Black Pre-Law Magazine - Annual 2011 Edition (Premier Issue) by Black Pre-Law Magazine

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For law school aspirants serious about success Fall 2011/Winter 2012

Magazine

Lloyd Gaines and The Landmark Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada Supreme Court Case Remembering Pioneering Legal Scholar and Civil Rights Activist DERRICK BELL and His Advice for Incoming Black Law Students The Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society

Chibundu Nnake

Chair of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) on Leadership and Building Pipelines for the Future

The Law School

Scholarship Game

Strategies to Prepare for Law School Success

Pr Is emi su e e r

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair 2011

93% employment rate for graduates 2010 Recipient of LSAC Diversity Matters Award 2010 & 2011 Highly diverse and accessible faculty and staff Program flexibility: Part-Time Day or Part-Time Night Clinical Programs: Hybrid Juvenile Defense, Hybrid Prosecution, Tribal Law, Veteran Tax, Veteran Legal Assistance, Mediation, Human Rights & Immigration New campus in the heart of Downtown Phoenix Alternative Admissions Program for Legal Education (AAMPLE) available

www.phoenixlaw.edu admissions@phoenixlaw.edu 602.682.6827 or 888.PHX.LAW1

S H O O K , H A R DY & B A C O N is honored to sponsor the

2 0 1 1 N AT I O N A L B L A C K P R E - L AW C O N F E R E N C E & L AW S C H O O L R E C R U I T M E N T F A I R to give students tools for success in law school and in their communities.

SHB lives its commitment to diversity every day. To learn more, please visit www.shb.com.

(In alphabetical order) Angela L. Dixon, Esq., The Law Office of Angela L. Dixon, P.L.L.C. – http://aldixonlaw.com Ballard Spahr LLP – www.ballardspahr.com BarBri - www.barbri.com Barry University School Of Law – www.barry.edu/Law Bracewell & Giuliani – www.bracewellgiuliani.com Cornell Law School – www.law.cornell.edu Creighton University School of Law – www.creighton.edu/law/ Elon University School of Law – www.elon.edu/e-web/law DeMonica D. Gladney, Esq. – www.demonicagladney.com Houston Area Urban League www.haulyp.org Hunton & Williams LLP – www.hunton.com/ Intuitive African Dance and Drum Culture – www.intuitiveafricandanceanddrumculture.com Microsoft Corporation – www.microsoft.com National Black Law Students Association - www.nblsa.org Oswald J. Scott, Esq., Street Corner Books, LLC – www.getthepromise.com Pace University School of Law – www.law.pace.edu Phoenix School of Law – www.phoenixlaw.edu Radio One – www.radio-one.com Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law – http://cumberland.samford.edu Seattle University School of Law – www.law.seattleu.edu Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. – www.shb.com Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) – www.seo-usa.org Stetson University College of Law – www.law.stetson.edu Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference - sbslc.tamu.edu The End of the Pipeline by Dorothy Evensen and Carla D. Pratt – www.caplaw.com The John Marshall Law School (Chicago, Illinois) – www.jmls.edu The National HBCU Pre-Law Project www.hbcuprelawproject.com The University of Toledo College of Law – http://law.utoledo.edu University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law PLUS Summer Institute – http://law.umkc.edu Velocity LSAT – www. velocitylsat.com William Mitchell College of Law – www.wmitchell.edu

Thoughts from the Editor Welcome to the premier issue of Black Pre-Law magazine – the magazine for law aspirants serious about success! This magazine is for those people interested in going to law school who want to become better educated and more sophisticated legal education consumers, as well as more competitive, strategic, and well-prepared law school applicants and law students. If that describes you, then you are reading the right publication! Law school presents a challenging road at every step, so we want to help you gain a better understanding of the realities of what it’s all about so that you can make a well-informed and thoughtful decision in determining whether this path is right for you. This publication was created to help provide the type of information that is needed to help fill in the information gap that often exists in our community, but in an engaging, accessible way. Black Pre-Law magazine provides information on various areas of interest to those who aspire to become lawyers. What sets us apart is that in addition to the information you’d expect, we provide positive images of studious and professional Black people, and profiles of and interviews with real-life people of African descent who are either striving to become lawyers, currently working toward their legal education, or who have already earned their law degrees and are carving their own paths. Further, we share stories, legal cases, and legal history of particular significance and interest to African Americans. As is the case for so many African Americans, people often tell us that we can’t do something. However, this publication is an encouraging one. We want you to know if you really want it and are willing to sacrifice, work harder than you’ve ever worked before, and persist – that we can. We will let you know about resources available to help you in your journey. You don’t have to and should not pursue this road alone. Consider us a part of your success team. Although Blacks continue to be underrepresented in law schools and in the legal profession, Black Pre-Law will play a positive role as a source of information and inspiration to those with a serious interest in pursuing a legal education. The spirit behind this magazine and those who contribute to it in some way is a shared belief that success is not an individual attainment, but a collective one. Therefore, we should be willing to share the lessons of what we have learned with those coming behind us so they can have opportunities, and then in turn, help open doors and create opportunities for those coming behind them. This is critical to our success. It is such a joy to share this magazine with you. I hope you enjoy our first issue! Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any suggestions of ways we can make it better - because this publication is for YOU. Continued blessings and success,

Evangeline Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq., Ed.M. Editor-in-Chief evangeline@blackprelawmagazine.com Fall 2011/Winter 2012

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F E A T U R E S

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair 2011

Pre-Law Student Profiles Michelae Hobbs and William Lee ................................................. 56 Law Student Profiles Elizabeth Humphrey and Derrick Raphael ................................ 59 Lawyer Profiles Theodore Shaw, Paul Lancaster Adams, and Yolanda Young ............................................................................ 18 Legal Education Lest We Forget: The Intrinsic Value of Legal Education ........................................ 66 Law School Admission The ABCs of Law School Acceptance, Mastering the Modern Admissions Game ................................. 68 The Law School Experience Preparing for Law School Success: Twenty Strategies to Help You Get Ready for the Rigors of Law School ............. 73 BLACK

For law school aspirants serious about success

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www.blackprelawmagazine.com

52 The Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society

A Lawyer’s Life and Work Audrey Moorehead, Esq., The Law Offices of Audrey Moorehead; Chair, African American Section of the State Bar of Texas ................................................................... 75 Financial Issues The Law School Scholarship Game .............................................. 78 Mind, Health, and Spirit Ten Super Foods for the Brain ........................................................ 77 Success The Aspiring Lawyer Success Pledge .......................................... 64 Recommended Reading Derrick Bell’s Books ............................................................................ 37 Legal History Charlotte E. Ray, The First African-American Woman Lawyer in the United States ........................................... 79

Black Pre-Law Magazine P.O. Box 631234 Houston, Texas 77263 subscribe@blackprelawmagazine.com advertise@blackrpelawmagazine.com

Fall 2011/Winter 2012

Lloyd Gaines and the Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada Supreme Court Case

Exclusive Interview: Chibundu Nnake, Chair of the National Black Law Students Association on Leadership and Building Pipelines for the Future

Thoughts from the Editor ...............................................................3

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32 Remembering Pioneering Legal Scholar and Civil Rights Activist Derrick Bell and His Advice for Incoming Black Law Students

departments

Evangeline M. Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief Jevon Gee, Photography Nebojsa Dolovacki, Magazine Design On the cover, Brittany King, Graduate Student, University of Houston

“John Marshall gave me an opportunity

to learn legal applications rather than just legal theory.

John Marshall has a reputation for teaching students so that they are ready on day one. I’ve found that to be true. I really like that I am able to use these legal tools outside

”

of law school.

Anthony Sam came to The John Marshall Law School after successfully competing in the National Undergraduate Diversity Mock Trial Competition. Sam’s team won first place, and he won “Best Advocate.” His total winnings were $30,000 in tuition vouchers at John Marshall. Once at John Marshall, Sam won numerous national titles in Trial Advocacy competitions. He twice won first place at the Animal Law Advocacy Closing Argument Competition at Harvard Law School, and was on a first-place team that won top honors at the Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition. Sam also brought home the individual honors as Best Overall Advocate from that competition. And, he was named Second Place Best Mediator at the International Academy of Dispute Resolution International Law School Mediation Tournament. Today the May 2011 John Marshall graduate is an associate at Levin & Perconti in Chicago.

You too can find success at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. As part of the law school’s long-standing commitment to access and opportunity to an excellent legal education, the National Undergraduate Diversity Mock Trial Competition was established to encourage interest in the law among diverse undergraduate students. Student participants will have the opportunity to conduct a full trial in a courtroom setting and experience how the law is practiced and applied. To learn more about how you can participate in upcoming regional and national competitions, or to register, visit http://www.jmls.edu/diversity/programs/mock-trial.asp. For more information on The John Marshall Law School’s Office of Diversity Affairs, visit www.jmls.edu/diversity.

315 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604

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312 . 987.1411 • diversity@jmls.edu

Civil rights pioneer Franklin McCain, center, was the featured speaker at an Elon Law forum exploring the impacts of the Greensboro sit-ins on civil rights law and history.

Making a Difference in Law and Society ■

Experienced faculty with a global perspective, committed to teaching, scholarship, and service

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An innovative Preceptor Program, with over 50 practicing attorneys serving as mentors, preparing students to contribute to the profession immediately upon graduation

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A student-body dedicated to pro bono initiatives, with each class contributing over 20,000 hours of community service

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Home of the North Carolina Business court and clinical law programs serving refugees, asylum seekers, and clients referred by Habitat for Humanity

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law.elon.edu Fall 2011/Winter 2012

law@elon.edu

“At Hunton & Williams, diversity is one of our greatest assets.” — Wally Martinez, Managing Partner

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Atlanta • Austin • Bangkok • Beijing • Brussels • Charlotte • Dallas • Houston • London • Los Angeles • McLean • Miami New York • Norfolk • Raleigh • Richmond • San Francisco • Tokyo • Washington

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011 National Pre-Law Conference Encourages the Success of Aspiring Black Lawyers The Seventh Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law School Recruitment Fair 2011 was held from Thursday, November 17, 2011 to Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center in Houston, Texas. The conference is the nation’s most comprehensive and dynamic information-sharing and networking empowerment event focused on encouraging the success of aspiring Black lawyers. Nearly 400 people attended the event in some capacity.

he schedule was jam-packed with everything any aspiring lawyer would need to know to make a thoughtful decision regarding pursuing a professional legal education. There were over 30 powerful and thought-provoking sessions made up of expert law school administrators and accomplished law students, lawyers and judges imparting “insider” information and wisdom in all of the key areas a future law student should become knowledgeable about.

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Critical information was shared through discussions and workshops covering the law school admissions process, the Law School Admission Test, personal and diversity statements, financing a legal education, selecting a law school, preparing for and making the most of the law school experiFall 2011/Winter 2012

ence, diversity issues, passing the bar exam, different legal career options and paths, finding success in the legal job search, pursuing the dual or joint J.D./M.B.A. degree, networking and relationship building, etiquette and business image, strategic planning, the keys to career advancement, the advanced Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, and more. Moreover, participants had the unique opportunity to actually experience what it feels like to be a law student in the law school classroom through preparing for and participating in mock law classes taught by actual law professors. Special signature events were conducted which enabled them to get answers to their specific questions, as well as general assistance and feedback on their admissions materials from law

school administrators and attorney mentors. Furthermore, the Law School Recruitment Fair featured representatives from nearly 110 law schools, from all tier levels from all over the nation. In addition, there were networking activities so attendees could make meaningful connections and create a foundation for building relationships with law students and lawyers. There were both formal, structured networking activities such as a networking reception and ice cream social, as well as informal off-site networking opportunities including dinner at a Blackowned restaurant and a late night meal at a popular local eatery on the closing night of the event. Highlights of the conference included powerful keynote speeches from prominent attorneys including Theodore M. Shaw, Co-

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

lumbia law professor, immediate past president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Paul Lancaster Adams, senior director of U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft Corporation, Daryl Parks, partner of the Parks Crump Law Firm and president of the National Bar Association, and Yolanda Young, author, activist, commentator and popular blogger. There were also special guest speeches from several successful law students and attorneys

including Vanessa D. Gilmore, district court judge for the Southern District of Texas, Chibundu Nnake, chairperson of the National Black Law Students Association, Antoy Bell, president of the Houston Lawyers Association, Audrey Moorehead, chairperson of the African American Section of the State Bar of Texas, Dr. Benjamin Hall, owner of the Hall Law Firm, Nathan Williamson, Chair of the Pre-Law Division of the National Black Law Students Association, Andrea Hence Evans, the National Bar Association and IMPACT’s “2011 Advocate

of the Year“, and Twanda TurnerHawkins, Vice President of the National Bar Association. People were able to walk away as better educated legal education shoppers and with a better sense of what they were possibly getting themselves into and what it really takes to successfully pursue the path of becoming a lawyer. According to numerous participants, the event was “life-changing” and helped them better understand what to expect and what was expected of them.

The Macon B. Allen and Charlotte E. Ray Memorial Keynote Power Luncheon

Attorney Paul Lancaster Adams

Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore

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Professor Theodore M. Shaw

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Panel discussions

Law school recruitment fair

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Opportunities to connect

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The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Law school admissions and preparation help advice clinic

Candid shots

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African American law trivia and prize giveways

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Honor Roll

We honor the following people who volunteered their time, talent, experience and wisdom to serve as speakers, special guests, facilitators, panelists, presenters and advisors.

Conference Keynote Speakers

Paul Lancaster Adams, Esq., Senior Director of U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft Corporation

Sharon Frame, Speaker, Follow Through Coach and Author of Wired to Win!

Daryl D. Parks, Esq., President, National Bar Association, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Parks & Crump, L.L.C.

Theodore M. Shaw, Esq., Professor of Professional Practice in Law, Columbia Law School

Yolanda Young, Esq., Author, Activist, Commentator, and Founder & Editor of OnBeingABlackLawyer.com

Special Guest Speakers

The Honorable Vanessa Gilmore, District Court Judge, Southern District of Texas

Dr. Benjamin L. Hall, III, Founder, The Hall Law Firm

Audrey Moorehead, Chibundu Nnake, Chairperson, Twanda Turner-Hawkins, Esq., Managing Esq., Chairperson, African National Black Law Students American Section of the Association, J.D./M.B.A. Can- Attorney, Allstate Insurance Company didate, Southern Methodist State Bar of Texas University

Nathan Williamson , National Director of the Pre-Law Division, National Black Law Students Association

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Antoy Bell, Esq., President, Houston Lawyers Association

Andrea Hence Evans, Esq., Intellectual Property Attorney, The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans, LLC

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Honor Roll

Power Session Speakers

Darian Conston, Esq., Attorney and Counselor at Law

Eartha Jean Johnson, Esq., LL.M., LL.M., President & CEO, LegalWATCH

Networking Activity Leaders

Carl McGowan, MBA, President, National Black MBA Association â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Houston Chapter

Charlene James, MA , Professional Development Chair, Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals

Elijah Williams, MPA, President, Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals

Featured Presenters, Panelists and Moderators

Anita Barksdale, Esq., Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski

Jiovanna Bryant, Interim Director of Admissions, St. Thomas University School of Law

Collins J. Byrd Jr., MBA, Assistant Dean for Admissions, University of Iowa College of Law

Elizabeth A. Campbell, Esq., Partner and Chief Diversity Officer, Andrews Kurth

Wilvin J. Carter, Esq., Founder and Owner, The Law Office of Wilvin J. Carter

Amber Burton, Third-Year Law Student, South Texas College of Law

The Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, Sr., National Executive Director, National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc.

Yvonne Cherena-Pacheco, Sonya Chandler-AnderJ.D., LL.M., Assistant Dean son, Esq., Attorney and Counselor at Law, The Law for Enrollment Management Office of Sonya Chandler- and Director of Admissions, City University of New York Anderson (CUNY) School of Law

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Gloria Ann M. Aldridge, Esq. ., Chief Counsel, Houston Field Office, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Laura J. Coe, Esq., Senior Counsel, Chamberlain Hrdlicka Law Firm

Brandi Croffie, Third-Year Law Student, University of Houston Law Center

Justin DandridgeSmith, Third-Year Law Student, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Darrell J. Davis, Esq., Assistant Dean for Students and Multicultural Affairs, Hamline University School of Law

Carolyn Dennis, Director of Admission, Willamette University College of Law

Angela L. Dixon, Esq., Attorney and Owner, Law Office of Angela L. Dixon, P.L.L.C.

Ronald Edward Dupree, Esq., Founder and Managing Member, The Dupree Law Firm, PLLC

Taft L. Foley, II, Esq., Chief Litigation Attorney, The Foley Law Firm

Kenneth Ford, Third-Year Law Student, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Famose Garner, Esq., Law Clerk, Honorable Jeff Bohm, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Paula Gluzman, Esq., Assistant Director of Admissions, University of Washington School of Law

W. Bernard Goudeau, Esq., Attorney, BP America Inc.

The Honorable Hilary H. Green, Presiding Judge, Harris County Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 7, Place 1)

Lewis K. Harley, Esq., Senior Managing Attorney, The Harley Law Group

Tamesha Harper, Senior Regional Program Manager, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO)

Courteney Harris, Esq., Attorney, Aldine Independent School District

Ronda L. Harrison, Esq., Attorney and Counselor at Law

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Felix Chevalier, Esq., Managing Partner, Chevalier Helps, pllc

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Michele Hayes, J.D., LL.M., Cassandra L. Hill, Esq., DiDirector of Student Recruit- rector of Legal Writing and ing, University of Maryland Assistant Professor of Law, Thurgood Marshall School School of Law of Law Texas Southern University

Honor Roll

Brandy Howard, Law Tracie J. Jackson, Esq., Of Counsel, Shirley A. Jefferson, Student, University of Frye, Steidley, Oaks and Benavi- Esq., Associate Dean Houston Law Center dez, and Director and Business for Student Affairs and Owner, Intuitive African Dance & Diversity, Vermont Law School Drum Culture

Chanler A. Langham, Esq., Associate, Susman Godfrey LLP

Bianca D. Mack, Esq., Director of Diversity Services, George Mason University School of Law

Virgie Lemond Mouton, J.D., MS.Ed., Assistant Dean for Student Development and Instructor, Thurgood Marshall School of Law Texas Southern University

Michael T. Murphy, Esq., Associate, Vinson & Elkins

LaToya Jones-Burrell, Esq., Academic Counselor, Office of Academic Support Programs, Adjunct Professor, Southern University Law Center

Rachel Kelly, Third-Year Law Student, Thurgood Marshall School of Law Texas Southern University

Keith Lampkin, Third-Year Law Student, Thurgood Marshall School of Law Texas Southern University

The Honorable Njeri I. MathisRutledge, Esq., Associate Municipal Judge, City of Houston; Associate Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law

Reginald McGahee, Esq., Assistant Dean of Admissions, Howard University School of Law

Rodney R. Miller, Esq., Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges

Jimmi Nicholson, M.S., Assistant Director for Admissions & Minority Affairs, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

Chinedum U. Okparaeke, President, Barbara C. Jordan Chapter, National Black Law Students Association, ThirdYear Law Student, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Irene Oritseweyinmi Joe, Esq., Training Director, Louisiana Public Defender Board (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Lawrencina Oramalu, Esq., Assistant Dean and Director of Multicultural Affairs, William Mitchell College of Law Fall 2011/Winter 2012

Kourtney James Perry, Esq., Business Manager, Perry Evan Films, Founder & Principal Editor, 7 Centerpieces BLACK

Charles Holmes, Esq., Associate Professor and Pre-Law Advisor, Tougaloo College (Retired)

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Brandice Burton Pierre, J.D., Associate Director, Corporate Work-Study Program

Donald D. Pritchett, Jr., J.D., Director of Recruitment/ Associate Director of Admissions, Penn State University Dickinson School of Law

Chloe T. Reid, J.D., Associate Dean and Dean of Admissions, University of Southern California Gould School of Law

Edward W. Reneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Ph.D., Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University

Troy Riddle, Esq., Multicultural Affairs Officer, Widener University School of Law

Dominique Ross, ThirdYear Law Student, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University

Hon. Oswald J. Scott, Jr., Attorney, Author, Life Coach, and Municipal Court Judge, City of Houston

Jennifer Sims, Esq., M.B.A., Assistant Dean for Admissions, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University

Tobin Sparling, Esq., Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law

Christopher B. Suell, Esq., Attorney

Duane Tobias, Esq., Assistant Director of Admission, The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

Travis Alexander Torrence, Esq., Senior Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

Darcell Walker, Esq., Intellectual Property Attorney

Brian Washington, Second-Year Law Student, Thurgood Marshall School of Law Texas Southern University

Ivy Washington-Marshall, Esq., Assistant Director of Admissions and Student Affairs, The University of Akron School of Law

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Julie Wenah, J.D./M.P.A. Candidate, Thurgood Marshall School of Law Texas Southern University, National Director of Education and Career Development, National Black Law Students Association

Donna R. Tomlinson Weyand, Esq., Esq., LL.M., Visiting Associate Professor of Law, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (Fort Worth, Texas)

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Marlen D. Whitley, Esq., Partner, Thompson & Knight, LLP

Kara Willis, President, Black Law Students Association, South Texas College of Law

Honor Roll

Clinic and Assistance Session Advisors

Shontrana Gates, J.D., Admissions Counselor, Seattle University School of Law

Brenda L. Hernandez, Esq., Assistant Director of Admissions, Pace University School of Law

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Jermaine Cruz, J.D., M.A., Assistant Director of Admissions, Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Theodore M. Shaw, Esq. Professor of Professional Practice in Law Columbia Law School New York, New York

Full Name: Theodore M. Shaw High School: Cardinal Spellman High School College/University: Wesleyan University Law School: Columbia University Legacy (Children): Theodore Winston Shaw, Zora Jean Shaw, Amali Ransom Shaw, Isaiah Malik Shaw

Theodore M. Shaw is the 2011 Legacy Builder Award recipient.

Theodore M. Shaw, director-counsel and president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) from 2004-08, is one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading voices in civil rights. Shaw joined LDF in 1982 and in 2004 became the fifth person to lead the organization.

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hile at LDF, he was lead counsel in a coalition that represented African-American and Latino students in the University of Michigan undergraduate affirmative action admissions case. That case, Gratz v. Bollinger, went before the United States Supreme Court in 2003, along with Grutter v. Bollinger, which challenged the use of affirmative action at The University of Michigan Law School. Shaw worked as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 197982, where he litigated civil rights cases at the trial and appellate levels and at the U.S. Supreme Court. He currently serves on the Legal Advisory Network of the European Roma Rights Council based in Budapest, Hungary. Shaw previously has taught at Columbia, University of Michigan, Temple and CUNY law schools. He is the recipient of the Wien Prize for Social Responsibility from Columbia Law School; the A. Leon

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Higginbotham, Jr., Memorial Award from the National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division; and the Baldwin Medal from the Wesleyan University alumni body.

Theodore M. Shaw is 2011 National Black Pre-Law Conference Legacy Builder Award Recipient

Lawyer Profile

Were you the first lawyer in your family? Yes. When did you decide you wanted to become a lawyer? When I was in high school. What is your best memory from law school? Bid whist games in the BALSA office. What is your worst memory from law school? My impecunious state. What did you take away from the law school experience that you believe was an important lesson in life? Form relationships with people from all backgrounds. You never know whom you are sitting next to in law school, where they are going in life, and what they are going to do. In fact, you don’t know what you are going to do.  What was your favorite subject in law school? Trusts and Estates. What are your thoughts about the bar exam? The bar exam is a cram test and a hazing ritual. It has little, if anything, to do with what kind of lawyer you will be. Respect it as a challenge, but do not be intimidated by it. If you doubt your ability to pass it, go down to the local court house and watch the lawyers who are practicing. You will see a range of abilities, but you will surely see your place within that range. How did you feel the day you were officially sworn in as an “attorney at law”?

I felt a sense of accomplishment, and that I was finally able to do the work that I was meant to do. What is most difficult about being a lawyer? It is a profession that can be all consuming, leaving little time for those we love unless we are deliberate about how we live our lives. What is your greatest success as a lawyer? Among the many cases and matters I worked on while at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, it is difficult to pick one as the greatest success. The Michigan cases stand among the most significant. In Grutter v. Bollinger, I played a role that is little known. While on the faculty of the University of Michigan Law School I initiated a series of conversations with the then Dean of the Law School, Lee Bollinger, arising out of my concerns that the school was not in compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision in Board of Regents of University of California v. Bakke. Those conversations led the Dean to appoint a committee to review the law school’s admissions policies in a holistic manner. I served on that committee, and played a key role in ensuring that our revamped admissions policies were compliant with governing Supreme Court case law. That was the policy that was upheld in Grutter. In the companion case involving undergraduate admissions, Gratz v. Bollinger, after returning to the Legal Defense Fund, I served as lead counsel for Black and Latino students. What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Black law students and lawyers? The biggest problem facing Black law students is one of confidence. Often under suspicion, if not assault, concerning their right to be at the table in their law schools,

they do not achieve all that they are capable of achieving. Black law students need to know that they are not only capable of graduating from law school and passing the bar, they are able to do it with excellence as their standard. Black lawyers face continued suspicion in law firms and in other places, but their greatest challenges include forming the right mentoring relationships, forming the primary relationships with clients, and successfully moving towards partnership. Our greatest challenges as African American lawyers also include meeting our responsibilities to serve our poorest communities in ways that continue to lift them from the albatross of poverty, dysfunction, and the legacy of intergenerational racial inequality. Do you feel Black lawyers have a special obligation to the Black community and other Black people interested in becoming lawyers? Yes, I do. Charles Houston said that “A lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite on society.” What does being a lawyer mean to you? Being a lawyer is a sacred trust, that permits me to serve in a special way. What are your future goals as a lawyer? My future goals are primarily focused on mentoring a new generation of lawyers, with special emphasis on African American lawyers and others from groups which have been historically excluded from opportunity. Other than that, my goal is to keep fighting for racial, economic and other forms of justice as long as God grants me the strength to fight. What do you feel is the best preparation for law school?

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 Favorite quotes: “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Hope does not come to us serendipitously. Hope is a choice.” - Theodore M. Shaw

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Read everything you can. What is the one thing about law school and the practice of law that no one ever told you but you wish you had known? The habits you form early in life are the habits that will determine your successes and failures. What other dreams and aspirations do you have - beyond the practice of law? To live as long as I can as well as I can. What would people be surprised to learn about you? My sense of humor. Who is your biggest supporter/ Favorite vacation destination: Paris

cheerleader? My wife, Halona. Favorite legal show or television judge: Old school: Perry Mason Favorite drink: A good glass of a dry chardonney Favorite dessert: Banana cream pie Favorite book: The Once and Future King Favorite movie: Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia and To Kill a Mockingbird (Can’t choose.) Favorite song: “People Get Ready”

Favorite type of music: Jazz, R&B Favorite musical artist: Miles, Coltrane, Roberta Flack (Cannot choose one) Favorite musical group: Dells, Temptations Favorite Bible scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-54

Favorite historical figure: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Favorite hobby: Reading. What adjectives best describe you? More complicated than I once knew. What legacy do you hope to leave? I want to be able to say that I took the baton and ran my leg of the race, and I hope that I made the world a better place.

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What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring lawyers? Work hard. Find something you love and do it.

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Diversity Is A Business Strategy. It Opens Minds â&#x20AC;&#x201D; As Well As Doors. At Ballard Spahr, we believe our clients are best served when the solutions we offer spring from varied viewpoints and perspectives. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we have created an environment that welcomes and includes all people - and gives everybody the opportunity to succeed. Ballard Spahr is proud to support The National Black Pre-Law Conference and Fair.

Committed to advancing diversity within our firm and the profession .

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The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Paul Lancaster Adams, Esq. Senior Director, U.S. Government Affairs Microsoft Corporation Washington, DC Full Name: Paul Lancaster Adams High School: Trinity Episcopal High School College/University: Virginia Commonwealth University Law School: Wake Forest University School of Law

Paul Lancaster Adams is senior director of U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft Corporation, serving on the company’s U.S. Government Affairs Leadership team. He advises on and supports strategic executive projects, outreach strategies for interoperability and antitrust, and advocates on issues through outreach to those within the government elite ecosystem.

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or over two and a half years, Paul previously tigations while also serving as co-chair of the firm’s served as associate general counsel as part of Diversity Committee. He was also a partner at Sweethe corporation’s Li ti gation leadership team. ney & Sheehan in Philadelphia where, for 5 years, He managed and directed the strategic and he served as national counsel for a large restaurant tactical handling of various industry-driven chain and practiced in the areas of employment, class actions and significant litigation in the areas soft intellectual property, commercial and tort litigaof labor and employment, soft intellectual property, tion. Paul’s public sector experience includes having products liability and commercial matters, as well as served as a trial attorney with the City of Philadelphia high-level domestic, and non-U.S. corporate internal Law Department in its Federal Trial Division. During investigations related to fraud, unethical business his litigation career, Paul successfully tried numerpractices and policy violations. He also provided risk ous cases to verdict, including high profile matters assessment and daily legal counsel on various issues before federal and state courts. to business executives and manPaul has been a repeat guest speakagers. For the last two years, Paul er on international fronts on issues has lead the Legal and Corporate involving the legal profession while Affairs Diversity Team Outreach evangelizing company programming Committee. and initiatives. He’s been honored by Before joining Microsoft in a number of organizations, such as 2008, Paul was a partner at the the National Bar Association, American Philadelphia office of MontgomLawyer Media and Philadelphia Business ery McCracken Walker & Rhoads Journal, for his commitment to the lewhere he represented large pubgal profession and community. Paul licly traded corporations with received his B.A., with honors, from international operations in the Virginia Commonwealth University in areas of labor and employment, Paul Lancaster Adams is Senior 1990 where he also was selected as commercial litigation and gov- Director, U.S. Government Affairs for a Governor’s Fellow, and his J.D. from Microsoft Corporation ernment and corporate invesWake Forest University School of Law.

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Lawyer Profile

 Favorite quotes: “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier” – Colin Powell

That certain practice areas, such as criminal law and personal injury, become saturated.

 Were you the first lawyer in your family? Yes.

 Do you feel Black lawyers have a special obligation to the Black community and other Black people interested in becoming lawyers? I believe that lawyers of color should give back to their community and pay forward what they can so that generations, that follow, can achieve their goals.

 What is your best memory from law school? Being in class with Contracts Professor Butch Covington. He loved the law and his enthusiasm about it was contagious.  What is your worst memory from law school? Not knowing what to expect on my first day as a 1-L.  What did you take away from the law school experience that you believe was an important lesson in life? That the ability to manage your time is vital to success.  What was your favorite subject in law school? Constitutional Law.  What are your thoughts about the bar exam? You have to know how to take it which is a skill within itself. Having knowledge of the subject areas alone will not suffice.  How did you feel the day you were officially sworn in as an “attorney at law”? Proud and fortunate.  What is most difficult about being a lawyer? Watching lawyers on T.V., or in a movie, and thinking about all the things they do that would not happen in real-life, instead of simply enjoying the production.  What is your greatest success as a lawyer? Not sure of one. Making partner while in private practice comes to mind.  What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Black law students and lawyers?

 Favorite song: “You Send Me Swingin’”  Favorite type of music: R & B and Jazz  Favorite musical artist: Usher and Dave Koz  Favorite musical group: Mint Condition

 What does being a lawyer mean to you? It’s the ultimate!  What are your future goals as a lawyer? To continue to learn and grow and lead by example.  What do you feel is the best preparation for law school? Taking college courses that require you to write as much as possible and to have as many unique life experiences as you can to add value to the law school experience.  What other dreams and aspirations do you have - beyond the practice of law? To travel around the world in a month.  What would people be surprised to learn about you? That I enjoy Hot Yoga.  Who is your biggest supporter/ cheerleader? Mother and father.  Favorite legal show or television judge: Boston Legal  Favorite food: Turkey lasagna  Favorite drink: Starbucks Iced Chai Latte  Favorite dessert: Peanut butter cookies  Favorite book: Moby Dick  Favorite television show: V

 Favorite Bible scripture: Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.  Favorite vacation destination: Barcelona, Spain  Favorite historical figure: Civil rights attorney Oliver Hill  Favorite hobby: Working out.  What adjectives best describe you? Motivated and hardworking.  What legacy do you hope to leave? I hope to leave behind a legacy of young lawyers who will bring others along, and pay it forward, so that generations behind them can achieve their goals and aspirations.  What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring lawyers? Broaden your thoughts about practice areas. There is such a need for diverse attorneys, for example, in intellectual property.

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 When did you decide you wanted to become a lawyer? In 1986 during Advanced Individual Training for the U.S. Army.

 Favorite movie: The Best Man

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Yolanda Young, Esq.

Attorney, Author, Activist, Commentator Founder & Editor, On Being a Black Lawyer www.OnBeingABlackLawyer.com Full Name: Yolanda Young High School: Captain Shreve High School College/University: Howard University Law School: Georgetown University Law Center

Yolanda Young, Esq. is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and the author of the award winning memoir, On Our Way to Beautiful (Random House).

er latest book is Thurgood’s Legacy: Black Lawyers Reflect on Life, Law School and the Legal Profession. The activist and lecturer is a frequent contributor to USA Today and the founder & editor of the popular legal blog: On Being A Black Lawyer (OBABL). She is often called

 Favorite quotes: Yolanda: “Life might be challenging, but I’ll take it over the alternative.” Paraphrasing Booker T. Washington: “Don’t measure success by where you stand, but by the distance you traveled to get there.”  Were you the first lawyer in your family? Yes  When did you decide you wanted to become a lawyer? Watching Thurgood Marshall in the Brown v. Board of Education section of the documentary, Eyes On The Prize.

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 What is your best memory from law school?

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upon to offer legal, political, and social analysis for Fox5 and NPR. She has been invited to speak at Harvard Law School, The Building A Better Legal Profession at Stanford Law School, and several National Black Law Student Association conferences.

Graduation--the robes were pretty.  What is your worst memory from law school? Can’t think of one.  What did you take away from the law school experience that you believe was an important lesson in life? Most people have to work hard and smart to be successful.  What was your favorite subject in law school? Contracts.  What are your thoughts about the bar exam? I’m glad it’s over.  How did you feel the day you

Yolanda Young is the author of the award-winning memoir, On Our Way to Beautiful

Lawyer Profile

were officially sworn in as an “attorney at law”? Relieved.

 Who is your biggest supporter/ cheerleader? My mother.

 What is most difficult about being a lawyer? Dealing with clients who think they are lawyers.

 Favorite legal show or television judge: Eli Stone (but it only lasted one season!)

 What is your greatest success as a lawyer? Being able to assist my family.

 Favorite food: Stuffed shrimp

 Do you feel Black lawyers have a special obligation to the Black community and other Black people interested in becoming lawyers? I wouldn’t call it an “obligation,” but I do think Black attorneys want to help their communities.  What does being a lawyer mean to you? A great responsibility.

 Favorite drink: Hot water with lemon  Favorite dessert: Any  Favorite book: Max Perkins: Editor of Genius  Favorite television show: The Big Bang Theory  Favorite movie: St. Elmo’s Fire

 Favorite type of music: R&B  Favorite musical artist: It depends.

 What do you feel is the best preparation for law school? Good study habits.

 Favorite Bible scripture: “Jesus Wept.” It reminds me that no one escapes some suffering, so we should stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

 What other dreams and aspirations do you have - beyond the practice of law? Write more books.  What would people be surprised to learn about you? I love The Big Bang Theory [television show]!

 Favorite historical figure: Harriet Tubman

 Favorite song: “Sarah’s Smile”

 What are your future goals as a lawyer? Create more opportunities for attorneys of color.

 What is the one thing about law school and the practice of law that no one ever told you but you wish you had known? The best lawyer is not always the smartest lawyer but the hardest working lawyer.

Yolanda Young is Founder & Editor of Popular Blog www.OnBeingABlackLawyer.com

 Favorite musical group: Cameo

 Favorite vacation destination: Any resort.

 Favorite hobby: Reading.  What adjectives best describe you? Determined.  What legacy do you hope to leave? I did something.  What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring lawyers? Stay in your own lane.

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 What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Black law students and lawyers? Student loan debt.

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Law School Recruitment Fair

Thank you to the following law schools who participated in the law fair and shared information about their schools with conference attendees:

Albany Law School of Union University

Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law Baylor University School of Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University Boston College Law School

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California Western School of Law Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law Capital University Law School Case Western Reserve University School of Law The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law Chapman University School of Law Charleston School of Law Charlotte School of Law Chicago-Kent College of Law City University of New York School of Law Columbia Law School Creighton University School of Law

DePaul University College of Law Drake University Law School

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Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel University

F Florida Coastal School of Law Florida International University College of Law The Florida State University College of Law

G George Mason University School of Law The George Washington University School of Law Georgia State University College of Law Golden Gate University School of Law Gonzaga University School of Law

H Hamline University School of Law Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law Howard University School of Law

I Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis

J The John Marshall Law School (Chicago, Illinois)

L Lewis & Clark Law School Liberty University School of Law Lincoln Memorial University – Duncan School of Law Loyola Law School

M Marquette University Law School McGeorge School of Law University of the Pacific Mercer University School of Law

Law School Recruitment Fair

N New England Law Boston New York Law School Northeastern University School of Law Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law Notre Dame Law School

O Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

P Pace Law School Paul M. Hebert Law Center Louisiana State University Pepperdine University School of Law Phoenix School of Law

Q Quinnipiac University School of Law

R Regent University School of Law Roger Williams University School of Law Rutgers University School of Law – Newark

S Saint Louis University School of Law St. Thomas University School of Law (Miami Gardens, Florida) Samford University’s Cumberland

School of Law Seattle University School of Law Seton Hall University School of Law South Texas College of Law Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law Southern University Law Center Southwestern Law School Stetson University College of Law

T Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law Texas Tech University School of Law Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Thomas Jefferson School of Law Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center Tulane University Law School

U The University of Akron School of Law University of Alabama School of Law The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law University of Baltimore School of Law University at Buffalo Law School, The State University of New York University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law The University of Chicago Law School University of Colorado Law School *University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law University of Idaho School of Law University of Iowa College of Law University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law University of Maryland School of Law The University of Mississippi School of Law

University of Nebraska College of Law The University of Oklahoma College of Law University of Oregon School of Law University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minneapolis, Minnesota) University of San Diego School of Law The University of San Francisco School of Law University of Southern California Gould School of Law University of Texas School of Law University of Toledo College of Law University of Washington School of Law University of Wisconsin Law School University of Wyoming College of Law

V Valparaiso University Law School Vanderbilt Law School Vermont Law School Villanova University School of Law

W Western New England College School of Law Western State University College of Law Whittier Law School Widener University School of Law Willamette University College of Law William H. Bowen School of Law, University of Arkansas at Little Rock William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas William Mitchell College of Law

X Y Z

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Michigan State University College of Law Mississippi College School of Law

The 7th Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2011

Closing Ceremony

Dr. Benjamin Hall, Owner, The Hall Law Firm

Twanda Turner-Hawkins, Esq., Vice President, National Bar Association

Yolanda Young, Esq., Founder & Editor, On Being a Black Lawyer (OBABL)

Andrea Hence Evans, Esq., The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans, LLC

Audrey Moorehead, Esq., Chairperson, The African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas

Nathan Williamson, Chairperson, Pre-Law Division, National Black Law Students Association

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For more information about The National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair, please go to the official website at www.blackprelawconference.com. Fall 2011/Winter 2012

Through civic engagement, community service and professional development, our network of young professionals works to secure economic self-reliance, power, parity and civil rights to groups in the minority.

Empowering Communities. Changing Lives. Visit us at www.haulyp.org

HAULYP is an auxiliary of the Houston Area Urban League

UM KC School of Law Internship LSAT Preparation Summer Stipend Field Experience

Discover the power of law with an inspiring, engaging, and focused program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law for undergraduate sophomores and juniors. Please call 816-235-5378 or visit our website for more information:

http://law.umkc.edu/prospective-students/discoverplus.asp 1-201 Office of Admissions ● 500 E. 52nd St. ● Kansas City, MO ● 64110-2458

Thank You to Our Sponsors, Partners, and Contributors NATIONAL MEDIA PARTNERS Radio One

Black Legal Issues

Black Star News

LOCAL MEDIA PARTNERS The Choice 90.9 KTSU

Houston Forward Times

COMMUNITY PARTNERS Empowered Entrepreneurs

Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals

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Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference

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National Association of Black Female Entrepreneurs

Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce

LEGAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS Houston Lawyers Association

National Black Law Students Association

National Black Law Students Association – Pre-Law Division National Black Law Students Association – Rocky Mountain Region South Texas College of Law – Black Law Students Association Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law – Black Law Students Association University of Houston Law Center – Black Law Students Association PREMIUM SPONSORS

Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Phoenix School of Law

Microsoft

Andrews Kurth LLP

Ballard Spahr LLP

Contributors Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

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The Honorable Oswald J. Scott and Yvonne Cherena Pacheco, J.D., LL.M. 31

Remembering Derrick Bell

DERRICK BELL

Derrick A. Bell, Jr. November 6, 1930 – October 5, 2011

Derrick Bell, a leading and influential legal scholar, is best known as the pioneering founder of the academic discipline and movement in legal philosophy known as Critical Race Theory (CRT). Critical Race Theory explores how racism is a part of all American societal institutions, including its laws. In 1973, he wrote the groundbreaking textbook Race, Racism and American Law, which is a standard book used in law schools across the nation.

Two years later, Harvard still had not offered a Black woman a tenured position and chose not to extend his leave. However, he went on to spend the rest of his career teaching law and writing as a visiting professor of law at the New York University School of Law.

What has made him stand out is not only becoming the “first” in breaking down walls, but the fact that he was willing to sacrificially give up prestigious positions he had worked hard to earn in order to make a statement about those things he strongly believed in – particularly faculty diversity in law schools. He gave up his deanship at the University of Oregon Law School because an Asian woman was not offered a faculty position. He also took an unpaid leave of absence from Harvard Law School in protest for their not hiring or offering tenure to a Black or minority woman.

Prior to his academic career, Bell worked as a civil rights lawyer for the U.S. Justice Department, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. He also served as the executive director of the Western Center on Law and Poverty at the University of Southern California Law School. Notably, while working as an assistant counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, he supervised over 300 school desegregation cases. He led the fight for James Meredith in helping him gain admission in the then all-White University of Mississippi.

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n addition to this valuable contribution, he is well-known for becoming the first tenured Black law professor at Harvard Law School and the first Black person to become the dean of a predominantly White law school, the University of Oregon Law School.

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Through Professor Bell’s important contribution to legal scholarship, including his authoring several books including the critically acclaimed works And We Are Not Saved: The Elusive Quest for Racial Justice and Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism, he has impacted many and will continue to for years to come. His legacy will be a lasting one for law students, lawyers, and the many others who study Critical Race Theory in other disciplines outside of law. He was not only a distinguished law professor and prolific writer, he was a tireless champion for civil rights throughout his lifetime unafraid to take risks and confront wrongs. Bell passed away at the age of 80 of carcinoid cancer. He is survived by his wife, Janet Dewart Bell, and his three children from his first marriage (his first wife Jewel Hairston Bell died of breast cancer in 1990), Derrick Albert III, Douglas Dubois and Carter Robeson.

Remembering Derrick Bell

Remembering Pioneering Legal Scholar and Civil Rights Activist

Derrick Bell People who knew and were impacted by Derrick Bell share their thoughts about him and the legacy he has left . . .

Earl Martin Phalen Founder, Summer Advantage USA www.summeradvantage.org CEO, Reach Out and Read www.reachoutandread.org Quincy, Massachusetts

“I knew Derrick for 30 years. He was a father figure to me who was always there when I needed him!! Derrick wrote the foreword to my Critical Race Feminism anthology even though he had his own book deadline. He wrote a tenure letter supporting me. We both had sons we named Robeson. He came and spoke at my school the University of Iowa College of Law several times, including for graduation. Of the many characteristics I admired about Derrick, I especially appreciated his humility and willingness to lay himself bare to consider whether he had made mistakes. These can be qualities in very short supply in the legal profession as well as elsewhere. I hope that everyone will have a mentor like Derrick Bell in their lives.” Adrien Katherine Wing Bessie Dutton Murray Professor of Law University of Iowa College of Law www.law.uiowa.edu/faculty/adrien-wing.php Iowa City, Iowa

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“Professor Bell set a clear standard for us all in his unrelenting focus on doing what was required to ensure justice was accessible for all. A perfect example was his willingness to give up his tenured position at Harvard Law School because he believed so strongly in the importance of tenuring a woman of color. There are very few people who believe so deeply in something that they would sacrifice in such a personal way to uphold their beliefs. I named my first organization after Professor Bell (Building Educated Leaders for Life, aka BELL) to serve as a small tribute to Professor Bell’s legacy, but I could never thank him enough for being for me and so many others, to use Dr. King’s words, “a drum major for justice.”

Derrick Bell’s Advice

Professor Derrick Bell’s Advice for Incoming Black Law Students From the foreword of The African American Law School Survival Guide July 5, 2005

hen I entered law school in the fall of 1954, I did so for two reasons. First, two or three black lawyers who lived in my neighborhood had encouraged me to consider becoming a lawyer and were my exemplars that if as black men, they could become lawyers, maybe I could do as they had done. Second, there seemed very few professional areas open to blacks other than lawyer, doctor, minister, and teacher. I entered law school in Pittsburgh, the only black in a class of about 120 men, worked very hard all three years, was elected associate editor-in-chief of the law review and graduated near the top of my class. Despite my academic accomplishment, no Pittsburgh law firm would hire me.

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Now, almost 50 years later, things have changed for the better, but not that much better. More than half of most law school classes are women and almost all law schools have a “diversity” component of black and other non-white students and a few faculty members. Now, those blacks with very good academic records and law review credentials, particularly if earned at a “major” law school, have a

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except for students able to obtain full scholarships, the cost and the loan debt can easily total well into six figures. True, there is no better investment than yourself, but as with any investment, students contemplating law school should consider carefully all their options. better chance than I had of being hired by large firms, though not that much opportunity to advance to partner status. Despite the fact that record numbers of new lawyers are joining the profession, the job situation is rather bleak for those who attended schools in the second, third, or fourth tiers. It is not that graduates of these schools are less prepared to do good work, but the legal market is so crowded that employers in public interest as well as large law firms, prefer to hire – and boast about hiring – graduates of one of the top tier schools. This is one of several reasons that I no longer actively encourage students, and especially black and Hispanic students, to consider law as a profession. In addition, legal education is very expensive and

And yet, despite reservations, I recognize that law is an attractive option for those with undergraduate degrees, no burning desire to enter another field, and few job options of any kind. I also recognize that many law graduates do not go into traditional areas of law practice, or don’t remain in them for very long. Law degrees for a host of reasons serve as good credentials for positions in business, government, social service agencies, education, journalism, yes even the ministry. So, having decided to apply and this Survival Guide assumes, been admitted to a law school, what can I add based on my 36 years of law teaching, 15 at Harvard, almost the same number at NYU, five years as dean of the University of Oregon Law School, visits at a half dozen schools, and lectures at many dozen more? Here are a few basics

Derrick Bell’s Advice

intended to serve as foundational support for the advice in this Guide: First, know that legal education for the most part is pedagogically the poorest education provided for any major profession. Certainly, you must and should work hard, but the difficulties, the uncertainties, the trauma, you encounter, particularly in the first year, are more the fault of the system than yours or the other students struggling around you. There are exceptions, but a great many courses are presented in ways that violate all the rules of effective teaching. Classes are large and are conducted mainly through lecture or some form of what is called the Socratic Method. The teacher calls on one student to describe a case or some aspect of legal doctrine and then in a series of questions, attempts to get the student and the class to see and understand the impor-

tance of the case or doctrine. But there is seldom much discussion when one participant, the teacher, knows all the answers, while the other, the student, struggles to understand what the teacher expects as answers to his questions. It is little wonder that few students volunteer for such dialogues and whatever learning takes place is over-shadowed by the prayerful hope not to be called on. The process for most students is quite passive. You are assigned cases to read in preparation for class and then – at least for many students, hope that you are not called on. There is little opportunity for feedback about progress, and teachers are seldom able to communicate how a student is doing. Should you memorize the case holdings? How do you compare different holdings from different courts or different holdings by the same court? Many courses offer a mid-term practice exam that can be helpful, but there is seldom any detailed comment about the exam answer’s strong and weak points. Final exams are sufficiently traumatic that few students recognize that really good grades depend on a set of skills not either taught during the course. That is, students can read the cases diligently, attend every class, take careful notes, incorporate the cases and the notes into detailed outlines and still do poorly.

success in law school requires that you supplement the law school’s education Why? Because final exams require not simply a good knowledge of the course content, but the ability to rather quickly recognize applicable precedents from the factual setting in the question, analyze how those precedents should be applied to the facts, distinguish other precedents that seem applicable, and reach a conclusion that impressively communicates your understanding of both law and policy issues raised in the question. All of this should be done in a straight-forward writing style that is both legible and cogent. Those students who do very well on such exams bring to the process skills of quick analysis and writing not likely learned in the course or in law school. Second, success in law school requires that you supplement the law school’s education. When I attended law school a half-century ago, it was not unusual for less than half of a firstyear entering class would graduate three years later. Today, most law schools admit students from applicant pools ten to twenty times larger than the size of their first-year classes. Relatively few students are asked to leave because of poor grades, though many more drop out because of financial or personal problems, or after concluding that law is not for them. Thus, most graduating classes are roughly the same size

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...legal education for the most part is pedagogically the poorest education provided for any major profession.

Derrick Bell’s Advice

law school is a part of your life as the entering class. In short, if you can get admitted, with hard work, you can graduate. This, though, is small comfort for an investment of three years of your life and more money than you are likely to earn for several years. Avoiding this “I got through” rationalization can be done by replacing every passive aspect of your schooling with activist endeavor. For example: – In addition to reading the assigned cases, compose a list of questions that the teacher will or should raise during the class. Note: suddenly, the reading of cases (often a boring activity) becomes interesting, even gripping. You have to understand the case to write those questions and, perhaps, brief answers. This is active learning and the questions and answers are far better for review than briefing the cases (a week or so of briefing is usually enough to get the hang of it and as much as you are likely able to stand).

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– With your questions and answers, you are prepared to participate in class discussion and you

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should participate. You don’t have to keep your hand up all the time (alas, as I did in law school), but being involved in class discussion at least once a week is a worthy goal. Teachers will appreciate your participation and will likely be more welcoming when you drop in during their visiting hours to discuss the finer points of the material. – Study groups may be old fashion, but getting together with three or four other students once or twice a week and actually teaching one another can be a great help. Again, it is active learning. This is much more useful activity than writing 100 page outlines or (heavens) buying canned outlines. – Prepare for final exams by writing exam questions. The school library usually has old exam questions on file that can serve as models. But write your own questions and do this throughout the course, not just in the week or so before finals. You will find that you can’t write a decent question without a good understanding of the material. Once again, this is active learning, the very best kind. Third, law school is a part of your life. Live it throughly. I wish I could guarantee that those who remember my admonition about the quality of legal education in part one, and strive to follow the advice contained int part two, will graduate at or near the top of their classes. I can’t. There are too many factors involved in that form of success. I can assure you, though, that adherence to my suggestions will make your law school experience both more productive and more rewarding. And if, despite your best efforts, your first-year grades are a disappointment, don’t give up. Don’t go

into overdrive and plan to cruise through the other two years, saving your real efforts for the bar exam and your career job. Those who work effectively in law school, embracing active learning, are more likely to do well on the bar exam and in the jobs that follow. Even in law school, there are opportunities within the school, academically on a law review, moot court, or in a clinic program. Law school is far better than when I was a student, but there is much need for further reform. Be a part of a BSLA or other student group pushing the law school administration for improvements that may or may not happen during your years, but is a worthwhile way of expressing appreciation for the reform work done by your predecessors. Keep in mind that even as a law student at least somewhat traumatized by your experience, you are better off than much of the society that did not have your opportunities. Reach out and volunteer your skills with organizations in your community that are working with persons and families facing barriers to well-being far greater than those posed by law school. Even your efforts to help will provide you with a sense that, whatever your grades, you have and are developing skills that others can use. And, finally, while not wishing to be morbid, we know that there are a few among you whose lives may well end within a too short time after law school. Tragedy happens, and its pain and loss are eased somewhat by the knowledge that the individual lived life fully and viewed law school not as simply a preparation for the future, but as an important phase of life that was lived fully.

Recommended Reading

Recommended Reading Pick up these excellent contributions to legal scholarship by the late Professor Derrick A. Bell, the founder of Critical Race Theory. You must add his books to your collection.

Race, Racism, and American Law (Sixth Edition)

And We Are Not Saved: The Elusive Quest for Racial Justice

Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism

by Derrick A. Bell

by Derrick Bell

by Derrick A. Bell

(Aspen Publishers, July 23, 2008)

(Basic Books, March 28, 1989)

(Basic Books, October 28, 1993)

Gospel Choirs: Psalms of Survival in an Alien Land Called Home

Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth

Silent Covenants: Brown v. Board of Education and the Unfulfilled Hopes for Racial Reform

by Derrick A. Bell (Bloomsbury Publishing Place, September 1, 2003)

by Derrick A. Bell (Oxford University Press, 2005)

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by Derrick A. Bell (Basic Books, May 30, 1997)

Lloyd Gaines and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada

Lloyd Gaines and the Landmark Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada Supreme Court Case Missouri Ex Rel. Gaines is a historic Supreme Court case involving a Black law school applicant not being given access to a legal education in the State of Missouri solely because he was Black. Blacks were not allowed to attend school with Whites because of legalized segregation. The decision found that the state of Missouri had to either admit Gaines or provide an equal Black law school in the state. The Court found that Gaines’ exclusion was a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. This case is considered the most important segregation case since Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), a Supreme Court case upholding the “separate but equal” doctrine, which was used to justify segregation, including that in public schools. The Missouri law school case, along with other cases to follow, played a key role in helping to eliminate segregation in public education through the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case decided in 1954.

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The case helped forge the legal framework for the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education, which banned segregation in public schools.

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Lloyd Gaines and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada

305 U.S. 337 (1938) MISSOURI EX REL. GAINES v. CANADA, REGISTRAR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, ET AL. No. 57. Supreme Court of United States. Argued November 9, 1938. Decided December 12, 1938.

338*338 Messrs. Charles H. Houston and Sidney R. Redmond, with whom Mr. Leon A. Ransom was on the brief, for petitioner. 339*339 Messrs. William S. Hogsett and Fred L. Williams, with whom Mr. Fred L. English was on the brief, for respondents. 342*342 MR. CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES delivered the opinion of the Court.

etitioner Lloyd Gaines, a negro, was refused admission to the School of Law at the State University of Missouri. Asserting that this refusal constituted a denial by the State of the equal protection of the laws in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution, petitioner brought this action for mandamus to compel the curators of the University to admit him. On final hearing, an alternative writ was quashed and a peremptory writ was denied by the Circuit Court. The Supreme Court of the State affirmed the judgment. 113 S.W.2d 783. We granted certiorari, October 10, 1938. Petitioner is a citizen of Missouri. In August, 1935, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the Lincoln University, an institution maintained by the State of Missouri for the higher education of negroes. That University has no law school. Upon the filing of his application for admission to the law school of the University of Missouri, the registrar advised him to communicate with the president of Lincoln University and the latter directed petitioner’s attention to § 9622 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (1929), providing as follows: “Sec. 9622. May arrange for attendance at university of any adjacent state — Tuition fees. — Pending the full development of the Lincoln university, the board of curators shall have the authority to arrange for the attendance of negro residents of the state of Missouri at the university of any adjacent state to take any course or to study any subjects provided for at the state university of Missouri, and which are not taught at the Lincoln university and to pay the

reasonable tuition fees for such attendance; provided that whenever the board of curators deem it advisable they shall have the power to open any necessary school or department. (Laws 1921, p. 86, § 7.)” Petitioner was advised to apply to the State Superintendent of Schools for aid under that statute. It was admitted on the trial that petitioner’s “work and credits at the Lincoln University would qualify him for admission to the School of Law of the University of Missouri if he were found otherwise eligible.” He was refused admission upon the ground that it was “contrary to the constitution, laws and public policy of the State to admit a negro as a student in the University of Missouri.” It appears that there are schools of law in connection with the state universities of four adjacent States, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois, where nonresident negroes are admitted. The clear and definite conclusions of the state court in construing the pertinent state legislation narrow the issue. The action of the curators, who are representatives of the State in the management of the state university (R.S. Mo., § 9625), must be regarded as state action.[1] The state constitution provides that separate free public schools shall be established for the education of children of African descent (Art. XI, § 3), and by statute separate high school facilities are supplied for colored students equal to those provided for white students (R.S. Mo., §§ 9346-9349). While there is no express constitutional provision requiring that the white and negro races be separated for the purpose of higher education, the state court on a comprehensive review of the state statutes held that it was intended to separate the white and negro races for that purpose also. Referring in particular to Lincoln University, the court deemed it to be clear “that the Legislature intended to bring the Lincoln University up to the standard of the University of Missouri, and give to the whites and negroes an equal opportunity for higher education — the whites at the University of Missouri, and the negroes at Lincoln University.” Further, the court concluded that the provisions of § 9622 (above quoted) to the effect that negro residents “may attend the university of any adjacent State with their tuition paid, pending the full development of Lincoln University,” made it evident “that the Legislature did not intend that negroes and whites should attend the same university in

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CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI.

First place, 2010 Williams Trial Competition for first-year Cumberland law students; University of Texas—Dallas graduate

iversity in the legal profession is a goal that is achieved by the deliberate efforts of those dedicated to its purpose. Cumberland School of Law has a history of students whose efforts both during and after law school continue to raise awareness regarding this important issue. Today’s law students, pictured left from top to bottom, SeTara, Ritesh, Gerri, and Courtney, will soon join Cumberland alumni who have been recognized for their effort in diversifying the legal profession.

2011―12 chief justice, Henry Upton Sims Moot Court Board; Auburn University graduate

Dara D. Fernández ’09 currently holds the position of regional president with the Hispanic National Bar Association and is an active member of the Association. Eddie L. Koen, Jr. ’08 held the national chair of the National Black Law Students Association from 2007―08. In 2007, he received the highest law student award for service in Alabama, the Alabama State Bar Pro Bono Student Award. This award was given for his more than 100 hours of project work dealing with post-conviction death penalty cases.

2011―12 editor-in-chief, Cumberland Law Review; The University of South Carolina—Upstate graduate

CLEO associate; liaison, Black Law Student Association; Stanford University graduate

Latanishia D. Watters ’01 was named assistant diversity director of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division for the 2009―10 term. She has been a featured speaker at the American Bar Association’s annual and midyear meetings. Beverly P. Baker ’85 has served as a commissioner on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession. She is a Fellow of the American Association of University Women. Ms. Baker is the chief diversity officer at Ogletree Deakins, which has 40 office locations and more than 500 attorneys.

2012 CLEO Member School. Cumberland School of Law will be the host school for the 2012 Southern Region of the National Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) convention. 13% minority students represented in the student body at the law school as of Fall 2011.

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Lloyd Gaines and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada

In answering petitioner’s contention that this discrimination constituted a denial of his constitutional right, the state court has fully recognized the obligation of the State to provide negroes with advantages for higher education substantially equal to the advantages afforded to white students. The State has sought to fulfill that obligation by furnishing equal facilities in separate schools, a method the validity of which has been sustained by our decisions. Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537, 544; McCabe v. Atchison, T. & S.F. Ry. Co., 235 U.S. 151, 160; Gong Lum v. Rice, 275 U.S. 78, 85, 86. Compare Cumming v. Board of Education, 175 U.S. 528, 544, 545. Respondents’ counsel have appropriately emphasized the special solicitude of the State for the higher education of negroes as shown in the establishment of Lincoln University, a state institution well conducted on a plane with the University of Missouri so far as the offered courses are concerned. It is said that Missouri is a pioneer in that field and is the only State in the Union which has established a separate university for negroes on the same basis as the state university for white students. But, commendable as is that action, the fact remains that instruction in law for negroes is not now afforded by the State, either at Lincoln University or elsewhere within the State, and that the State excludes negroes from the advantages of the law school it has established at the University of Missouri. It is manifest that this discrimination, if not relieved by the provisions we shall presently discuss, would constitute a denial of equal protection. That was the conclusion of the

Facts About Lloyd Lionel Gaines zz Born 1911 zz Earned distinction as valedictorian at Vashon High School zz Graduated with honors from Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Missouri) zz Served as president of his senior class zz Participated in several extra-curricular activities zz Worked to pay for his college education zz Received a bachelor’s degree in history zz Applied for admission to the University of Missouri Law School in 1936 zz Denied admission solely on the grounds of race, although he met all of the admission requirements zz Missouri’s policy was to pay for the expenses of Black students to go to professional school out of state because there was no “Black” law school zz Both the Boone County court and the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of the University of Missouri before taking the case to the United States Supreme Court

Court of Appeals of Maryland in circumstances substantially similar in that aspect. University of Maryland v. Murray, 169 Md. 478; 182 A. 590. It there appeared that the State of Maryland had “undertaken the function of education in the law” but had “omitted students of one race from the only adequate provision made for it, and omitted them solely because of their color”; that if those students were to be offered “equal treatment in the performance of the function, they must, at present, be admitted to the one school provided.” Id., p. 489. A provision for scholarships to enable negroes to attend colleges outside the State, mainly for the purpose of professional studies, was found to be inadequate (Id., pp. 485, 486) and the question, “whether with aid in any amount it is sufficient to send the negroes outside the State for legal education,” the Court of Appeals found it unnecessary to discuss. Accordingly, a writ of mandamus to admit the applicant was issued to the officers and regents of the University of Maryland as the agents of the State entrusted with the conduct of that institution. The Supreme Court of Missouri in the instant case has distinguished the decision in Maryland upon the grounds — (1) that in Missouri, but not in Maryland, there is “a legislative declaration of a purpose to establish a law school for negroes at Lincoln University whenever necessary or practical”; and (2) that, “pending the establishment of such a school, adequate provision has been made for the legal education of negro students in recognized schools outside of this State.” 113 S.W.2d. p. 791. As to the first ground, it appears that the policy of establishing a law school at Lincoln University has not yet ripened into an actual establishment, and it cannot be said that a mere declaration of purpose, still unfulfilled, is zz Earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan while his case was going through the court system zz In Michigan, Gai nes worked in the Works Progress Ad mi nistration as a clerk zz When Gaines returned from Michigan, he could only find a job working as a gas station attendant zz After the court victory, he would make speeches at churches and community centers, but only earned small donations in exchange for his talks zz Disappeared March 19, 1939 at age 28 after leaving the Alpha Phi Alpha house, where he briefly stayed, in Chicago, Illinois while on an errand to purchase postage stamps zz Never had the opportunity to study law

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this State.” In that view it necessarily followed that the curators of the University of Missouri acted in accordance with the policy of the State in denying petitioner admission to its School of Law upon the sole ground of his race.

Lloyd Gaines and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada enough. The provision for legal education at Lincoln is at present entirely lacking. Respondents’ counsel urge that if, on the date when petitioner applied for admission to the University of Missouri, he had instead applied to the curators of Lincoln University it would have been their duty to establish a law school; that this “agency of the State,” to which he should have applied, was “specifically charged with the mandatory duty to furnish him what he seeks.” We do not read the opinion of the Supreme Court as construing the state statute to impose such a “mandatory duty” as the argument seems to assert. The state court quoted the language of § 9618, R.S. Mo. 1929, set forth in the margin,[2] making it the mandatory duty of the board of curators to establish a law school in Lincoln University “whenever necessary and practicable in their opinion.” This qualification of their duty, explicitly stated in the statute, manifestly leaves it to the judgment of the curators to decide when it will be necessary and practicable to establish a law school, and the state court so construed the statute. Emphasizing the discretion of the curators, the court said: “The statute was enacted in 1921. Since its enactment no negro, not even appellant, has applied to Lincoln University for a law education. This fact demonstrates the wisdom of the legislature in leaving it to the judgment of the board of curators to determine when it would be necessary or practicable to establish a law school for negroes at Lincoln University. Pending that time adequate provision is made for the legal education of negroes in the university of some adjacent State, as heretofore pointed out.” 113 S.W.2d p. 791. The state court has not held that it would have been the duty of the curators to establish a law school at Lincoln University for the petitioner on his application. Their duty, as the court defined it, would have been either to supply

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Lloyd Gaines With Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers

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a law school at Lincoln University as provided in § 9618 or to furnish him the opportunity to obtain his legal training in another State as provided in § 9622. Thus the law left the curators free to adopt the latter course. The state court has not ruled or intimated that their failure or refusal to establish a law school for a very few students, still less for one student, would have been an abuse of the discretion with which the curators were entrusted. And, apparently, it was because of that discretion, and of the postponement which its exercise in accordance with the terms of the statute would entail until necessity and practicability appeared, that the state court considered and upheld as adequate the provision for the legal education of negroes, who were citizens of Missouri, in the universities of adjacent States. We may put on one side respondent’s contention that there were funds available at Lincoln University for the creation of a law department and the suggestions with respect to the number of instructors who would be needed for that purpose and the cost of supplying them. The president of Lincoln University did not advert to the existence or prospective use of funds for that purpose when he advised petitioner to apply to the State Superintendent of Schools for aid under § 9622. At best, the evidence to which argument as to available funds is addressed admits of conflicting inferences, and the decision of the state court did not hinge on any such matter. In the light of its ruling we must regard the question whether the provision for the legal education in other States of negroes resident in Missouri is sufficient to satisfy the constitutional requirement of equal protection, as the pivot upon which this case turns. The state court stresses the advantages that are afforded by the law schools of the adjacent States, — Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois, — which admit non-resident negroes. The court considered that these were schools of high standing where one desiring to practice law in Missouri can get “as sound, comprehensive, valuable legal education” as in the University of Missouri; that the system of education in the former is the same as that in the latter and is designed to give the students a basis for the practice of law in any State where the Anglo-American system of law obtains; that the law school of the University of Missouri does not specialize in Missouri law and that the course of study and the case books used in the five schools are substantially identical. Petitioner insists that for one intending to practice in Missouri there are special advantages in attending a law school there, both in relation to the opportunities for the particular study of Missouri law and for the observation of the local courts,[3] and also in view of the prestige of the Missouri law school among the citizens of the State, his prospective clients. Proceeding with its examination of relative advantages, the state court found that the difference in distances to be traveled afforded no substantial ground of complaint and that there was an adequate appropriation to meet the full tuition fees which petitioner would have to pay.

Lloyd Gaines and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada

The equal protection of the laws is “a pledge of the protection of equal laws.” Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356, 369. Manifestly, the obligation of the State to give the protection of equal laws can be performed only where its laws

Lloyd Gaines Graduation Picture

Lloyd Gaines’ Legacy 1995 The University of Missouri-Columbia Law School established a law scholarship in honor of Lloyd Gaines. 2001 The University of Missouri-Columbia renamed its Black Culture Center in Lloyd Gaines’ honor and that of Marion O’Fallon Oldham, another student who was denied admission to the university because she was Black – The Gaines-Oldham Black Cultural Center. 2006 Gaines was posthumously granted an honorary law degree by the University of Missouri. The Supreme Court of Missouri posthumously named him an honorary member of the Missouri Bar. (A “bar” is an organization of lawyers who have earned a license to practice law in a specific state.) operate, that is, within its own jurisdiction. It is there that the equality of legal right must be maintained. That obligation is imposed by the Constitution upon the States severally as governmental entities, — each responsible for its own laws establishing the rights and duties of persons within its borders. It is an obligation the burden of which cannot be cast by one State upon another, and no State can be excused from performance by what another State may do or fail to do. That separate responsibility of each State within its own sphere is of the essence of statehood maintained under our dual system. It seems to be implicit in respondents’ argument that if other States did not provide courses for legal education, it would nevertheless be the constitutional duty of Missouri when it supplied such courses for white students to make equivalent provision for negroes. But that plain duty would exist because it rested upon the State independently of the action of other States. We find it impossible to conclude that what otherwise would be an unconstitutional discrimination, with respect to the legal right to the enjoyment of opportunities within the State, can be justified by requiring resort to opportunities elsewhere. That resort may mitigate the inconvenience of the discrimination but cannot serve to validate it. Nor can we regard the fact that there is but a limited demand in Missouri for the legal education of negroes as excusing the discrimination in favor of whites. We had occasion to consider a cognate question in the case of McCabe v. Atchison, T. & S.F. Ry. Co., supra. There the argument was advanced, in relation to the provision by a carrier of sleeping cars, dining and chair cars, that the limited demand by negroes justified the State in permitting the furnishing of such accommodations exclusively for white persons. We found Fall 2011/Winter 2012

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We think that these matters are beside the point. The basic consideration is not as to what sort of opportunities other States provide, or whether they are as good as those in Missouri, but as to what opportunities Missouri itself furnishes to white students and denies to negroes solely upon the ground of color. The admissibility of laws separating the races in the enjoyment of privileges afforded by the State rests wholly upon the equality of the privileges which the laws give to the separated groups within the State. The question here is not of a duty of the State to supply legal training, or of the quality of the training which it does supply, but of its duty when it provides such training to furnish it to the residents of the State upon the basis of an equality of right. By the operation of the laws of Missouri a privilege has been created for white law students which is denied to negroes by reason of their race. The white resident is afforded legal education within the State; the negro resident having the same qualifications is refused it there and must go outside the State to obtain it. That is a denial of the equality of legal right to the enjoyment of the privilege which the State has set up, and the provision for the payment of tuition fees in another State does not remove the discrimination.

Lloyd Gaines and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada

Did You Know That . . . ?  Gaines’ lawyer was the civil rights lawyer Charles Hamilton Houston. Houston, a Harvard Law School graduate, the first Black editor of Harvard Law Review, and a law professor at Howard Law School, mentored several young lawyers, who created the legal strategies that helped end legalized segregation in the United States.  Gaines was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  In 1939, the state of Missouri provided the all-Black Lincoln University with $275,000 to establish a “Black” law school – Lincoln Law School. It was set up in a building that was previously Poro Beauty College in St. Louis. Thirty students showed up when the school opened its doors, but the opening was met with protests and the new law school was short-lived. The creation of this “separate but equal” school was an action on the part of the state and the university designed to not comply with the Supreme Court’s order to enroll Gaines as a student at the University of Missouri Law School.  In 2007, the NAACP asked the FBI to investigate Gaines’ disappearance. that argument to be without merit. It made, we said, the constitutional right “depend upon the number of persons who may be discriminated against, whereas the essence of the constitutional right is that it is a personal one. Whether or not particular facilities shall be provided may doubtless be conditioned upon there being a reasonable demand therefor, but, if facilities are provided, substantial equality of treatment of persons traveling under like conditions cannot be refused. It is the individual who is entitled to the equal protection of the laws, and if he is denied by a common carrier, acting in the matter under the authority of a state law, a facility or convenience in the course of his journey which under substantially the same circumstances is furnished to another traveler, he may properly complain that his constitutional privilege has been invaded.” Id., pp. 161, 162.

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Here, petitioner’s right was a personal one. It was as an individual that he was entitled to the equal protection of the laws, and the State was bound to furnish him within its borders facilities for legal education substantially equal to those which the State there afforded for persons of the white race, whether or not other negroes sought the same opportunity.

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It is urged, however, that the provision for tuition outside the State is a temporary one, — that it is intended to operate merely pending the establishment of a law department for negroes at Lincoln University. While in that sense the discrimination may be termed temporary, it may nevertheless continue for an indefinite period by reason of the discretion given to the curators of Lincoln University and the alternative of arranging for tuition in other States, as permitted by the state law as construed by the state court, so long as the curators find it unnecessary and impracticable to provide facilities for the legal instruction of negroes within the State. In that view, we cannot regard the discrimination as excused by what is called its temporary character. We do not find that the decision of the state court turns on any procedural question. The action was for mandamus, but it does not appear that the remedy would have been deemed inappropriate if the asserted federal right had been sustained. In that situation the remedy by mandamus was found to be a proper one in University of Maryland v. Murray, supra. In the instant case, the state court did note that petitioner had not applied to the management of Lincoln University for legal training. But, as we have said, the state court did not rule that it would have been the duty of the curators to grant such an application, but on the contrary took the view, as we understand it, that the curators were entitled under the state law to refuse such an application and in its stead to provide for petitioner’s tuition in an adjacent State. That conclusion presented the federal question as to the constitutional adequacy of such a provision while equal opportunity for legal training within the State was not furnished, and this federal question the state court entertained and passed upon. We must conclude that in so doing the court denied the federal right which petitioner set up and the question as to the correctness of that decision is before us. We are of the opinion that the ruling was error, and that petitioner was entitled to be admitted to the law school of the State University in the absence of other and proper provision for his legal training within the State. The judgment of the Supreme Court of Missouri is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. Reversed. Separate opinion of MR. JUSTICE McREYNOLDS. Considering the disclosures of the record, the Supreme Court of Missouri arrived at a tenable conclusion and its judgment should be affirmed. That court well understood the grave difficulties of the situation and rightly refused to upset the settled legislative policy of the State by directing a mandamus. In Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education, 175 U.S. 528, 545, this Court through Mr. Justice Harlan declared — “The education of the people in schools maintained by state taxation is a matter belonging to the re-

Lloyd Gaines and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada spective States, and any interference on the part of Federal authority with the management of such schools cannot be justified except in the case of a clear and unmistakable disregard of rights secured by the supreme law of the land.” Gong Lum v. Rice, 275 U.S. 78, 85 — opinion by Mr. Chief Justice Taft — asserts: “The right and power of the state to regulate the method of providing for the education of its youth at public expense is clear.” For a long time Missouri has acted upon the view that the best interest of her people demands separation of whites and negroes in schools. Under the opinion just announced, I presume she may abandon her law school and thereby disadvantage her white citizens without improving petitioner’s opportunities for legal instruction; or she may break down the settled practice concerning separate schools and thereby, as indicated by experience, damnify both races. Whether by some other course it may be possible for her to avoid condemnation is matter for conjecture. The State has offered to provide the negro petitioner opportunity for study of the law — if perchance that is the thing really desired — by paying his tuition at some nearby school of good standing. This is far from unmistakable disregard of his rights and in the circumstances is enough

to satisfy any reasonable demand for specialized training. It appears that never before has a negro applied for admission to the Law School and none has ever asked that Lincoln University provide legal instruction. The problem presented obviously is a difficult and highly practical one. A fair effort to solve it has been made by offering adequate opportunity for study when sought in good faith. The State should not be unduly hampered through theorization inadequately restrained by experience. This proceeding commenced in April, 1936. Petitioner then twenty-four years old asked mandamus to compel his admission to the University in September, 1936, notwithstanding plain legislative inhibition. Mandamus is not a writ of right but is granted only in the court’s discretion upon consideration of all the circumstances. Duncan Townsite Co. v. Lane, 245 U.S. 308, 311; United States ex rel. Arant v. Lane, 249 U.S. 367, 371. The Supreme Court of Missouri did not consider the propriety of granting the writ under the theory of the law now accepted here. That, of course, will be matter open for its consideration upon return of the cause. MR. JUSTICE BUTLER concurs in the above views.

Your Assignment Look up the following terms in a legal dictionary. Online legal dictionaries include: 1. What is a petitioner? 2. What is certiorari? 3. What does the Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment provide for? 4. What does the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment promise? 5. What is an alternative writ? 6. What does quash mean? 7. What is a peremptory writ? 8. What is mandamus? 9. What does supra mean? 10. What does it mean when a case is remanded? Reversed? 11. What does per curiam mean?

Look up and read the following legal cases referenced in the above case. Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896) McCabe v. Atchison, T. & S.F. Ry. Co., 235 U.S. 151 (1914) Gong Lum v. Rice, 275 U.S. 78 (1927) Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education, 175 U.S. 528 (1899) Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356 (1886) University of Maryland v. Murray, 169 Md. 478 (1936) Check out the Lloyd L. Gaines Collection available online through the University of Missouri Law School Library’s website at http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?page=home;c=gnp!

[1] Ex parte Virginia, 100 U.S. 339, 346, 347; Neal v. Delaware, 103 U.S. 370, 397; Carter v. Texas, 177 U.S. 442, 447; Norris v. Alabama, 294 U.S. 587, 589. [2] Section 9618, R.S. Mo. 1929, is as follows: “Sec. 9618. Board of curators authorized to reorganize. – The board of curators of the Lincoln university shall be authorized and required to reorganize said institution so that it shall afford to the negro people of the state opportunity for training up to the standard furnished at the state university of Missouri whenever necessary and practicable in their opinion. To this end the board of curators shall be authorized to purchase necessary additional land, erect necessary additional buildings, to provide necessary additional equipment, and to locate, in the county of Cole the respective units of the university where, in their opinion, the various schools will most effectively promote the purposes of this article. (Laws of 1921, p. 86, § 3.)”

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[3] See University of Maryland v. Murray, 169 Md. 478, 486.

Interview with Chibundu Nnake

Exclusive Interview with

Chibundu Nnake on Leadership and Building Pipelines for the Future Chairperson of the National Black Law Students Association 2011-2012

 Why did you choose to run for the position of national chairperson of the National Black Law Students Association? I ran because I believed that I could bring value to the organization. I have been involved in (N)BLSA in some capacity over the course of my time in law school; so I wanted to take those experiences and use them to aid in the development of my vision for the organization for the next year and in the next 1020 years, especially with regard to its place within the African-American community. I also seem to be drawn to leadership. So after I prayed about this opportunity, took into account the wisdom and opinions of some people that I trust, as well as did an assessment on how this would impact my life; I decided to pursue the opportunity.

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 What was the platform that you ran on? I am not exactly sure what my platform is/was, since I am not really a politician. I wanted it to be about the membership. So I let them know that I was running to make our organization better for them and the future. My vision was: 1) Increase the visibility of the organization and elevate our voice within new media platforms; 2) Improve leadership development throughout the organization with a focus on the national and regional levels of NBLSA; Fall 2011/Winter 2012

3) Continue efforts to diversify revenue streams and strengthen current relationships with sponsors; 4) Increase our pipeline initiatives by improving our presence on college campuses; preparing minority (not just Black) students for the law school application process; 5) Increase the marketability of our members through increased publishing opportunities, professional development seminars, and networking opportunities. I understand a bit how difficult it is to be a politician and declare or promise things when you are running and then once you get into office, not be able to deliver upon all of the things that you promised or hoped to accomplish.  What were your biggest accomplishments as chair this past year? This year’s theme is “Building Pipelines for the Future.” With that theme in mind, we wanted to work on the key areas that would positively impact the future. So in my opinion, our biggest accomplishments include the securing and finalization of our 2014-2016 Convention hotels and cities. We will be in Atlanta in 2013, Milwaukee in 2014, Portland in 2015, and New York in 2016. This will help out each new [board] in their preparation for that year’s convention. It will also help the organization market the convention and aid in securing sponsors and developing those relationships.

Interview with Chibundu Nnake  What were your biggest challenges? The management of egos was easily the most difficult challenge that I faced this year. My ego is funny. Most of my friends would say that my ego is nonexistent unless someone makes him rear his head. Then I have a big bad ego that tries to pulverize everything in sight. I would have to agree with this assessment. But everyone is not like that and some egos are sensitive, some have an overvalued sense of self, some love the limelight, being recognized, or being massaged. With so many different egos, personalities, and levels of time commitment, I had to try to figure out what made individuals do different things so that I could work with them better. I made a ton of mistakes and I understand now, that I could have and should have handled many things differently - but that’s life.

We also wanted to address the pre-law pipeline issue. So we revamped our college student division by changing up the membership criteria, switching the name to the Pre-Law Division and creating more materials for those chapter presidents so that they can be more successful implementing programs on their campuses. We also did some significant outreach to the HBCUs and other universities to see if we could begin minority pre-law programs on their campuses. Through these efforts, we were able to begin 10 new chapters. The goal was to charter 80 this year, but after a few missteps, I needed to temper my expectations. Finally, we have begun the process of creating an advocacy competition for our Pre-Law [Division] members that will take place at our future conventions. This will give pre-law [students] an opportunity to develop their oral skills earlier and also give them a taste of some of the activities that they can participate in while in law school. My final biggest accomplishment would be the selection of the team that was able to get many of these initiatives completed successfully.

 What is it that you hope the organization will achieve in terms of outreach to aspiring Black law students/Black pre-law students during your administration? The plan was for us to establish 80 new Pre-Law Division chapters throughout the country, host the inaugural mock trial or oral advocacy competition for our Fall 2011/Winter 2012

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Chibundu Nnake and Former NBLSA Chair Melinda Hightower

 What did your experience teach you about leadership? That leadership is fluid. I have read numerous books and held numerous leadership posts, but because a great deal of leadership is concerned with your interactions and dealings with people, it is never truly the same. I have been in leadership for as long as I can remember. I was that young kid that people in the neighborhood followed because of a number of reasons, and that was my first taste of informal leadership. Then I was a member of the Boy Scouts for around 6 months, which resulted in my first taste of formal leadership. I cite those two early leadership experiences because we all have encountered aspects where we are called on to lead, but it is up to us to take advantage of those opportunities and make an impact or learn from them. This experience has shown me that no matter the amount of experience you may have in leadership, you will always encounter something new that will challenge you to become a better leader and develop new skills. I am appreciative of that lesson and I am sure that this will enable me to be a better leader down the road.

Interview with Chibundu Nnake

Chibundu Nnake addressing NBLSA members/alumni and members of Congress at Congressional Black Caucus Reception in Washington, DC

Pre-Law members, and increase the amount of scholarships that we would give to the students. We won’t be able to do that. But I do think that we have been able to be more present on the college campuses and I will continue to work with future administrations to achieve the results that I envisioned for this year. We have done some very good things this year and we hope to have many pre-law students at the convention this year. This year we were also able to further expand and develop our Pre-Law Fellows Program. We also want to work to gather as much prelaw information as possible and work with various pre-law groups, such as the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Black Pre-Law Magazine, to better get our people into the legal profession. So, that will be the last thing that we do as an administration. Develop a strategy that works to utilize all of these organizations so that we ensure that we are doing what we can to be successful as a group, as a village to diversify the legal profession.

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 Based on your current position and opportunities to interact with so many law students throughout the country, what seems to be the

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greatest challenge(s) facing Black law students today? This is a tough question. I am not exactly sure what the greatest challenge(s) that are facing the Black law students of today, but I think there are some issues that pose threats to the community as a whole. The challenges that I see posing a threat are: 1) The attack on our HBCUs, 2) the rising cost of a legal education, and 3) the lack of legal jobs and the shift of legal jobs overseas. 1. The enrollment of African Americans in law school has been steadily declining and the recession has exacerbated this phenomenon. For this reason, amongst many others, our five HBCUs have been and continue to remain the largest producers of Black lawyers in America. Yet a contingent in the ABA [American Bar Association] continues to advocate for policy that will, in effect, eliminate those schools from existence. Even with these institutions in existence, the number of Black lawyers around the nation is still below the proportion of Blacks in America. If these schools were to no longer function as ABA-accredited institutions, we would see those numbers drop dramatically. Therefore, we must continue to petition the ABA to not adopt policies and procedures that will negatively impact diversity and our community. We all have to understand the important role that these schools have in training up many of our community’s leaders. Much like NBLSA acts as a support system for many students while in school, our HBCUs function as that supportive family that pushes their students to achieve within the framework of the legal profession. 2. Higher education is becoming more and more expensive. This has dissuaded many from going to college and those who graduate from college are more desirous to get into the employment sector upon graduation so that they can pay off their loans. This is one of the reasons why enrollment is down. Once individuals do make the decision to pursue a legal education, the costs associated with that education further dissuade individuals from pursuing the types of employment that they came to law school for. This forces many a law school grad to find legal employment, any employment so that they can cover their educational debts. This is not conducive to doing public interest work or the work that their communities need. This challenge is more difficult. We cannot truly control education becoming more expen-

Interview with Chibundu Nnake

Chibundu Nnake during meeting with executive board members

tage of the available resources that will aid us in finding employment. We have other issues, but these are the three that concern me the most. I believe that if we are able to address these, then we should be able to subsequently solve some other underlying problems.  What is your best advice for students interested in applying to law school? Know why you want to go to law school. If your desire is to be rich or if you want to use law school as an opportunity to find out what you want to do in life or as an extension of undergrad, then I would encourage you to do something else. You could leave the country and teach English in Korea, China, South America, or Spain. Those would be great ways to learn more about yourself and actually make money while doing so. You will also get a chance to positively impact people’s lives and learn and experience a new culture. Law school is expensive and being rich is not the reason the schools exist. Law schools exist to train up the next group of lawyers. If you want to be a lawyer, then I encourage all of those people to go to law school. There is no other way to become a lawyer in the U.S. other than by first attending law school. Now I recommend this to everyone, but especially for those who are not in either of those two camps. I think that performing your due diligence about law school is very important. You want to know how much going to school will cost you. You should know where you would like to practice law upon gradua-

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sive. What we can do is provide education to our community about the various methods in place to cover the costs of a degree. We can provide the guidance to inform our students about opportunities to receive discounts for test prep courses, law school application fees, and scholarships. All things that can reduce the costs of pursuing and attaining a legal education. Finally, we can help provide them with information so that they can make an informed decision for selecting their “dream” law school that, if they know they would like to be a public interest lawyer, they will be able to position themselves to do so upon graduation from law school, having taken on little to no debt. 3. The recession accelerated the amount of jobs that were being exported overseas. Law firms and companies needed to find more cost effective ways to handle legal research and other smaller legal duties. This had a damning effect on the profession because of the glut of legal professionals that wound up on the market after all of the firings. Many of the first lawyers to be fired were African Americans and many of the last hired have also been African Americans. This will be a challenge because the legal market is still recovering and will never be like it once was. Unfortunately, this means that the market will be even worse for members of our community due to a variety of factors. But we must remain diligent in our efforts to become the most marketable lawyer in our desired practice area, and continue to take advan-

Interview with Chibundu Nnake tion. You should also speak with lawyers and law students about the good and bad of law school. I would also recommend that you read some books on law school. I have found that there are a lot of resources available that can help you make an educated decision. Law school is time consuming, expensive, and can be confidence deflating. It’s also one of the most challenging, life-changing experiences that I have ever had in my life. I have not enjoyed every minute of it, but I have enjoyed the friends that I have made, the knowledge that I have acquired, and witnessing the evolution of my thought process. I made a decision that was best for me after reflection, prayer, and guidance. I know that I would not be able to accomplish many of the things that I hope to in life without having a law degree and becoming a lawyer.  Once a law school aspirant gets an acceptance letter, what advice do you have for them? Praise God and call your loved ones and let them know that you got into a law school! Tell everyone that you had do something for you - write a letter of recommendation, edit your resume, personal statement, etc., and don’t forget to thank them for helping your arrive at this point. Finally, do not make any rash decisions. Unless the letter is from your dream school, you do not have to accept and place your deposit down yet. You can still wait for the decisions from the other schools that you applied to. You do not want to have any regrets and you can also leverage schools against one another for an acceptance or more scholarship money. So be overjoyed that you now know, if you did not know before, that you are capable of being admitted to a law school. However, you must also make sure that you make the best decision for yourself and your legal career moving forward.

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 What do you believe your legacy as a law student leader will be? I am not sure. I honestly haven’t given that much thought. I just hope that they will say that our administration did a good job of setting NBLSA up for the future. I also hope that we are remembered as the administration that laid the foundation for the expansion and increased focus on the Pre-Law Division. Our organization’s slogan is “Striving to Balance Since 1968,” and with an increased focus on the pipeline, we can work to ensure that we are doing our part to achieve that balance. On my campus, I would like Fall 2011/Winter 2012

to be remembered as a connector and an individual that was open minded, but always advocated for justice. But yeah, we will see what everyone says after that final chapter closes.  Is there anything that I should have asked that I didn’t? If so, ask and answer those questions. Why is NBLSA still relevant? NBLSA is still relevant because not only do our law schools still lack balance in diversity, but since many of our students don’t have the experience or familiarity with the law, their paths are very different than many of their peers. NBLSA provides students with that support system at their various schools and on the regional and national level. We have also expanded that same experience and resources to our PreLaw chapters to act as a similar support system to get individuals prepared for the law school application process. Finally, NBLSA has been a developer of leadership talent throughout the course of its forty-plus years. Many of our leaders have gone on to lead successful lives where they have been influential members of their community. What do you like to do when you are not being a leader or doing NBLSA work? Great question! I feel like because of the nature of society today, there is almost never a time when you are not being a leader. Social media has enabled anyone to have access to almost anything unless you keep to yourself at all times, but how fun is that? That being said, I love reading. I read a lot of self improvement-type books and other types of non-fiction such as: Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?, What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There, From Good to Great, Freakanomics, Why I Love Black Women, and Decoded. I also love listening to music. One of my other passions is football and so I read many articles on designing offenses and defenses and the plays that are associated with them. I think that I will be a coach one day when I have kids and I can’t wait to implement my defensive schemes! Something else I love to do is shop and travel. Shopping is more of the need to stay fashionable and traveling is what I do to experience different things. My mind is always at work so once my term is over, I will get some rest, relax, and try to figure out what I am trying to do next in life. Sidenote: I love The Ohio State University! Go BUCKS!!!

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Spotlight on

Morehouse-Spelman

Pre-Law Society

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 What is the mission of the MorehouseSpelman Pre-Law Society and when was it founded? The mission of the Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society is to provide pre-law students in the Atlanta University Center (AUC) vital information about law school and the legal profession in order to help them make an informed decision about their future aspirations. While there has always been a Pre-Law Society presence at both Morehouse and Spelman, we officially became the Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society in 2009.  What is your role as the president of the Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society? I serve as Co-President of the MorehouseSpelman Pre-Law Society along with Michelae Hobbs, a senior philosophy major from Athens, Georgia. We see ourselves as the visionaries of the Society. We want to establish a society that will continue to help pre-law students from Morehouse and Spelman long after we are gone. We determine the goals and the objectives of the organization for the year and we organize programs and events that cater specifically to our objectives.

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 What made you decide to take on this leadership role in the organization? I decided to become president of the PreLaw Society because I felt that there was an abundance of misinformation being presented to AUC students about the law school admissions process. Although I was active in the Society since freshman year, I wanted to specifically tailor the Society to combat the myths about law school, and I knew that the only way to achieve this was to run for president of the organization.  What are some of the programs that you all have put on and offer to benefit pre-law students this past year? This past semester we tailored our events to specifically “demystify” law school and the legal profession. We instituted a mentorship program with students from Emory University School of Law’s Black Law Students Association to help navigate juniors and seniors from the AUC through the law school admissions process. We hosted the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys’ annual “Demystifying the Legal Profession” program to allow students a chance to interact and network with practicing Black attorneys in the metropolitan Atlanta area. In addi-

Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society

 How are you all able to get so many people on your campuses to discuss law school admissions, law school, and other opportunities every year? While we try to attract students who have an interest in law through social media and e-mail, we find that pre-law students in the AUC are generally pretty close to one another and are discussing law school admissions and legal opportunities on their own. We view our job as more of a facilitator of the already ongoing discussion and try to provide as much accurate information as possible.

The mission of the Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society is to provide pre-law students in the Atlanta University Center (AUC) vital information about law school and the legal profession. General Body Meeting

 What is your current membership? Is it made up of only Morehouse and Spelman students? Are other AUC students also invited to participate? We currently have an official membership roster of 76 students. While the majority

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tion to hosting the traditional law school panels, we also organized a law school forum which gave students a chance to talk to admission representatives from Columbia Law School, University of Pennsylvania School of Law, and others in an intimate setting unlike general law school fairs. Currently, we are planning a database to include practicing attorneys who are AUC alumni and a legal writing summer program sponsored by the University of Buffalo (SUNY) School of Law.

Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society

I would advise any pre-law organization to build their organization based on the needs of the pre-law students on their campuses.

of our students attend Morehouse and Spelman, we invite any student within the AUC to join our society.  How is student participation for all you have to offer? What does the organizational leadership do to promote and market all of your programming? Student participation for the majority of our programming has been strong. While there is always room for improvement, we are particularly proud of our level of student involvement at general body meetings and other programs. One of our strategies for improving student participation was to institute a publicity committee that markets and promotes all of our programming. They use all forms of media to attract students, including flyers, e-mails, telephone calls, social media, and word of mouth.  Why do you think your pre-law society is different from those at perhaps other HBCUs? The Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society is different from those at other HBCUs because of the HBCUs that we serve. We are fortunate to be a part of more than just a conglomerate of historically Black schools in Atlanta; we consider ourselves to be members of an extended family. We take this same approach in our Society. I can honestly say that the executive board members are truly concerned about the welfare of pre-law students in the AUC, and this concern propels them to orga-

nize programming and events that will help them fulfill their dreams and realize their highest potential. Moreover, the various programs and opportunities we offer make us stand apart from other HBCU prelaw societies.  How supportive is your administration, pre-law advisor(s), and faculty of the organization in terms of funding and other support to succeed? While we always wish our respective administrations were more financially supportive, we are fortunate to have significant support from Morehouse and Spelman’s administration and faculty. Our prelaw advisor, Professor Anthony McGee, has been particularly innovative in helping us develop ideas for programming that we previously have not offered through the society. Professor McGee allows us creative freedom in determining the direction of the society and has continually given us contacts and organizing expertise to bring these programs into fruition. Also, Ms. Erica Knight and Valeria Wyatt, career placement officers for Spelman and Morehouse respectively, have been monumentally helpful in attracting law schools to our campus. Ms. Knight always organizes the annual Spelman Law School Fair, and she goes above and beyond to make sure that our law school workshops were a success. Moreover, the Morehouse College Political Science Department Chair, Dr. Gregory Hall, has supported the society from the beginning and is currently thinking of new ways to petition the administration for more financial support.

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 What advice would you give to other Black pre-law organizations on both HBCU and predominantly White/nonHBCU campuses to build an active and vibrant pre-law society? I would advise any pre-law organization to build their organization based on the needs of the pre-law students on their campuses. In order for any organization to be successful, it must fulfill a need that students cannot get fulfilled anywhere else. In our case, we provide students with information about the law school

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Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society

 How often do successful Morehouse and Spelman graduates come back to talk to and share opportunities with current students? Successful Morehouse and Spelman graduates come back to share opportunities with current students all the time. For instance, the Society hosted Shaniecie Fields, a Spelman alumna and 3L at Harvard Law School, during Homecoming week, who shared some tips about the admissions process and speared Harvard’s recruiting efforts in the AUC. Darrell Bennett, a Morehouse alumnus and Harvard Law School graduate, speaks to Morehouse students regularly and offers his writing expertise to help students draft compelling personal statements. Jarrell Cook, another Morehouse alumni and 2L at Stanford Law School, is currently offering to serve as a resource for students applying to law school this year.

I definitely believe that our organization plays a key role in graduates gaining admission into law schools all over the country. Pre-Law Honors Reception

 Do you believe that your organization plays a key role in the success of your graduates in getting into law schools all over the country? I definitely believe that our organization plays a key role in graduates gaining admission into law schools all over the country. While Jarrell Cook was at Morehouse, he was an active member of the Pre-Law Society and repeatedly stresses that the counsel of then-President Dwight Mitchell and then-advisor Dr. Robert Cusick helped him gain admission into Stanford. Additionally, students cite the Society as the main reason why students were able to gain competitive summer intern and program slots. For instance, Sharnell Simon thanked the Pre-Law Society through our social media outlets for giving her information that allowed her to get an internship with the Public Defender’s Office in Decatur, Georgia.

We are strongly committed as an organization to developing Black pre-law students that are competitive for law school admissions and dedicated to making a positive impact on the legal community. We hope other pre-law organizations would continue to keep this charge as one of their primary focuses for future academic years. That way, we can begin to combat the large Black and minority underrepresentation in the legal profession.

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admissions process, internships, pre-law summer programs, and other opportunities that they cannot gain or would not gain as easily anywhere else. Also, I would suggest that the organization build a core group of students dedicated to the wellbeing of the society or club. From past experience, we know all too well the damaging effects of having people in leadership positions who do not truly have the organization’s best interests in mind. Moreover, I would advise HBCU pre-law organizations to tackle directly the things that prevent many Black applicants from getting into top-tier law schools. Unfortunately, Black students perform worse than almost any ethnic group on the LSATs, write inadequately to pass law school exams, and suffer disproportionate disadvantages in the legal career market. Our society has tried to tackle this problem by nullifying some commonly-held misconceptions Black students have about law school admissions as well as through programming and developing better writing skills. It is our responsibility as HBCU prelaw organizations to specifically tailor our programming to narrow the achievement gap between Black and non-Black pre-law students.

Pre-Law Student Profile

William K. Lee Name: William K. Lee Age: 22 College/University: Morehouse College Major: Political Science Minor: Political Philosophy

Favorite Subjects: Black Political Thought, Contemporary Theories of Justice, Math Favorite Books: Native Son by Richard Wright, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, and A Theory of Justice by Amartya Sen Favorite Movie: Friday Favorite Music Group/Song: Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up“

the Clerk and a constituent relations intern for my state senator, Donald Norcross. Moreover, I worked as a field organizer for the Georgia Campaign for Change and the Jim Martin senatorial run-off campaign in Georgia. Finally, I worked for an assembly team at Test Technologies, Inc., in Marlton, NJ. My Role Models: My biggest role models are my aunts. I cannot single any one of them out because they all cared for me and served my community so selflessly. Also, I consider my former pastor Rev. Calvin R. Woods to be a tremendous example of a Godfearing man with a social and community consciousness. My Most Memorable College Experience to Date: My most memorable college experience came at the conclusion of Morehouse’s New Student Orientation week during our “Spirit Night.” It was here where we went through a ceremonial ritual and officially became “Men of Morehouse”. As we all sang the Morehouse College hymn together, I felt like we all truly believed that we were Morehouse brothers.

Favorite Quote: “When you think you know all the answers, life changes the question.”

Ways that I Stand Out from the Crowd: I stand out from the crowd because I did not allow my life experiences to limit my potential. Moreover, I consider myself different from others because of my strong faith and optimistic spirit. What Most People Don’t Know About Me: Most people don’t know that I have been playing the piano for nearly 15 years and that I enjoy renovating homes with my aunt and cousins. What I Want to be Known For: I want to be known for my relentless faith and my commitment to helping others in my community rise above their social and economic circumstances.

Internships/Work Experiences: I served as an administrative intern for the Camden County Office of

Best Advice I Received on College Success: The best advice I received on college success came from

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Cocurricular/Extracurricular Activities: I serve as co-president of the Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society, a chaplain assistant for Morehouse and Clark Atlanta’s chapels, Political Action Committee member for Morehouse’s NAACP, Fundraising Committee member for Morehouse’s Young Democrat’s association, and as a youth volunteer with the H.I.L.L. Project in Atlanta, GA.

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Pre-Law Student Profile my Aunt Janice at my graduation dinner. When she stood up to give her speech, she carried boxes of Boston Baked Beans, Lemonheads, and Good N’ Plenty’s. The Baked Beans represented the humility that I should maintain while I interacted with those who did not have the same education as me. The Lemonheads were to remind me that there is always something sweet in even the sourest of moments through my college journey. Finally, the Good N’ Plenty’s symbolized the many good experiences I would have if I worked hard and tirelessly.

The Difference I Want to Make in the World: I want to help individuals realize their highest potential, particularly financial freedom. Moreover, I want to instill

in others the same sense of hope, optimism and faith that was instilled in me as a child. My Approach to Preparing for Law School: I am preparing for law school by seeking advice from current law school students about the lessons they learned from their personal experiences. My position within the Pre-Law Society affords me a unique opportunity to talk with many law school students, particularly Black students. Moreover, I have taken advanced writing and philosophy courses in an attempt to prepare for the demands of law school writing. Why I Want to Be a Lawyer: Growing up in an urban community, I witnessed firsthand the effects of unemployment and underemployment for Black and Latino families. I want to study labor and employment law to assist in remedying these issues. I want to use my legal training and career to advocate for the growing working class who are exploited in the workplace through employment discrimination, benefit cuts, and improper unemployment compensation.

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Pre-Law Student Profile

Michelae Hobbs Name: Michelae Hobbs Age: 21 College/University: S pelman College Major: Philosophy

Favorite Subject(s): Ancient Medieval Philosophy

My Most Memorable College Experience to Date: My freshman year homecoming (2008) was my most memorable college experience. It was so beautiful to see Spelman and Morehouse alumni come back and celebrate the institutions that helped them get to where they are right now in life. Until that moment, I had never seen anything like it.

Favorite Book(s): The Poisonwood Bible by Barbra Kingsolver, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and Black Athena by Martin Bernal

Ways That I Stand Out from the Crowd: I let my light shine. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Favorite Movie: The Color Purple Favorite Music Group and/or Song: “Watch the Throne” by Kanye West and Jay-Z Favorite Quote(s): “If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it” -Jesse Jackson “Where there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Fredrick Douglas “It’s my choice, and I choose to change the world.” – Spelman College Mantra Cocurricular Activities/Extracurricular Activities: Co-President, Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society, Journalist, HouseSports, Sister2Sister Mentoring Program, Vitamin C College Outreach Ministry, and the Young People and Children’s Division (YPD) Internships/Work Experience: Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Court, Intuit Payment Solutions, Marketing Intern for Sam’s Club, Economic Empowerment Initiative, Inc. (EEI) Resource Division

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My Role Model: Donna Brazile

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What Most People Don’t Know About Me: I dedicate my life to being a positive role model for my two younger sisters Halae and Faith. What I Want to Be Known For: I want to be known for using my skills and knowledge for the greater cause. Best Advice I Received on College Success: I can’t tell you the best advice I received, but I can tell you the best advice I can give: know what works for you! It is important to organize your work and study time in a way that allows you to perform at your best. If you need help figuring that out, ask for help early. Most schools have a learning resource office of some sort that should be able to assist. The Difference I Want to Make In the World: I not only want to give young girls a goal to reach, but a goal to surpass. My Approach to Preparing for Law School: I have been preparing for law school by appreciating the art of analyzing and providing my results in the form of writing. Why I Want to Be a Lawyer: I want to be a lawyer so that I may be a resource to my community.

Law Student Profile

Derrick Raphael Name: Derrick Raphael Undergraduate College/University Attended: Princeton University Undergraduate Major and Minor: Sociology (Caribbean and Higher Education Concentration); African American Studies Law School: Duke University School of Law Year: 3L Favorite Books: World War Z by Max Brooks; Why Do White Guys Have All the Fun by Reginald Lewis

The Best Preparation for the LSAT: Take a course such as Testmasters and work on it without fail.

Favorite Movies: The Devil’s Advocate, State Property, Belly

The Best Preparation for Law School: Participating in the Sidley Austin LLP Pre-Law Scholars Program, SEO Corporate Law Program and the Council of Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO).

Favorite Hobby: Running Favorite Quotes: It is not a game! Favorite Legal Subjects: Education Law and Policy Most Impactful Legal Case: Brown v. Board of Education Law School Cocurricular/Extracurricular Activities: Black Graduate and Professional Students Association (President) (Scope: Group at Duke for all the black graduate and professional students) Legal Internships/Work Experiences: US Army JAG Internship (1L), Millberg Gordon Stewart PLLC (2L), Motley Rice LLC (2L) Lawyer Role Models: Jonathan Charleston, Charles Francis, Barak Richman Most Memorable Law School Experience to Date: Externship at Fayetteville State University with the general counsel where I got to work on a variety of higher education regulation issues as well as help the university create their first pre-law society which attended The National Black Pre-Law conference in 2011.

Best Advice I Received on Law School Admission: Be honest in what you want to do and become. What I Believe Was My “Wow Factor” or “X Factor” in the Admission Process: I created a comprehensive college preparation program in my hometown. Link: http://www.unc.edu/depts/msen/Derrick%20 Raphael%20Fay%20Observer.pdf Best Advice I Received on Law School Success: Only focus on law school and nothing else as a 1L. What Advice I Didn’t Receive About Law School Admission and Law School Success That I Wish I Would Have Been Told: I was told the necessary advice but maybe one should really work hard at creating a study group early in the semester. What Most Surprised Me About the Law School Experience: It was a lot more collegial than I expected and I did not think law schools would be so isolated from others that may reside close by. Why I Want to Become a Lawyer: I want to make a difference in the legal arena and become more of a role model for others. I Want My Legacy To Be That: I gave as much to others as I could. Fall 2011/Winter 2012

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Favorite Music Groups and/or Songs: Jay Z, 50 Cent, Linkin Park

Law Student Profile

Elizabeth L. Humphrey Name: Elizabeth L. Humphrey Undergraduate College/University Attended: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Undergraduate Major and Minor: Political Science & Anthropology Law School: The University of Texas School of Law Year: 3L

Favorite Books: Wuthering Heights, The Stranger, American Apartheid

Favorite Legal Subjects: Constitutional Law (1st and 14th Amendment Issues); Wills & Estates Most Impactful Legal Case: Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee

Favorite Movies: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Inception, The Godfather II

Law School Cocurricular/Extracurricular Activities: Chair, Rocky Mountain Black Law Students Association; Member, Thurgood Marshall Legal Society; Member, Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, & Energy Law

Favorite Music Groups and/or Songs: Kanye, Maroon 5, MGMT, Marvin Gaye Favorite Hobby: Running and yoga

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Favorite Quotes: “For what it’s worth: it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” – Benjamin Button

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Legal Internships/Work Experiences: Judicial intern, Justice Terry Jennings, First Court of Appeals (Houston, Texas); Judicial intern, Judge Cheryl Johnson, Court of Criminal Appeals (Austin, Texas) Lawyer Role Models: Charles Hamilton Houston Most Memorable Law School Experience to Date: Getting my first C on a grade report. Law school will definitely humble you. The Best Preparation for the LSAT: Take timed practice tests and breathe at all times. The Best Preparation for Law School: Relax the summer before your first semester. Talk to rising 2Ls and 3Ls. Best Advice I Received on Law School Admission: Be honest with yourself about where you want to apply and why you want to apply there. What I Believe Was My “Wow Factor” or “X Factor” in the Admission Process: My personal statement. I really sat down and thought about how the things that I learned from my undergraduate courses could be incorporated into my legal education. I focused on

Law Student Profile how my current skill set could supplement what UT had to offer, emphasizing who I was, why UT was a good fit for me, and what I brought to the school. Best Advice I Received on Law School Success: Do the work; don’t let the work do you. What Advice I Didn’t Receive About Law School Admission and Law School Success That I Wish I Would Have Been Told: The most successful law students are usually those who work hardest for the entire year, not just cram for finals. Success in law school is about figuring out what your professor wants you to get out of the course EARLY. Once you hone in on the major themes of the course, you can go to the professor’s office hours to discuss your ideas about the themes and get their feedback. This will also ensure that the professor knows who you are and knows that you care about his or her course. This may result in getting called on more frequently; but if you are prepared for class, you won’t have to worry. What Most Surprised Me About the Law School Experience: The diversity of life experience. So many

people already have families and have had full careers, while some students went straight through from undergrad (like I did). You might want to find someone in your section who has experience dealing with a mortgage when it comes time for Property. They are out there. Why I Want to Become a Lawyer: When I was younger, I loved watching The Practice on ABC. As I grew up, and out of television fantasy, I realized that being an attorney was an extremely honorable vocation and all of the attorneys I knew were successful and working to improve their communities. I loved to read and write, so being an attorney seemed like a perfect fit. I Want My Legacy To Be That: Now that I am in law school, it has been somewhat of a challenge to figure out exactly what I want to do with my life. But the beauty of a legal education is that you have so many skills that are useful to so many people. I know I want to help people who can’t help themselves. I want to use the education I have been blessed with for the benefit of others who may not have the same opportunities I have.

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Fall 2011/Winter 2012

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NATIONAL BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

The National Black Law Student Association (“NBLSA”) was established in 1968 to articulate and promote the educational, professional, political, and social needs and goals of the black law student. Our goal is to facilitate meaningful legal and political change that addresses the needs and concerns of the black community. We created the Pre-Law Division of NBLSA to meet the needs of prospective law students.

PRE-LAW DIVISION The Pre-Law Division of NBLSA offers many opportunities to students interested in pursuing a career in the law, including:

Access to a network of over 5,000 law students

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Let NBLSA help you get into the law school of your dreams! “The Pre-Law Division of the National Black Law Students Association has provided me with opportunities to network with students interested in attending law school, law school students who have been mentors to me, leadership development, and lawyers willing to lend their resources and professional support.” Derecka Purnell University of Missouri Kansas City ‘12 2010-2011 NBLSA Pre-Law Fellow

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Fall 2011/Winter 2012

www.nblsa.org

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www.blackprelawmagazine.com

Magazine

Subscribe to Black Pre-Law Magazine Today!

For law school aspirants serious about success

Subscribe online at

Fall 2011/Winter 2012

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http://www.blackprelawmagazine.com

Success

Aspiring Lawyer

Success Pledge

I Pledge to Do the Following to Become the Most Excellent, Strategic, and Competitive Law School Applicant Possible: zz I will recognize that success is a habit and results from the positive actions that I take each and every day. zz I will create a “to-do” list every day, and write out my weekly,

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monthly, and yearly goals. Fall 2011/Winter 2012

zz I will create a strategic action plan and take the necessary steps to carry out and follow through with my plan – so that I can be successful as I realize my chances of meeting my goals are greater with a written plan that I revisit regularly.

zz I will take the time to invest in my personal development – through read books, listening to audio programs, and doing the types of things that will help me progress and grow. zz I will strive to make the very best grades possible by studying

Success hard and asking my professors what it will take to earn high grades in their classes. zz I will take care of my spirit (meditation, prayer, praise and worship, study) and physical body (eating healthy, resting, exercising) so that I am able to maintain high performance on a regular basis. zz I will work on creating, building, and maintaining positive and healthy relationships with people (particularly professors, administrators, employers, community leaders) so that they will WANT to write glowing recommendations in support of me.

LSAT – and making excuses so poor or mediocre performance becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. zz I will prove that I am not just a “joiner” but also an effective leader and valuable contributor to any organization that I am a part of. zz I will try to be indispensable and incredibly dependable in whatever jobs and internships that I hold. zz I will demonstrate how I plan to actively contribute to the diversity on a law school campus through contributing while still an undergraduate. zz I will take the time to discover and further develop my strengths, interests, and talents as I must remain true to myself.

zz I will reject the idea that “African Americans don’t perform well on standardized exams.” I will spend the necessary time to thoroughly prepare and do whatever it takes so that I can earn the highest score possible on the LSAT – a score that comes close to reflecting my true ability to perform well on a standardized test.

zz I will try to hang around other achievement-oriented peers that are making things happen so that we can serve as a support system to one another in becoming even better and achieving high goals.

zz I will reject the possibility of not spending the necessary time, energy, and effort on the

zz I will look at what other successful people have done and learn from them.

zz I will take risks and get out of my comfort zone, as I realize that this is the only way I can stretch myself and become better. zz I will seek out law student and lawyer mentors who have already succeeded in doing what I aim to do. zz I will do what I can to show that I have a special “wow” factor or unique “x” factor that you cannot just find in anybody any day. zz I will work to distinguish myself from the many other highly intelligent and involved students across the nation so I can compete against these people on a national level. zz I will take advantage of all of the opportunities made available to me, and create them where none currently exist. zz I will demand excellence from myself in everything I do, and work to exhibit the qualities of a world-class scholar, student, leader, and human being.

I understand that the law school admission process is a comparative and competitive process. It will require that I do my best each and every day to be competitive and prove that I deserve to be selected. I know that if I do all of these previously mentioned things to show excellence, as well as to stand out from others, then I will greatly increase my chances of getting into law school and succeeding while there and beyond.

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I will be an excellent, competitive and strategic law school applicant. I will be successful as success is the only option. I have declared it. I believe it, and I receive it. I will achieve my goal of becoming a law student and lawyer.

The Intrinsic Value of Legal Education:

Lest We Forget By Troy A. Riddle, Esq., M.B.A.

With the barrage of negative press legal education is receiving these days, I would like to offer those of you who find yourselves wrestling with the pivotal question of whether law school is worth it, a different perspective upon which to evaluate the question.

believe the opening sentence in W.E.B. DuBois’ controversial, 1903 article, The Talented Tenth, still rings true today: “The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men.” (I believe the exclusion of women is a direct reflection of the times in which the writing occurred as opposed to being a deliberately sexist remark. So for purposes of this article, I am referring to both men and women.) He went on to say, and I paraphrase, “if we make money the object of education, we shall develop money-makers but not necessarily well-rounded, intelligent people with a knowledge and appreciation of the world in which we live.” Dubois’ understanding of the benefits education provides at a time when there were so few options to be educated, is powerfully amazing. Fast forward to today. In 2011, we have so many more options to be educated, yet our representation in higher education does not mirror this reality. I believe some of it may be economic, but much of it is not. Mostly, I believe we have forgotten the opportunities that education provides.

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As a lawyer, my first instinct is to defend legal education, because for me, it was the first educational undertaking that challenged me in ways I could not have imagined; in ways that both undergraduate and Fall 2011/Winter 2012

graduate degree programs did not; in ways that I find invaluable. As a practical matter, I understand the need to consider the cost of law school; however, the benefits must be given equal consideration. Taking “how much will I make when I’m done?” off the table for the moment, let’s consider some other benefits that legal education can and does provide:

 A terminal degree that provides you with a unique

skill set and training; knowledge that no one can take from you.  The opportunity to obtain a license to “practice” law that affords an opportunity to make a living for the rest of your life – whether you choose to practice right out of law school or 10 years after you’ve completed law school.  The ability to be your own boss.  Proficiency in a language (the law) that touches every aspect of society (locally, nationally and globally).  The power to stand before judges and legislators and argue for causes that are important to you and to potentially affect drastic change in the world.  The ability to advocate for friends, families and others who otherwise would not have anyone to advocate on their behalf.

Legal Education

 Powerful analytical/reasoning skills that are trans-

ferable and beneficial to almost any professional position you decide to pursue – immediately upon graduation or in the future.

Though not a comprehensive list, these very important benefits are so often overlooked in the cost/ benefit analysis for law school. If we continue to omit them from consideration, focusing only on making money, we continue to lose on the national and global stages of the world. If we continue to play the US News & World Report game, and allow a magazine to dictate what the most important factors are to consider in your comparative analysis of law schools, we continue to lose - because we will never have a legal profession that mirrors the diversity in our society. If we continue in this manner, we will not have a seat at the decision-making table - or a voice that can be heard – because we won’t be in the rooms where these important discussions are taking place. Moreover, if we continue to choose law school for the promise of a six-figure salary alone, we trade the in-

trinsic value that education provides for essentially a lottery ticket. Think carefully about the odds of that decision. And if you happen to beat the odds, society gains a money-maker, often at the expense of societal change and progress. Legal education has been and yet remains a good personal investment. If you decide that admission to law school is your goal, you must be clear about your reasons for attending, be realistic and smart about where you apply, balanced with the cost you can afford to pay to live your dream. However, if money is your only motivation, I admonish you to reconsider. You will find the challenge of law school daunting and unfulfilling without a real sense of purpose. Instead, give some consideration to the good you can bring to the world and forget not the intrinsic value that education, which once eluded our people, can bring. Alternatively, if you’re a narcissist, then consider all of the power, prestige and knowledge the study of law can bring to YOU.

Troy A. Riddle, Esq., M.B.A. Troy A. Riddle is the multicultural affairs officer and an adjunct professor at Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. Prior to joining Widener Law, he served as assistant director for diversity initiatives with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration and a law degree from Widener University School of Law. Attorney Riddle is a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the National Bar Association, and the Philadelphia Bar Association.

It’s not simply that Cornell has a name, Cornell can get you a certain kind of job: It’s the people you meet, it’s the small environment, it’s a community that’s built through having small classes. Te m idayo Ag a n g a -Wil l ia m s Class of 2011

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Considering Law School? Consider Cornell.

Law School Admission

Master the Modern Admissions Process

by Darrell Bennett, J.D.

Since graduating from Harvard Law School in 2010, I have consulted with numerous law school (and college) applicants across this nation. I have also spoken and created information products dedicated to this topic. So needless to say, I have a lot to say when it comes to how you can best market yourself to law school admissions committees and how to craft the best application packet possible.

e careful of “experts” telling you about what they did in the 80’s and 90’s: the rubric for success in higher education has drastically changed because of this economy. What worked before–even 10 years ago–just won’t cut it anymore. Unlike most other admissions counselors, I was in your shoes only a few years ago, and I know what it takes to get into the nation’s best law schools today. The most selective schools have no choice but to “look beyond the numbers,” which means that hundreds of applicants with near-perfect LSAT scores and college grades will get turned away from the top schools. Distinguishing your application from the pack is absolutely critical. Here are a few of the tips I share with those interested in getting into law school: • Your application should be uniquely you. Your essays, recommendations and extracurricular activities should all tie in together to tell a story that only you can tell. For instance, I always tell my clients that if I can switch their name on their personal statement with another one of my client’s and it still fits, then that means it’s not unique enough. • Market yourself to admissions committees. Use your essays and optional addenda to show your value and your specific skill-sets. Stay away from the cliché: filler lines like “attending [insert school name here] has always been

my dream” and “law is my life-long passion” are better said other ways. • Network! Network! Network! Talk to friends, family and alumni who have attended the schools that interest you. This is not the time to be shy. Work your connections, and ask for recommendations. Relationships are everything. It’s not who you know: it’s who you get to know. • Play to your strengths. Focus your involvement on activities that use talents that you already possess. This includes participation in volunteer work and employment/internship opportunities. Get better in areas that you are already naturally gifted in. • Be master of something. Unfortunately, many people often make the false assumption that participation in more activities is better than fewer. But intensity is always better than extensity. All things being equal, admissions committees will pick the applicant who is great at one thing over the one who is good at several. Finally, I leave you with these words from Arthur Koestler’s timeless quote: “The principal mark of genius is not perfection but originality.” Keep this in mind, and you will do well in the law school admissions process and in life overall. I wish you the best in all your endeavors. Godspeed.

Darrell Bennett, J.D. is the author of Master the Modern Law School Admissions Process and Daring to be Different: 25 Tips for a Life of Success. He is also a college lecturer in New York City. For more information on his

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consulting and speaking services and range of products, please visit www.DarrellBennett.com.

Fall 2011/Winter 2012

CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS

THE END OF THE PIPELINE A JOURNEY OF RECOGNITION FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ENTERING THE LEGAL PROFESSION Dorothy Evensen, Penn State University Carla D. Pratt, Penn State Dickinson School of Law 2011 | ISBN 978-1-59460-981-7 | 344 pp | $40.00

ABOUT THE BOOK This book had its beginnings in a simple question: How have some African-American attorneys, recently admitted to the bar, successfully navigated what research suggests is a very precarious pipeline to the legal profession? The response to this question entailed a journey that spanned some three years, over fifty informants, and a dozen or so researchers and scholars who study the intersections of education, race, and efforts to achieve social equity. The resulting work generalizes from the stories collected and constructs a substantive theory of success built around a phenomenon called “working recognition.” This concept describes both the recognition experienced in various forms by our study’s participants and the recognition they transformed into strategic activities aimed at overcoming academic, economic, and social obstacles encountered in their personal pipelines. We found that it was through such activity that they ultimately attained recognition as lawyers and entered the profession of law. As a way of situating the study within scholarship in higher and legal education, the book further presents essays from noted scholars who respond to the study’s thematic findings comparing and contrasting them to related research and practices. Finally, we consider the policy implications that derive from our extant project, particularly policies that relate to future pipeline interventions.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING “This is an engaging and well-written book that uses analysis of in-depth interviews to tell the stories not only of African Americans entering the legal profession, but also the story of the significant and important role of HBCUs in educating the current generation of black lawyers. It is a must read for anyone doubting the relevance of the HBCU today.” — Kurt l. Schmoke, Dean, Howard University School of Law “A must read for anyone interested in understanding the very different experiences faced by African-American law students when compared with their white peers. It should be required reading for all law school Deans and University Presidents who should then seek to implement the very thoughtful suggestions discussed by Evensen and Pratt thereby moving law schools in the direction of being inclusive learning environments for all students.” — Dorothy Brown, Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law “Evensen and Pratt’s illuminating study tells the stories that all lawyers need to hear. Their chronicles of young African Americans who navigate nearly insurmountable challenges to join our profession provide convincing evidence for the authors’ theory of intervention and the necessity of pipeline programs. With its combination of interviews and essays, this is an essential work for anyone who is committed to improving the racial diversity of the legal profession.” — Phoebe Haddon, Dean, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

HOW TO ORDER To order The End of the Pipeline, please visit www.caplaw.com or call 800.489.7486. Save 10% when you order online.

700 Kent Street, Durham NC 27701

800-489-7486 • www.caplaw.com

Law School Admission

The

ABC s

to Law School Acceptance A

Admissions Application Take the application process very seriously; The presentation of all the application materials, as well as the substance of their contents is extremely important.

B Best Be the very best you can be; that is all anyone can ask of you and all you can ask of yourself. If you put forth your best efforts, your chances of getting into law school are increased and you will not have many regrets about your undergraduate years.

C Challenges Constantly seek out courses and activities that will challenge you and stretch you to new heights. Through facing, as opposed to running away from challenges, you will grow tremendously.

D Discipline Discipline is an absolute necessity that you must acquire, possess, further develop and maintain to succeed during your undergraduate years, and even more so in order to make it into and through law school. You must have a strong work ethic, the ability to make sacrifices as well as persistence and perseverance to succeed in law school and it should become an innate part of your innercore well before you seek to apply! This is an all-important attribute!

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Early Turn in all of your admissions materials early and well in advance of the given deadlines that the schools have set. Deadlines are not due dates. They are not things you simply meet, but things you beat!

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F Face Value Do not take the admissions process at face value! There is more to it than meets the eye. You must do a great deal more than simply turning in all of the materials and meeting the set requirements. You must go out of your way to go well beyond and exceed them!

G Grade Point Average You need to earn the highest grades possible! There is no way around this. Law school is an academic pursuit and applicants are expected to have done well during their college academic careers. It is essential to perform and work hard to do well to earn As in all or in as many of your college courses as possible.

H Help When you need help, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suffer in silence. Seek it out and use any and all resources that are available to you. Getting over is simply not good enough. Do not settle for passing or mediocre performance. It will backfire. Identify your weaknesses and work on them. Do not be afraid to ask for help and be willing to do whatever is necessary to improve and meet your full God-given potential.

I Involvement Get actively involved in meaningful endeavors, such as community service activities and worthwhile organizations where your contributions can have a real impact on your campus and larger communities. They will not only enrich your resume and profile, but in effect, you will grow enormously in your own personal and social development as a human being.

J Juggle Learn how to juggle many tasks efficiently at one time without allowing other things to suffer. Law school places incredible demands on your time and you must prove the ability to handle competing priorities.

K Knowledge Make it a point to become as knowledgeable as possible about the law school admissions process and law school. Acquire a good understanding of how to play the admissions game and what you can do to make yourself extremely attractive and interesting in order to give yourself a competitive edge against other equally or more qualified candidates.

L LSAT You must take the Law School Admission Test. It is a critically important exam for law school entrance that all law school aspirants must struggle with and take. Start familiarizing yourself with this test far in advance. Plan to invest the time, effort and money to prepare hard, conscientiously and seriously. Learn and master the test by diligently practicing on past exams under test conditions. Ignore negative information, resolve to not make excuses, respect the great weight placed on this exam and do everything in your power to ensure that you will perform at the highest level of your ability. View it as an equalizer and set out to prove you have what it takes to defeat it and your competition.

M Motivation You must have an enormous supply of that inner-fire and intrinsic drive called selfmotivation within you to provide you with the necessary vigor to do a variety of things. Therefore, when you are ready to apply to law school, your accomplishments as a result of your motivation will really stand out

Law School Admission

N Negativity Avoid all of the negativity you encounter. That includes people and things and even your own negative attitude! Refuse to give into negative thoughts or allow negative experiences and circumstances to discourage you from working toward your goals. You are an achiever, a victor, a doer, a go-getter, a winner, an overcomer! Do not allow life’s certain setbacks, failures, disappointments, hurts, obstacles and pitfalls take you off track and deter you! They are there to make you even stronger.

O Opportunities Seek them out and take complete and full advantage of them when they present themselves. Opportunities represent success just waiting to happen! You must seize them! If not, all that is left are ‘could haves,’ ‘would haves,’ and ‘should haves.’ If a door is opened, walk through it.

P Proactive You must take a proactive approach and take full responsibility for your life, choices and actions. A proactive person does not wait for things to happen; he or she makes them happen! As a proactive person, you must constantly think about what things you can do to make sure you receive the acceptance letters you desire after submitting your application materials. Then, you move forward to take the initiative and act on those thoughts! Ideas without corresponding action result in nothing!

Q Question Talk to as many people as you can, make contacts and ask plenty of questions. That is an excellent way to find the information you need. If you don’t ask, you may never know. Asking questions even presents the chance to establish relationships with people who may act as role models, mentors and can assist you along the way and lay the foundation for exceptional recommendation letters.

R Research Take as much time as you can to research

law school admissions, the law school experience, the different law schools, programs and offerings, and the legal profession, the myriad of things you can possibly do with a law degree and the legal job market. Make use of all of the many resources available to you. You want to choose a profession based on knowing that you did your research, homework and “due diligence”, and not just based on what you heard other people have said or what you’ve seen on television.

S Strategize As soon as you realize you may want to apply to law school is the right time to begin putting together a strategy – a strategic plan – for successful applications. Every aspect of what you want included within your application package should be a forethought instead of an afterthought.

T Total Package To make yourself among the group of the most highly qualified people, seek to show your strengths in every single possible area. Show the admissions committees that your very presence at that school represents the absolute total package. You will represent good grades, high LSAT scores, well-roundedness in work experiences and community service, diversity in a multitude of ways, and that you even have that “special” something or “X factor” that makes you compelling that not every strong applicant possesses.

U Utilize Fully utilize your own capacity to make a difference and be a positive contributor wherever you attend school. Demonstrate that you are the type of person to make the most of whatever is available to you. Show that you’ve maximized whatever opportunities and resources that you had access to. If opportunities do not present themselves to you, you should take the initiative to create them for yourself. Be creative, industrious, enterprising and constantly on the look out for new possibilities and ways you can make a difference and stand apart from your competition.

V Valuable Courses that strengthen your reading comprehension and writing skills, logical and analytical abilities and critical thinking skills are considered to be highly valuable for law

school success. Take courses that will be valuable to you by providing you with helpful practice in these areas. Not only through doing this will these courses bring value to you, they will strengthen your intellectual abilities to enable you to bring value to your law school discussions and written work.

W Well-Rounded Although grades and LSAT scores are the most important factors, still try to expose yourself to and get involved in a wide range of things. Well-rounded individuals are more interesting to the admission committees and can be viewed as adding special dimensions of diversity to the incoming law class.

X Xcellence Strive for excellence in all that you do. Accept only good things from yourself. Do not settle for anything second rate. Keep trying, pushing, striving and working harder. It will not only place you on a higher plateau and get you to that next level, but others will notice, including the law school admissions committees – the people you are trying to convince.

Y You YOU are the person who will decide whether or not you get into law school. You must have faith in and believe in yourself. Although you should readily seek assistance and guidance from those wou can help you, you need to depend on yourself at all times. As much as other people may or may not want for you to do what is necessary to earn admission into a law school program, it is your decision as to whether it can happen for you. It is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you do everything necessary to realize your vision for your future and career.

Z Zealous Go after your dream of gaining acceptance into law school and pursuing access to a legal education zealously! Be enthusiastic, purposeful, spirited, eager, hungry, passionate, intense and simply willing to do everything within your power to make your dream a reality! The lessons of life and the principles of success will not allow for anything less. by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq., Ed.M. Fall 2011/Winter 2012

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among a host of other equally and more talented people striving toward the same goal – that coveted seat in a law school class.

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St. Paul, Minnesota

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Preparing for Law School Success

Strategies to Help You Get Ready for the Rigors of Law School

Prior law school preparation during your undergraduate career is an absolute must. The competition between law students to do well is extremely intense, especially with a tight legal job market and downturns in the economy. Due to the mandatory first-year grading curve at most law schools, you will be competing against your fellow classmates and your grades are determined relative to how they do. As an entering law student, you will need an edge over your competition.

These strategies are designed to help get you ready for a tremendously competitive and demanding legal education so that you will be prepared before your first day of class. You want to be positioned to go during a rigorous and overwhelming undertaking into the crazy world of professional legal studies. 1: Challenge yourself academically Law school is an academic endeavor. Take more difficult and stimulating courses. Push yourself and step out of your intellectual comfort zone. 2: Build solid study skills Do whatever is necessary to build your study skills throughout your undergraduate career. This is essential for your keeping up with your assignments on a daily basis. 3: Strengthen your reading comprehension skills Take courses that require a great deal of reading. Most of your time

as a law student will be spent pouring over tough and timeconsuming reading assignments. Read actively and make sure you understand what you have read to the best of your ability. 4: Improve your writing skills Take classes and get involved in activities that enable you to write often and well. Master the ability to express yourself clearly and to effectively proofread and revise your own writing. 5: Work on good listening skills Listen attentively, actively and carefully. Engagement in everyday class discussion mandates that you be able to. 6: Develop your problem solving, critical, analytical and logical thinking skills

Take courses like philosophy, logic, and upper-level English that will enhance your ability to problem solve and think critically, analytically and logically. These are key intellectual skills that law students must possess and strengthen. 7: Perfect your public speaking abilities Most law schools practice a rite of passage known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Socratic methodâ&#x20AC;? in which professors orally interrogate students about assigned cases usually without any prior warning. You must also take part in moot court or appellate advocacy exercises where you present legal arguments in front of a panel of judges. Working on your public speaking abilities will prepare you to speak competently and confidently in front of an audience of your peers. 8: Practice good research skills Law students spend a lot of time researching cases, statutes and other legal authorities to assist them in writing assignments. Take courses that require you to complete research papers. Seek opportunities to do research for professors in subject matters you enjoy. 9: Build up your self-confidence and knowledge of self In class, some law professors will literally tear down anything that you say. During the legal job

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ecognize that many of your fellow classmates (many of whom are top scholars and academic superstars from their respective colleges and universities and standouts in other areas) will be getting prepared for their legal studies long before law school begins. Not doing so can put you at a distinct disadvantage.

Preparing for Law School Success search, you may have to handle overwhelming rejection. Some law schools foster a “group think” mentality in which people feel pressure to do what everyone else is doing or what will impress their classmates. In order to withstand it all and keep your sanity intact, you must maintain your self-confidence and remain true to yourself. 10: Gain superior time-management skills Once you begin law school, you will never look at time the same way again. You will never have enough time to do everything required of you and you’ll have to make tough choices. Leisure and fun will likely be luxuries of your pre-law school past. Time management skills are a necessity because you will have a great deal more work to do than time to do it. 11: Improve your ability to communicate with a diversity of people You will likely encounter a wide range of people in the law school community both inside and outside of class. Befriend and really get to know and learn about a variety of different people from diverse backgrounds. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with all types of people will benefit you throughout your law school journey and in your professional life. 12: Develop your leadership skills As a future law school student and graduate, you will have many opportunities to serve in leadership capacities. Start developing your leadership skills by getting actively involved in activities and establishing a record of accomplishment.

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13: Establish relationships with law students and lawyers Get to know law students and lawyers who have already “been there Fall 2011/Winter 2012

and done that” who can share their experiences and give you invaluable advice and insight that you may not find in books and don’t want to learn the hard way.

ticipate in other similar programs sponsored by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), individual law schools and commercial businesses.

14: Learn the art of networking Read books on how to network and go to events where you can actually practice and perfect this invaluable skill. By failing to network, you can miss out on important potential contacts and opportunities. We all know that in this life success is not only about what you know but just as importantly who you know and development relationships with.

18: Read about the law school experience There are now several books to choose from on the market that help to demystify law school. Law school has its own special culture and demands that are unique to law school and different from any other educational experience you have probably undertaken including graduate school. Take responsibility for getting a good sense of what to expect beforehand.

15: Gain legal work experience Get internships that will give you exposure to what it is really like to be a lawyer, what the work involves, the lifestyles different types of lawyers lead in terms of balancing their professional and personal lives, as well as to get a feel for different legal environments and practice areas. 16: Start building a solid support system Law school is an immense challenge not only intellectually, but also mentally and emotionally. Let those people closest to you know what the law school experience will be like beforehand. You will need them to support you every step along the way. 17: Participate in pre-law preparation programs There are different workshops and intensive summer sessions to help students prepare for law school. The Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) has a number of programs to support you from you freshman year in college throughout your law school years. Contact them and apply as soon as possible. Also research and par-

19: Read commercial outlines and listen to law tapes Read “commercial” outlines and listen to tapes for your first-year classes including Contracts, Property, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Torts, Civil Procedure and Legal Research and Writing. This will assist you in gaining an overall understanding of the subjects before you take the classes so you will have the “big picture” and won’t go in feeling too overwhelmed. 20: Be determined to remain persistent Know that there will be times throughout law school where you may doubt your abilities and want to give up. No matter what – persist. Keep focused on your vision and goals for your future. Take time for yourself to meditate and read or listen to anything uplifting and motivational every single day. The difference between your success and failure could be your inner-will to keep moving forward and to press past adversity. by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq., Ed.M.

A Lawyer’s Life and Work

AUDREY MOOREHEAD, Esq., M.B.A.

Attorney, The Law Offices of Audrey Moorehead Chairperson, African American Section of the State Bar of Texas

 What exactly do you do on a daily basis? I am usually in court every morning. I meet with clients, do paperwork and study in the afternoons.  What does an average day and week look like for you? I spend an average of two hours preparing for every hour spent in court. I usually spend four hours in court per day and another eight hours in the office. I average about a twelve-hour work day. I belong to several organizations and serve on several boards so I have evening meetings during the week and on weekends.  What are the greatest challenges you face as an attorney? Making sure that I am current on the law, policy and procedures in the different courts and giving the client the undivided attention they require. An attorney is a servant and people expect a lot from attorneys - it is a challenge to say “no” sometimes because you have a desire to help.  What are the greatest rewards of being an attorney? The greatest reward is the knowledge that you made a tangible and positive difference in someone’s life. It might sound cliché’ but it is true.  What issues do you face in particular as an African American attorney and as an African American female attorney? Very often African American attorneys feel a social responsibility to right the wrongs of the past, fight injustice, and

advocate for the disenfranchised. It can feel like a heavy burden. The professional playing field is far from level and there is a long way to go in terms of diversity in the legal profession.  What were the most helpful courses that you took in law school? Negotiation and mediation were probably the most helpful. I obtained skills that assisted in client development, law office management, and increased my effectiveness as an advocate for my client. I would also encourage students to make time for a clinic if they plan to do any type of litigation.  What do you feel has been the best preparation for your work as an attorney? Being actively involved in my community was probably the best preparation. The law is about relationships and the relationships that I developed before going to law school have been instrumental to my survival after law school.

The greatest reward is the knowledge that you made a tangible and positive difference in someone’s life.

 Do you have a mentor or mentors and what impact have they made? I have several people that I consider mentors, but my first year of law school I identified someone that was doing the things that I wanted to do: she had a successful solo practice, she worked to give back to her profession, and was a volunteer in the community. It didn’t hurt that she was the first African American to be president of the Dallas Bar Association. She teaches me professionalism, proficiency in my practice areas, and most importantly to play hard AFTER I work hard. Her name is Rhonda Hunter – an amazing board certified family law attorney in Dallas. (She gave me permission to share.)

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 What areas of law do you practice? Probate, family and criminal defense.

A Lawyer’s Life and Work

volunteering, doing pro bono work, or help out a solo or small firm attorney – these may transition into opportunities.  When describing yourself as an attorney, what adjectives would you use? Busy and happy…mostly busy.  When you are not practicing law, what do you enjoy doing? Community service is my hobby. I love giving back to my community and the occasional happy hour.

 What is the best advice that you received to help you become a successful attorney? What is the worst advice you received? The best advice was to always do my very best – exceed expectations and get a good C.P.A. The worst advice: weigh myself the first thing every morning… nobody should start out the day with bad news.  What pieces of advice would you personally give to those aspiring to become an attorney one day based on your life experience? My advice would be to set goals – make a plan for what you want to achieve. You can always go back and change the plan but chart a course so you know where you want to go and what it takes to get there. A vision without a plan is a dream and a plan with without a vision is a disaster.

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make a plan for what you want to achieve

 What would you say to aspiring attorneys who may feel a little discouraged by the state of the economy and talk that the market is saturated with too many attorneys? There is enough business around for everyone that does good work. Perhaps your preferred practice area is not available – do something else. A law degree trains you for many things. Be open to trying something new. If you are not working, continue to use your skills by Fall 2011/Winter 2012

 What are your career aspirations beyond what you are doing now? I would eventually like to write or work in law school administration. I am interested in making sure that the doors of opportunity are open for everyone. My secret career aspiration is to have a radio show. That sounds fun!  What are your other life goals? I would like my godson, Xavier, to select a nice, trendy nursing home for me and make sure I get my hair and nails done every week. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Audrey Moorehead, Chair of the African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas, has her own Dallas law office. She has a master’s of business administration (MBA) and is a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Attorney Moorehead has served as the Region V secretary of the National Bar Association. She serves on several committees for J.L. Turner Legal Association and is an active member of many non-profit and professional service organizations, including the Association of Conflict Resolution, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Dallas Blueprint for Leadership.

Mind, Health, and Spirit

Healthy

“Super Foods” for Your Brain

If you want to be on top of your game mentally, then you must feed your brain what it needs to function well and be protected from harm. Eating healthy

foods really does matter. Did you know that your brain was the first organ to absorb nutrients from the food you eat?

Here are some “super foods” for the brain that you will want to incorporate into your daily diet:

(4) Fish (wild salmon, sardines and herring).

(8) Whole grains (oatmeal, breads and brown rice).

(3) Beans (lentils and black beans).

(2) Pomegranate juice and Concord grape juice. (5) Nuts (walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews) and seeds (sunflower, sesame, flax and pumpkin seeds).

(6) Dark chocolate and pure cocoa powder. (9) Leafy green vegetables (spinach, Swiss chard and collard greens).

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(7) Avocados.

(10) Green tea.

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(1) Berries (blueberries, strawberries and blackberries).

Financial Issues

The Law School Scholarship Game:

Be Informed

By Troy A. Riddle, Esq., MBA

If you should receive a scholarship offer to attend law school you should certainly feel a sense of achievement, as most accepted applicants do not receive scholarship money to study law.

hese monetary awards are extremely rare, and reserved for the applicants with the “best” LSATs and GPAs among the school’s applicant pool. Some schools are fortunate to have very generous amounts of scholarship money to offer; while other schools have limited amounts of money to offer. So what does that mean for you, the applicant? Sometimes law schools offer scholarships simply to improve their incoming statistics (which helps the school’s ranking and reputation.) Most often, a scholarship offer is made because the admissions committee believes you can and will perform extremely well at their institution, graduate, pass the bar the first time (which helps the school’s ranking and reputation), make a lot of money, and in turn give generously to the law school in appreciation for your “free” legal education (which also helps ranking and reputation.) After all, they saved you quite a few thousand dollars in tuition & fees, right?

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Not so fast! All offers are not equal and the requirements to keep a scholarship for the duration of your studies may be too high a

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bar for even students with the best incoming academic statistics. The question becomes: What are your chances of maintaining the scholarship for duration of your studies? You might be surprised at what you will hear if you ask. The reality is that law school is competitive. And because your incoming LSAT and GPA do not guarantee you a place at the top of your class even if offered a scholarship (though it helps the school’s ranking and reputation), retention requirements are set to ensure that only the top performers keep their scholarships (and that the law school does not go bankrupt.) So many schools set a minimum GPA requirement and/ or class rank requirement to keep scholarships. Because law school grades are typically “curved” for first-year students, achieving the requisite GPA or class rank is not as easy as it may appear. Let me explain. If scholarships are offered to 50% of incoming students because the law school happens to be a school with a generous incoming scholarship budget, and a 3.0 GPA is required to keep the scholarship, it becomes mathematically impos-

sible for half the class to have a 3.0 GPA or better because of the grading curve. So…… If you’re fortunate enough to receive a scholarship, celebrate. But after your moment of euphoria has subsided, pull yourself together, pick up the phone and ask the admissions officer: 1.) What percentage of incoming students receive scholarships? 2.) What percentage of students keep their scholarships AFTER their first semester/year? Then do a quick probability analysis and make an INFORMED decision about the scholarship offer and your chances of keeping it. You may find that some offers are not as gratuitous as they appear.

Legal History

Charlotte E. Ray The First African-American Woman Lawyer in the United States (1872) Quick Facts About Charlotte E. Ray: zz Born January 13, 1850 in New York, New York zz Died January 4, 1911 zz Her father was Reverend Charles Bennett Ray, a pastor at the Bethesda Congregational Church, an abolitionist, an owner and editor of the Colored American (a newspaper for Blacks freed from slavery) zz Graduated from Howard Law School zz She used her initials “C.E. Ray” in order to apply since women were

zz zz zz

not admitted into the law program at that time First Black woman lawyer in the U.S. Second woman lawyer in the U.S. First woman lawyer to be “admitted” into the Washington D.C. Bar Association (A bar association is a lawyer’s association for law graduates who have earned the right to practice law.) She practiced law for a short time but could not continue due to both racial and gender prejudice and

What’s changed about diversity at Creighton in 108 years? Nothing. Visit us online, see us in person, and let us show you how Creighton can open doors for you.

discrimination, so she returned to Brooklyn, New York to teach zz She was active in the women’s suffrage movement (fought for women’s right to vote) and the National Association of Colored Women

At Creighton University School of Law, we’re just as committed to developing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment as we were when we first opened our doors over a century ago. Our open-door policy is more than that – it’s part of the Creighton culture.

creighton.edu/law Facebook: @CreightonLawSchool

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BARRY LAW:

Legal education with a conscience “BARRY gave me the opportunity to pursue my goals and dreams. I was drawn to the school’s strong mission and commitment to excellence. Now that I have my own law practice, I am very thankful for everything BARRY has provided me.” — Eric V. Hires, Esq. The Law Office of Eric V. Hires, LLC

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

www.barry.edu/Law Barry University School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (Section of Legal Education & Admissions to the Bar, ABA, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738).

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www.hbcuprelawproject.com Fall 2011/Winter 2012

Academic Excellence Seattle University School of Law is one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most innovative and respected law schools, known for its twin goals of academic excellence and education for justice. Home to the only full-time and part-time program in Washington, Seattle University School of Law is also the largest and most diverse law school in the state. Faculty, students and graduates are deeply committed to using their legal skills in the service of justice. Learn more at www.law.seattleu.edu

James Johnson, 2012, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, immediate past president for the Black Law Students Association and a recipient of the Williams Kastner Scholarship.

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