ALSA is an international consortium of around 12,000 law students and alumni located in 16 countries all over the Asian region. Formally established in 2002, the association is a merger between the previous ASEAN law students association, as well as the East Asian law students association, which were two student bodies that had similar goals of fostering stronger ties and greater understanding of the different legal systems among its member Asian countries. Recognizing their common goals, as well as the ever increasing onset of globalization in the region, these two associations signed an agreement in 2002, thus forming ALSA into the organization that is known to be today.