News and Events

Native American Law Student Association Meeting

Upcoming Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) meeting is scheduled to take place on October 21st, 12:00pm in Room 203. Professor of Law Judith Royster will be speaking about the Native American Law Certificate Program & Sheree Hukill, Managing Partner at Integrated Concepts, will be speaking about pro-bono opportunities and her work in Native American Law. 

For additional questions, check out the NALSA Facebook Page or contact NALSA President, Philip Tinker at: philip-tinker@utulsa.edu

NALSA Scheduled to Host Info Session on Indian Child Welfare Act

The Native American Law Student Association will be hosting an informational session on the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) with guest speaker, Mike Nomura,  on Tuesday, September 29th at 6pm in Room 204.    Mr. Nomura’s presentation will include discussion about the history of the Act, an overview of the tribal perspective regarding the Act, and a recent ICWA case in which Mr. Nomura was an appellee.    Background to the law suit and an analysis of the OK Supreme Court ruling will be provided. 

In 1978, in response to the pervasive removal of Indian children from their families and the subsequent placement into non-Indian situations, Congress enacted the Indian Child Welfare Act.  Many who work in children's services and family law today continue to not understand or follow the Indian Child Welfare Act.    Join us on September 29th to hear a first had account of Mr. Nomura’s experience with the ICWA.

For more information, contact NALSA President Philip Tinker at: Philip-tinker@utulsa.edu

Local Judges speak at Women’s Law Caucus Meeting

The Women’s Law Caucus hosted two guest speakers, The Honorable Judge Linda G. Morrissey (District Judge for Tulsa County) and The Honorable Judge Theresa Dreiling (Special Judge for Tulsa County), at a recent organization meeting.  Topics of discussion included rules of court, professionalism, and the importance of taking advantage of mentoring & networking opportunities.  Speakers encouraged law students to not be afraid to ask questions and to take advantage of all opportunities to build your reputation and work on your courtroom “presence”. 

WLC is working on partnering with other organizations such as the Public Interest Law Society for a Habitat for Humanity House project. They are also in current discussions with the Republican Law Society and the Federalist Society regarding other outreach ventures with the Republican Law Society and the Federalist Society.

For more information , please contact Women’s Law Caucus President, Linda Smith, at: linda-smith@utulsa.edu .

Women’s Law Caucus Races for the Cure

The Women’s Law Caucus participated in the Race for the Cure on Saturday, September 19th coming in 2nd place for fundraising in the state University/School division!

Hispanic Law Student Association Kicks Off the Year With First Meeting

At HLSA’s opening meeting of the semester, they had two great guest speakers.  Marvin Lizama from Brewster & De Angelis, P.L.L.C., spoke to the members about the importance of networking and taking advantage of opportunities to give back to your community.  David Sobel, a lawyer in Tulsa who focuses on Immigration Law, also spoke to everyone about current issues in immigration.  He touched on Obama’s Health Care initiative, as well as current stereotypes and social concerns. 

For more information, please contact HLSA President Ulysses Vargas: ulysses-vargas@utulsa.edu

 

Baker Donelson Announces 2009 Diversity Scholarship Program Recipients

The law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, announces the selection of this year's recipients of the Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship Program: Jalil D. Dozier of North Carolina Central University School of Law, Denetra N. Hartzog of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and Stephanie M. Nowak of the University of Tulsa College of Law. 

The Emerging Leaders Summer Internship Program for College Students with Disabilities

The Emerging Leaders Summer Internship Program for College Students with Disabilities offers paid summer internships at many of America's leading corporations.  These companies are members of the National Business & Disability Council (www.nbdc.com) and are proactive in recruiting qualified people with disabilities.

To be considered for an internship, a student must be an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student with a disability, who has completed at least 60 credits, and is maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA.  More information can be found on the web site at www.emerging-leaders.com.

Please note:  While the application deadline for summer 2010 program is December 31, 2009, many companies are making their decisions now.

In addition, the following is important information about a FREE service to students and graduates with disabilities:

The National Business & Disability Council's National Resume Database was developed with the goal of bringing together top talent with disabilities and America's top employers in both the private and public sector.  This service is provided free of charge to job seekers with disabilities and is open to applicants who have earned or are expected to earn a two or four year degree within the next six months or have completed equivalent technical training.

The Latham & Watkins Diversity Scholars Program

The Latham & Watkins Diversity Scholars Program is designed to increase the number of diverse law students studying at ABA-accredited law schools who want to pursue a career in a global law firm. Since the program was launched in 2005, the firm has selected four Diversity Scholars each year to receive $10,000 scholarships for their third year of law school.

Click on the following links for information about their most recent Diversity Scholars or for an overview and application.

Women’s Law Caucus 2nd Meeting


Women’s Law Caucus (WLC) will be having their second meeting Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:15pm in room 201. They will be having a panel of judges speaking and lunch will be provided.


If you have any questions, feel free to contact President Linda Smith at linda-smith@utulsa.edu

Native American Law Students Association First Fall Meeting


The first meeting of the Native American Law Student's Association (NALSA) is Wednesday, September 9th at noon in room 2442. They have a lot of great stuff on the agenda, so please join them. They will also be electing a new historian, and first years are encouraged to run. Make sure to pay your dues ($25) if you want to vote.


NALSA will be discussing some new events they have planned for this year, but they will need a lot of member participation to pull it off, so be sure to come and support NALSA.


Also, they will have a guest speaker, attorney John L. Williams. John is a co-founder of Yaka Energy, a joint venture energy marketing firm with a tribal government. His practice areas include energy law and Native American Law.  He is an LL.M Candidate for American Indian and Indigenous Law at TU, and has been an adjunct professor of Native American Law at TU. His scholarship includes the following articles:

  • "The Effect of the EPA's Designation of the Tribes as States on the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma," Tulsa Law Journal (1994)
  • "Paving the Way for the Future:  Potential Structures for the Tribal Economic Development,”  UCLA Indigenous Peoples Journal (2005)


Lunch will be provided


If you have any questions, feel free to contact President Philip Tinker at philip-tinker@utulsa.edu 

Black Law Student Association’s First Meeting of 2009


The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) first meeting is being held Thursday, September 3rd at 12:30pm in room 2442.


If you have any questions, feel free to contact President Mike Manning at michael-manning@utulsa.edu

2009 Conference of the National Latino/a Law Student Association

The 2009 Conference of the National Latino/a Law Student Association, hosted by DePaul University College of Law,  will be held September 24-26, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
 
The conference will feature professional development workshops, as well as panels that address current legal issues affecting the Latino community. Conference attendees will also benefit from the Employment and LLM Fair, as well networking events and opportunities to enjoy the city’s cultural sites. In addition, a community service event will give attendees a chance to make a positive contribution to a Chicago-based social service organization.
 
To obtain more information about the conference and to register, please visit their website at www.law.depaul.edu/nllsa.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact them by phone at (312) 362-5145 or e-mail at nllsachicago@gmail.com.

First Meeting of the Year for LGBT/SA

Join the TU Law LGBT/SA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/ Straight Alliance) for their first meeting of the academic year! They will be meeting in Room 202 an noon this Monday, August 30th. Come and see what one of the largest and most active student groups is all about and have some food! They will be electing at least one officer and discussing this year's upcoming activates: lecture series speakers, "OUTings," fundraising/community service events, our upcoming CLE presentation, annual Diversity Pride Parade, and more.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ivan R. Orndorff at randy-orndorff@utulsa.edu.

6th Annual National Native American Job Fair

NNALSA invites American Indian law students, recent graduated, and employers to attend the 6th Annual Job Fair

WHEN: Friday, August 28, 2009

WHERE: One Washington Circle Hotel, Washington DC (see metro map )

All law students that are interested in submitting resumes and meeting with future employers should attend. Invited employers include: Firms, Agencies, Non-Profits, and Tribes.

To find out more information, click "here".

TU Law Professor in YourABA on Disability Law

Professor Carrie Griffin Basas was quoted in the American Bar Association monthly publication YourABA news article “Best Practices for working with lawyers with disabilities.” Prof. Basas was one of the panelists presenting at the Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law’s second national conference on employing lawyers with disabilities. “While the legal profession has shifted to greater recognition of the employment obstacles for traditional minorities, awareness is lacking in the area of disability,” said Basas. Read more…

HNBA 34th Annual Convention

The Hispanic National Bar Association will be holding the 34th Annual Convention, First Judicial Summit and Law Student Symposium and Job Fair in Albuquerque, New Mexico September 2nd – 6th at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town.

Events that will be held include:

  •  Cutting-Edge CLE’s
  •  Inaugural Judicial Summit with Judges from Across the Nation
  •  Nationally Renowned Speakers
  •  Largest Job Fair for Latino Law Students and Attorneys
  •  Exclusive Networking Opportunities
  •  Law Student Symposium designed to help law students learn necessary skills
  •  Entertaining and Inspiring Cultural Events

Register by going to www.hnba.com

TU Law visits PLSI

The University of Tulsa College of Law Office of Admissions visited with students participating in the Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) on July 9th 2009. PLSI is hosted by the American Indian Law Center at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
 
PLSI is an intensive two-month program which prepares American Indian and Alaska Native individuals for the rigors of law school by essentially replicating the first semester of law school. Likened to boot camp by many former participants, the PLSI concentrates its content into eight weeks of instruction, research and study, teaching students the unique methods of law school research, analysis, and writing.

For more information on PLSI click “here”

 

St. Louis Diversity Job Fair

The second annual St. Louis Diversity Job Fair will take place on August 14-15, 2009 at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand & Suites Hotel, 800 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63101. The Renaissance Grand is located in Downtown St. Louis near shopping, entertainment, nightlife and Laclede’s Landing, a popular St. Louis attraction located on the Mississippi River.

The primary goal of the Fair is to attract a diverse group of 2L and 3L students to the metropolitan St. Louis legal community, encourage them to practice law in the area, and become an integral part of our community. The Job Fair steering committee has invited law firms, corporations, and government agencies from all over the nation. Thank you for visiting our website – we hope to see you in August.

For more information click “here”


LGBT Writing Competition Provides Scholarship Opportunities for Law Students

Washington, DC—The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association today announced the launch of its eleventh annual Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition, calling for scholarly submissions on legal topics that affect the LGBT community.

The contest is open to all students enrolled in law school during the 2008-2009 academic year. Three major prizes will be awarded:

  • First Place: The top prize includes a $3000 scholarship, publication in the Journal of Law and Sexuality at Tulane University Law School, and registration, airfare & lodging for the National LGBT Bar Association’s 2009 Annual Career Fair and Conference in Brooklyn, NY.
  • First Runner Up: A $2000 scholarship, plus registration, airfare & lodging for the National LGBT Bar Association’s 2009 Annual Career Fair and Conference.
  • Second Runner Up: A $1000 scholarship, plus registration, airfare & lodging for the National LGBT Bar Association’s 2009 Annual Career Fair and Conference.

“Today’s law students will be leading tomorrow’s civil rights battles” said D’Arcy Kemnitz, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar Association. “We are very pleased to be able to recognize, support and encourage the best and brightest student voices on cutting edge LGBT legal issues.”

All entries should be sent to WritingCompetition@LGBTbar.org, and must be received by Monday, June 1. For additional details, including contest guidelines and a full listing of past winners, please visit http://www.lgbtbar.org/competition.html.


The Southeastern Minority Job Fair

The Southeastern Minority Job Fair is an annual law job fair aimed at minority law students - mostly rising 2Ls. SEMJF 2009 will be held on July 31 & August 1, 2009 in Atlanta, GA. This job fair attracts law firms and organizations from across the nation. If you are interested in attending there is a two step registration process, pre-registration is open but ends on Thursday, April 23rd. For pre-registration you need to send me an email with the following information:

Last Name, First Name, Middle Name

Your email address: one you check regularly and will check over the summer

Your graduation date

Current class year

The second phase of registration will only be open to those who pre-register on time. The second phase is where you will submit your application materials and choose which employers, attending the job fair will receive your materials. This phase will begin May 8, 2009.

For more information on this job fair see http://www.semjf.org/

LGBT/Straight Alliance Guest Speaker

Tulsa attorney Scott Johnson will speak Monday April 27th, 6:30pm – 8:00pm in the John Rogers Hall Courtroom on the Campus of The University of Tulsa College of Law. The topic of discussion will about Family Law in regards to the LGBT community. Refreshments will be available.

For more information, please contact the Ivan Orndorff, President of the LGBT/Straight Alliance at ivan-orndorff@utulsa.edu


In celebration for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

The Diversity Committee of
The University of Tulsa College of Law
invites you to join them for a diversity lecture featuring:

Dr. Thomas Buoye
Assistant Professor & Chair of the Department of History
The University of Tulsa

“Rethinking the Nineteenth Century: Legal History & Re-thinking the Legacies of the 19th Century: China and the World in Transition”

April 21st, Noon, Price & Turpen Courtroom, John Rogers Hall
3120 East 4th Place, The University of Tulsa
The event is free and open to the public.
Lunch will be provided

Dr. Thomas Buoye is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the History Department at The University of Tulsa Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences. He has is also a professor of research at the University Michigan, and on the Editorial Board of Qingshi Yanjiu, published by Renmin University. He has also been a Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Averio, Portugal. He has had many papers and presentations presented and published including at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago.


TU’s Hispanic Law Student Association to honor Ceasar Chavez

In honor of Cesar Chavez, the Hispanic Law Students Association will be hosting speaker, Velia Lopez, on March 31st in room 201 from 12 to 1pm at their spring meeting.   Ms. Lopez is a 2007 graduate of the University of Tulsa College of Law and currently writes for a column in the Oklahoma Eagle.  César Estrada Chávez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was a Mexican American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist who, with Delores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Union , which later became the United Farm Workers.  His work led to numerous improvements for union laborers and his birthday has become a holiday in eight U.S. states.  Many parks, cultural centers, libraries, schools, and streets have been named in his honor in cities across the United States.


Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair

The Indianapolis Bar Association (IBA) cordially invites fall 2009, 2L law students (graduating May 2011) to participate in the IBA Diversity Job Fair. We are seeking candidates who represent all aspects of diversity, who are looking for a one-of-a-kind legal community in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm.

Student Registration Information
Student registration opens on April 1, 2009!
Students will register for the IBA Diversity Job Fair via Symplicity’s web site at https://law-indybar-csm.symplicity.com/students/. After the student submits his/her registration, an automatically-generated password will be provided, which will enable him/her to use the system throughout the next few months. Student registration deadline is July 10, 2009.

There is no fee for students to register for the IBA Diversity Job Fair.

Don’t miss an opportunity to interview with the following Indianapolis employers! (List current as of March 1, 2009)
Baker & Daniels LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Bingham McHale LLP
Dann Pecar Newman & Kleiman PC
Frost Brown Todd LLC
Kightlinger & Gray LLP
Krieg DeVault LLP
Lewis Wagner LLP
Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
Office of the Indiana Attorney General
Scopelitis Garvin Hansen Light & Feary PC
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

REGISTER TODAY! (2) $2,500 scholarships will be presented to interviewing students!

Hotel Registration
The IBA Diversity Job Fair will be held at the Embassy Suites Downtown Indianapolis (http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/INDWWES-Embassy-Suites-Indianapolis-Downtown-Indiana/index.do) in Indianapolis, IN, August 6-7, 2009. Room rates for students are $189 for both Thursday (August 6) and Friday (August 7) nights. Students will be responsible for making their own travel and lodging arrangements. Contact the hotel directly at 1-800-EMBASSY. Make sure you reference the IBA Diversity Job Fair to receive our group rate. If you need special accommodations, please contact Caren Chopp (cchopp@indybar.org; 317-269-2000). Hotel reservation deadline to receive the special rate is July 7, 2009.
Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown
110 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 1-317-236-1800
Fax: 1-317-236-1816
Schedule of Events
Thursday, August 6, 2009
4-8 p.m. Student Registration, Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown
5:30-7 p.m. Welcome Reception, location to be determined
Friday, August 7, 2009
8 a.m. Registration Re-opens, Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Interviews held in guest suites, Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown
11:45-1:15 p.m. Keynote Luncheon, Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown
1:20-4 p.m. Interviews held in guest suites, Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown

Interview Process
Interviews at the Job Fair are arranged as follows:  Ten (10) of the 14 interviews will be pre-selected by the employer; the other four (4) interviews will be assigned, according to interest of the student. All interviews will be conducted at the Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown in individual guest suites.

About Indianapolis
Indianapolis has everything to offer law student candidates, from a one-of-a-kind legal community, to the comfort and reliability of a Midwestern city: cosmopolitan style and small-town charm. Check out these web sites!
Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association: www.indy.org/
Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce: www.indychamber.com/
The Indianapolis Star: www.indystar.com
Indianapolis Motor Speedway: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/
Indianapolis Colts: www.colts.com/
Indianapolis RCA Tennis Championships: www.rcatennis.com/
Indianapolis Indians: www.indyindians.com/
Indiana Sports Corporation: www.indianasportscorp.com/
Indianapolis Zoo: www.indianapoliszoo.com/
Indianapolis Museum of Art: www.imamuseum.org/
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: www.indianapolissymphony.org/
Arts Council of Indianapolis: www.indyarts.org
Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS: www.mibor.com/
Indianapolis Bar Association: www.indybar.org
Indiana State Bar Association: www.inbar.org
The official Web site of Indianapolis and Marion County, Ind.: www.indygov.org/home.htm


National Black Prosecutors Association Job Fair

Description: The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) cordially invites you to participate in our Annual Job Fair on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at the Marriot Memphis Downtown in Memphis, Tennessee. The goal of the National Black Prosecutors Association’s (NBPA) Job Fair is to promote diversity in prosecutors’ offices by providing a forum where prospective employers can The Job Fair will provide a unique forum where law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from across the nation can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels.

The NBPA, established in 1983, is a professional member organization comprised of over 800 prosecutors. Our mission is to recruit, train, and advance
the careers of minority attorneys as prosecutors at all levels of government. Our annual convention serves, not only as a job fair forum, but as a comprehensive legal training program for prosecutors. This year’s 26th annual conference will run from July 19, 2009 to July 25, 2009.

The Job Fair begins at 8:00 am with registration and check-in; interviews commence at 9:00 am. At the culmination of the Job Fair, there will be a reception for all Job Fair participants and Convention attendees. The reception will afford Job Fair attendees an additional opportunity to further network with  prospective employers and experienced prosecutors. The Job Fair early registration fee for law students and 2009 law school graduates is $25.00; for laterals/licensed attorneys is $50.00. After March 31st, the registration fee will be $50.00 for law students and 2009 graduates and $75.00 for laterals/licensed attorneys. After June 12th, the late registration fee will be $100.00 for law students and 2009 law school graduates and $150.00 for laterals/licensed attorneys.

In addition to the Job Fair reception, all Job Fair participants are invited to attend a free career seminar entitled “Strategies for a Successful Interview”.
The seminar will take place on Monday, July 20th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Marriott Memphis Downtown, and will provide Job Fair participants with
effective interviewing techniques. Job Fair attendees are welcome to attend the entire conference. Students and 2009 law school graduates are invited to attend Conference seminars for free. However, other events, such as luncheons, dinners and receptions, must be paid for separately. For laterals/licensed attorneys who are members of the NBPA, the conference registration fee is $350.00. For laterals who are not members of NBPA, the fee is $500.00. The lateral registration fee includes all seminars, luncheons, dinners and receptions as well as the Job Fair.

To register for the Job Far, please complete the attached applicant registration form and submit it along with a resume and a check for the appropriate fee payable to the NBPA 26th Annual Conference. After March 1st, registration will also be available online with a credit card at www.blackprosecutors.org
If lodging is needed, the Marriot Memphis Downtown has extended a special Job Fair rate for students of $79.00 per night for a double room for July 20th and July 21st. The number of rooms available at this special rate is limited, so book early! To make reservations, contact the Marriott Memphis Downtown directly at (901) 527-7300. Only registered Job Fair participants will be able to take advantage of this rate.

Additional information about the NBPA and its conference is available at www.blackprosecutors.org


MCCA Lloyd M. Johnson Jr., Scholarship 2009

MCCA was founded in 1997 to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA accomplishes its mission through the collection and dissemination of information about diversity in the legal profession.

The MCCA Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program provides scholarship support for newly entering first year law students. The Scholarship Program will provide 10 scholarships at $10,000 per year for up to three years. The total commitment per student is up to $30,000. In addition, several students will also receive a one-time award of $10,000 to assist with their first year expenses. MCCA intends to foster mentoring opportunities for the selected scholars as well as assist in the placement of the winners in paid summer internship positons with corporate law departments during the summer immediately following successful completion of their first year of law school.
 
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and able to show proof of same, if requested. Applicant must show proof of his/her acceptance into a U.S. accredited law school on or before the application deadline (to start in fall 2009). Applicant must have an interest in corporate law, including working in a corporate law department and/or law firm. Applicant must have an interest in diversity. Applicant must be financially disadvantaged and have completed the FAFSA and provide additional documents as requested. Applicant must demonstrate community service and leadership qualities. Applicant must have earned an undergraduate or graduate cumulative g.p.a. of 3.2 or higher. Applicant must be enrolled in law school on a FULL-TIME basis in the fall 2009.

For more information, CLICK HERE.


DRI Law School Diversity Scholarship

DRI offers a Law Student Diversity Scholarship program open to incoming second and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pan Asian and Native American students. Incoming Second and third-year female law students are also eligible regardless of race or ethnicity. Two (2) scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each will be awarded to successful applicants.

The application and all other requested material must be received by May 8, 2009. Winners will be announced at the DRI Diversity for Success Seminar June 11-12, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. The two successful applicants will be notified in advance of the seminar.
 
CLICK HERE to download the 2009 Law Student Diversity Scholarship Application.


Disability Law Symposium

Due to growing interest, Suffolk University Law School is able to provide the Critical Topics in Disability Law Symposium as a webcast opportunity.  As a reminder, this symposium will occur Tuesday, February 24 from 9am-4pm.  Our presenter, Salome Heyward, is a nationally recognized ADA lawyer with over 30 years of experience working with colleges and universities.  Ms. Heyward has consulted with hundreds of campuses and is a highly sought after presenter and author on disability issues.

Participants will receive a brand new book chapter written by Ms. Heyward and a current legal issues outline as part of this experience.

Recently Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act which took effect on January 1, 2009, a new GI bill with significant support for disabled veterans, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act which includes provisions on disability.  In addition, the Department of Justice is proposing updates to the ADA's Titles II and III regulations.   We know that our campuses have witnessed a continuous rise in the number of students requesting services and the type of student population is changing to include more students with mental health issues, chronic illness, Asperger’s, and other health issues.  Will the new legislation impact our policies, technical standards, procedures, publications, etc?  This full day symposium will provide participants with an understanding of these new laws and best practices for their campuses.
 
Additional topics to be discussed include:

  • Defining disability, the scope of reasonable accommodations, as well as different campus interpretations of the laws
  • Discuss obligations for monitoring student behavior, emergencies, and direct threat and behavior assessment
  • Working with faculty and clarifying institutional obligations

Space is still available.  To register for the live or virtual event, please contact Erin Evans at eevans@suffolk.edu. 
 

MLK/Obama Celebration (NPHC)

Association of Black Collegians Presents
MLK/Obama Celebration (NPHC)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sharp Chapel at 7:00pm
Free Refreshment Reception Following
 
Presentations, speeches, and singing in honor of two phenomenal pillars of African-American history.


Breakfast with Michael Waterstone

We will be hosting a drop-in continental breakfast with Professor Michael Waterstone in the NELPI conference room Friday, January 30th from 9:30-10:30am on the College of Law campus.   Professor Waterstone will be available to meet with faculty, staff, and students during this time. Professor Waterstone is a professor at Loyola-Los Angeles law school and a national expert on disability rights and employment law.  Before joining Loyola, he was a professor at Ole Miss.  

We hope you will be able to drop by and visit with Professor Waterstone and enjoy some hot coffee and pastries.


2009 Law School Summer Book Camp for Students of Color

Having more lawyers' of color is essential to the well-being of the nation and of communities of color. In fact, a recent National Jurist Article, a journal for law students, talked about the disappearing black and Latino law student. This is particularly problematic. The power in this country is held by those who control the money and the law. The decreasing number of black and Mexican-American attorney is in fact a decrease in power.  The JD Project ( http://thejdproject.org/ )  is committed to reversing that trend. One our projects is to assure that entering law students of color do well in law school, particularly their first year. This is important so that they can maximize their career options and be prepared to give back to their community with legal knowledge, skills and support.

Everyone admitted to law school has demonstrated  similar intelligence, commitment and effort.   What distinguishes  "A" students is study skills and habits, access to legal information, analytical and test-taking skills.   All these are skills and abilities that can be learned and improved. In our more than 35 years of experience of helping students-of-color succeed, we have seen the impact that intense preparation can have on a student's ability to excel.  In a competitive environment, like law school, where grades are given based on how a person performs compared to the other students in the class, it is essential  that entering law students-of-color be appropriately prepared.

The  2009 Summer Boot Camp ( http://www.thejdproject.org/Excelling/BootCamp/index.htm ) is an online distance learning program designed to provide that intense preparation.  The Boot Camp teaches students to study effectively for law school, introduces students to the writing, thinking and test-taking skills needed to excel on law school exams, and builds a network of academic support that crosses school boundaries.  The participants will work on the study skills, strategies and techniques they will need to achieve their goals as law students.

This is a 150 hour online program which costs $750 including $150 materials fee. Other programs, like BarBri cost $2000 for a 40 hour program.

Admission is on a rolling basis till the program is filled.  If you know a black, Latino, Asian, Native American person who is planning to go to law school in the fall 2009, please forward this email to them.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Brenda Randall, Volunteer Administrator, admin@thejdproject.org.

Dates: Early Application: Completed by April 1; Late Application: after May 7; Applications Accepted till May 24


Native American Congressional Internships

The Native American Congressional Internship Program provides Native Americans and Alaska Natives with an insider's view of the federal government. Their ten-week internship in Washington, D.C., places students in Senate and House offices, committees, Cabinet departments and the White House, where they are able to observe government decision-making processes first-hand.

In 2009, the Foundation expects to award 12 Internships on the basis of merit to Native Americans and Alaska Natives who:

  • Are college juniors or seniors, recent graduates from tribal or four-year colleges, or graduate or law students;
  • Have demonstrated an interest in fields related to tribal public policy, such as tribal governance, tribal law, Native American education, Native American health, Native American justice, natural resource protection, cultural preservation and revitalization, and Native American economic development.

For more information about the Native American Congressional Internships click here.


Business Law Diversity Clerkships

The Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program encourages students to pursue business court clerkship opportunities and to consider careers in the practice of business law. In considering a student's diversity, the Section will give special consideration to individuals who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student.

Submission Process

The objectives of the program include:

  • To encourage more diverse law students to apply for clerkship positions
  • To foster relationships between business court judges and diverse law students
  • To provide students with a foundation in various aspects of business law

Up to nine interns will be given a summer stipend of $6,000 and placed in business court clerkships in the Philadelphia Commerce Court or the Delaware Court of Chancery. Other possible internship locations include New York and Florida.

To apply, students must be Section of Business Law members. For membership information and to join the Section, click here.

Applications for the 2009 program are available here. All application materials must be received on or before Friday, January 30, 2009. For more information about the Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program click here.