44th Annual
National Convention P r e l i m i n a r y
A g e n d a
NATIONAL BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION 44TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION MARCH 7-11, 2012 WASHINGTON, DC
D I V E R S I T Y
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Congratulations on the success of your 44th National Convention. Perkins Coie supports the leadership of Black law students and has a longstanding commitment to helping the National Black Law Students Association achieve its goals and mission. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration and continued success.
ANCHOR AGE · BEIJING · BELLEVUE · BOISE · CHIC AGO · DALL AS · DENVER · LOS ANGELES · M ADISON · NEW YORK P A L O A LT O · P H O E N I X · P O R T L A N D · S A N D I E G O · S A N F R A N C I S C O · S E AT T L E · S H A N G H A I · TA I P E I · W A S H I N G T O N , D . C . Contact: 800.586.8441 Perkins Coie LLP ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
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44th Annual National Convention
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3 2012
Monday, February 27,
Volunteers Wanted! Attention DC Area Students! THE EVENT
The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) will host its 44th Annual National Convention in Washington, DC. The NBLSA Convention is an annual gathering of employers, law school students and professionals from across the nation. NBLSA needs your help to make the event a success!
ABOUT NBLSA
NBLSA is the largest student-run organization in the country and is dedicated to the development of talented, involved black attorneys.
WHAT YOU GET
Valuable exposure in an exciting industry (event planning), free convention access*, that warm, fuzzy volunteer feeling, and many other cool benefits! Find out more about how you can help by visiting our volunteer information link at www.nblsa.org/convention-volunteer
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FROM MARCH 6-11, 2012 Renaissance Capital View Hotel | 2800 S. Potomac Ave | Arlington, VA FOR MORE INFO EMAIL JONATHAN HARTSFIELD
volunteer@nblsa.org
C O N V E N T I O N A G E N D A TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012 08:00PM - 09:00PM
Volunteer Meetings Volunteer Orientation Meeting Session 1
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012 11:00AM - 05:30PM 04:30PM - 05:30PM 05:30PM - 07:00PM 07:00PM - 08:30PM 08:00PM - 09:00PM 08:30PM
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Convention Registration and Information National Executive Board Pre-Certified Candidates’ Meeting Competitions (Casual) Competitors’ Meetings Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competitors’ Meeting Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competitors’ Meeting Volunteer Meetings Volunteer Orientation Meeting Session 2 Reception & Social Events (Casual) Chair’s Social: NBLSA Idol & Games Night
DAY 2: THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 08:00AM - 05:30PM 07:00AM - 09:00AM
Convention Registration and Information Continental Breakfast
09:00AM - 10:00AM
Volunteer Meetings Volunteer Orientation Meeting Session 3
07:30AM - 08:30AM 08:30AM - 11:00AM 08:30AM - 11:00AM 08:30AM - 11:00AM 08:30AM - 10:00AM 11:30AM - 01:00PM
Community Service (Casual) Community Service Training Community Service: Ethiopian Community Development Council Community Service: Community for Creative Non-Violence Community Service: Habitat for Humanity ReStore White House Roundtable Event Legacy of Service Luncheon
07:00AM - 09:00AM 08:30AM - 12:00PM 08:30AM - 10:30AM 09:00AM - 10:00AM 11:00AM - 01:00PM 12:00PM - 02:00PM 01:30PM - 05:00PM 02:30PM - 04:30PM 02:30PM - 04:00PM
Competitions (Business) Competition Breakfast Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Round 1 Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Round 1 International Negotiation Competitors’ Meeting Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Round 2 Competitors’ Lunch Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Round 2 Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Round 3 International Negotiations Competition Round 1
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C O N V E N T I O N A G E N D A 04:30PM - 06:00PM 06:00PM - 09:30PM 02:00PM
START
International Negotiations Competition Round 2 Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Round 2 (cont.) Plenary (Business) Plenary Session 1 - National Board Floor Nominations
05:45PM - 06:45PM
National Board Floor Candidates’ Meeting
05:45PM - 06:45PM
Workshops - Evening Sessions (Business) Being a Government Attorney: Separating Fact from Fiction Hanging Your Shingle: The Nuts and Bolts of Flying Solo Doing the Deals: The Transaction Side of Practicing Law
06:45PM - 08:30PM 10:00PM - 02:00AM
Receptions & Social Events Welcome to DC Reception (Business) Rendezvous by the River: A Red Carpet Affair (Cocktail Attire)
DAY 3: FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012 08:30AM - 05:30PM 09:00AM START 10:00AM - 05:00PM 07:00AM - 09:00AM 08:00AM - 11:30AM 08:30AM - 12:30PM 09:00AM - 10:30AM
Convention Registration and Information Plenary (Business) Plenary Session 2 - Constitution & By-Laws Amendments Career Development Expo Competitions - Morning Sessions (Business) Competition Breakfast International Negotiations Competitions Round 2 Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Round 3 Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Quarter-Final Round
10:00AM - 11:00AM
Workshops - Morning Sessions (Business) Careers on the Horizon: Energy and Environment Law Copyrighted, Trademarked, & Patented: Discussions in IP Law
11:15AM - 12:15PM
Behind the Gavel: Demystifying the Judiciary Being a Government Attorney: The Redux
12:30PM - 02:00PM
Luncheon (Business) Sadie T. M. Alexander Luncheon Honorees Include: Evangeline Mitchell Donald Temple Dean Everett Bellamy Keynote Speaker: Russlynn Ali
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02:00PM START 02:30PM - 06:00PM 02:30PM - 06:30PM 04:00PM - 05:30PM 02:15PM - 03:15PM 03:30PM - 04:30PM
Plenary (Business Attire) Plenary Session 3 - National Chair Candidates’ Debate Competitions - Afternoon Session (Business) Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Semi-Final Round Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Semi-Final Round International Negotiations Competition Quarter-Final Round Workshops - Afternoon Session (Business) The Spotlight & The Limelight: Sports and Entertainment Law The Necessary Liability: Life of an In-House Counsel Standing Out from the Crowd: Developing Your Personal Brand
05:30PM - 06:45PM
Brother-to-Brother: The Re-Emergence of the Black Gentleman Sister-to-Sister: Navigating Personal Success
06:45PM - 09:00PM
Reception & Social Events Legacy of NBLSA Reception (Business)
DAY 4: SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012 08:30AM - 05:30PM 08:30AM - 12:00PM 09:00AM - 12:00PM 08:30AM - 10:00AM 08:30AM
START
11:15AM - 12:15PM 09:00AM - 10:00AM 10:15AM - 11:15AM 11:30AM - 12:30PM 12:30PM - 02:00PM 02:30PM - 04:00PM
Convention Registration and Information Competitions - Morning Sessions (Business) Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Final Round Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Final Round International Negotiations Competition Semi-Final Round Plenary (Business) Plenary Session 4 - National Elections Workshops - Morning Session (Business) American Politics: The Polarization of the Black Republican The State of the Legal Market: Where are the Jobs? Pre-Law Division - Morning Session Prelaw Session 1 | Cracking the LSAT Prelaw Session 2 | Pipeline to Success: Preparing for Law School Prelaw Session 3 | All that Glitters: Salary Expectations of the Legal Profession Luncheon (Business) A. Leon Higginbotham Luncheon Honoree: Judge Harry T. Edward Interviewed by Judge Ann Claire Williams Competitions - Afternoon Session (Business) International Negotiations Competition Final Round
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C O N V E N T I O N A G E N D A 02:30PM - 04:00PM
International Negotiations Competition Third Place Round
02:00PM - 03:00PM
Pre-Law Division - Afternoon Session Prelaw Session 4 | Ahead of the Class: Professors and the Socratic Method
03:30PM - 04:30PM
Prelaw Session 5 | From Good to Great: Developing a Leader’s Mind
04:45PM - 05:15PM
Prelaw Session 6 | Appearance Creates Credibility - Dress for Success
02:15PM - 03:15PM
Workshops - Afternoon Session (Business) Election Protection Working on Capitol Hill
03:30PM - 04:30PM
LGBT Law: The New Civil Rights Movement? Deconstructing the Pipeline to America’s Prisons
06:00PM - 07:00PM 07:00PM - 10:30PM 10:00PM - 03:00AM
Receptions & Social Events Pre-Gala Reception (Black Tie) 44th Annual Awards Gala & Hall of Fame Induction (Black Tie) Convention Afterglow/Finale Party (Casual)
DAY 5: Sunday, March 11, 2012 09:00AM - 10:00AM
Gospel Breakfast
10:00AM - 11:00AM
National Appointees Interest Meeting
11:15AM - 11:45AM
National Executive Board One-on-One Transition Meeting
11:45AM - 01:00PM
National Executive Board Transition Meeting
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Being a Government Attorney: Separating Fact From Fiction Are you interested in pursuing a career in government service? Whether you’re interested in becoming a dedicated public servant, launching a political or judicial career, or simply seeking student loan forgiveness, you will find this panel informative. Attendees will learn the realities of government practice from attorneys employed by various government departments and agencies. Our discussion will identify the perks of being a government attorney, while endeavoring to put the most egregious rumors to rest. Panelists: Robert Eskridge, Counsel, US House of Representatives - Committee on Ethics Jamila Frone, Attorney, Department of Justice Duane Scott, Attorney, Department of Education - Office for Civil Rights Monique Fortenberry, Deputy General Counsel, Small Business Administration Roscoe Howard, US Attorney, Department of Justice Kathleen Johnson, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission - Office of General Counsel Lt. Tashinda Richardson, Navy JAG Being a Government Attorney: The Redux Panelists: Rear Admiral Nanette DeRenzi, Navy JAG Lt. General Richard Harding, Air Force JAG Hanging Your Shingle: The Nuts and Bolts of Flying Solo Are you a law student with an entrepreneurial spirit? This panel will attempt to reconcile these dual interests, by showcasing the pros (and cons) of starting a law practice. Attendees will meet established attorneys who will provide sage advice drawn from their own experiences. Attendees will gain a sense of the benefits and drawbacks of picking your own hours, maintaining a client base, and handling your own cases. This workshop is sure to decrease the learning curve associated with starting your own practice! Panelists: Rachel Rodgers, Founder, Rachel Rodgers Law Shauntese Trye, Founder, Trye & Associates Erek L. Barron, Solo Practitioner Andrea Ewart, Andrea M. Ewart, P.C. Alisia Adamson, HAWM PLLC Donald Temple, Temple Law Group Patricia Rosier, Rosier Law
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Career Paths - Doing the Deal: The Transaction Side of Practicing Law Sponsored by Perkins Coie LLP Are you about business? Close the deal! Panelist will discuss the various types of transactional law including business, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, licensing and technology, venture capital, and finance. The discussion will also focus on employment opportunities in these areas in law firms and corporations and how to prepare for a career on the transaction side of practicing law. Panelists: Bruce E. Dick, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP Joseph Q. McCoy, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP Leslie D. Minier, Partner and Chief Diversity Officer, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Chad E. Walker, Senior Counsel, McDonald’s Corporation Careers on the Horizon: Energy and Environment Law Sponsored by Perkins Coie LLP This panel will explore different aspects of environmental and energy law practice. Panelists will discuss employment opportunities in these fields, how to prepare for those, and how the field may expand as a result of alternative energy, new technologies, environmental justice initiatives, recent regulatory pushes, and the emerging scarcity of clean water, farmable land, and other resources Panelists: Tom Lindley, Partner & Firmwide Chair Environment, Energy & Resources, Perkins Coie LLP Benjamin F. Wilson, Principal, Beveridge & Diamond PC Professor Patrice Lumema Simms, Howard University School of Law Carita Shanklin Walker, Senior Legal Counsel, Shell Oil Sensimone Williams, Exxon Mobile Corporation Law Department Lana Pettus, Trial Attorney, Department of Justice - Environmental Crimes CDR DeAndrea Fuller, Navy JAG Copyrighted, Trademarked, & Patented: Discussions in IP Law Sponsored by Microsoft Intellectual property (IP) is a pervasive part of modern life. Whenever we use our smartphones to download music, keep up with our friends on Facebook, or admire the red-soled pumps gracing the feet of our favorite fashionistas, we engage with elements of intellectual property. Our panelists will explore the fundamentals of IP law, distinguishing between practices in copyright, trademark, and patent law. Attendees will learn more about current legal issues arising in these fields, as well as the opportunities available for aspiring IP attorneys. Panelists: Keyonn L. Pope, Attorney, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP Andrea Hence Evans, Attorney, The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans Sharon Barner, Partner, Foley & Lardner, LLP Philip Hampton, II, Partner, Dickstein Shapiro, LLP Lindsay Hopkins, Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
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Behind the Gavel: Demystifying the Judiciary This panel will discuss different paths to the judiciary, the historical and contemporary role of Black judges, and the judges' experiences gained while serving on the bench. Panelists will also discuss what qualities they value in law clerks, and what law students can do while they are still in law school if they are interested in pursuing a career in the judiciary. Panelists: Hon. Cheryl M. Long, Retired Judge, DC Superior Court Hon. Gerald Bruce Lee, Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Hon. Raymond A. Jackson, Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Capt. Fred Mitchell, Navy JAG Jamar Walker, Law Clerk, Judge Raymond Jackson, United States District Court for the ED of Virginia The Spotlight & The Limelight: Sports and Entertainment Law Did the legal underpinnings of the almost-NFL shutdown intrigue you? Does the number of contracts required to produce a single episode of your favorite TV series fascinate you? This panel will give you an insider’s view of the practice of sports & entertainment lawyers, and the opportunities available for law students trying to break into the field. Panelists: Terri Patterson, Deputy Managing Director / Special Counsel, National Football Players Association Lamell McMorris, Founder, Perennial Sports & Entertainment Alan S. Tilles, Entertainment Practice Chair, Schulman Rodgers Elva Mason Holland, Solo Entertainment Attorney Nyasha Foy, Northeast Regional Vice-Chair/Director of Communications The Necessary Liability: Life of In-House Counsel In private practice, lawyers are considered assets. In the corporate arena, however, they represent an expense on the bottom line, i.e., a liability. This panel addresses the ins-and-outs of corporate practice with current and former in-house counsel who will provide concrete advice for aspiring attorneys seeking to become an asset to their company. Attendees will gain a sense of the responsibilities held by in-house attorneys, and the qualifications executives seek when hiring corporate counsel. Panelists: Juliette Williams Pryor, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer, U.S. Foodservice Brandon Fitzgerald, Minority Corporate Counsel Association Donna Wilson, Former Counsel of Goodwill Industries LCDR Marvin Richards, Navy JAG Sheila Isong, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, National Black Law Students Association
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Standing Out From the Crowd: Developing Your Personal Brand From the “swoosh” on a pair of Nike’s to the “LV” on your favorite purse, companies know all-too-well how to market their products and distinguish their brand from the pack. This panel discussion will inform attendees on how to create a personal brand for themselves while emphasizing the importance and benefits of appropriate personal branding in the legal profession. Panelists: Paula Edgar, Association Director of Career Services, Seton Hall University School of Law Giselle Joffre, Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP Matthew Brewer, Associate, Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP Anthony Pierce, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Will Wilder, Associate, Groom Law Group Dionne Lomax, Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP Brother-to-Brother: The Re-Emergence of the Black Gentleman “Ren•ais•sance (n.): A revival of intellectual or artistic achievement and vigor.” For many reasons, chief among them high incarceration rates, the Black man is becoming an “endangered species.” Our communities need professional Black male role models: including men who are balanced socially, professionally, spiritually, and emotionally. This panel discusses the notion of the Black “Renaissance Man,” while discussing the importance of being socially conscious, culturally aware, having a global perspective, and possessing the ability to navigate different social spheres without losing balance or perspective. A gentleman should also present well—be wellread, well-spoken, well-mannered, and well-dressed. This panel seeks to instill these values in all attendees, while also emphasizing the importance of Black male role models and encouraging that more men adopt the renaissance model in their lives. After all, as the adage goes: “To whom much is given, much is required.” This panel will identify ways that Black men can help to build our generational pipeline as they seek to become community leaders who are distinguished for a greater purpose. Panelists: Sean Walton, Jr., Co-Founder, Editor, thefreshexpress.com Karl Price, Attorney, Grand Polaris, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director, Fathers, Inc. Enitan Bereola, Author, Bereolaesque Henry Hunter, General Counsel, Collins Johnson Group
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Sister-to-Sister: Navigating Personal Success Can a Black woman in the legal profession really have it all? What challenges come with the being an accomplished and successful Black female attorney? The panel will discuss the strides and sacrifices that Black female attorneys have made as they attempted to balance their social lives, legal careers, and familial commitments. These dynamic women will also address the stereotypes and challenges that ambitious Black women face while on their way to achieving professional greatness. This panel is a yearly hit and you will not want to miss it Panelists: Leslie Spencer, IP Associate, Ropes & Gray, LLP Adia Z. May, Founder & CEO, Zuri Ent. Lt. Mishonda Baldwin-Moseley, Navy JAG Sharon Butcher, Associate General Counsel, Wal-Mart Theresa Cropper, Chief Diversity Officer, Perkins Coie Demetria Lucas, Author, A Belle in Brooklyn: The Go-To Girl for Advice on Living Your Best Single Life American Politics: The Polarization of the Black Republican It is no secret that a majority of the African American community has historically supported the Democratic Party. This panel will examine the intersection of race and political identity, debunking many of the misconceptions held about Black conservatives, while providing a more realistic view of the political spectrum. Panelists will also offer their insight on the often-contentious debates that arise when members of society (and the media) rely on negative stereotypes and blanket generalizations to describe the behavior of Black candidates and voters. Panelists: Reginald Darby, Senior Legislative Assistant Rich Counts, Past Chairman, DC Young Republicans Andrew Lee, Press Assistant, House Foreign Affairs Committee Timothy Johnson, Chairman, The Frederick Douglass Foundation Brandon Brice, Owner and Contributor, HipHopRepublican.org Tara Setmayer, Communications Director, Representative Dana Rohrabacher The State of the Legal Market: Where Are the Jobs? Sponsored by Navy JAG Want to land a summer associate gig but not sure which geographic region to consider? Just curious about what fields of practice are available to corporate lawyers? This panel will discuss what practice areas have grown in recent years and what areas are slowing down. Panelists will discuss the opportunities available for attorneys entering the legal market and an overview of the landscape that students will be entering in this summer. Panelists: Eric Blue, Senior Associate, Akin Gump Sarah Van Steenburg, Managing Director, Major, Linsey & Africa Twanda Turner-Hawkins, Allstate Insurance Company Matthew Schwartz, Recruiter, Garrison & Sisson John Matthews, Associate, Latham & Watkins LLP Lt. Ayana Pitterson, Navy JAG
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Election Protection Less than fifty-years ago Jim Crow laws and unchecked racism made it almost impossible for a person of color to cast a ballot. Today the efforts to disenfranchise Black voters are far subtler, with the passage of seemingly harmless voter ID laws and the careful crafting and restructuring of voter districts. This panel 3 will discuss laws and ordinances that are being developed to restrict voter access to the ballot, in an effort to promote awareness about the ways we can stop voter disenfranchisement. Panelists: Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Respect My Vote! Coalition William Kellibrew, NAACP/Foot Soldiers for Democracy Marcia Johnson-Blanco, Acting Co-Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Hans Goff, Founder & CEO, Voting Works, LLC Blair Bowie, USPIRG Working on Capitol Hill This panel will discuss the benefits of a career on “The Hill” and the various opportunities available to students in the D.C. area during and after law school. The panel will identify a wide range of opportunities including working with members of congress to lobbying on behalf of corporations, with the goal of exposing interested students to another type of public service employment opportunity. Panelists: Wintta Woldermariam, Legislating Correspondent, Senator Kristen Gillibrand Angela Rye, Executive Director and General Counsel, Congressional Black Caucus Mikael Moore, Chief of Staff, Representative Maxine Waters Chanelle Hardy, Chief of Staff to US Congressman Artur Davis Kendra Brown, Northeast Regional Chair
LGBT Law: The New Civil Rights Movement? The historical relationship between the Black community and the Black church has often set the climate and tone of political and social movements. This relationship has also impacted how many in the Black community view the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights movement. This panel will discuss the movement for marriage equality and its comparison to the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s. We hope to illuminate the dual burden carried by Black members of the LGBT community, and how we can support those individuals in their quest for justice. Panelists: Lexer Quamie, Counsel, The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights Sharon Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition Alphonso David, New York City Deputy Secretary for Civil RIghts Brian Watson, Activist, LGBT Issues Daryll Hannah, Associate Director of News & Film Media, GLAAD Aisha Moodie-Mills, Advisor, LGBT Policy & Racial Justice, Center for American Progress
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Deconstructing the Pipeline to America’s Prisons Racial disparity in the American criminal justice system is not a new revelation. But as prisons are becoming more overpopulated, key resources are consistently being taken away, and the concept of a “Prison Industrial Complex” continues to gain traction in a number of states, it is more apparent that the system is not working. What is necessary to remedy slow reforms and the often-ineffective criminal processing system? This panel will discuss the Anti-Incarceration Movement and how it’s working to address many of these concerns. Panelists will also cover its connection to other movements such as the Innocence Project and the overall affect these movements have on the Black community. Law students will walk away from this panel with concrete ways on how they can participate and impact the movement’s direction Panelists: Edgar Cahn, Professor, Founder, David A. Clarke School of Law/Time Banks USA Johnathan Smith, Fellow NAACP Legal Defense Fund March Mauer, Executive Director, The Sentencing Project Antonne Jones, Author, Equal Verdicts: The True Story of the Lex Street Massacre
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From Birth to the Bar: Pre-Law Panels PL1) Cracking the LSAT Virtually all law schools use the LSAT as a determining factor for admitting law school applicants. Yet, African Americans tend to score 10 points below the national average. Are you concerned about how your LSAT score will impact your admissions prospects? Join us as we discuss methods for improving your LSAT score, while we talk more about how your score should influence your application strategy. PL2) Pipeline to Success: Preparing for Law School Law School can be a competitive environment from the admissions process to the classes, exams, and when you begin locating employment. This panel will discuss the benefits of programs developed to prepare students for the rigors of law school. Panelists: Evangeline Mitchell, Founder, Black Pre-Law Conference Cassandra Ogden, Executive Director, CLEO Paula Lucas, Executive Director, Just the Beginning Foundation Tamesha Harper, Co-Manager, SEP Career Program Reginald McGahee, Esq., Asst. Dean of Admissions, Howard University School of Law Lt. Brett Cook, Navy JAG
PL3) All that Glitters: Salary Expectations of the Legal Profession In 2008, the median starting salary for law school graduates in the U.S. was $72,000. In 2010, it dropped to $63,000. This panel will discuss salaries and earnings potential of different paths and practice areas within the legal profession. The panel will also feature a candid discussion about financing a law school education from the perspective of paying back loans and taking opportunities that will minimize debt. Panelists: Sherry-Anne Smith, Assoc. Director/ Coordinator of Diversity Initiatives, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Radhika Singh Miller, Education Debt Relief & Outreach, Equal Justice Works Charles Pruett, Assistant Dean/Financial Aid, Georgetown University Law Center David Morrow II, Staff Attorney, Buckley Sandler, LLP Raqiyya Pippens, Associate, Kelley Drye PL4) Ahead of the Class: Professors and the Socratic Method This panel will feature a candid discussion about cold calling and the Socratic Method. Law professors will give their thoughts about in-class interaction with students, while students will give testimonials about their best and worst classroom experiences. Attendees will walk away with information on how to be prepared for class, ask the right questions, and make the most use of their professors as invaluable intellectual resources. Panelists: Nathan Williamson, Director of the Pre-Law Division, NBLSA Teleicia Rose, Director of Alumni Affairs, NBLSA Daniel Harawa, President, Georgetown BLSA Patricia Worthy, Professor, Howard University School of Law Lt. Lauren Cherry, Navy JAG
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PL5) From Good to Great: Developing a Leader’s Mind This panel will discuss the importance of becoming a leader on campus and in one’s community, and how as law school hopefuls they can acquire a litany of skills that will benefit them in their professional career. Panelists: Nathan Williamson, Director of the Pre-Law Division, NBLSA Yolanda Young, Activist/ Columnist, Onbeingablacklawyer.com Michelle Rhaman, Dean of Admission, University of Richmond School of Law Yvette Alexander, District Court Judge, Baton Rouge City Court
PL6) Appearance Creates Credibility – Dress for Success Mark Twain once said, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society." You want to be noticed for the quality of your work—not the horrible miscalculation of your clothes or highlighting what you think is a “glorious bod.” How you dress will tell the boss how you see yourself and how you approach the job. This panel will advise students on the appropriate attire for a variety of professional settings that they will encounter as a law student and lawyer. Panelists will also help attendees to understand the importance of fit when shopping for items comprising one’s professional wardrobe. Attendees will leave this panel knowing how dress and appearance work to underscore their professionalism and competence. Panelists: Jhontera Rivers, Pre-Law Specialist, National Black Law Students Association Holly Duke, Director of Career Counseling, University of Virginia Law School Tatiana Suggs, Sales Lead, Ann Taylor Hon. Ramonda Belcher, Associate District Judge, 5th Judicial District of Iowa Lt. Darren Myers, Navy JAG
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Washington, D.C. Pipelines and Pathways C O M B I N I N G T O D AY ’ S A M B I T I O N S WITH TOMORROW’S REALITIES
NBLSA’s 44th Annual National Convention
CONTACT US National Black Law Students Association http://www.nblsa.org/2012convention Phone: (202) 618-2572 Email: 2012Convention@nblsa.org