Penn State Law Professor Carla D. Pratt to Keynote 2012 National Black Pre-Law Conference

June 3, 2012 - PRLog -- The National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair, the nation’s premier information-sharing and networking empowerment event for aspiring Black lawyers, is proud to host its eighth annual event this year with the ongoing theme of “Encouraging excellence, strategic thinking, and a competitive mindset among African American law school aspirants.”   This event is the only comprehensive educational conference in the country focused on specifically reaching out to Black pre-law students in order to equip them with the key “insider” information, resources, and contacts they need to succeed in the highly competitive law school admissions process, in law school, and in the tough professional world.  

It also aims to showcase outstanding African American lawyers who have not only achieved success, but are also making special contributions to the community who can serve as role models to attendees converging from all over the nation.  

In keeping with this goal, the conference is excited to welcome Carla D. Pratt, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law.  Dean Pratt serves as an Associate Justice to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Supreme Court.  She has taught courses in Constitutional Law, Race and American Law, Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law and Federal Indian Law.  Professor Pratt’s scholarly interests examine the legal construction of racial identity and the role of race in the legal profession.   She is particularly interested in exploring why racial diversity is important in the legal profession and how racial identity shapes professional identity.  Her most recent project is a qualitative study of African American lawyers that seeks to discover how African Americans successfully navigate the pipeline to the legal profession.  The results of this study are published in a book, The End of the Pipeline:  A Journey of Recognition for African Americans Entering the Legal Profession,  co-authored with Dr. Dorothy Evensen who teaches in the Penn State College of Education.

Before joining the legal academy, Dean Pratt practiced law as a Deputy Attorney General in New Jersey and in private practice at Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP in Philadelphia.  Dean Pratt is committed to improving diversity in law schools and the legal profession and is the recipient of the Philip J. McConnaughay Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her diversity related work at Penn State Law.  

Hear a thought-provoking message from Professor Pratt at this year’s conference, which will be held on Friday, November 2, 2012 to Saturday, November 3, 2012 at The Westin Galleria Houston in Houston, Texas.  Registration is now open for this groundbreaking “must attend” event.  High school students, college students, college graduates, working professionals, career changers, pre-law, career, and diversity/multicultural advisors, mentors, and parents are all encouraged to come out and take advantage of all of the wonderful opportunities this conference offers.  The event is free of charge.  However, a nominal seat deposit is required to reserve your seat, conference bag and materials.

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 info@blackprelawconference.com.