The Guild

The National Lawyers Guild is an association dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. We seek to unite the lawyers, law students, legal workers and jailhouse lawyers of America in an organization that shall function as an effective political and social force in the service of the people, to the end that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests. Our aim is to bring together all those who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, farmers and minority groups, upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.

The Law School

In 1898, Northeastern University School of Law was founded by law professors and attorneys to provide legal education to working people. The original program was strictly a night school, which gradually expanded to both night and day programs. The increase in non-legal course offerings ultimately led to the establishment of Northeastern University.

In 1953 the law school closed, primarily because of a decline in interest in the night program and a lack of financial support from the University. However, after a 15-year hiatus, the school opened its doors again in 1968 thanks to the efforts of alumni and Northeastern University President Asa Knowles. The new school began with twenty-two students and five faculty members. They were soon joined by Dick Daynard, Dan Givelber, and Steve Subrin. They originally met in a building on the Fenway. In addition to the co-op program, Northeastern differed from other area law schools because of its commitment to train lawyers to work in the public interest.

The law school faculty, staff and students aimed at creating a sense of community instead of fostering competitiveness and hierarchy. They saw deficiencies in traditional legal education; and amidst the realities of poverty, racism and sexism, they worked to make the law a force for social change. This fundamental commitment has led to Northeastern’s long history of student activism and involvement. The institution you see today was shaped by these battles. We provide you with these snapshots of student activism with pride, in hopes that you carry on our struggles.

NLG and NURF

The NLG was founded in 1937 as a progressive alternative to the American Bar Association, which at the time denied membership to women and blacks. It serves as a network of progressive lawyers, students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers working “in the service of the people, to the end that human rights shall be more sacred than property interests.” Our school, both current students and alumni, is well represented among their ranks. NLG member students from NUSL routinely attend the national NLG convention held in October, and volunteer with the Massachusetts Chapter of the NLG almost every quarter.

The National Lawyers Guild is dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system. Through its members--lawyers, law students, jailhouse lawyers and legal workers united in chapters and committees--the Guild works locally, nationally and internationally as an effective political and social force in the service of the people.

The NUSL Chapter of the Guild has hosted Street Law trainings on Civil Disobedience, Tenants’ Rights, and Stop and Search. Law students trained in these clinics then go out into the community with Guild lawyers to inform people of their legal rights in small, informal, conversational meetings. The Street Law program continues to serve communities of immigrants, low-income people, battered women, the homeless, ex-offenders, prisoners, women of color, and youth.

The Northeastern United Radical Front, or NURF, was formed in 1998 by feminists, environmentalists, satirists, labor organizers, queers, leftists, critical theorists, social justice activists, and generally public service minded students and faculty. NURF also serves as NUSL’s chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. NURF seeks to bring progressive people together to work on a variety of projects both inside and outside the university’s walls. NURF organizes a variety of activities from potlucks to rallies in an effort to creative activism, both on and off campus.

Through NURF and the NLG, students can become active in both local and national campaigns. Members gain access to NLG Committees, such as the Anti-Racism Committee, Anti-Sexism Committee, the Colombia Task Force, Corporations, the Constitution, & Human Rights, the Cuba Subcommittee, the Disability Rights Task Force, the International Committee, the Korean Peace Project, the Labor & Employment Committee, the Legal Workers Committee, the Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender Committee, the Mass Defense Committee, the Middle East Subcommittee, the Military Law Task Force, the Prison Law Project, and the Recent Grad Committee. Students can also get involved with Guild Projects, such as the National Immigration Project, the Center for Democratic Communications, or the National Police Acountability Project.

"...to the end that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests."