National Black Pre-Law Conference Celebrates 10th Anniversary

HOUSTON - June 24, 2014 - PRLog -- The National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this fall.  This one-of-a-kind, world-class conference focuses specifically on reaching out to African Americans interested in becoming lawyers in order to provide them with game-changing "insider" information, resources, and contacts to increase their chances of success in the journey ahead to lawyerhood. This year marks a decade of inspiring and empowering aspiring Black lawyers with a weekend of motivational keynote sessions, informative panels, networking opportunities, and other worthwhile educational and celebratory activities.  This milestone event will be held from Friday, October 24, 2014 to Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the Houston Marriott Westchase in Houston, Texas.

This year’s schedule is jam-packed with everything any aspiring lawyer would need to know before deciding to pursue this challenging and highly competitive path. There will be powerful and thought-provoking workshop sessions and panel discussions made up of experienced law school administrators and accomplished and knowledgeable law students, law graduates, law professors, lawyers, judges, as well as law school admission, law school academic preparation and test preparation experts from across the nation.  Key information will be shared about being competitive in the admissions process, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), personal and diversity statements, and financing a legal education, minimizing and managing student loan debt, selecting a law school, preparing for and making the most of the law school experience, navigating diversity issues, and different career options.  A special town hall forum will be conducted to discuss critical issues facing legal education including the law school value proposition, the need to make graduates practice ready, recent affirmative action Supreme Court cases Fisher v. University of Texas and Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, and the continuing need for lawyers serving the African American and other underserved communities.

Several dynamic top attorneys will serve as featured keynote speakers and share powerful words of wisdom, encouragement and their own personal paths to success.  They include John Lewis, Jr., Esq., Chief Global Diversity Officer, The Coca-Cola Company, Pamela Meanes, Esq., President-Elect, National Bar Association and Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP, Charles Hamilton Houston, III, Esq., Assistant General Counsel, ABM Industries, Joseph Youngblood II, J.D., Ph.D., Vice Provost and Dean, John S. Watson School of Public Service, Thomas Edison State College, and Arun Alagappan, Esq., Founder, Advantage Testing Foundation.  Special guest speakers and featured panelists will soon be announced.

Moreover, participants will have the opportunity to experience a mock law school class, participate in the signature advice clinic and practical assistance session, take a mock diagnostic LSAT exam, make connections during the networking icebreakers and social mixers, take part in the special 10th Anniversary Honors and Appreciation Luncheon honoring past and present conference contributors, and meet representatives from over 100 law schools at the Law School Recruitment Fair. Special power sessions will take place that focus on business etiquette, professional makeup, dress and image, and networking and relationship building.  New this year are a mock legal job interview and inside look into how hiring committees make decisions, and the Future Legal Eagles Flight School program created especially for high school students. The conference will end on a high note with the 10^th Anniversary 10 for 10 Awards honoring 10 extraordinary Black attorneys from across America, as well as the highly-anticipated Aspiring Lawyers Pinning Ceremony instilling seeds of high expectation and confidence into aspiring lawyers.  All registrants will receive complimentary membership into the National Black Pre-Law Network, and law school admission, preparation and bar exam success e-books.  There will also be special 10^th anniversary giveaways and surprises.

With only 7% of law students and 4% of all lawyers being African American while making up 14% of the population, the need for greater diverse representation in law schools and in the legal profession remains high.  This conference has positively impacted well over two thousand African American aspiring lawyers from across the country and is poised to make a difference to thousands more for many years to come.

“This is no ordinary event but really a life-changing experience that has a real impact,” according to Attorney Evangeline M. Mitchell, the conference’s visionary and founder.  Evangeline explains that the biggest pieces of this conference that make it unique is that many attendees will represent the first-generation in their families to pursue a legal education and they need to understand what it truly takes to be strategic, highly competitive and stand out.  At the same time, it’s important for them to see others who look like them and come from where they come from who have “made it” share their stories in order to build up their belief that it is possible for them to follow in their footsteps.

“These are the critical things that set this event apart.  We tell you what it really takes and about resources available to help, we show you people who have done it who tell you the truth but also encourage you if this is something you are serious about doing, and then it all culminates in a beautiful ceremony where we let you know that it can be done and you can do it too.  We want to welcome you into this family, this fraternity.  However, we never mislead you about the realities of it all – you get the good, the bad and the ugly.  We also emphasize that although you’ve got what it takes to make it, it’s up to you to take all you’ve learned and the contacts you’ve made and make full use of them, utilize the resources available, and make the sacrifices and do the tough work, and then commit to stay the course - no matter what.”

All aspiring lawyers are encouraged to register and attend.  High school students, college students and graduates, working professionals, career changers, multicultural, career and pre-law advisors, as well as supporters and parents are all invited to take advantage of the amazing benefits this conference offers.  General admission is completely free of charge and open to the public.  Everyone is welcome regardless of race or ethnicity, or any other affiliation.  Further information and updates on the National Black Pre-Law Conference and how you can attend or be further involved as a partner, sponsor, advertiser, or vendor can be found at the official conference website at http://www.BlackPreLawConference.org or by calling 281-247-4026 or 281-944-LAW4.