Law for Change Otago’s kaupapa is to amplify the voices of those less likely to be heard and challenge the injustices that underpin, and are perpetuated by, our current system. By providing opportunities for University of Otago students to give back to their community, we exist as a platform to raise awareness and create spaces for public interest law pathways. In doing so we aim to utilise our privilege for social justice.

The Pacific Island Law Students’ Association (PILSA) is a student-elected body responsible for promoting the interests of law students of Pacific Island descent – from the Carolines and Papua New Guinea in the west, to Hawaii in the north and Easter Island in the east. The primary concern of the group is to ensure that as many Pacific Island students as possible graduate and are admitted to the bar.

The Pacific Islands Legal Issues Week, organised by PILSA, includes presentations, debates and social activities. The week is designed to highlight legal issues of significance to Pacific Island communities.

We are the student branch of the Otago Women Lawyers’ Society (OWLS).

OWLS is a professional organisation dedicated to the equal opportunity and advancement of women in the study and practice of law.

Pride in Law Otago was formed in 2020 to provide peer support and advocacy for the queer community in Otago Law. PILO provides education and career support for their members as well as hosting a number of social events throughout the year that are open for all to attend. They also have a strong focus on advocating for their students and have appeared in front of the Select Committee to submit on bills concerning LGBTQIA+ issues. PILO’s mission is to make law school a safe and inclusive environment for and encourage involvement from all law students of all years.

The Otago Asian Law Students’ Association (OALSA) is a student-elected body that promotes the interests of Asian-identifying law students. We encourage students with any connection to Asia to join, whether that be a connection to Lebanon in the West, Korea in the East, or Sri Lanka in the South. Asia is a diverse continent and we aspire for OALSA to reflect that.

OALSA aims to promote our broad values of community and inclusion, pride and advocacy by providing a support network for our members, whether this be academic, social, or welfare related. We offer a mentoring programme for our first- and second-year students to connect with senior Asian students. We raise awareness of Asian culture within the Faculty and advocate on behalf of Asian law students both internally and externally.

We are Te Roopu Whai Pūtake, the Maori Law Students’ association here at the University of Otago. Our membership is comprised of every law student at Otago who is registered as being Māori. We have an executive of seven members who run Whai Pūtake. Throughout the year we run various academic and social events to benefit our members. This includes the provision of tutorials, a series of academic lectures and social events during Te Wiki o Te Ture (Māori Legal Issues Week), and other social events such as barbeques and dessert nights for our members. We also provide support and advocacy to Māori students in need.

Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women’s Refuge Fundraising Committee are a group of enthusiastic Otago University students, who come together each year to run a variety of fundraising events. This committee began as a Law for Change Otago project, and has since blossomed into a large independent student committee who pride themselves in being able to give back to the local Ōtepoti/ Dunedin community. Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women’s Refuge do very important work within society, we are pleased to support them each year.

The New Zealand Animal Law Association is a group dedicated to protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system. The Otago Chapter advocates for the cause through fundraising, educational campaigns, and volunteering opportunities, including tree planting and trips to Quarantine Island.