Free National Pre-Law Conference Celebrates 15 Consecutive Years of Inspiring and Empowering Aspiring Black Lawyers
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NEW YORK - WisconsinEagle -- The National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair Sponsored by AccessLex Institute is the nation's only major information-sharing and networking empowerment event created especially for Black college students and graduates interested in going to law school and becoming lawyers. This year's event will take place from Friday, November 8, 2019 to Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Columbia Law School in New York, New York. 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 ahead to lawyerhood. This year marks its milestone fifteenth consecutive year with a powerful weekend planned filled with motivational plenary sessions, informative panels and workshops, unprecedented networking opportunities, and other worthwhile educational activities.

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 competitive 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, succeeding as a Black law student inside and outside of the classroom, 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 keynotes include Attorneys Willie E. Gary and Cannon D. Lambert, Sr. Attorney Gary is a celebrated trial attorney known as "The Giant Killer" having reached numerous multi-million dollar verdicts against large corporations and a record-setting multi-billion dollar verdict in a wrongful death smoking case against big tobacco company RJ Reynolds – the largest ever awarded at the time. Cannon D. Lambert, Sr. is best known for representing the family of Sandra Bland, a Black woman who died in police custody in Texas after a confrontational traffic stop and whose story received international attention sparking further outrage during the Black Lives Matter movement. Ms. Bland's story is documented in the HBO film Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland, which also features Attorney Lambert.

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Numerous other special guest speakers and organizational leaders will participate, as well as knowledgeable and successful panelists and presenters who will selflessly provide insight, perspective and guidance to conference registrants. In addition to the sessions, attendees will also be able to participate in one of the largest law school recruitment fairs in the country. Over 120 law schools and organizations will take part. Moreover, pre-law attendees will have the opportunity to benefit from the signature one-on-one pre-law admissions and preparation advisement clinic. Furthermore, law school aspirants will be able to start building a circle of support by making connections and creating the start of accountability partnerships and mentoring relationships during informal networking breaks and formal networking receptions.

During this 15th anniversary year, there will be special events that are not normally a part of the schedule. These include Black Pre-Law Talks™ where Black law school deans from across the country will give short, engaging TED-type talks on topics of their choice. In addition, to mark 150 years since John Mercer Langston became the first African American to become a law school dean, by founding the Law Department at Howard University School of Law, they are hosting The John Mercer Langston Legal Education Leadership Awards. This occasion celebrates all 27 Black law school deans currently serving across the country. This year, more Black lawyers and law professors have risen to the position of law school dean than at any time in American history, including more Black women. 21 have confirmed their attendance. After the awards presentations, several of the deans will conduct a special informal Q&A session and students will have the uncommon opportunity to learn from them. All of these events are unprecedented.

The conference will end on a high note with The 15th Anniversary Honors and Aspiring Lawyers Pinning Ceremony. During this program, awards will be given to Legal Education Access and Diversity Champions, and Outstanding Law School Diversity Outreach honorees will also be recognized. Then, there will be the Aspiring Lawyers Pinning Ceremony where current lawyers will pin aspiring lawyers with eagle pendants as an expression of the Black legal community's faith, high expectations and confidence in them. During this event, they also stress the fact that they have a responsibility to give back and serve once they achieve their goals.

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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. 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, "It is an honor and privilege to have done the very hard work and made the sacrifices necessary to have achieved 15 years. This event is the dream event many Black attorneys wish they had before setting off on this challenging path. Attending this event is mindset-shifting and life-changing for so many aspiring Black lawyers. With well over 170 Black law students, law school administrators and lawyers 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 to contribute to doing something about it."

All aspiring lawyers are encouraged to register. Admission is completely free of charge and open to the public. Further information on the National Black Pre-Law Conference can be found at the official conference website at http://www.BlackPreLawConference.org or by calling 281-944-LAW4.