The award recognizes the efforts of one SBA organization annually that strives to create a better environment for law students and a more positive image of the legal profession. 

Taylor Reese and Elma Jasarevic, both May 2024 law school graduates, served as ABA representative and president of the student bar association, respectively, and were instrumental in securing the award for the law school.

The two cited their involvement in the SBA as a way to give back to fellow students.

“One reason I ran to be ABA rep and wanted to join the SBA is because you can make a change there, especially for our peers,” Jasarevic said. “I wanted to see everyone succeed.”

Jasarevic nominated the student bar association for the ABA award and believes a combination of factors helped them capture the honor, including a marked increase in student engagement over the past year, as well as better connecting the student body with the administration and making an impact within the legal and nonlegal community.

Reese and Jasarevic planned and held a series of three successful town halls to encourage open dialogue and offer a voice to underrepresented groups of law students who may not have felt heard.

“When Elma and I came into school, there was a little bit of a disconnect between students and administration,” Reese said. “This was the first year ever that we had a channel for people to leave us complaints, comments or suggestions. We set up a Microsoft form that any student could access and tell us anything.”

After receiving feedback, Reese met with the law school leadership to communicate comments and concerns and figure out solutions. The town halls also prompted greater participation in social events.

“I think the most that had previously attended any event was about 25-30 people but this year we had 125,” Reese said. “The students knew that all of us at SBA were very much an open ear, and we would go above and beyond to find someone who could fix problems. I think that’s a big part of why we had such a great year.”

Reese and Jasarevic are both pursuing law careers focused on public service, something they attribute to their time at UofL’s law school.

Reese will be working as a military lawyer, commissioning as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army JAG Corps in January 2025.

“I always had an interest in special victims counsel, and the Army has that position,” she said. “I will be representing the survivors of domestic violence or sex crimes.”

Jasarevic’s journey will be closer to home. She will be sworn in this fall as the Jefferson County’s Assistant Commonwealth Attorney.

“Since I was in middle school, I’ve  had a passion to serve the public,” she said. “That’s one of the things that really attracted me to Brandeis was that great mission. I just love seeing how the school is thriving and how we’re furthering the public interest.”

Residents who use water supplied by Martin County Water District have been complaining of water losses, service interruptions and concerns about water quality, according to an .

“Projects such as the Martin County initiative allow the SBA to strengthen our school’s ties to the community. It is always terrible to see people suffer, but when it is happening right at your back door, it is imperative to try to help,” said SBA President Katie Bonds.

SBA is collecting the water until Oct. 28. At the end of the drive, SBA representatives will deliver the water to Martin County schools, which have been distributing bottled water to families. Water donations can be left in the SBA office on the first floor of the law school. SBA is encouraging Martin County residents to recycle the empty bottles.

“Community service is important to law students for a number of reasons, but primarily because it keeps us grounded and provides us with an opportunity to support others and create a meaningful relationship with those in our community,” Bonds said. “Additionally, it gives law students the chance to build and improve upon skills important in the practice of law: leadership, organization, confidence, communication, compassion, collaboration and decision-making, just to name a few.”

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The ABA awarded the Public Service Award and ABA Involvement Award to the law school.

The Public Service Award honors law schools with a demonstrated commitment to public service, and the ABA Involvement Award goes to a school in line with the ABA’s goals and vision, said Katie Bonds, incoming Student Bar Association president.

The 2015-16 SBA president, Rudy Ellis III, and student representative Tony Singleton traveled to the annual meeting in Chicago last year to fulfill their goal of getting the Brandeis SBA . Ellis said it was the first time in a while anyone from Brandeis had attended the event.

Bonds credited last year’s SBA leadership with earning the awards and said that this year’s SBA will build on that success.

“We want to be a part of that world and we want to have a stronger connection with the ABA,” she said.

Also at last week’s meeting, Brandeis 2L John Weber was inducted as one of three newly elected Law Student Division delegates to the ABA House of Delegates.