Inside this issue:
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR REGIONALS SCHEDULE CAREER FAIR CHAPTER OF THE YEAR CALL TO ACTION
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MWBLSA REGIONAL BLAST
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Greetings MWBLSA, As this year draws to a close, I must say that I am excited to have been given the opportunity to serve as your 2011-2012 Midwest Region Chair of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). This year's successes have been an entire regional effort, and we are still not finished. With our 2012 Regional Convention steadily approaching we are constantly working towards the arrival of the largest region of NBLSA in the great city of Columbus, Ohio. As Regional Chair, my primary focus for the 2011-2012 year was the successful execution of our regional programming, which includes the upcoming Regional Convention.
In order for this
convention to be a success, it is imperative that we have as many able chapters participate as possible.
Please contact me if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions at
Midwest@nblsa.org. The MWBLSA executive board looks forward to seeing you in Columbus to make this Convention successful. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you. Together, we will show why the Mighty Midwest Region is on its way to the next level! Very truly yours, Rodney D. Robbins, Jr. Indiana University, Maurer School of Law Midwest Regional Chair, 2011-2012 National Black Law Students Association midwest@nblsa.org
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: The host hotel for the convention is the Marriott Renaissance Downtown Columbus located at 50 North 3rd Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Our room block is currently full! I was able to get an extension on our cut-off date, but only King Rooms are available. These rooms can be booked at our group room rate of $109 until February 3, 2012. Reservations can be made at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/mwblsa2012 or by calling (800) 266-9432 and referencing the Midwest Black Law Students Convention. Registration: Convention registration is still open! Registration is $150 until February 14, 2012. On-site registration is $180. We will honor the $120 registration rate for schools who register 5 or more attendees for the convention. Register Today!
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MWBLSA REGIONAL BLAST
PROGRAMMING AND WORKSHOPS: The following is a list of our programming and workshops for the convention week: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012: 8:00AM-5:30PM Registration 2:00PM-4:00PM Community Service Event 4:00PM-6:00PM Competitor’s Reception sponsored by Roetzel & Andress 7:00PM-8:00PM Mock Trial Competitor/Coach Meeting 7:00PM-8:00PM Moot Court Competitor/Coach Meeting 10:00PM-UNTIL Regional Executive Board Meeting THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012: 6:30AM-8:30AM Breakfast 8:00AM-5:00PM Registration 9:00AM-12:00PM Community Service & Attorney General/Social Action Events 9:00AM-8:30PM Mock Trial & Moot Court Competitions 9:00AM-12:00PM Diversity Law Fair (Pre-Law Division) 12:00PM-1:00PM Lunch 1:00PM-2:15PM Public Interest Law 2:30PM-3:45PM “Speed Dating”: Networking & Interview Workshop 2:00PM-4:00PM Advocacy/Social Action Event 5:00PM-6:00PM Plenary Session 7:00PM-9:00PM Welcome to Columbus Reception sponsored by Squire Sanders 10:00PM-UNTIL Regional Executive Board Meeting FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011: 6:30AM-8:30AM Breakfast 8:00AM-5:00PM Registration 9:00AM-8:30PM Mock Trial & Moot Court Competitions 9:00AM-4:00PM Career Fair 12:00AM-1:30PM “Getting to Esquire and Beyond” Luncheon 9:00AM-12:00PM Pre-Law Division Oratorical Competition 1:45PM-2:30PM IP Law Panel 1:45PM-2:30PM “Choosing a Practice Area” 2:45PM-4:00PM Sports and Entertainment Law Panel 2:45PM-4:00PM “The Road to Judiciary and Clerkships” 4:00PM-6:30PM Plenary Session 7:30PM-9:30PM Professionalism Fashion Show/Alumni Reception sponsored by OSU 10:00PM-UNTIL Regional Executive Board Meeting 10:00PM-UNTIL Social Event (Location TBA) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012: 6:30AM-8:30AM Breakfast 9:00AM-12:00PM Registration 9:00AM-12:00PM Mock Trial & Moot Court Final Rounds 9:00AM-10:00AM There’s No Justice… There’s “Just Us” Part I
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MWBLSA REGIONAL BLAST
10:15AM-11:30AM 10:15AM-11:30AM 11:30AM-12:45PM 1:00PM-2:15PM 1:00PM-2:15PM 2:30PM-3:45PM 4:00PM-6:00PM 7:00PM-8:00PM 8:00PM-10:00PM 10:00PM-2:00AM
Creating Your Own Law Practice Preparing for Partnership & Advancement Lunch “Brothers-In-Law” “High Heels… High Standards” There’s No Justice… There’s “Just Us” Part II Plenary Session (2012-2013 Regional Executive Board Elections) Networking Reception/Silent Auction Awards Gala Social Event (Location TBA)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012: 10:00AM-UNTIL Regional Executive Board Transitional Meeting
Confirmed Career Fair Participants: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn Ohio Attorney General’s Office Building Excellent Schools Barnes & Thornburg Squire Sanders Sidley Austin Quarles & Brady Neal Gerber & Eisenberg Roetzel & Andress Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Warner Norcross & Judd Nilan Johnson Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Bricker & Eckler Sebaly Shillito & Dyer Lewis Wagner Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala
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Calfee Thompson Hine Tucker Ellis & West US Airforce JAG ViewYou
Sponsors: School Title Sponsor: Ohio State University
Gold Sponsors: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur Squire Sanders Roetzel & Andress ViewYou
Silver Sponsors: Sidley Austin Capital University Law School
Bronze Sponsors: Neal Gerber & Eisenberg Roetzel & Andress Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Warner Norcross & Judd Nilan Johnson
Supporter Sponsor: Thompson Hine LLP Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Bricker & Eckler
MWBLSA REGIONAL BLAST
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Sebaly Shillito & Dyer Valparaiso Lewis Wagner Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala Washington University St. Louis Honda of America
Welcome to Columbus Reception: Squire Sanders
Alumni Reception: Ohio State University
Competitor’s Reception: Roetzel & Andress
Delegate Bags: Westlaw
Delegate Badge Holders: Barnes & Thornburg
Convention Memory Stick: Quarles & Brady
Convention Water Stations: Thompson Hine
MWBLSA Community Service Sponsor: Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
Pre-Law Division: Capital University Law School
MWBLSA REGIONAL BLAST
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MWBLSA REGIONAL BLAST
Awards Gala Silent Auction Sponsors: AdaptiBar BarBri Bar Max Kaplan PMBR Multistate Edge Pieper Bar Review TheBARkey Themis Bar Review
Competitors/Coaches: It is mandatory for all competitors and coaches to register for the 2012 Regional Convention. Registration is now $120. If you have not already done so, please register as soon as possible as you will not be able to compete if you are not registered for the convention.
Volunteers: We are still looking for volunteers! We are in need of bailiffs, assistants, etc. Registration for volunteers is $90. Register to volunteer NOW!
ViewYou: We have a very exciting opportunity for members of the MWBLSA. ViewYou, a premium sponsor of ours, has built an online platform tailored specifically to assist law students searching for internship and employment opportunities. Law students create comprehensive profiles inclusive of a professionally produced HD video introduction. This is an ideal tool to showcase personality, presence and interpersonal skills that cannot be offered on a resume or transcript. No other resource like this exists today and this platform has been extremely well received with firms and legal employers. Some highlights: o Students can outbound complete portfolios to potential employers anywhere in the world, allowing immediate access to their entire profile, video included. o Employers do not need to be subscribers and do not have to pay when invited to view a profile by the student. o Students are able to post links on social media sites like Facebook and Linkedin allowing access to LIMITED versions of their profile (including their video but excluding private information like resumes and transcripts).
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MWBLSA REGIONAL BLAST
o Profiles never expire, can be updated 24/7 and can be forwarded an unlimited number of times. o Students can create MULTIPLE profiles at no charge, as long as they use the same video. o There are no additional charges - ever. There is no annual subscription fee. The student is not charged to access or send information and can turn their profile off or on at any time.
Firms and legal employers in every major US market will subscribe to search for candidates, however the biggest advantage today is the capability of sending your information anywhere in the world instantly, professionally, in an organized manner and with a unique video component that undoubtedly will get you noticed by Recruiting Directors and Hiring Partners alike. Retail price per student is $199. We have negotiated a price for conference attendees of $99 per profile, however the cost is only $25 for any student that pre-registers for a shoot during the conference. Pre-registration concludes February 12th. Go to http://ViewYou.com, click on the SCHEDULE A SHOOT link and select a date & time on the MWBLSA Conference page.
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR: Chapter of the Year Applications sent via EMAIL are due by 11:59pm February 9, 2012 and Scrapbooks OR applications sent via the MAIL must reach me by February 9, 2012. If you choose to bring your scrapbook to the convention when you CHECK IN leave YOUR SCRAPBOOK AT THE TABLE W/ A MWBLSA REP ONLY (I will have a box there) AND WE WILL PICK them UP AFTER REGISTRATION CLOSES THURSDAY. ONLY SCRAPBOOKS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE CONVENTION ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED VIA EMAIL OR MAIL BY FEBRUARY 9, 2012.
CALL TO ACTION: Are you interested in serving on the 2012-2013 Midwest Region Executive Board? Please download and read the MWBLSA Election Packet and apply! Applications are due on or before February 12, 2012 at 11:59 EDT. If you can't copy the link, it is http://www.nblsa.org/mwblsaelections/.