plus system. Through this initiative, members of the JCA were able to receive extra credits for taking part in events organised by the organisation. This meant that students were finally recognised academically for going the extra mile to attend JCA events.