NBA Law Day with Claire McDaniel

Claire McDaniel, National Bar Association Representative

NBA Law Day is an initiative to have a direct pipeline to law students of color. This organization encompasses over 20,000 African American lawyers, judges, and practitioners.

The NBA is divided into over 25 practice areas – including government, religion, alternative dispute resolution, labor & employment, IP, etc. For more information, check out their website at www.nationalbar.org.

There are many benefits of NBA membership, including that NBA membership is free! Examples of benefits are Networking, CLEs (over 45 offered annually), Magazines, Discounts, Website where you can list and post resume, Mentoring Program through NBA, Networking Event, Annual Convention.

NBA wants to encourage students that their opportunities are limitless, and the NBA is here to help law students develop relationships and gain exposure to areas of law in order to be successful.

Job Search Tips

Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses

Narrowed your search through what you’re interested in and what you’re not interested in

Networking – be sure to do it starting in your 1L year!

Build and Maintain relationships

Maximize the Career Services Offices

Attend Job Fairs

Seek opportunities in your interest areas, for example, the Minority Corporate Counsel of Attorneys (MCCA) – internships, scholarships, networking opportunities

Implement networking and job search strategies into your regular practice

Utilize the Bar Association

NBA as a resource for law students

The Subcommittee Chair for NBA Region 5, which includes New Orleans, is Sharon Bridges.

This year's Annual Convention is in Baltimore, MD at the end of July 2011. Students can volunteer without registration fee if you are interested in attending. Check the NBA website for more information.

Interview Tips

Stay composed, be assertive, and make a connection with your interviewer. Personality is KEY because employers want to see that you can be an interesting person in the office.

Focus on your grades. But, get involved in activities!

Network - establishing relationships is very important and may be the critical factor for distinguishing you from another candidate.

Interview as much as possible. Applying for jobs is a game. Often, you may get discouraged in finding the opportunities you want. But stay motivated!

Seek as many opportunities in what you are interested in.

Don't focus on the Bar.

Stay away from "negative naysayers" - it is important to be realistic, but surround yourself with positive people.

Applications for free student membership to the National Bar Association will be available soon!

A BLSA Night in Black & White

The outgoing and incoming executive boards would like to extend another sincere thanks to the BLSA family for a wonderful banquet as we celebrated the closing of a propitious year for the organization.

Thanks to the 2010-2011 E-Board:

Brenden Whitted

Anthony Williams

Erin Sanders

Tela Justice

Andrea Holmes

& Ashley Banks

for their tireless dedication to BLSa throughout the year.

Thanks again to the 1L Banquet Committee:

Jalisa Mathis

Ashley DeFlanders

Shawna Munson

& Amanda Austin

for making last night's event a wonderful time for everyone in attendance. Enjoy your mugs, ladies!

Special thanks to Professor Westley for his support; we are especially grateful!

Photos coming soon!

For 2L's Applying to Clinics

3L Shannan Holder is available to speak with any students who may have applied to clinics. See below:

Hello 2L's,

As you all know, it is time to think about your last year in law school and you should try to make the best of it. Being in a clinic your last year is a great opportunity to learn more about litigation and most government positions require that you have clinical work experience before hiring you, such as the DA or PD office.

The Juvenile Litigation Clinic is the best way to gain that experience. It is taught by Professor David Katner who is an excellent educator and a great person to use for career purposes. Professor Katner asks anyone who might be interested in the Juvenile Clinic and would like to learn more to stop by his office in the clinic, room 130Q or email him at dkatner@tulane.edu.

It is not too late to join the Juvenile Litigation Clinic and I encourage everyone to apply. If you want to know a student view of the clinic feel free to email me personally at sholder@tulane.edu or stop me when you see me. I would be happy to talk to anyone who might want to apply.

Thank you.

Regards,

Shannan Holder

Student Attorney, Tulane Juvenile Litigation Clinic

BLSA Secretary 2010-2011

A Message from Lezlie Griffin-- International Opportunities & Diversity Initiatives

Good Afternoon! I am the new Career Counselor at the CDO that is responsible for International Opportunities & Diversity Initiatives. I have attached a spreadsheet of some upcoming Diversity Career Fairs & Conferences that you may be interested in.

View the summer job fairs here, many of which have some focus on diversity.

Website addresses are included so that you may look at the individual guidelines to determine if you are eligible to attend. Additionally, there will be info posted on CRIS. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns! Thank you!

Lezlie A. Griffin, JD, LLM

Career Counselor

Tulane University Law School

Career Development Office

6325 Freret St.

New Orleans, LA 70118-6231

Phone: 504-862-8834

Fax: 504-862-8797

lgriffi3@tulane.edu

www.law.tulane.edu

Journal Write-Ons

This note is to encourage all 1Ls (and 2Ls not currently on a journal) to consider completing the summer write-on packets for whichever journal you are interested in. The summer write-on competition for all journals will begin right after finals. Instructions for completing the packets can be found on the intranet under the ‘Write-On competitions’ link in the left column under “Student Activities.” The instructions for this year will be updated shortly (possibly during finals). Each journal has slightly different instructions, so please read them carefully, but the general process will be to add the Write-On Competition as a course on TWEN and then download the packet for the journal(s) you wish to compete for. Deadlines for each journal are likely to be the same date, approximately 4 weeks after finals to complete your submission. Yes, that’s work to do right away in summer, but it’s not that hard if you start early. Some journals, including the Environmental Law Journal (ELJ), accept the Law Review packet in lieu of the specific journal packet. That way if you are writing the Law Review packet, you don’t have to write another to submit to those journals that accept it. Additionally, there should be an info session held soon for all journals. Expect notice to be posted on the intranet.

2Ls: Afraid of being ‘bored to death’ third year (likely not)? Some journals, including ELJ, encourage 3Ls who are not yet on a journal to write on this year. It gives you a chance to fulfill your writing requirement via the comments the junior members write in the spring.

Specifically regarding the ELJ, we will be accepting up to 20 new members via the write-on competition. Our journal provides great flexibility in subject matter as we allow students to choose, with some limitations, their own cases for the fall Case Notes and topics for the spring Comments. This can cover environmental issues from classic pollution topics, to wildlife and habitat protection, to environmental justice and equity concerns (such as impacts of environmental laws on economic and social minority groups). This provides great flexibility to choose a topic you will enjoy writing about. If you have any questions about the ELJ or the write-on process, please feel free to contact next year’s ELJ Editor-in-Chief, Kirk Tracy (ktracy@tulane.edu).

SLLS Internships

Summer Internships with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services *This opportunity was shared with us by a Tulane BLSA alum who is interested in receiving OUR applications!*

Job Description: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services offers civil legal aid to low income clients in Southeastern Louisiana. This internship will be in with the Housing and Homeless Prevention Unit which specializes in eviction defense, landlord/tenant dispute, housing advocacy and rights, federal housing program rights and community outreach. The selected law clerk will be asked to interview and screen potential clients and engage in regular contact with those clients; draft correspondence and legal pleadings; conduct research and draft legal memoranda; aid staff attorneys in trial preparation and accompany those attorneys to court proceedings; etc. The internship is unpaid, but we are willing to assist with fellowship and stipend applications. Resumes, cover letters and other documents you wish to submit for consideration must be received no later than March 30, 2011. Interviews will begin shortly after. We ask for an eight week commitment but are flexible on start and end dates. If interested, please send your resume to Hardell Ward at hward@slls.org.

Reminder: BLSA Banquet-- RSVP by WEDNESDAY!

You're Invited to A BLSA Night in Black & White!

End-of-Year Banquet and Networking Reception

Friday, April 8 from 6:30-9pm

We invite students, alumni, faculty and staff to join us for our end-of-year celebration of Tulane BLSA

Black & White Cocktail Attire Suggested

Please spread the word to other Tulane BLSA alumni and friends!

We hope you will join us for our final event of the year!!

Please RSVP to the evite you received last week or by emailing us at TulaneBLSA@gmail.com, subject "Banquet"

Attention 1Ls: Mandatory Moot Court Informational

From Moot Court Chairperson Jon Ferguson:

Hey all you 1Ls out there! Do you know what is cooler than studying for finals? It’s coming to the mandatory Moot Court meeting. On Thursday, April 14^th, we will tell you about how you can travel around the country representing Tulane in all her glory. The meeting will explain to you the argue-on process, as well as answer any concerns you may have about this fun and useful organization. This meeting is mandatory for all 1Ls that wish to be on Moot Court; remember, mandatory can also mean fun. We hope to see you all there.

What: Moot Court Informational Meeting (Mandatory)

When: April 14^th, 4:00 PM

Where: Room 257

Questions: email

Jon – jonadamferguson@gmail.com or

Arly- asmithpearson@gmail.com

NATIONAL BAR INSTITUTE, AFRICAN-AMERICAN LAW STUDENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

NBI African American Law Student Fellowship Program
The African American Law Student Fellowship Program, a project of the Institute, was developed to assist law students who are completing professional law degrees, a field where African-American participation has traditionally been low. The NBI awards law student fellowships annually to (a maximum of) three law students. To be eligible, a law student must have been, among other things, carrying a full time class load at a U.S. law school; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; have at least two consecutive years of full time law student experience and intend to return to the Black community to practice law once legal training is completed. Fellowships range from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the availability of funds, with $2,500 being the generally recommended amount.

Targeted Fields
School of Law.

Open To
Prospective/Current Graduate Students.

Citizenship
Open only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must intend to return to a Black community to practice law once their legal training is completed.

Stipend
Awards range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Deadline
5/15/2011

Program Description
Several fellowships are offered to full-time African-American law students pursuing a professional law degree.

For More Information

National Bar Institute 1225 11th Street NW Washington, DC 20001-4217

(202) 842-3900
www.nationalbar.org/nbi/nbigrants.html

Girls on the Front Line: Gender and the Battle to Desegregate Public Schools in the United States

Rachel Devlin, Associate Professor of History at Tulane will be speaking about her current research project: Girls on the Front Line: Gender and the Battle to Desegregate Public Schools in the United States. Her research examines the cultural politics of girlhood and race in the twentieth century by considering the disproportionate number of girls who were plaintiffs in desegregation lawsuits prior to Brown v. Board of Education, and who were desegregation “firsts” at white schools in the late nineteen fifties and early nineteen sixties.

Please join Law Women tomorrow, March 30 at 12noon, in Room 110 for what promises to be an interesting presentation, followed by lunch on the MPR Patio.

My Black Is Beautiful: A Special Opportunity for Women of Color

My Black is Beautiful! What’s Yours?

Let us Oil Our Lamps! Mother Teresa said, “To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.” Women and more specifically women of color are so busy filling the lamps of the people they love that they let their own lamps run low. We need to take time to Oil Our Lamps and take care of ourselves, but my question to you is how do we do that? When do we start? Let us meet again for a lunch time discussion on how we can Oil Our Lamps!

March 30 Anna Many Lounge Caroline Richardson Building, Uptown Campus 12:30-1:30

Lunch will be provided

For more information, contact Munirat Adebimpe at madebimp@tulane.edu

Know Your Rights with Judge Lynda Van Davis - Tonight! March 29 at 6:30

Summer Internships with SLLS

Summer Internships with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services *This opportunity was shared with us by a Tulane BLSA alum who is interested in receiving OUR applications!*

Job Description: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services offers civil legal aid to low income clients in Southeastern Louisiana. This internship will be in with the Housing and Homeless Prevention Unit which specializes in eviction defense, landlord/tenant dispute, housing advocacy and rights, federal housing program rights and community outreach. The selected law clerk will be asked to interview and screen potential clients and engage in regular contact with those clients; draft correspondence and legal pleadings; conduct research and draft legal memoranda; aid staff attorneys in trial preparation and accompany those attorneys to court proceedings; etc. The internship is unpaid, but we are willing to assist with fellowship and stipend applications. Resumes, cover letters and other documents you wish to submit for consideration must be received no later than March 30, 2011. Interviews will begin shortly after. We ask for an eight week commitment but are flexible on start and end dates. If interested, please send your resume to Hardell Ward at hward@slls.org.

You're Invited to the End-of-Year Banquet!

Women's History Month Events Sponsored by Law Women

On Wednesday, March 23, we'll be hosting Noël M. V. Foster, a Ph.D. candidate at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Ms. Foster will be sharing her dissertation research onBlack Female Agency and Sexual Exploitation: Quadroon Balls and Plaçage Relationships. Her research focuses on the lives of Louisiana’s free women of color in New Orleans from 1805 to 1860 and looks at the unique social institution of Quadroon Balls and plaçage relationships as a lens to understand the sexual and economic choices of free women of color in that time period.

Second, on Wednesday, March 30, we'll be hosting Rachel Devlin, Associate Professor of History here at Tulane. Prof. Delvin will be speaking about her current research project: Girls on the Front Line: Gender and the Battle to Desegregate Public Schools in the United States. Her research examines the cultural politics of girlhood and race in the twentieth century by considering the disproportionate number of girls who were plaintiffs in desegregation lawsuits prior to Brown v. Board of Education, and who were desegregation “firsts” at white schools in the late nineteen fifties and early nineteen sixties.

Please come join us for these two interesting talks. Both will take place at 12noon and food will be served. Locations TBA, but will be either Room 110 and/or the MPR patio.

The A.P. Tureaud Chapter of BLSA at Loyola University invites You to the Fourth Annual Scholarship Gala

The A.P. Tureaud Chpater of BLSA at Loyola University will hold its Fourth Annual Scholarship Gala at the Audobon Tea Room on Friday, April 1, 2011. Proceeds will benefit the Semora "Lola" Bartholomew Davis Scholarship Fund and chapter activities.

In 2005, the Semora "Lola" Bartholomew Davis Scholarship was established to increase African-American enrollment at Loyola University College of Law. They would like to continue the Davis Scholarship and BLSA chapter activities in order to attract the most qualified candidates to Loyola.

Mark your calendars for April 1, 2011 if you are interested in attending the gala. It will be held at 7:00pm at the Audobon Tea Room, 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. Tickets are $80. The auction will be held in conjunction with the gala.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Please make checks payable to Loyola BLSA. For more information, contact blsa@loyno.edu

Diversity in the Legal Profession: The Professional Workplace: Implementing Solutions and Cultivating an Inclusive

Here's a great opportunity to network with the Louisiana State Bar Association at its 4th Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession. Free registration to the first 10 students from each law school who sign up!

On Friday, March 18, 2011, the Louisiana State Bar Association will host its 4th Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession: The Professional Workplace: "Implementing Solutions and Cultivating An Inclusive Atmosphere" at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center (859 Convention Center Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130) from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., with a reception following until 8:00 p.m.

The event is a continuing legal education course for attorneys and judges. There will be a number of attorneys and judges speaking throughout the day, and the program includes an interactive diversity workshop. Additionally, Marc Morial (former New Orleans Mayor and current CEO of the National Urban League) is the keynote speaker at the luncheon.

The Bar Association is inviting ten (10) students from each law school to attend "free of charge" - first come, first served. Accordingly, the first ten students from each school to submit the registration form

(http://www.lsba.org/2007cle/cledocuments/165(5).pdf)will be registered to attend for free.

The Conclave agenda is available at the following link:

http://www.lsba.org/2007cle/cledocuments/165(1).pdf. For more information, call Kelly McNeil Legier (504-619-0129; Kelly.Legier@lsba.org).

NOTE:

Students should only register if they intend to attend. No shows will be charged a $25.00 administration fee

Black Women Lawyers Association Scholarship Application

The Black Women Lawyers Association will award scholarships to second and third-year full-time law students as well as fourth year students enrolled in night programs who intend to practice law in California. Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, community service, academic achievement and legal writing ability.

Completed applications must be postmarked no later than April 5, 2011. Successful applicants will be recognized at the Black Women Lawyer's Foundation Luncheon at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on May 21, 2011.

If you have any questions regarding the scholarships and/or application process, please contact Mika Hilaire at mika@abhlegal.com, or Karen Pointer at KPointer@lplawwllp.com.

A hard copy of the application packet is available upon request.

A Message from SRBLSA: E-Board Openings

Greetings SRBLSA Family,

Thank you for your dedication to SRBLSA. We are calling for your service! Attached you will find details about the available positions for the 2011-2012 Southern Regional Executive Board. Please take a moment to review the information and give careful consideration to applying for an appointed position.

We ask that those interested in these positions are fully prepared and serious about taking on the time commitment, service and dedication necessary to serve as effective leaders. As with all the positions on the Board, please take very careful note and consideration of the duties of each position as a way of analyzing if they fit your qualifications and interest.

The following positions are available:

1. Sub-Region 1 Directors
2. Sub Region 2 Director
3. Director of College Student Division

A complete application includes a resume and a statement of intent. If you are Interested p lease submit all information to both the Regional Chair-Elect, Jamie Davis, at 8jireh8@gmail.com and the Regional Vice Chair-Elect, Danny Patterson, at dpatters@samford.edu All material should be submitted As Soon As Possible !

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us atsrblsa.appointments@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued commitment to SRBLSA. See you in Houston, Texas for this year’s 43^nd Annual National Convention!

Ashley Pruitt
SRBLSA Regional Director of Communications
Mercer University School of Law
Candidate for J.D. 2012

LSBA Spring 2011 Minority Job Fair-- Important Change!

The Louisiana State Bar Association 2011 Spring Minority Job Fair has been converted into a pure "Resume Collection". You can still create your account on LSBA Symplicity Web site and submit your resume for the "Resume Collection" but there will no longer be on-site interviews. Just like the "Resume Collections" through CRIS, interviews will be arranged between you and the employer. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me or call 504-865-5942 to make an appointment to meet with Amanda Moeller.

People of Clarendon County - Wednesday, February 22 at 6pm

Interested in Running for BLSA Office? Come to the E-Board Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 5pm

Find out more about the roles and responsibilities of the E-Board members. Join us for an e-board meeting in Room 304 (inside the library) at 5pm.

Egypt and Beyond Teach In: February 22 at 7pm

Learn more about the recent events in Tunisia, Egypt, and Beyond!

Join the Payson Center Graduate Student Association for a panel discussion exploring ramifications of recent events in North Africa. Moderated by Dr. Stanley Samarasignhe.

All are welcome!

Dinwiddie Hall, Room 102

February 22 at 7pm

Tulane Corporate Law Institute - March 31 and April 1

Interested in Corporate Law? Then you don’t want to miss this FREE opportunity to learn about emerging issues in corporate law and to network with some of the industry’s biggest names!

Tulane Corporate Law Institute -- March 31st and April 1st.

You can find more information about the Institute in the following link: http://www.law.tulane.edu/uploadedFiles/Life_After_Law_School/CLE/2011%20CLI%20BROCHURE-%20FINAL(1).pdf

Tulane Law School secured grants to allow TWO minority students from each school in Louisiana to attend the Institute at no cost to the student and three minority students from each school to attend the cocktail reception to meet potential mentors. The Institute organizers expect that the Chief Justice and other members of the bench will briefly address the students on life in corporate law.

Contact Šarka Cerna-Fagan (scfagan@tulane.edu) in the CDO as soon as possible if you are interested in attending!

Wednesday, February 23, 6pm, Weinmann Hall Room 110

We proudly present, free to the public

"The People of Clarendon County--a play by Ossie Davis"

Based on the book edited by journalist and Aesthetic Realism Associate Alice Bernstein

Hear Alice Bernstein tell of conversations with actor/activist Ossie Davis and uncovering his 1955 Civil Rights play celebrating one of the great lawsuits in American history, and how, with his encouragement, it is performed in relation to the education that can end racism: Aesthetic Realism, founded by the great philosopher, Eli Siegel.

See “The People of Clarendon County,” about black parents who risked death to fight for “equal” education, leading to the historic Supreme Court school desegregation ruling, Brown v. Board of Education—performed by Tulane’s Erin Sanders, ChôNayse Sellers, W.B. Whitted␣␣and Loyola's Victor Jones

Experience the Aesthetic Realism Teaching Method as educator, Monique Michael (born in Haiti) gives an interactive first grade lesson on diversity in birds and people. See why this method brings out every child’s true intelligence and ends prejudice in the classroom.

Meet unsung heroes from our own community!

Bone Marrow Registration Drive – Wednesday, February 16 from 11-2

Hillel (the campus center for Jewish life) is conducting a bone marrow registration drive in conjunction with the Gift of Life Foundation. Basically how it works is volunteers swab their inner cheek with a couple cotton swabs then turn it in to get mailed with their registration to an international registry. Later (it could be months, it could be years, it could be never), if someone in need of a marrow or stem cell transplant turns out to be a match with one of the volunteers, the volunteer is contacted by the Foundation about the possibility of donating.

Because certain diseases are particularly prevalent among minorities (e.g. Tay-Sachs, Sickle Cell, etc.), it's super-important to have as many of us as possible in the database because it makes it easier to find a genetic match. Hillel will have people set up at a table in the Weinmann lobby assisting volunteers with the cheek-swabbing / registration process on Wednesday, February 16 from 11:00-2:00.

PILF and Angola Law Library Information Exchange Service Present: Calvin Duncan

FORMER HEAD OF INMATE COUNSEL AT ANGOLA / HE AND THE INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW ORLEANS SUCCEEDED IN OVERTURNING HIS CONVICTION FOR SECOND-­DEGREE MURDER AFTER SERVING 28 1/2 YEARS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

4:30

ROOM 110, WEINMANN HALL RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

For more information, check out the facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=191882764168755&index=1

Celebrate Black History Month with BLSA

The History of Race in New Orleans

Thanks to everyone who came out last night to the talk by Professor Tania Tetlow. The event was a great success! Special thanks to the 1L class and 1L Rep. Anthony Williams for coordinating the event.

German Coast Slave Uprising Trials: Revisited

February 17, 2011 at 5:30pm, Judge Lemelle’s Courtroom

600 Poydras Street

The event is co-hosted by Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, 40th JDC Bar Association, A.P. Tureaud Inn of Court, Louisiana Association of Black Women Attorneys, and Tulane Black Law Students Association to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Largest Slave Revolt in American history that occurred In the Territory of Orleans. The organizations are coordinating oral arguments by some of the State’s finest attorneys and judges. The attorneys are arguing a Motion for New Trial for the convicted and executed slaves. Issues will raise several Constitutional issues, including due process as well as the Sixth and Eighth Amendments.

This is the second part of the commemoration, which we hosted at TLS on January 11. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about Louisiana history, but also to see some of the state’s leading attorneys and judges in action.

The People of Clarendon County – February 23 at 7pm

Come support BLSA’s final act in Black History Month, a performance of The People of Clarendon County. The People of Clarendon County depicts the rural community in South Carolina, which served as the battleground of black sharecroppers, domestic workers, laborers and clergymen who joined the NAACP to fight for better schools for black children with their 1951 lawsuit, Briggs v. Elliott. Theirs was the first of five cases that led to the breakthrough 1954 Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, which outlawed segregation.

Volunteer with the Admissions Office!

We need your help on Friday, February 25! A group of students from the DiscoverLaw Program at Sophie B. Wright High School will be at Tulane on February 25. The Admissions Office would like several current students to join them for Lunch and a Panel of Current Students.

Lunch is from 12-1 and the Panel is from 1-2. If you are interested in participating, please email abanks1@tulane.edu.

Interested in Running for BLSA office?

Elected positions are president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and parliamentarian. This is a great opportunity for you to take a leadership role within the law school community.

We will host elections at the March 2 General Body Meeting. Questions? Contact wwhitted@tulane.edu or any of the board members for the position of interest.

Constitutional Amendments

At the March body meeting, members will have the opportunity to suggest amendments to the Constitution. We will re-distribute the Constitution, and proposed suggestions should be sent to Tulaneblsa@gmail.com by February 23. Click here to access the Constitution via Google Docs.

General Body Meeting Tonight at 7pm

Meet us in the MPR tonight at 7pm for the first General Body Meeting of the semester!

We have a lot of great events coming up, so make sure you come to get all the details about Black History Month, Elections, National Convention, and more!

Tonight's 1L Workshop will be about Summer Jobs.

Reminder: If you are interested in attending the NBLSA National Convention with support from our chapter you MUST be at tonight's meeting.

See you tonight!

Michael Starks Memorial February 2

(excerpt From NOLA.com)

Michael Starks, the first African-American graduate of Tulane University School of Law and the first African-American lawyer in the New Orleans city attorney's office, died Saturday of liver failure at Life Path Hospice in Temple Terrace, Fla. He was 67.

Michael Starks

A native New Orleanian who graduated from the University of New Orleans, Mr. Starks was the first African-American admitted to Tulane's law school, said his sister, Sandra McCollum. He graduated in 1968.

He became an assistant city attorney during Mayor Moon Landrieu's administration. Mr. Starks also worked there when Dutch Morial and Sidney Barthelemy held New Orleans' top elective office.

But that service wasn't continuous, his sister said, because Mr. Starks suffered a brain hemorrhage in 1983 that rendered him unable to work for three years.

That marked the first in a series of major health problems, McCollum said.

After leaving City Hall, Mr. Starks was an attorney for the Housing Authority of New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina struck, McCollum said.

Mr. Starks, who evacuated to Houston, developed a leg infection that couldn't be cured, his sister said, and doctors were forced to amputate his right leg.

When he could no longer take care of himself, he moved to Tampa, Fla., to live with his ex-wife, Carol Starks, and their daughter, Michelle Starks. He was hospitalized last week, McCollum said, and he entered hospice care two days before he died.

In addition to his sister and daughter, survivors include a granddaughter.

A memorial will be held at the school on Friday, February 2, at noon. Members are asked to attend, and to wear black business casual dress.

SRBLSA Appointments

Greetings SRBLSA Family,

Thank you for your dedication to SRBLSA. We are calling for your service! Attached you will find details about the available positions for the 2011-2012 Southern Regional Executive Board. Please take a moment to review the information and give careful consideration to applying for an appointed position.

We ask that those interested in these positions are fully prepared and serious about taking on the time commitment, service and dedication necessary to serve as effective leaders. As with all the positions on the Board, please take very careful note and consideration of the duties of each position as a way of analyzing if they fit your qualifications and interest.

The following positions are available:

1. Sub-Regional Directors ( 1 and 2)

2. Recording Secretary

3. Director of Community Service

4. Parliamentarian

5. Directors of Corporate Relations (2 positions)

6. Director of Membership

7. Job Fair Coordinator

8. Director of the College Student Division

9. Historian

10. Regional Director of Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition

11. Regional Director of Fredrick Douglass Moot Court Competition

A complete application includes a resume and a statement of intent. All materials are due by at February 4, 2011 5:00 pm EST. Please submit all information to both the Regional Chair-Elect, Jamie Davis, at8jireh8@gmail.com and the Regional Vice Chair-Elect, Danny Patterson, at dpatters@samford.edu.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at srblsa.appointments@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued commitment to SRBLSA. See you in Houston, Texas for this year’s 43^nd Annual National Convention!

Ashley Pruitt
SRBLSA Regional Director of Communications
Mercer University School of Law
Candidate for J.D. 2012

Black Lawyers Assoc. of Cincinnati Scholarship

see the Comments section for FAQ and background info.

The Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati (BLAC) invites eligible law students to apply for scholarship(s). We anticipate that each scholarship will be equal to or greater than the $2,000.00 awarded for each scholarship last year. The selection of recipients will be made by the BLAC Scholarship Committee. The Chairperson was selected by the BLAC President and other members of the association who volunteered to serve.

The selected recipients will be recognized and presented with their scholarships at BLAC’s 19th Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet to be held at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel, in downtown Cincinnati. Each recipient will be asked to submit an appropriate photograph and biography for publication in our program booklet soon after the selection.

In addition to awarding three law student scholarships, we will present our distinguished service award and introduce members of the Class of 2011 from our two area law schools to the greater Cincinnati legal community. The black tie optional affair will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a reception, followed by a 7:30 p.m. dinner program. Approximately 400 lawyers, judges, law students, and friends attend our banquet each year.

Lobby Day

While Tulane BLSA will be unable to sponsor a member's attendance, any interested member should consider the Lobby Day opportunity:

HNBA-LSD, NLLSA & NBLSA Lobby Day 2011

Objective:

The 2011 Lobby Day will allow members of the Law Student Division of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA-LSD), National Latina/o Law Students Association (NLLSA) and the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) to collaborate on legislative reform.

Lobby Day encourages HNBA-LSD, NLLSA and NBLSA members to actively participate in the democratic process. Students will be trained on effective lobbying methods, hear the perspectives of attorneys who have chosen careers in legislative advocacy, and most importantly, meet with legislators and staff to discuss necessary reforms. This year's panelists include Danielle McBeth of Alcade & Fay, Angela Rye of IMPACT-DC, Oneshia Herring, a Policy Advisor for Representative Alcee Hastings, and Ms. Kenya Wiley, Counsel for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Date(s):

The 2011 Lobby Day will take place February 16-17, 2011.

Issue:

Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Additional information on the ESEA may be found here.

Identify Your Legislator:

Click here to identify your state legislators.

Lobby Day Agenda

Agenda
download

Stone Pigman Diversity Reception: a Great Opportunity!

Welcome Back! Commemorate the German Coast Slave Uprising with the Martinet Society

We hope to see you at our first event of the semester THIS TUESDAY, January 11, at 5:30 in the MPR. A reception with the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society will follow. The Martinet Society is a local organization of African American lawyers in New Orleans.

200 Years of Civil Rights in Louisiana: Reflections on the 1811 German Coast Slave Uprising and the State of Civil Rights in Louisiana Today

Join us for a panel discussion on 200 Years of Civil Rights in Louisiana: Reflections on the 1811 German Coast Slave Uprising and the State of Civil Rights in Louisiana Today. Confirmed Guest Panelists: Larry Preston Williams Leon Waters Carl Baloney, Sr. Fernin Eaton A reception will follow with the opportunity to meet members of the sponsoring organizations. Sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society in conjunction with the Louisiana Association of Black Women Attorneys, the 40th Judicial District Bar Association for Parish of St. John the Baptist, and Tulane BLSA.

Click here for more information on the German Coast Slave Uprising and Commemorative Events in 2011.

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25th Annual MLK Week for Peace: January 17-21: Unity + Diversity: Universities for the Dream

Monday, January 17, 2011: MLK day of service -- “A Day On Not A Day Off” Xavier University, University Center 8:00 am – 3:00 pm – Staging

Wednesday, January 19, 2011: MLK Convocation – Nikki Giovanni

Loyola University Rousell Hall, Music & Communication Building

5:00pm-5:45 pm Opening Reception- Danna Center

6:00pm- 7:30 pm– MLK Convocation

Thursday, January 20, 2011:

Expressions of Unity- Talent Showcase

Dillard University 7:00pm

Friday, January 21, 2011:

Stepping for the Dream- University Step Off
McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University 8:00 pm

MLK Week Closing Party- Loyola University St. Charles
Room - 9:30 pm