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Bylaws

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Los Angeles County Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society
Dated as of March 1, 2005

ARTICLE I
Name

There is established a voluntary, unincorporated association affiliated with the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University (the "Law School") named the Los Angeles County Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (the "Law Society"), which is part of the International J. Reuben Clark Law Society.


ARTICLE II
Mission and Purposes

The mission of the Law Society is as follows: "We affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction. We strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law."
In fulfilling its mission, the Law Society is guided by the philosophy, personal example, and values of its namesake, J. Reuben Clark, Jr. Those values include: (1) public service; (2) loyalty to the rule of law as exemplified by the United States Constitution; and (3) appreciation for the religious dimension in society and in a lawyer's personal life.
To accomplish its mission, the Law Society will: (1) encourage its members to regard the practice of law as a public trust from which compensation may be accepted, but as to which service to the courts, clients, and society always will be paramount; (2) promote and protect the rule of just law; (3) provide its members with opportunities for continuing dialogue on legal topics of significance; and (4) where appropriate, assist the Law School to achieve and maintain a position of eminence among the law schools of the world.
Membership in the Law Society is open to any person who holds a law degree and who shares the Law Society's goals, standards, and values. The Law Society, while affiliated with and supported by the Law School, is neither an alumni association nor a political organization. Accordingly, the Law Society should avoid partisan stances on controversial political issues that could have a divisive effect on its membership. The Law Society complies with IRC Section 501(c)(3) guidelines which provide in part, that "all lobbying and other political activities are strictly prohibited."
It is not intended that the Law Society own property or hold assets (other than funds necessary for its operations) or otherwise undertake activities that would subject it to reporting to any unit of state, local, or federal government. The Law Society may charge membership dues, solicit sponsors and otherwise raise funds. Any and all funding raised by the Law Society shall be used to cover its operational costs.
Nothing in these bylaws shall be inconsistent with the mission and directives of the International J. Reuben Clark Law Society.

ARTICLE III
Membership

Membership in the Law Society is open to any person who holds a law degree and who shares in the goals, ideals, and values of the Law Society. Membership in the Law Society is not restricted to members of any particular religious group or denomination, nor is it restricted to graduates of any particular law school. The Law Society may establish additional criteria for membership in order to achieve or to maintain affiliate status with the Los Angeles County Bar Association or any other bar association. Participants of a student chapter of the Law Society who do not hold a law degree shall be considered to be affiliated with the Law Society, but such participants shall become actual members of the Law Society only after gaining a law degree and complying with other membership requirements.
The Law Society is authorized to establish and collect annual membership and participant dues, as determined by the Law SocietyÕs Board of Directors (the "Board") to be used under the direction of the Board to help defray costs associated with operating the Law Society.

ARTICLE IV
Board of Directors

The Board consists of the members of the Executive Committee (described below) and as many additional at-large directors ("Directors") as are determined by the Executive Committee. Directors are appointed and assigned by the Chair (described below), in consultation with the Executive Committee (described below), and the Board, and ratified by the Board. Members of the Board chair or serve on various committees as assigned by the Chair after consultation with the Executive Committee. Committee assignments may be rotated on a regular basis, as deemed appropriate by the Chair.
Directors serve for terms of up to three years at the discretion of the Executive Committee and may be appointed by the Board for an additional term or until such time as they are replaced. Terms shall normally end on December 31 of the appropriate year. Membership on the Board shall be staggered so that approximately one-third of the Directors are replaced or reappointed each year. The Chair may remove and replace, as specified above, any Executive Committee or Board member who moves, dies, resigns or is otherwise incapable or unwilling to fulfill his or her duties.
The Board provides general policy direction and support for the activities of the Law Society. It establishes annual goals and approves the activities of the Law Society. The Directors also advise the Chair on the appointment of the Chair-Elect, the Treasurer, and the Secretary (described below).
Meetings of the Board shall be called by the Chair, who will conduct such meetings at least on a quarterly basis. Members of the Board may attend meetings of the Board by telephone (if telephone attendance is authorized at the discretion of the Chair) or in person, and those present at a meeting (whether in person or by telephone) will constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting Law Society business. In addition, the Board may act without a meeting by written consent, which consent may be given in an electronic mail message.

ARTICLE V
Officers and Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the Law Society is the administrative group designated to execute matters of policy and operations of the Law Society, under the direction of the Board.
The Executive Committee is composed of the Chair, the Chair-Elect, the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Board (who are appointed and approved as outlined below, and who direct the affairs of the Board). The Executive Committee will meet at the direction of the Chair.
The functions and powers of the Executive Committee are to exercise the powers of the Board between meetings and to report such actions to the Board. Terms of the officers shall extend for two years normally beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of the subsequent year, or such other period of time as the Board decides.
The following are the officers of the Law Society and/or the members of the Executive Committee of the Law Society:
  1. Chair: The Chair is the principal officer of the Law Society and oversees the activities of the Law Society. The Chair, in consultation with the Chair-Elect and the Executive Committee, appoints members of the Law Society to serve on the Board, calls and conducts Board meetings, establishes committees, and appoints members of the Board to serve on those committees, and has such duties and powers as are prescribed by the Board. The Chair also is the Chair of the Executive Committee. Upon completion of his or her term of office, the Chair at the request of the Board may continue for a specified term or indefinitely as an emeritus member of the Board.
  2. Chair-Elect: The Chair-Elect is nominated by the Chair after consultation with the current Chair-Elect, and consultation with the International Executive Committee, and subsequently ratified by the Board. The Chair-Elect automatically succeeds the Chair at the expiration of the ChairÕs term. The Chair-Elect shall assist the Chair and has such other duties as are prescribed by the Chair and the Board. In the absence of the Chair, the Chair-Elect conducts the business of the Law Society.
  3. Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for all funds collected by the Law Society. The Treasurer also sets up an account for the Law Society and reports on the status of the account to the Executive Committee and Board on a regular basis. Once annually, the Treasurer completes the required tax exempt form and submits it to the Chair. In the absence of the Chair and Chair-Elect, the Treasurer conducts the business of the Law Society.
  4. Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for maintaining and updating the Law Society's membership list. The Secretary also takes minutes, and oversees communications with the members under the direction of the Chair. In the absence of the Chair, the Chair-Elect and Treasurer, the Secretary conducts the business of the Law Society.
  5. Other: Other officers may be appointed by the Board as needed for the operation of the Law Society.

ARTICLE VI
Chapter Committees

Committees are established, based on the needs and goals of the Law Society members, as the Board deems appropriate. The following committees are examples of the type of committees that may be deemed appropriate by the Board:
  1. Membership Committee oversees and coordinates all activities designed to increase membership in the Law Society and to maintain the Law Society membership directory or mailing list. This committee also facilitates communication with the membership through mail, fax, e-mail, website and other means.
  2. Public Service Committee provides direction for pro bono activities of the Law Society and organizes related Law Society activities.
  3. Outstanding Lawyer Committee identifies and recommends candidates to the Board for this annual award.
  4. Programs Committee plans the luncheon meetings, CLE programs and at least one major event/dinner each year. In addition, the committee plans and coordinates other activities deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee and the Board.
  5. Law Student Outreach Committee maintains a list of the local law students, assists the local law student chapters and facilitates the Board's outreach and assistance to local students.
  6. Placement Committee assists law school students and graduates with placement activities. This committee serves as a clearing house for job opportunities and provides guidance and direction for Law Society members in need of such services.
  7. Member Outreach Committee identifies and helps address issues facing non-practicing lawyers.
  8. Sponsorship/Fund Raising Committee oversees and coordinates all sponsorship and fund raising activities of the Law Society. This committee should submit recommendations to the Board for sponsorship and fund raising goals and activities.

ARTICLE VII
Amendment to Bylaws

The Executive Committee may seek to amend the Bylaws of the Law Society from time to time by presenting proposed amendments to the Board. Upon a two-thirds vote of the members of the Board present at a regularly noticed meeting of the Board, these Bylaws may be amended.
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