Being established in 1981 The European Law Students' Association - ELSA is today the world's largest independent, non-political and non-profit making law students' association comprising membership of in total 32 000 members. 

ELSA members are open-minded, internationally oriented/targeted and multilingual and acquire a broader cultural understanding than other law students. They gain direct experiences with foreign legal systems and business practices.

ELSA‘s 300 university-based local groups and 42 national groups as well as the international board are entirely student-managed and administered. Similar to a small franchise, each group creates its own plan of operation in line with the overall goals of the association. Each group recruits and trains its volunteer executives and markets ELSA‘s programmes to the academic and business community. In combination with the university curriculum, ELSA prepares its members for their future entry into professional life, especially when working in an international environment.

Vision:

"A just world in which there is respect for human dignity and cultural diversity."  

Purpose:

"To contribute to legal education, to foster mutual understanding and to promote social responsibility of law students and young lawyers."

Means:

"Providing opportunities for law students and young lawyers to learn about other cultures and legal systems

in a spirit of critical dialogue and scientific co-operation."

"Assisting law students and young lawyers to be internationally minded and professionally skilled."

"Encouraging law students and young lawyers to act for the good of society."