Free National Diversity Pre-Law Conference Offers Invaluable Information, Resources and Connections to Diverse Aspiring Lawyers

WASHINGTON - March 20, 2016 - PRLog -- Prospective law students, current law students, law school administrators, lawyers, and diversity professionals will all converge in Washington, DC, the Nation's Capital, for the Third Annual National Diversity Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair.  This special educational empowerment event will be held from Friday, April 1, 2016 to Saturday, April 2, 2016 (with an optional day on Thursday, May 31, 2016) at the Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC.

This intensive, world-class conference is designed to connect diverse aspiring lawyers from across the United States with game-changing and impactful information, networking opportunities, diversity leadership training, and law school, diversity and career success resources all in one place.  The goal of this event is to help better position law school aspirants to overcome the obstacles they will certainly encounter, as well as the additional challenges that will be presented because of their diverse status, to increase their chances for success in getting into law school, succeeding while there, and charting their own career paths and advancing in their careers thereafter.  Even more, this event encourages attendees to utilize their law degrees not just for themselves, but in furtherance of greater service, advocacy and social justice to make our society better.

This year's lineup of dynamic keynote speakers includes Ruqaiijah Yearby, Esq., M.P.H., Associate Dean of Institutional Diversity and Inclusiveness and Professor of Law, Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Cleveland, Ohio); Artika Tyner, Esq., M.P.P., Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Leadership and Associate Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, University of St. Thomas (Saint Paul, Minnesota); Lauren van Schilfgaarde, Esq., Tribal Law Specialist, Tribal Law and Policy Institute and Director, National Native American Bar Association (West Hollywood, California); and Charles Hamilton Houston III, Esq., Assistant General Counsel for Global Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management (International), ABM Industries (Houston, Texas).

Special guests scheduled to speak are The Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, National Executive Director, National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. and Retired Senior Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC); Leigh Chapman, Esq., Director, Office of Policy, Pennsylvania Department of State and Chair, Young Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); John Crump, JD, CMP, CAE, Historian and Executive Director Emeritus, National Bar Association and Founder, Crump Law Camp (Suitland, Maryland); Kevin D. Judd, Esq., Attorney, Law Firm of Kevin D. Judd, P.L.L.C. and President-Elect, National Bar Association (Washington, DC); Phil Lee, Esq., Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Law, University of the District of Columbia School of Law (Washington, DC); Robert T. Maldonado, Esq., National President, Hispanic National Bar Association and Partner, Cooper & Dunham LLP (New York, New York); Tina Matsuoka, Esq., Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Washington, DC); Sonji Patrick, Education Director, LatinoJustice PRLDEF (New York, New York); Raymond A. Ramirez, Esq., Associate, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP and President, Region V, Hispanic National Bar Association (Washington, DC); and Benjamin K. Sanchez, Esq., President, Sanchez Law Firm (Houston, Texas).  Several other panelists, presenters and moderators will participate with the focus of imparting wisdom and empowering attendees.

The free registration package includes a conference strategy guide, a conference sponsorship guidance booklet, a downloadable event app, a pre-conference planning guide, the official souvenir program guide, plenary and special guest sessions, a mock law school class, a personal statement and diversity statement workshop, an LSAT success strategies workshop, a financial aid workshop, as well as panel discussions on diversity and law school admission, diversity and the law school experience, and diversity and the legal profession.  New this year, there will be diversity thought leadership and training through Diversity Pre-Law Talks™, a signature event featuring two sessions of powerful, short talks providing unique perspectives on diversity issues regarding law school and the legal profession.  There will also be a law school recruitment and diversity resources fair featuring law schools, employers, and diversity law student, lawyer and support organizations.  Further, there will be a community service opportunity that participants can take part in.

Further, there is also a planned group visit to the Supreme Court of the United States and evening networking activities and events at different locations to encourage participants to further interact with each other, conference speakers, guests, panelists and volunteers, as well as area attorneys.  All conference attendees who stay until the end of the event and submit a short diversity action plan on how they plan to take what they have learned and make a positive impact in furtherance of diversity will receive a certificate of participation.  There will also be attorneys and law students available throughout the event to review personal statements, diversity statements and resumes, and to make themselves available to answer questions individually and in small groups.  The day prior to the official start of the conference, pre-law students will have the chance to visit area DC law schools, the U.S. Capitol building, and network.

Attendees will receive free LSAT prep books from the Law School Admission Council's DiscoverLaw initiative while supplies last, and the chance to win scholarships for an LSAT preparation course as well as discounts on law school academic preparation programs.  There will be other prizes to assist participants in their quests to becoming lawyers, leaders and social justice advocates including book giveaways from Dr. Artika Tyner and conference founder Attorney Evangeline M. Mitchell.  Complimentary continental breakfasts and refreshment breaks will be provided to everyone on both days.

This power-packed pre-law conference weekend is offered completely free of charge and is open to anyone interested in law school and diversity issues including high school students, college students, graduates and career changers.  Very limited space is available so those interested in attending are encouraged to register online.  Further information can be found at the official conference website at http://www.diversityprelawconference.org.  You may also call 281-944-LAW4 or send an e-mail to info@diversityprelawconference.org with any questions.