The National Black Law Students Association Hosts its 43rd Annual Convention March 9-13, 2011

Oct. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) Hosts its 43rd Annual Convention March 9-13, 2011 in Houston, TX.

The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) will host its 43rd Annual Convention from March 9-13, 2011 in Houston, Texas. Students from across the nation will come together to network with legal professionals, volunteer in community service initiatives, attend professional and educational workshops, and participate in advocacy competitions.

“For forty-three years, NBLSA has worked to empower Black law students and their communities.  This year’s convention theme, A Legacy of Empowerment, affirms our dedication to the development of tomorrow’s talented, involved Black attorneys,” says Ms. Melinda Hightower, National Chair of NBLSA. “We gather in Houston to honor NBLSA’s rich history. Recognizing the trailblazing efforts of our predecessors allows us to fully appreciate NBLSA’s mission and serves to inspire law students to maintain our tradition of excellence and service.”  

Mr. Chibundu Nnake, National Convention Coordinator, and Ms. Jeree Harris, National Director of Programming, have developed several opportunities for NBLSA members to engage in meaningful dialogue about legal issues affecting the Black community and Blacks in the legal profession. During the convention, attendees will discuss:

o   Immigration reform and the Arizona’s controversial immigration law,
o   Juvenile justice and the impact on youth placed in adult prisons,
o   Voting rights and impact of redistricting on Black communities,
o   Media justice and how to achieve greater diversity in media ownership and coverage,
o   Growth practice areas including energy law, sports and entertainment law, and intellectual property, and
o   Career paths available to law school graduates.

Prominent attorneys, advocates, and activists scheduled to appear include Debo P. Adeqbile, NAACP Legal Defense Fund Director of Litigation; Lisa Gilford, Partner Alston and Bird LLP; DeMonica Gladney, Exxon Mobil Corporation Counsel; and the Honorable Carl Stewart of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. A full list of speakers may be found at http://www.nblsa.org/2011convention/.    

NBLSA will also offer convention programming for our College Student Division (CSD) pipeline program members. Participating CSD chapters are invited to participate in workshops and discussions on LSAT preparation, the law school admissions process, and the law student experience. Additional information about NBLSA’s College Student Division may be found at http://www.nblsa.org/csd.


Additionally, top student advocates from across the country will participate in our Annual Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial, Frederick Douglass Moot Court, and International Negotiations Competitions. The prestigious competitions serve to promote oral advocacy and social consciousness in the legal profession. Additional information about the competitions may be found at http://www.nblsa.org/competitions.

We look forward to a successful Convention with the support of national, regional, and chapter leadership. As always, our Convention would not be possible without the dedication, leadership, and fortitude of our members. Convention registration is now open, and may be found at http://www.nblsa.org/conventionregistration.

Press Contact:
Erica Washington
National Director of Public Relations
The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA)
publicrelations@nblsa.org

About The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA):

Founded in 1968, the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is a national, non-profit organization created and designed to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students; foster and encourage professional competence; focus upon the relationship of the Black attorney to the American legal system; instill in the Black attorney and law student a greater awareness of and commitment to the needs of the Black community; utilize member expertise to initiate a change within the legal system that will make it more responsive to the needs and concerns of the Black community; and do any and all things necessary and lawful in order to accomplish these goals.

NBLSA is the largest student-run organization in America and has approximately 200 chapters at law schools throughout the country. This represents almost every ABA accredited law school, plus several non-accredited law schools. These chapters represent nearly 6,000 Black law students in six regions that encompass 48 states including Hawaii and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Recently, NBLSA has established an international connection with Black law students in Canada, England, South Africa, and the Bahamas who have decided to model their student organizations after NBLSA.

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Founded in 1968, the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is a national, non-profit organization created and designed to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students.