Date

Nov 10, 2022 - Nov 12, 2022

Location

Cambridge and Boston, MA

Speakers

Keynotes, Guests, Panelists, Presenters

About Us / why we do what we do

THE VISION of the National Black Pre-Law Conference is to provide a powerful forum to help increase the numbers of excellent, strategic and competitive African American law school applicants, students and graduates nationwide.

THE MISSION of The National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair is to provide a high-quality, comprehensive national event designed specifically for aspiring Black lawyers. Its purpose is to provide them with access to empowering information, resources, and contacts that will assist them in the challenging journey ahead in pursuing admission into law school, success in the law school experience and on the bar exam, and beyond.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Our conference is designed to help them prior to beginning their law school careers so they can have the key “insider” information and encouragement they need to help them to better understand what it really takes to be successful in their quest to become lawyers.

* Founded in 2005 by Evangeline M. Mitchell, a graduate of HBCU Prairie View A&M University, the University of Iowa College of Law, and Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

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Quick Facts / you ought to know

From 2005 until 2021, the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair has:

Featured 74 keynote speakers, 182 special guest/guest speakers, and over 902 community leaders, law students, lawyers, law school administrators, and judges who have served as featured panelists, moderators, workshop presenters, advisors, mentors, and small group discussion leaders.

Registered Approx. 10,200 registrants nationwide.

Approx. 188+ Law Schools Attended to recruit potential law students.

Hosted 350+ mock law school classes, workshops, panels, clinics and other sessions.

Garnered the support of numerous elected officials and bar leaders.

The National Black Pre-Law Conference provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn more about:

the current statistics regarding African American law school applicants and law students

how to effectively navigate the law school admissions process

how to prepare to become more competitive and strategic applicants in regards to the overall package

how to properly prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

issues involving affirmative action and the role of diversity in the law school admissions process

how to choose the right law school for you

what various law schools across the country have to offer

how the financial aid process works, how schools select recipients of scholarships and fellowships, loan repayment assistance programs, managing law school debt, and relevant financial concerns during the current economic downturn

what is the value of the J.D.

what is the law student learning experience like (through a mock law school class with an assignment to read and brief a case to prepare for the Socratic method of class discussion)

how to make the most of the law school experience

how to make your diversity (racial, socioeconomic, educational, cultural, experience, etc.) work for you by contributing to the law school inside and outside of the classroom

what minority law school preparatory programs are available

what academic support is available to law students

what the unique challenges are that African Americans in particular face in law school admission, law school, and in the legal work environment, and coping mechanisms to overcome other people’s prejudices and misperceptions

how to project a professional business image

how to approach the job search and interviewing process, and what legal employers are really looking for

what the bar exam is and what it takes to pass the bar exam

what career options are available, and how to create your own opportunities

how to network effectively and seek out mentors

keys to career advancement

Benefits / Your FREE Registration Package Includes:

Pre-Event Orientation on “How to Maximize the National Black Pre-Law Conference Experience”

Pre-Conference Strategy Booklet

Meet-Ups to Connect with Fellow Attendees

Featured Keynote Speakers Include:

– Sherri Ann Charleston, J.D., Ph.D., Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

– Lonita K. Baker, Esq., M.B.A., President, National Bar Association and Associate Corporate Counsel, Waystar (Louisville, Kentucky)

– George Clayton Fatheree III, Esq., Partner, Sidley Austin LLP (Los Angeles, California)

– Bruce Jackson, Esq., Associate General Counsel and Managing Director, Strategic Partnership, Microsoft (New York, New York)

– Bryan Fair, Esq., Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law, University of Alabama School of Law (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

– Wendy Greene, Esq., LL.M., Director, Center for Law, Policy and Social Action and Professor of Law, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

– T. Anansi Wilson, J.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Law and Founding Director, Center for the Study of Black Life and the Law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

– Shayne O’Reilly, Esq., Director and Associate General Counsel and Head of Strategic Transactions, Licensing and Open Source, Meta (Atlanta, Georgia)

 

EXCLUSIVE!!! Screening of the “Becoming Black Lawyers” Documentary Short with Q&A Session with Cast of Featured Black Lawyers Including:  

– Veronica N. Dunlap, Esq., M.B.A., New York Program Director, ProBonoNet (New York, New York)

– Paula Edgar, Esq., CEO, PGE Consulting Group LLC (New York, New York)

– Marcus Sandifer, Esq., M.A., General Counsel and Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, and Corporate Secretary, Celsius Inc. (Boca Raton, Florida)

– Alexi Thomas, Esq., M.B.A., Vice President, Legal and Compliance, Evercore (New York, New York)

 

Panel Discussions

– The Law School Admissions Process

– The Future of Affirmative Action and Race-Conscious College Admissions and the Impending U.S. Supreme Court Decisions in the Harvard and University of North Carolina Cases

– Succeeding in Law School – Q&A with Current Black Law Student Leaders

– Intersectionality and the Law School Experience: Being Black + LGBTQ, Black + Neurodiverse, and Black + Disabled

– African Americans and the Bar Exam

– How to Become a Judicial Clerk

– African American Lawyers and Large Law Firms (BIGLAW): Things You Should Know About Recruitment, Expectations, Retention and Career Advancement If You Choose to Pursue This Path

– Black Lawyers for Black People: How Black Lawyers Can Utilize Their Legal Training to Do Significant, Meaningful Work and Contribute to the Uplift of the Black Community

 

Mock Law School Class Conducted by Professor Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr., Jesse Climenko Clinical Professor of Law and Director, Criminal Justice Institute, Harvard Law School (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

 

Workshops on:

– About the LSAT Presented by The Law School Admission Council (LSAC)

– Paying for Law School Presented by AccessLex Institute

– The Law School Personal Statement and Diversity Statement

– How to Become a Judge

 

In-Person Law School Recruitment Fair (Featuring Law Schools From Across the Country)

Aspiring Lawyers Pinning Ceremony – Reading of the Aspiring Lawyers Success Pledge and Pinning of Aspiring Lawyers by Current Lawyers

Certificate of Participation for Pre-Law Attendees

Interactive Networking and Connection-Making Opportunities

FREE BOOKS!

– Pre-Law Attendees Receive Complimentary E-Copy of “Creating a Strategic Action Plan for Law School Admission Success” Workbook by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq.

– Pre-Law Attendees Receive Complimentary E-Copy of “Profiles & Essays of Successful African American Law School Applicants” Edited by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq.

– Pre-Law Attendees Receive Complimentary E-Copy of “The African American Law School Survival Guide” by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq.

– Pre-Law Attendees Receive Complimentary E-Copy of “Conquering the Bar Exam” Edited by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq.

– Pre-Law Attendees Receive Complimentary E-Copy of “Lessons from Successful African American Lawyers: Practical Wisdom for Those on the Path to Lawyerhood” Edited by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq.

. . . And More!

Chances to Win Prizes!

Schedule of Events / what's happening when

Boston Law School Tours

The Conference will provide a guide to lead this tour.
Group meets at Boston College Law School
Then, the group will visit: Northeastern University School of Law
Suffolk University Law School
Boston University School of Law
New England Law | Boston
New England Law | Boston will provide complimentary snacks and drinks

OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION & WELCOME CEREMONY

Special Guest Speakers
Gregory Saint-Dick
Director
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Harvard Graduate School of Education Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Stephen L. Ball, Esq.
Dean of Students
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cherina Wright, Esq., M.B.A.
Adjunct Professor and Assistant Dean, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Conference Alumna Speaker
Chidera Onyeoziri
Third-Year Law Student
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bar Association and Student Organization Leaders and Guest Speakers

Chinh Pham, Esq.
President
Boston Bar Association
Boston, Massachusetts

Carla Reeves, Esq.
Co-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Boston Bar Association
Boston, Massachusetts

Jasmine Williams, Esq.
President
Black Law Students Association
New England Law | Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

George Boateng
President
Black Law Students Association
Boston University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Keynote Speakers

Sherri Ann Charleston, J.D., Ph.D.
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

George Clayton Fatheree, III, Esq.
Partner
Sidley Austin LLP
Los Angeles, California

Harvard Law School Tour

Student ambassadors provide a tour of Harvard Law School for conference attendees

FOCUS: THE CASE METHOD AND THE SOCRATIC METHOD

The Law School Classroom Experience - Mock Law School Class
Taught By Harvard Law School Professor Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., Esq.
Jesse Climenko Clinical Professor of Law and Director, Criminal Justice Institute, Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Case reading will be provided in advance. Please come prepared. You may be called on by Professor Sullivan.

*Participants will not be able to go into the law school and look for the designated classroom themselves. Harvard Law’s classrooms are not open to the public. Someone from the law school will take the group to the classroom where the mock class will be hosted. If you do not participate in the tour, please wait at the steps in front of Langdell Hall at 10:00 A.M. to be taken with the group.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION COUNCIL’S BOSTON LAW FORUM

General info about LSAC Law School Forum: https://www.lsac.org/lawschoolforums
In-person event schedule for Boston: https://www.lsac.org/lawschoolforums/in-person-schedule

Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Walking Tour

Group Self-Guided Walking Tour
Please download the app at: https://legacyofslavery.harvard.edu/walking-tour

The Conference will provide a guide to lead this tour.
Meet in Radcliffe Yard

Tour Stops Include: Radcliffe Yard; Christ Church; The Old Burying Ground; The Hutchins Center for African & African Research; Wadsworth House; Widener Memorial Library; Memorial Hall; Museum of Comparative Zoology; Harvard Law School; Cambridge Common

Boston Black Heritage Trail® Walking Tour

Group Self-Guided Walking Tour – The Black Heritage Trail® Map Provided/Audio Available for Download
https://www.nps.gov/boaf/mobile-app.htm

The Black Heritage Trail® explores the history of the 19th century African American community in Boston.

The Conference will provide a guide to lead this tour.
Group should meet in front of the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial; Beacon and Park Streets, Boston Common, Boston, MA

Points on the Tour Include: Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial; George Middleton House; The Phillips School; John J. Smith House; Charles Street Meeting House; Lewis and Harriet Hayden House; John Coburn House; Smith Court Residences; Abiel Smith School, Museum of African American History; The African Meeting House, Museum of African American History

NETWORKING RECEPTION Sponsored by Locke Lord LLP

Complimentary food and beverages provided.
+
NETWORKING GAMES & INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

+

SPEAKERS

Special Guest Speakers

Kimberly Hulsey, Esq.
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Locke Lord LLP
Washington, DC

Kiana Pierre-Louis, Esq.
Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Northeastern University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Lisa Braithwaite
Director
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs
Boston College Law School
Newton Centre, Massachusetts


Members of National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) chapters and bar associations are invited to spend time networking and connecting with prospective law students

FOCUS: THE BLACK LAW STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND THE BLACK LAWYER EXPERIENCE

ASK US ANYTHING! Q&A PANEL DISCUSSIONS

PANEL 1: LIFE AS A BLACK LAW STUDENT
Moderated by Richard Garzola Jr.,
National Chair, National Black Law Students Association Black Law Students Panel and Black Lawyers Panel

PANEL 2: LIFE AS A BLACK LAWYER
Moderated by Simone Yhap, Esq.,
Immediate Past Chair, National Blak Law Students Association

Registration

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Opening Keynote Power Session

Special Guest Speaker

Tyrell Adeyemi, M.Ed. President
Harvard Black Alumni Society - Boston Chapter
Boston, Massachusetts

Conference Alumni Speakers
Catherine Sims, Esq. Attorney
New York, New York

Harold Grigsby III Third-Year Law Student
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bar Association Leaders and Guest Speakers
Patrice Dixon, Esq. President
Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys Boston, Massachusetts

D’Andre Fernandez, Esq. President
Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association Boston, Massachusetts

Student Organization Leaders and Guest Speakers
Richard Garzola Jr. National Chair
National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA)
Washington, DC

Dara Ferguson President
Harvard Black Law Students Association
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Kerimal Suriel Guerrero President
Black Law Students Association
Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Regine Cooper Co-President
Black Law Students Association
Boston College Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Praise Tillman Co-President
Black Law Students Association
Boston College Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Keynote Speakers
Shayne O’Reilly, Esq. Director and Associate General Counsel, Head of Strategic Transactions, Licensing and Open Source
Meta
Atlanta, Georgia

D. Wendy Greene, J.D., LL.M. Director, Center for Law, Policy and Social Action
Professor of Law
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Fireside Chat with Attorney Bruce Jackson

Special Guest and Interviewer
Monica E. Monroe, Esq.
Assistant Dean for Community Engagement, Equity, and Belonging, Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

with

Bruce Jackson, Esq.
Associate General Counsel and Managing Director, Strategic Partnership Microsoft
New York, New York

GROUP PHOTO

LUNCH BREAK

On Your Own - Several restaurants are in walking distance in Harvard Square

FOCUS: LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

PANEL DISCUSSION
Brief Comments About the Current Harvard and University of North Carolina Supreme Court Admissions Cases Now Being Considered

+

Mock Law School Admissions Committee Meeting: How Admissions Officers Think and What They Consider in Making Difficult Selection Decisions

FOCUS: THE BLACK LAW STUDENT EXPERIENCE

***Screening of Multiple Award-Winning Documentary Short Becoming Black Lawyers ***

Created, Executive Produced and Directed by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq., Ed.M.

SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE! Question and Answer Session with the Filmmaker and Cast of Becoming Black Lawyers

Featuring Cast Members:
Veronica N. Dunlap, Esq., M.B.A., Deputy Executive Director, ACLU of Maryland (Baltimore, Maryland)
Paula Edgar, Esq., CEO, PGE Consulting Group LLC (New York, New York)
Marcus Sandifer, Esq., M.A., General Counsel, Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, and Corporate Secretary, Celsius Inc. (Boca Raton, Florida)
Alexi Thomas, Esq., M.B.A., Vice President, Legal and Compliance, Evercore (New York, New York)

Closing Plenary Session and Aspiring Lawyers Pinning Ceremony

Student Organization Leader and Guest Speaker

Tatiana Beaujour
National Director of Pre-Law Affairs
National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA)
White Plains, New York

Langie Cadesca
Co-President
Black Law Students Association
Northeastern University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Keynote Speaker

T. Anansi Wilson, J.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Law
Founding Director, Center for the Study of Black Life and the Law
Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Recognition of Bridge Builders Esquire Mentorship Excellence Honorees

Legacy Builder Award Honorees

Tomiko Brown Nagin, Esq., Ph.D.
Al Jenkins, Esq.

Special Presentation
Recitation of Aspiring Lawyers Success Pledge + Pinning of Eagle Pendants on Aspiring Lawyers by Current Lawyers

REFRESHMENT BREAK

Light Refreshments Served

LAW SCHOOL RECRUITMENT FAIR

Meet with recruiters from law schools across the country

Networking and Farewells

Make sure you have secured your circle of support beyond the event!  OR  Dinner - On Your Own

Optional Outing

Go and see the new movie
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Duration: 2 hours, 41 minutes)

Times Include: 10:00 P.M. | 10:30 P.M. | 10:45 P.M. | 11:00 P.M.

Reserve your seats at

https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/black-panther-double-feature-71376/showtimes/black-panther-wakanda-forever-56467/2022-11-12/amc-boston-common-19/all?rel=black-panther-double-feature_event_theatre_promo

Event Speakers / listen to amazing law students and lawyers

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

T. Anansi Wilson, J.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Law

Founding Director, Center for the Study of Black Life and the Law Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Lonita K. Baker, Esq., M.B.A.

President, National Bar Association

Louisville, Kentucky

George Clayton Fatheree III, Esq.

Partner, Sidley Austin LLP

Los Angeles, California

Sherri Ann Charleston, J.D., Ph.D.

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bruce Jackson, Esq.

Associate General Counsel and Managing Director, Strategic Partnership

Microsoft
New York, New York

D. Wendy Green, J.D., LL.M.

Director, Center for Law, Policy and Social Action

Professor of Law Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shayne O’Reilly, Esq.

Director and Associate General Counsel, Head of Strategic Transactions, Licensing and Open Source

Meta
Atlanta, Georgia

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS

Kiana Pierre-Louis, Esq.

Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Northeastern University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Cherina Wright, Esq., M.B.A.

Adjunct Professor and Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Lisa Brathwaite

Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Programs

Boston College Law School
Newton, Massachusetts

Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., Esq.

Jesse Climenko Clinical Professor of Law, Director, Criminal Justice Institute

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Monica E. Monroe, Esq.

Assistant Dean for Community Engagement, Equity, and Belonging

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stephen L. Ball, Esq.

Dean of Students

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Gregory Saint-Dick, M.S.

Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Student Development Lead

Harvard Graduate School of Education | Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Esq., M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.

Dean and Ryan Roth Gallo & Ernest J. Gallo Professor of Law

Boston University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Tyrell Adeyemi, M.Ed.

President

Harvard Black Alumni Society - Boston Chapter
Boston, Massachusetts

Kim Hulsey, J.D.

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Locke Lord LLP
Washington, DC

BECOMING BLACK LAWYERS Documentary Cast Members and Special Guests

Veronica N. Dunlap, Esq., M.B.A.

Deputy Executive Director,

ACLU of Maryland (Baltimore, Maryland)

Paula Edgar, Esq., CEO

PGE Consulting Group LLC

(New York, New York)

Marcus Sandifer, Esq., M.A.,

General Counsel

Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, and Corporate Secretary, Celsius Inc. (Boca Raton, Florida)

Alexi Thomas, Esq., M.B.A.

Vice President

Legal and Compliance, Evercore (New York, New York)

ORGANIZATION LEADERS AND GUEST SPEAKERS

HOST CITY (BOSTON) LOCAL AND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION LEADERS

Carla Reeves, Esq.

Co-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Boston Bar Association Director (Partner), Goulston & Storrs
Boston, Massachusetts

D’Andre Fernandez, Esq.

President

Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association
Boston, Massachusetts

Patrice Dixon, Esq.

President

Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys Boston, Massachusetts

Chinh H. Pham, Esq.

President

Boston Bar Association
Boston, Massachusetts

NATIONAL BLACK LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION (NBLSA) NATIONAL LEADERS

Richard Garzola

National Chair

National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA)
Washington, DC

Tatiana Beaujour

National Director of PreLaw Affairs

National Black Law Students Association White Plains, New York

LAW SCHOOL BLACK LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION LEADERS

Dara Ferguson

President

Harvard Black Law Students Association Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Kerimal Suriel Guerrero

President

Black Law Students Association Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Regine Cooper

Co-President

Black Law Students Association Boston College Law School
Boston, Massachustts

George Boateng

President, Black Law Students Association

Boston University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Jasmine Williams

President, Black Law Students Association

New England Law | Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

Langie Cadesca

Co-President

Black Law Students Association, Northeastern University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Praise Tillman

Co-President

Boston College Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

PANELISTS & MODERATORS

M. Iman Davenport

Midwest Regional Chair, National Black Law Students Association

Third-Year Law Student
The University of Wisconsin Law School
Madison, Wisconsin

Talia Scott

Second-Year Law Student, New York University School of Law

Founder, Legally BLK
New York, New York

Kevin Chisolm

First-Year Law Student

Yale Law School
New Haven, Connecticut

Shannan Young, Pharm.D., M.B.A.

Southern Regional Chair, National Black Law Students Association

Third-Year Law Student
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Nancy Kyei

Third-Year Law Student

Boston College Law Student
Boston, Massachusetts

Jewel Duberry-Douglas

Third-Year Law Student

Northeastern University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Briaunna Buckner, Esq., M.P.A.

Judicial Law Clerk

U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
Washington, DC

Jazmyn Ferguson

National Black Law Students Association

Director of Membership Operations, Third-Year Law Student, University of Notre Dame Law School
St. Louis, Missouri

Efeoghene Ayanruoh, Esq.

Corporate M&A Associate

K&L Gates
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Alexi Freeman, Esq.

Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Director of Externships and Social Justice Initiatives
Professor of the Practice
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Denver, Colorado

Sal A. Richardson, Esq.

Managing Partner

Testan Law Office
Plantation, Florida

Keeshea Turner Roberts, Esq.

Assistant Professor of Law

Widener University Delaware Law School
Wilmington, Delaware

Mario Ernesto Lopez, Esq.

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

University of California, Hasting College of the Law,
San Francisco, California

Monique A. McCarthy, J.D., M.P.A.

Senior Director of Law Admissions

Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Lorenzo Banks, Esq.

Director of Diversity Initiatives & Assistant Director of Admissions

Oklahoma City University School of Law
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Patrice Oseni

Northeast Regional Chair, National Black Law Students Association

Third-Year Law Student
City University of New York School of Law
New York, New York

Nichelle Womble, Esq., M.S.Ed.

Litigation Attorney

Lento Law Group, P.C.
Orlando, Florid

Akuda E. Esin

National Treasurer, National Black Law Students Association

Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law Candidate, Class of 2023
Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Natalia Marte, Esq.

Associate Attorney, Commercial Litigation & Labor and Employment Phillips Lytle LLP

Buffalo, New York

Andrea Rivers, Esq.

Antitrust Associate

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP
New York, New York

Nathan Alexander III

First-Year Law Student, University of Texas School of Law

City Councilman, Position #3, City of Prairie View
Austin, Texas and Prairie View, Texas

Tyler H. Payne, Esq.

Associate

Dechert LLP
Boston, Massachusetts

Allison Sheppard, Esq., M.B.A.

Attorney

Tax Specialist
New Jersey Division of Taxation
Trenton, New Jersey

Rosanne D. Ibanez, Esq.

Director of Admissions

University of Virginia School of Law
Charlottesville, Virginia

Rob Schwartz, Esq.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law
Los Angels, California

Veleka R. Peeples-Dyer, Esq.

Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer

Opentrons Labworks Inc.
Queens, New York

Nichelle N. Cook, Esq., M.A.

Owner/Principal Consultant

Practegy
New York, New York

Janna Perry

Third-Year Law Student

Vanderbilt University Law School
Nashville, Tennessee

Valerie Brummel, Esq.

Assistant Director of Admissions

The University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Brandy Johnson

Second-Year Law Student

Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Angela L. Dixon, Esq., M.B.A.

Attorney | Administrative Judge | Professor-Online | Legal, Educational Consultant | Writer | Curriculum Developer/Designer

Houston, Texas

Joy B. Tolliver, Esq.

Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and General Counsel

Monroe College
Bronx, New York

Erika Jensen, Esq.

U.S. Associate

Linklaters LLP
New York, New York

Briana Saffold

Third-Year Law Student

Florida State University College of Law
Tallahassee, Florida

Andre N. Mahone Jr., Esq.

Attorney

Balch & Bingham LLP
Jacksonville, Florida

Angelina Vega, Esq.

Project Counsel

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation/Capitol South
Columbus, Ohio

Stephen Neilson

Second-Year Law Student

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Krystle Guillory Tadesse, Esq.

Partner, Locke Lord LLP

Chair, Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission
Providence, Rhode Island

Michael Franklin

Howard University Graduate

Co-Founder and Executive Director,
Speechwriters of Color
Washington, DC

Lauren Howell

Duke University Graduate

Graduate Student, Stanford University
Stanford, California

CONFERENCE ALUMNI SPEAKERS

Chidera Onyeoziri

Third-Year Law Student

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Catherine Sims, Esq.

Consultant

Center for Racial Justice in Education (formerly Border Crossers)
New York, New York

Harold Grigsby III

Third-Year Law Student

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

WORKSHOP & MASTER CLASS PRESENTERS

Collins B. Byrd Jr., M.B.A.

Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management

University of Iowa College of Law,
Iowa City, Iowa

Katya Valasek, J.D.

Senior LSAC Ambassador

Law School Admission Council
Newark, New Jersey

Lisa M. Blasser, Esq.

Owner & Managing Partner

Blasser Law
Los Angeles, California

Beverly Caro Duréus, Esq., Th.M., D.Min.

Clinical Professor of Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy

Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Dallas, Texas

Kristin DiBiase, J.D.

Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Seattle University School of Law
Seattle, Washington

The Honorable Dedra Davis

District Judge

270th Civil District Court, Harris County
Houston, Texas

Teria M. Thornton, Esq., M.A., AFC®, CDP®

Director, Pre-Law and Diversity Initiatives

AccessLex Institute
Charlotte, North Carolina

HOST COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Ronald C. Green, Esq., M.B.A.

Partner

Jones Walker, LLP
Houston, Texas and Washington, DC

Portia Moore, Esq.

Partner

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Seattle, Washington

Melynda Price, Esq., Ph.D.

University Research Professor and W.L. Matthews, Jr. Professor of Law

John and Joan Gaines Professor of Humanities and Director of the Gaines Center for Humanities
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Vernellia Randall, Esq.

Race, Racism and the Law

Orlando, Florida

Grace Speights, Esq.

Partner and Global Leader of Labor and Employment Practice Group

Morgan Lewis
Washington, DC

Adriannette Williams, Esq., M.A.

Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law
Knoxville, Tennessee

Karen Wishart, Esq., M.B.A.

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Urban One, Inc.
Washington, DC

Jorge Leon, Esq

Partner & Co-Chair Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Chicago, Illinois

Dionysia Johnson-Massie, Esq.

Shareholder

Littler Mendelson P.C.
Atlanta, Georgia

Tony W. Torain, II, Esq.

Shareholder

Polsinelli
Washington, DC

SPECIAL GUEST FILMMAKERS

Roderick Lawrence

Creator, Actor, and Producer

Silent Partner
Founder, Black Man Films LLC
New York, New York

Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq., Ed.M.

Creator, Executive Producer, and Director

Becoming Black Lawyers
Founder and Principal, Relentless Visionary Films LLC
Cambridge, Massachusetts

PRE-LAW ADVISORS, NETWORKING FACILITATORS, AND PINNING CEREMONY BESTOWERS/CONFERRERS

Kerimal Suriel Guerrero

President

Black Law Students Association Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Harold Grigsby III

Third-Year Law Student

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Arianna Murray

Second-Year Law Student

Northeastern University School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts

Samantha Melchor

Second-Year Law Student

Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Christina B. Williams

First-Year Law Student

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Justina Johnson

Law Student

Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

Fares Ali

First-Year Law Student

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tyrus Cartwright, Esq.

Intellectual Property Attorney

Boston, Massachusetts

Steven J. Hanton, Esq.

Banking & Finance Partner

Nixon Peabody LLP
Boston, Massachusetts

Jameel Moore, Esq.

Associate

Anderson Kreiger
Boston, Massachusetts

Colin Robinson

First-Year Law Student

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tiffanie Ellis Niles, Esq.

Attorney

Lyles and Niles LLP
Boston, Massachusetts

Birgitta Dickerson, Esq.

Corporate Counsel and Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Coordinator

Salesforce
Burlington, Massachusetts

Jemmie Tejeda-Martinez

Second-Year Law Student

Suffolk University Law School
Boston, Massachusetts

HONOREES

Al Jenkins, Esq.

Retired

Former Prosecutor
Los Angeles, California

Tamiko Brown Nagin, Esq., Ph.D.

Daniel P.S. Paul Professor of Constitutional Law

Dean, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
Professor of History, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

TEAM MEMBERS

Janiah Bowers

Junior

Broadcast Journalism Major
Howard University
Washington, DC

Akosua Wordie

Senior, Computer Science Major

Howard University
Washington, DC

Clifford Ayres-Brown

Sophomore, Economics Major

Howard University
Washington, DC

Rachel Howell

Graduate

Howard University
Washington, DC

Ruth Omotunde

College Graduate

Boston, Massachusetts

Andrea Chavez

Master's Graduate Student

Cybersecurity
Fordham University
New York, New York

Anetera Bryant

Freshman, Marketing Major

Howard University
Washington, DC

Videos / highlights from past events

IN-PERSON LAW FAIR

FILM SCREENINGS. / Witness the Power of Storytelling on Film

testimonials / See What People Say About Us

Learn more about what past attendees think. Check out our Facebook Reviews for yourself: https://www.facebook.com/NationalBlackPreLawConference/reviews/?ref=page_internal

Tickets / get access to this event

Pre-Law Student
(High School)

Free

Sales end on Nov 5, 2022

Pre-Law Student (College Student)

Free

Sales end on Nov 5, 2022

Pre-Law Student (College Graduate)

Free

Sales end on Nov 5, 2022

Law Student

Free

Sales end on Nov 5, 2022

Law School Graduate/Lawyer

Free

Sales end on Nov 5, 2022

Parent, Mentor, or Supporter

Free

Sales end on Nov 5, 2022

Pre-Law Advisors @ Colleges and Universities ONLY

Free

Sales end on Nov 5, 2022

Law School Expo/Virtual Exhibit Hall

$399.00 +$25.92 Fee

Sales end on Oct 21, 2022

Event FAQS / find your answers

When and where is this year’s National Black Pre-Law Conference?

Thursday, November 10th, 2022, Friday, November 11th, 2022 and Saturday, November 12th, 2022 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Boston, Massachusetts. Sessions will be held at Boston University School of Law, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

When is the Law Fair?

The Law Fair takes place on Saturday, November 12th, 2022 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Harvard University Graduate School of Education in the Gutman Conference Center.

Do you have to be a student or a certain age to register?

No. This event is for anyone interested in pursuing law school. Ideally, it would be most helpful to students who are in high school and college as well as college graduates. However, it would also be extremely beneficial to young people (middle schoolers) interested in exploring career options and needing to see successful Black legal professionals. It would also be helpful to working professionals and those who are looking to change careers or revisit the path to a legal education when life has taken them in a different direction. There is something that can be gained from anyone in these groups. Everyone is welcome.

Is this year’s event in-person or virtual like it was the last two years?

This year’s event is fully in person. There will be limited sessions that will be offered virtually. However, there will not be any live streaming and those watching online sessions will not get the same experience as those who attend in person. Those who are able to attend in person will benefit from considerably more in terms of content and in-person networking opportunities. They will also be able to take advantage of recorded virtual sessions after the in-person event. However, we will still provide sessions of value, although more limited, to those who are completely unable to attend travel and attend in person.

Are you livestreaming the conference?

No. The conference will not be livestreamed.

How and when can I register for this year’s National Black Pre-Law Conference?

You can register online. Registration is now open via the website at www.blackprelawconference.org or via Eventbrite.

Who can participate in the Law Fair and how do I sign up to participate in the Law Fair?

The Law Fair is open to law schools, law-related non-profit organizations, and legal employers.

What is the conference’s Covid-19 policy to ensure the health and safety of all attendees?

We require all attendees to either be fully vaccinated and show a copy of their immunization card. For those unable to produce an immunization card or have other reasons for not being vaccinated, they must show a negative test result from a covid rapid test that was taken within 24 hours of the conference date. You can show a negative test result by bringing the result or picture of a negative result from a covid rapid test which can be purchased from CVS or Walgreens. CVS and Walgreens offer several at-home covid tests for as little as $9.99. Tests may be available for free if you have health insurance or meet other CDC guidelines.

What do I do if I can’t afford to attend?

We do our part to make the event affordable and accessible by making it completely free. However, we are unable to help you cover the cost of travel or hotels to get to the venues where the event is hosted. We do provide an attendee sponsorship booklet which provides suggestions on ways to raise money and get others to sponsor your trip 

Why is the event free? Does this mean that the event is not high quality?

Not at all. We could easily charge hundreds of dollars for what we provide. We are clear that other events that offer the type of programming we do charge attendees high fees to attendes. However, we intentionally choose not to because we want to make this event accessible and widely reach our target audience of Black people who aspire to become lawyers one day. We know and understand that many of the people we want to reach may not be able to afford traditional conference fees and by not charging fees hope to eliminate that barrier. 

However, please do not mistake our choice to make the event free for it being something of lesser value. All participants will take away priceless information, resources and connections that can shift their thinking and change their lives if acted upon. Please understand that although it costs participants nothing, it costs us. Consider that the planning and execution of this event takes hundreds of hours of time by a team of people and thousands and thousands of dollars. We help cover our costs through sponsors that help us cover those costs so that we will not have to charge our registrants to participate. 

We see this event as an investment in our community and want to sow into the lives of aspiring Black lawyers so we do this work as a service to those we reach out to, to the legal community, and to our society which needs greater representation of Black lawyers serving in various leadership roles.

Will food be provided?

We plan to provide snacks and bottled water whenever possible. However, we are unable to provide free meals to participants. There are several affordable fast food establishments near the venues where we are hosting the sessions. Plan to budget for meals if you can.

Are there preferred hotels with discounted rates?

Yes, we provided a list of recommended hotels in Cambridge and Boston. We have made agreements with some of the hotels to provide discounted rates to our conference attendees.

What should I bring to the conference?

Bring pens and paper to take notes, business cards if you are able to get some printed, and a positive mindset, willingness to learn, and openness to meeting new people.

Must I pre-register or can I register the same day?

We strongly suggest that you pre-register in order to ensure that we can properly prepare for you. However, we aim to not turn anyone away so if there is space, we will make room for those interested in attending.

How do I make the most of the conference experience?

We will provide a recording created by the conference founder on how to maximize your conference experience. We will also provide a conference strategy booklet which provides tips on things you should do to prepare for the conference experience so you can go in with a plan on how to get the most out of the opportunities that the conference provides.

Will I be able to get the complimentary headshots?

Yes, all participants will have the opportunity to take headshots if they would like them. If interested, please fill out this form. We will let you know the times and locations at the event. After you have had your headshot taken, we will provide you with a download link and passcode to download your individual headshots.

How do I sign up for the Boston Law School Tours on Thursday, November 10th, 2022?

Sign up by filling out this form. Make sure that you plan to wear comfortable walking shoes and that you have funds for public transportation. You can also choose to take an Uber/Lyft and meet the group at the meeting points at the designated times. Make sure to complete the form so that we are able to give the law schools a headcount so they know how many prospective law students to expect.

How do I sign up for the Boston Black Heritage Trail Walking Tour on Thursday, November 10th, 2022?

Sign up by filling out this form. We need for you to complete the form so that we can add your name to the list and we can look for you on the day of the tour. We also need to know how many people will be joining us just in case we need to split up the groups.

How do I sign up for the Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Walking Tour on Friday, November 11th, 2022?

Sign up by filling out this form. We need for you to complete the form so that we can add your name to the list and we can look for you on the day of the tour. We also need to know how many people will be joining us just in case we need to split up the groups.

Is there a cost associated with taking part in the Boston Law School Tours, the Boston Black Hertage Trail Walking Tour, or the Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Walking Tour?

No. All tours are free of cost. However, you will be responsible for the cost of your own transportation to get there and must meet the group at the designated meeting point. Note that these are walking tours and not bus tours. You must bring your walking shoes, a bottle of water and a snack to keep you going.

How do I sign up for the pre-law advisement or practical assistance sessions?

Sign up by filling out this form.

If I am unable to attend in person, can I still take advantage of pre-law advisement or practical assistance opportunities?

Yes. We will do our best to provide either one-on-one or small group (no more than 4-5 people) opportunities via phone call or virtually via Zoom with current law students, lawyers, or volunteer law school administrators for those unable to attend in person.

Will I be able to get a Certificate of Participation for attending?

Yes. We will provide Certificates of Participation for those who attend in person. You must request the certificate by filling out the required form and you will be able to download it from a link provided.

How do I indicate my interest in attending the Aspiring Lawyers Pinning Ceremony and receiving a copy of the Aspiring Lawyers Success Pledge and eagle pin?

Sign up by filling out this form.

If I am unable to stay for the pinning ceremony, can I still get my pin?

No. You must attend in person and recite the Aspiring Lawyers Success Pledge and be pinned by a current lawyer. We are unable to mail out pins. However, we can send you a copy of the pledge to download and read.

What is the dress code?

If possible, please dress professionally – in business professional or business casual wear which would include a black, navy or grey pants suit, dress suit or skirt suit, and a dress shirt, polo shirt, or blouse. Wear comfortable shoes. Note that we will never turn anyone away based on how they are dressed so do your best and come. Don’t let what you do or do not have in your wardrobe stop you from participating in this event.

Will it be cold in Cambridge and Boston in November?

Yes. It will likely be cold. The temperature ranges from a low of 38 to a high of 52 during the month of November. Plan to bring a sweater or coat.

Am I required to sign or electronically submit the Covid-19 policy waiver and release form and terms and conditions to attend the event?

Yes, you must sign the Covid-19 policy waiver and release form and the terms and conditions prior to entering the event.

If interested in sponsorship, what should I do?

Please send an email to sponsorship@blackprelawconference.org.

Do you provide accommodations for those with disabilities?

Please contact us no later than two weeks before the conference and let us know about any disabilities you might have. We will try our very best to work out a plan to accommodate you at the venues where the event will be hosted on the days you will be in attendance. Send an email to info@blackprelawconference.org with “Accommodations for Disabilities” in the subject line.

Can I bring my child, parent, spouse, or family member to support me at the conference?

Yes. We welcome family members, mentors, and friends to attend to support someone in their life serious about exploring whether law school is for them.

***IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED HERE, E-MAIL US AT INFO@BLACKPRELAWCONFERENCE.ORG.

Sponsors / support our mission

SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR

NETWORKING RECEPTION SPONSOR

Hotels / Recommended

Freepoint Hotel Cambridge

(Close to Alewife T Station – 3 Stops Away from Harvard Square T Station)

Booking Link:
https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=BOSFRUP&groupCode=PRELAW&arrivaldate=2022-11-09&departuredate=2022-11-12&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

AC Hotel by Marriott Cambridge

(Close to Alewife T Station – 3 Stops Away from Harvard Square T Station)

Booking Link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1664899221842&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Porter Square Hotel

(Close to Porter Square T Station, 1 Stop Away from Harvard Square T Station)

Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston – Cambridge

Studio Allston Hotel – Boston

Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston/Cambridge – Arlington

Residence Inn Boston Cambridge

Booking Link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1664836958808&key=GRP&app=resvlink

/ Affordable Hostel Option

HI Boston Hostel

Contact Us / for more information