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