Free Virtual National Black Pre-Law Conference Offers Aspiring Lawyers Unprecedented Opportunity to Gain Information, Resources and Connections
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Californer -- The National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair Sponsored by the Law School Admission Council is the nation's only major information-sharing and networking empowerment event created especially for aspiring Black lawyers. Everyone is welcome including middle school students, high school students, college students and graduates, and working professionals. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's event will be virtual and take place entirely online from Thursday, November 12, 2020 to Sunday, November 15, 2020. This one-of-a-kind, world-class conference provides attendees with game-changing "insider" information, resources, and connections to increase their chances of success in the challenging journey to becoming lawyers. In its 16th consecutive year, this powerful event is filled with motivational keynote and special guest speeches, a mock law class, a social justice master class, informative workshops, stimulating panel discussions, and virtual meet-ups and networking opportunities. The virtual platform that will be used for the event will ensure that it is highly interactive and goes far beyond video conference sessions.

This year's schedule offers everything any aspiring lawyer would need to know before deciding to pursue this highly competitive path. Key information will be shared about being a competitive and standout applicant in the law school admissions process, financing a legal education, preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), writing a compelling personal statement and diversity statement, taking advantage of pre-law preparation pipeline programs, attending as a non-traditional law student, succeeding as a Black law student inside and outside of the classroom, passing the bar exam, considering judicial clerkships, positioning oneself for success in law school and in the professional world, gaining entry into large law firms and excelling and advancing while there, starting and sustaining a Black-owned law practice, and utilizing one's legal training to make a difference in the Black community.

Dynamic, nationally-known and well-respected attorneys will serve as featured keynote speakers, and share powerful words of wisdom, encouragement, and stories of their own personal journeys to and through law school and in the profession. This year's featured keynotes include A. Scott Bolden, Esq., Managing Partner at Reed Smith LLP and television legal commentator, The Honorable Leah Ward Sears, former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and Partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, Vince Warren, Esq., Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, Lonita Baker, Esq., Co-Counsel for Breonna Taylor's family and personal injury and civil rights litigation attorney at Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers, Nkechi Taifa, Esq., author of "Black Power, Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice" and Founder and Principal of The Taifa Group LLC, The Honorable Willie J. Epps, Jr., United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, and Gregory Davis, J.D., Ph.D., diversity law expert and quantitative researcher.

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Numerous other special guest speakers, guest speakers, and organizational leaders will participate, as well as knowledgeable, experienced, and successful panelists and presenters who will selflessly provide insight, perspective, and guidance to conference participants. Further, there will be some added special timely, relevant and cutting-edge discussions given the realities of anti-Black racism in the country including one with the five Black women law school deans who created the Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project which will feature Dean Carla Pratt (Washburn University School of Law), Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig (Boston University School of Law), Dean Danielle Holley-Walker (Howard University School of Law), Dean Kimberly Mutcherson (Rutgers Law School), and Dean Danielle M. Conway (Penn State Dickinson Law). Moreover, there will be a special conversation on Black success, legacy and giving back featuring several co-authors of the recently released book "Lessons from Successful African American Lawyers: Practical Wisdom for Those on the Path to Lawyerhood."

In addition to all of the invaluable sessions provided, attendees will also be able to participate in one of the largest virtual law school recruitment fairs in the country. Over 150 law schools and organizations will take part. Moreover, pre-law attendees will have the opportunity to benefit from our official "Ask Me Anything About Law School!" sessions where they can bring in their questions about admissions and law school life and get them answered live. All attendees are encouraged to provide their questions in the session Question-and-Answer sections, to ask in the chats, and leave them in the Community Boards. Speakers have committed to making sure that they answer questions during and after the event to make sure attendees get all of their questions answered.

Most importantly, law school aspirants will be able to reach out to one another through creating their own virtual meet-ups based on shared interests, and reviewing the profiles and utilizing the networking features on the app to start creating accountability partnerships. It will be stressed throughout the event that beyond getting the information, making connections and creating a support system with other like-minded individuals are the keys to accomplishing their goals.

The conference will end on a high note with a closing session where current lawyers will hear from The Honorable Audrey Moorehead, Judge, Dallas County Criminal Court #3. Then, they will receive parting words of inspiration and recite the Aspiring Lawyers Success Pledge led by The Honorable J. Machelle Sweeting, Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice. Once the event ends, all pre-law attendees will have the opportunity to receive several complimentary e-books authored by the conference founder covering everything from law school admission, law school survival, passing the bar, and success as a lawyer.

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With only 7% of all law students and 5% of all lawyers being African American while making up 13% of the population, the need for greater Black representation and meaningful diversity and inclusion in American law schools and in the legal profession remains high. Throughout the years, this conference has positively impacted thousands of African American aspiring lawyers from all over the nation and is poised to make a difference to many more this year and for years to come.

According to conference founder and organizer Attorney Evangeline M. Mitchell, "This event is the dream event many Black attorneys wish they had before setting off on this obstacle-laden, yet rewarding path. Now that it is virtual this year, we are able to reach many more people than we would for our live event because the costs of travel will not stand in the way of attendance. Future lawyers can benefit from all that we offer right at home."

"Attending this event is mindset-shifting and life-changing for so many aspiring Black lawyers. With well over 140 Black law students, law school administrators, lawyers, and judges graciously volunteering their time, talent, and energy towards pouring into our attendees, it demonstrates a strong collective commitment and social responsibility to give back and contribute to the encouragement and empowerment of future Black lawyers. The Black legal community is not just complaining that we need more Black lawyers, but we are all proactively coming together collectively as a family because of a shared experience and sense of social responsibility to contribute to doing something about it."

All aspiring lawyers are encouraged to register today. Admission is completely free of charge. Further information on the National Black Pre-Law Conference can be found at the official conference website at http://www.BlackPreLawConference.org.