About Cardozo BLSA

My photo
New York, NY
Cardozo BLSA’s purpose is to: a. further its members’ academic enrichment and success; b. increase the Cardozo community’s awareness of general legal issues in the United States and abroad; c. collectively engage in community service events and promote minority student recruitment; and d. ensure that graduates and current members remain connected through BLSA’s alumni network and annual alumni reception.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

2009 NEBLSA Boat Cruise - September 18, 2009!

 





The NEBLSA New York City Boat Cruise will be held Friday, September 18,
2009.  The ship will board from Chelsea Piers at Pier 61 in New York City at 11:30 p.m.
and the party will last until 3:30 a.m.  Buy your tickets online at
http://www.acteva.com/eventlogin.cfm?bevaID=188208&ReferredBy=1&nPassFail=0&ViewOnly=0
When prompted, enter the password "Boat09Ride".
*Tickets are now on sale for $40.  The price will increase on September 7th. Please direct any questions to NY Metro Sub-Regional Director Karla Pettaway at NEBLSA.NY.METRO@gmail.com


Friday, August 21, 2009

NEBLSA Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 3

NEBLSA NEWSLETTER VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3

UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SAVE THE DATE--2010 NEBLSA CONVENTION!
The 2010 NEBLSA Convention will take place at the Genesee Grande Hotel in Syracuse, NY from January 27-31, 2010. Please join NEBLSA to learn at the forums and panels; network with attorneys and judges; participate in elections; compete in advocacy and trial competitions; and socialize with peers. Details about the events and hotel registration will be announced later.

-----
2009 NEBLSA Job Fair
The NEBLSA Job Fair is scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2009 at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, located at 500 Harbor Boulevard Weehawken, NJ 07086. The Northeast Regional Board is committed to providing the best opportunities and experience for both the members and employers. Be advised that this event is open only to paid NBLSA members from the 2008-2009 year.
IMPORTANT DATES
  • Final Interview Schedules will be released within 7-14 days after the acceptance period.
  • Friday, August 21st – NEBLSA Job Fair
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – Friday, August 21, 2009
7:00 a.m. – Student/ Employer Registration Open
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. – Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. – Employer Interviews
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. – Employer Interviews

For additional information, please email neblsajobfair@gmail.com.
-----
Professional Clothing Drive at the Job Fair
Have a shirt, tie or blouse that you no longer wear? Bring it to the job fair and donate it when you check in. We are holding a Dress for Success clothing drive and are looking to provide clothing for as many people as possible. For any questions concerning this community service event, please contact Ashley Moore at neblsacommunityservicedirector @gmail.com.
-----
Connecticut Dinner and After Party

All are welcome to join Connecticut NEBLSA members for a meet and greet on Saturday, August 29, 2009 in New Haven, CT. This will be an excellent opportunity to network with future colleagues and to coordinate future events. Following the dinner, there will be an after party. Details are forthcoming from Connecticut Sub-Regional Director, Shetera Patterson. For more information, please contact Shetera at neblsa.ct@gmail.com.
-----
2009 NEBLSA NYC Boat Cruise
The NEBLSA New York City Boat Cruise will be held Friday, September 18, 2009. The ship will board from Chelsea Piers in New York City at 11:30 p.m. and the party will last until 3:30 a.m. Tickets will be available at the Job Fair on a cash only basis for $40. Tickets will also be available online soon. For any questions about the Boat Cruise, contact NY Metro Sub-Regional Director, Karla Pettaway at neblsa.ny.metro@gmail.com.
-----
CBC Weekend
Calling all BLSA Members, especially Presidents! Please be advised that NBLSA would like to see each and every one of you this year for Congressional Black Caucus Weekend. This will take place September 24-27, 2009 in our nation's capitol, Washington, DC. Join NBLSA as we inform our legislators about our needs and concerns. For more information, please contact NBLSA Attorney General at ag@nblsa.org.
-----
ATTENTION 2009-2010 CHAPTER PRESIDENTS
Membership dues are due on October 1 in the amount of $35 per person. Dues will be accepted until December 1 with a $10 late fee. Dues will not be accepted after Dec 1 except for Spring transfer students and Spring admits. Also, please send updated Chapter Constitutions and Bylaws to the Regional Director of Membership, Stacia Robinson at neblsa.membership@gmail.com.
-----
2009 NEBLSA Academic Retreat/Law Camp/Delegates Meeting
This year, these three events will all take place on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford, CT. All NEBLSA chapters should send at least two members to this important event. Participation is mandatory for those chapters who plan to contend for Chapter of the Year.

The Academic Retreat will be a great opportunity to meet NEBLSA peers as well as to get invaluable information regarding law school survival. There will also be a Delegate's Meeting to vote on changes to the Regional Constitution and Bylaws. For more information regarding this part of the day, please contact Shetera Patterson at NEBLSA.CT@gmail.com.

NEBLSA's College Students Division aims to provide college students resources and guidance on applying to law school. The CSD Law Camp serves as an avenue for prospective law students to gain pertinent information about the law school application process and the benefits of obtaining a legal education. If you know of college students who may be interested in applying to law school, please encourage them to contact the NEBLSA Director of College Student Division so that they can receive information about the NEBLSA College Students Division and the Law Camp. The College Students Division Director is also seeking volunteers for the Law Camp. If you would like to serve as a panelist on a law school panel to discuss your law school experience or a resume/cover letter reviewer for a prospective law student, please contact Alana St. Aude at NEBLSA.LawCamp@gmail.com.
-----
NEBLSA Members on National BLSA Board
NEBLSA would like to recognize the following members as national board members:
  • Siana McLean, University of Buffalo, Frederick Douglass Moot Court Coordinator
  • Whitney Matthews, University of Connecticut, Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Coodinator
  • Melvin L. Felton II, Columbia University, Communications Director
  • Althea Udo-Inyang, Western New England College, Convention Coordinator
We appreciate the hard work that you do and hope that you inspire others to become active in NBLSA as well.
-----
Interested in Joining the NEBLSA E-Board?
Anyone seeking appointment to the positions listed below should send a Resume and Statement of Intent in one pdf document along with an enrollment verification letter to Destini Bowman at northeast@nblsa.org.
  • Combined Northern New England Sub-Regional Director
  • Attorney General
  • Mock Trial Specialist
  • Moot Court Specialist
To learn more about the duties of each elected position please refer to the NEBLSA By-Laws, which is available on http://www.nblsa.org/site/pages.php?rgid=3&viewpagedetails=66.
Requirements
Interested students must:
  1. Be enrolled in an American (US) law school recognized by NBLSA
  2. Be in good academic standing at your institution, and provide proof of such with a letter from your Dean.
  3. Be a member, for the entire term of office, of an active chapter of the Association (meaning your chapter has remitted national and regional dues). Interested parties who will not be enrolled for the ensuing, complete academic year are ineligible for service in any capacity on the NEBLSA Executive Board
-----

NEBLSA Golf Tournament
NEBLSA will be holding its first golf tournament next spring! More information about this is forthcoming. If anyone has experience with planning a golf tournament or an interest in golf and would like to join this committee, please contact Director of Programming, Kriss Fuller at neprogramming@gmail.com.
-----
Attention Recent Graduates
NEBLSA is planning an alumni reception and you are invited! Please submit your updated contact information to neblsa.historian@gmail.com. Along with your name and email address, include your school and any executive board positions that you held in BLSA.
-----
Message from College Student Division Director

Dear NBLSA Members,
My name is Alana St. Aude, and I am the Northeast Director of the College Student Divison. The National Director, Jessica Childress, and I are honored to serve you this year. The College Student Division is a component of NBLSA which informs undergraduate students considering law school about the law school application process, life as a law student, the practice of law, and other relevant knowledge about obtaining a law degree. I look forward to working closely with local BLSA chapters in instituting the initiatives that CSD has planned for the year.

Undergraduates may join CSD as members of their undergraduate local chapters or as general members. General membership is available for those individuals who attend institutions which are unable to sustain a CSD chapter for various reasons. The CSD strongly encourages all BLSA chapters located on campuses without CSD chapters to assist CSD in garnering undergraduate interest. Membership application materials will be sent in a separate email or are available by emailing me at neblsa.lawcamp@gmail.com.

This fall, CSD will be hosting National Law Camps within each region. Law Camps serve as an avenue for prospective law students to gain pertinent information about the law school application process and the benefits of obtaining a legal education. The camps will host various speakers from pre-law organizations who will address topics such as financing a legal education, the law school application process, and making the transition into law school. The tentative locations and date for this year’s NEBLSA Law Camp is:

NORTHEAST REGION, October 17: Hartford, CT (University of Connecticut School of Law)

In addition to our law camps, this year, we will be spearheading the first annual College Student Division Law Fair at our National Convention in Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts. During this event, deans of admission and other representatives from ABA accredited law schools will provide information about their law schools to CSD members. As we get closer to Convention, we will need your assistance in reaching out to representatives from your law school and encouraging them to attend this event.

BLSA members have traditionally served as mentors to CSD members, and this year, we ask you to help us continue this strong tradition of mentorship by encouraging your members to volunteer to become CSD mentors. By serving as mentors, BLSA members will build relationships with a CSD member who holds similar interests. Moreover, they will serve as a guide to mentees as they navigate the law school application process. Please encourage the members of your chapters to become mentors. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can complete the application attached to a subsequent email or by contacting me at neblsa.lawcamp@gmail.com. Please email the mentorship application by September 25, 2009. If you develop a mentorship relationship with an undergraduate student near your law school and would like to involve your mentee in CSD, please send me the name, contact information, and undergraduate inst itution of your mentee to neblsa.lawcamp@gmail.com.

Finally, one of the major goals of CSD this year is to increase membership and enhance the benefits of being a CSD member. You can help us achieve these goals by encouraging pre-law students at your school to charter a CSD chapter or to become general members of CSD. Moreover, if your BLSA chapter is hosting any programs that would be of interest to a CSD member, this year, we will ask that you invite CSD members to such events.

Thank you for your interest in CSD. The other regional directors, Jessica and I look forward to working with you this year. If your have any questions or concerns about CSD, please feel free to contact me.

Best wishes for a successful school year,

Alana St. Aude
Northeast Director of the College Student Division
neblsa.lawcamp@gmail.com

Jessica Childress
National Director of the College Student Division
-----
Important 2009-2010 Community Service Information
NEBLSA’s 2009-2010 community service initiative is Each One, Reach One: a 2-part service initiative that requires each school to reach one community and one other chapter.
First, each local NEBLSA chapter must adopt a local community that has significant need and should focus the chapter’s direct service, advocacy, and fundraising in that community. Additionally, each NEBLSA local chapter should execute the regional and national programs tailored to the needs of the adopted community.

Second, each local NEBLSA chapter must work with at least one other NEBLSA chapter on at least one community service program. Schools in close proximity should physically work together and those far apart should find other ways to collaborate (such as a fundraiser).

NEBLSA Region-Specific Community Service Programmatic Areas:
• Adult economic empowerment
  • Education, employment, housing, prisoner re-entry, etc.
• Early childhood education (Children ages 0-5 years old)
  • Advocate/teach importance of early childhood education to parents/local officials.
• Environment
  • Clean up/beautification project or create/maintain green space.

NEBLSA 2009-2010 Regional Community Service Events
1. Dress for Success Business Clothing Drive at the Job Fair (i.e., donate suits, jackets, blouses, skirts, pants, sweaters, coats, and shoes)

2. Book Drive at the Joint College Student Division Program/Academic Retreat.
a. Collect early childhood books for kids and distribute the books to parents with literature discussing the importance of early childhood education
3. NEBLSA’s Each One, Reach One – Take 2 Community Service Initiative:
Two-Weeks of Service, from Saturday October 17, 2009 – Saturday October 31, 2009
a. Host at least four (4) community service programs (Note: Suggested that you have programs at your school and in your adopted community)
b. Work with at least one other NEBLSA chapter in some way during the week
4. Regional Convention – Direct Service TBD

NEBLSA’s Chapter of the Year Rubric
Please note that judging for NEBLSA Chapter of the Year will include inter alia:
1. Sending a delegate to the regional delegate’s meeting
2. Sending a 1L or other interested student to the academic retreat
3. Participating in the regional College Student Division event
4. Participating in regional community service programs
5. Participating in the “Each One, Reach One” Initiative
6. Participating in the Take 2 Community Service Initiative
7. Submitting a letter from your sub-regional director

If you have any questions, please contact NEBLSA Director of Community Service, Ashley Moore at: neblsacommunityservicedirector @gmail.com.
-----
Join NEBLSA online!
Please sign up to receive important NEBLSA information on Facebook, TWEN and our new Google Group. To sign up, please click the links below:
3. TWEN: Add the course Northeast Black Law Students Association (NEBLSA). It is listed under National TWEN Courses.
-----

SCHOLARSHIP, EMPLOYMENT & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Book Discount

BarristerBooks.com and the National Black Law Students Association are teaming up to save NBLSA members money on their law school casebooks and study aids!

For a limited time only, paid NBLSA members can take an extra 5% OFF of all purchases over $50 with Barristerbooks.com. Use code "NBLSA283" to receive the discount. Please note that this promotion begins Saturday, August 1, 2009 and ends Monday, August 24, 2009.
If there are any questions, please feel free to contact NBLSA Director of Membership at membership@nblsa.org.
-----
Fall 2009 PALS Kick Off Reception
Date: September 23, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm

Event Sponsored By:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Location:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
(between: Water & South Streets)

PALS welcomes the Class of 2012/2013! This networking reception is designed to help young attorneys and law students hone their conversation and networking skills, and to provide a venue to access the knowledge and perspectives of attorneys of color.

We invite all practicing attorneys to join us, meet our students and catch-up with old friends. In particular, we encourage attorney mentors and student mentees paired through PALS to attend the event together!

______________________________
Look for our next issue in September 2009!

Please contact Joshua Jones, NEBLSA Secretary, at NE.Secretary@gmail.com to update contact information, if you would like to have your local chapter events or announcements included in an upcoming newsletter, or if you have any comments or suggestions.

Warm wishes,

Your NEBLSA Executive Board