Five law students from Austria, Hungary, Poland and West Germany founded ELSA in 1981. Today ELSA is the world’s largest independent law students’ association, represented at over 300 law faculties in 44 countries across Europe with a membership of more than 50,000 students and young lawyers.

ELSA Switzerland is one of these National Groups and consists of 10 Local Groups, with over 1,500 members nationwide. Each Local Group is independently organised at its university and is an independent registered association with a Local Board tasked with managing ELSA at a local level as well as promoting various events. Representatives of each Local Group elect the National Board of ELSA Switzerland during the National Council Meeting (NCM).