From the very start of student representation efforts in Malta, law students have always played a pivotal role. It was in fact at the beginning of the 20th century, on the initiative of a then law student, Arturo Mercieca (later Sir Arturo Mercieca), that what was then the CPU (nowadays KSU) was set up as the first student union on the island.

As the number of students increased, the need was felt for student representation efforts to be localised in the various faculties. Once again taking the first step, a group of law students, in 1943, at a time when Malta was still ravaged by war, set up Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi (University Law Students' Society). This group of students was led at the time by a young student, going by the name of Joseph Ganado. This young law student was later to become Professor of Civil law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Malta, during which time he was considered as one of the pillars of the Maltese legal profession. Prof. J. M. Ganado at present occupies the post of honorary president of Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi, along with other distinguished personalities.

Today, Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi plays an essential role in the law students’ academic experience at the University of Malta. It is enough to say that Student Representatives appointed by the Society, in every year of the law course, maintain a link between the Society, the Faculty of Laws, and the students themselves. The Society’s website (www.ghsl.org) also serves as an efficient and up-to-date online noticeboard, and its popularity is proven by a very high number of hits on the website practically all throughout the year.

These efforts are complimented with the organisation of several seminars and conferences addressed by both local speakers as well as top foreign speakers. Particular emphasis is also made on the publication of the Id-Dritt Law Journal – a renowned publication both with the law student, and the legal practitioner alike.  It is true to say that as different issues have been published as time passed by, this publication still serves as the most valuable source of legal teaching in a society where specific publications dealing with the local legal scenario is actually scarce. One cannot forget to mention that Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi also issues its periodical newsletter Quid Juris? which enhances the close contact that the society has with all law students, who are automatically members of the Society.

Għaqda Studenti Tal-Liġi also boasts of having its own Thesis Library, located nearby the Faculty Offices, containing a collection of thesis presented at the Faculty of Law by law students throughout the years as well as a number of books and foreign journals kindly donated by the Society's benefactors. The Thesis Library has a vast collection of LL.D. and Masters Dissertations, as well as a variable collection of Law Journals, including back issues of Id-Dritt Law Journal.

Borrowing from the Thesis Library is easy and flexible – any student can obtain his requested material with him, for a nominal fee. This is also possible since that the Thesis Library has a large variety of Dissertations in Compact Disc format.

Finally, the Society also takes care of providing law students with social events at which to do away with the stress accumulated as a result of hours of lectures and study. Activities range from pub crawling and parties to the annual graduation ball and St. Ives celebrations.

President: Jean Noel Cutajar
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: ghsl.org