Former NFL Player Turned Lawyer Shawn D. Stuckey To Keynote At National Black Pre-law Conference

Aug. 29, 2008 - PRLog -- This year, the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair, the nation’s premier information-sharing and networking empowerment event for aspiring Black lawyers welcomes Shawn D. Stuckey, J.D. as one of its featured keynote speakers.  The purpose of the conference is not only to provide critical information about what it takes to achieve the goal of becoming a lawyer, but also to provide positive role models of successful African American lawyers who have overcome the odds and achieved success.  This event is one designed to motivate and inspire attendees, and help them to see that if others were able to overcome adversity in their lives to become lawyers, that it is indeed possible for them to do the same.

Shawn D. Stuckey is such a role model, and he has a quite a story to share with this year’s future lawyers in attendance.  Shawn is a retired NFL football player who did brief stints as a linebacker for the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  He is also a recent graduate of The University of St. Thomas School of Law, the current co-chair of the legal department for the St. Paul Chapter of the NAACP, and an associate at Zelle Hoffman in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  By any measure, he has been successful as a record-breaking athlete, an award-winning law student, and no doubt as a new attorney.  However, the cards life dealt him may have predicted a very different ending.

Mr. Stuckey was raised in rural Alabama and overcame tremendous obstacles.  He grew up in poverty in a drug-infested environment. He was raised on welfare and food stamps while living in public government housing for his entire adolescent life.  He was raised by a single mother and never met his father.  For many, this is a recipe for failure.  But not for Mr. Stuckey.

Despite a background which may have led to defeat, he was determined to win.  He became the first person in his family to make it past the eighth grade by graduating with honors and ranking 11th in his high school class.  He went on to attend Vanderbilt University, a top 20 institution of higher learning.  He worked on his Master of Business Administration at The Citadel, and eventually attained over 21 high school, collegiate, and professional championships, including one world championship, and set an NFL record in the process.  

As a law student, he didn’t just get through – he excelled. He won several academic distinctions, honors, and awards including achieving the position of associate editor for The University of St Thomas School of Law’s law review, three Dean's Academic Achievement Awards for earning the highest grade in his courses, the 2007 Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers' Academic Achievement Scholarship, the 2008 University of St. Thomas (UST) Scholarly Engagement and Societal Reform Award, and the UST-Law Chapter of Amnesty International's 2008 Human Rights Award.

Don’t miss out on what this phenomenal young man hopes to impart to other African Americans who may feel that their environment or circumstances are standing between them and their dreams of becoming lawyers someday.  His life and successes demonstrate what can be possible with hard work, goal setting, and belief in oneself.  

Meet Attorney Stuckey at the Fourth Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2008, which will be held on Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11, 2008 at the University of Houston in the University Center.  This groundbreaking “must attend” event is completely free of charge, free food is provided, and it is open to the public.  High school students, college students, college graduates, working professionals, career changers, pre-law, career, and diversity/multicultural advisors, as well as supporters, and parents who want to encourage and guide their children who are interested in law school are all encouraged to come out and take part in what this conference has to offer.  Everyone is welcome.  Registration is required and can be done quickly and easily online at http://blackprelawconference.eventbrite.com.

For more information regarding the event, please visit the official conference website at www.BlackPreLawConference.com. You may also call 281-247-4026 or send an e-mail to register@blackprelawconference.com.  Please visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Blackprelaw.

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The nation's premier information-sharing and networking empowerment event for aspiring Black lawyers.