Building on Excellence Equipping you with the tools to fulfill your destiny NEBLSA Northeast Black Law Students Association Regional Convention January 26-30, 2011 Mashantucket, CT "All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Building on Excellence Equipping you with the tools to fulfill your destiny
NEBLSA Striving to Balance Since 1968.
Northeast Black Law Students Association
Regional Convention
January 26-30, 2011
Mashantucket, CT
"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Letter from Regional Chair .............................................................................................2
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Legal Recruitment and Diversity Panel: Navigating the Legal Field
Location: Celebrity EFG
Ayanna Ryans, Kelly, Drye & Warren LLP
Christine Jean-Louis, President – George W. Crawford Black Bar Association
Peter Wilson, Day Pitney LLP
Attorneys committed to advancing diversity weigh in on the importance of recruitment of diverse attorneys.
This discussion will cover efforts to attract diverse candidates, diversity programs, how diverse attorneys play a
role in recruiting, and what you can do to become the diverse talent many organizations are seek to hire.
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Diversity in Clerkships: How to Make the Cut and How to Shine
Location: Celebrity EFG
Christine Jean-Louis
The opportunity to clerk for a judge is an incredible and rewarding experience. Those interested in applying for
clerkships should join this panel for a discussion on what it takes to gain an interview with a judge, what it takes to
obtain the position, and what it takes to excel in the role of law clerk.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Advice Hour
Location: Celebrity EFG
Are you interested in a topic that is not addressed in this Convention agenda? Do you have personal questions better
addressed privately in an informal setting? Join our advice hour for the chance to speak one-on-one with attorneys
who are here for you.
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Alumni Reception and Mashantucket Pequot Museum Tour
Location: Mashantucket Pequot Museum
Looping shuttle will be available
The museum is a short drive on the Foxwoods property
Address: 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT 06338
9:00 PM – 2:00 AM Social Event: Shrine Lounge
Cost of Admission is not included in Convention Registration
Guestlist will be available and payment will be accepted at Registration
Cost includes admission and access to NEBLSA’s VIP section
Convention Schedule
Convention Schedule
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Saturday, January 29, 2011
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Zumba Exercise Class
Location: Celebrity B
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Registration
Location: Celebrity Registration Desk
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Breakfast
Location: Celebrity A
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Competitions: Final Rounds
Location: Mashantucket Pequot Museum
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Professional Development Workshop: Stress Management
Location: Celebrity EFG
Gina Walcott – Lawyers for Concerned Lawyers
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM College Student Division Programming
Location: Celebrity D
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Networking: Building Your Brand Workshop
Location: Celebrity EFG
Paula Edgar – Principal, PGE LLC
Yolanda Young – On Being A Black Lawyer
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Career Panels: Session I
In-House Counsel
Location: Celebrity EFG
Uchente Emuleomo, Prudential
Intellectual Property
Location: Bravo
Symone Redwine, McCarter & English
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM Luncheon
Location: Celebrity A
Rachael Rollins, United State’s Attorney’s Office
Convention Schedule
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Saturday, January 29, 2011(continued)
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Career Panels: Session II
Sports and Entertainment Law Panel
Location: Celebrity EFG
Ken Gordon – ESPN
John Kellogg – Berklee School of Music
James Walker – Walker and Associates
Employment and Labor Law Panel
Location: Bravo
Terri Craig, Deputy Regional Director – National Labor Relations Board
Tokunbo Akinbajo, Associate – Jackson Lewis
Christopher Kwok, Mediator – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Plenary – Elections
Location: Premier GH
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Pre-Gala Reception
Location: Celebrity Pre-Function
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Awards Gala
Location: Celebrity A
11:00 PM – 2:00 AM After Party
Location: Premier EF
DJ Dallas Green
Convention Schedule
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Sunday, January 30, 2011
9:30 AM -11:00 AM Morning Inspirational Breakfast
Location: Celebrity A
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM NEBLSA Executive Board Transition Meeting
Location: Premier EF
All elected officers are required to attend this meeting as well as any individuals interested in being appointed to
available positions on the 2011-2012 NEBLSA Executive Board.
*All scheduling is subject to time and subject matter changes.
Convention Schedule
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Saturday, January 29, 2011
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Zumba Exercise Class
Location: Celebrity B
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Breakfast
Location: Celebrity A
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Registration
Location: Celebrity Registration Desk
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Personal Statement Workshop
Location: Celebrity D
Rebecca Flanagan, J.D., M.A.
University of Connecticut, Director of Pre-law Planning and Programming
Description: This workshop will cover the construction of the personal statement. The personal statement is a
written piece that is used by law school applicants and reviewed by law school admissions officers. Attendees
will gain some vital information about what makes a good statement and what makes a statement dysfunctional.
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Mock Criminal Law Class
Location: Celebrity D
Kaaryn Gustafson, Professor of Law
University of School of Law
Description: Attendees will participate in an interactive mock law school class taught by an actual law professor.
Students are expected to have prepared for the class beforehand by reading and briefing the assigned case. A list
of participant names will be provided to the professor and students will be subject to being called on by the professor. During the mock classroom experience, participants will be able to experience first-hand the Socratic
method of class discussion as a learning tool
.
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM Luncheon
Location: Celebrity A
Rachael Rollins, United States Attorney’s Office
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Career Panels*
Sports and Entertainment Law Panel
Location: Celebrity EFG
Ken Gordon, ESPN
John Berklee, Berklee School of Music
James Walker, Walker and Associates
Employment and Labor Law Panel
Location: Bravo
Tokunbo Akinbajo, Associate – Jackson Lewis
Richard Kwok, Mediator – EEOC, NYC Region
Terri Craig, Deputy Regional Director, National Labor Relations Board
College Student Division Schedule
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Saturday, January 29, 2011 (continued)
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Dissecting the LSAT
Location: Celebrity D
Dr. Vernon W. Jeffrey, Esq. Pre-Health Advisor
Lehman College of the City University of New York
Description: This workshop will provide students with an understanding of the structure and purpose of the LSAT
and instructions on how to properly study for the exam.
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Pre-Gala Reception
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Awards Banquet and Gala
Location: Celebrity A
11:00 PM – 2:00 AM After Dark**
Location: Premier EF
Featuring DJ Dallas Greene
*College Student Division attendees will also join NEBLSA members at these panels.
**College Students may only attend After Dark if over 21
***All scheduling is subject to time and subject matter changes.
College Student Division Schedule
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Competition Location:
Mashantucket Pequot Museum
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338
Wednesday, January 26, 2011:
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Competition Meeting
Location: Red Carpet
Thursday, January 27, 2011
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Shuttle to Mashantucket Pequot Museum
9:00 AM – 12:15 PM Preliminary Round I
12:15 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch
1:00 PM – 4:15 PM Preliminary Round II
Friday, January 28, 2011
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Shuttle to Mashantucket Pequot Museum
9:00 AM – 12:15 PM Quarter Final Round
12:15 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch
1:00 PM – 4:15 PM Semi-Final Round
Saturday, January 29, 2011
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Shuttle to Mashantucket Pequot Museum
9:00 AM – 12:15 PM Final Rounds
Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition
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Competition Locations:
Preliminary, Quarter-final, Semi-final Rounds:
Grand Pequot Hotel Tower
39 Westerly Road
Mashantucket, CT 06338
Final Rounds:
Mashantucket Pequot Museum
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338
Wednesday, January 26, 2011:
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Competition Meeting
Location: Celebrity C
Thursday, January 27, 2011
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM – 10:10 AM Preliminary Round IA
11:00 AM – 12:40 PM Preliminary Round IB
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:40 PM Preliminary Round IIA
3: 30 PM – 5:10 PM Preliminary Round IIB
Friday, January 28, 2011
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM – 10:10 AM Preliminary Round IIIA
11:00 AM – 12:40 AM Preliminary Round IIIB
12:45 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM – 3:10 PM Sweet Sixteen Round
5:00 PM – 6:40 PM Quarter-Final Round
Saturday, January 29, 2011
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Shuttle to Mashantucket Pequot Museum
9:00 AM – 10:40 AM Semi-Final Rounds
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Final Round
Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition
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SHETERA PATTERSON, Regional Chair
Shetera Patterson is from of Los Angeles, CA. She holds a B.S. in Criminology from the University of
LaVerne. Before attending law school, Shetera worked for Verizon for four years as a Senior Manager. She
previously served as an IL delegate and Historian on her local BLSA executive board, and Connecticut Sub-
Regional Director on the NEBLSA executive board. Shetera is a 3L at the University of Connecticut School
of Law, and has plans to pursue a career in litigation. She can be reached at [email protected]
ALYCIA HUCKABEY, Vice-Chair
Alycia Huckabey is from West Haven, Connecticut. She holds Sociology and African American Studies
degrees from Fordham University- Rose Hill. Before attending law school, she worked as a paralegal in a
business law firm. Alycia has served as the chapter president to the New York Law School BLSA. She
intends to enter the sports industry upon graduation. Alycia can be reached at [email protected].
ASHLEY ELEM, Secretary
Ashley Renee’ Elem is from Chicago, IL and holds a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from DePaul
University. She worked as a Real Estate Manager before attending law school. Ashley is a 3L at Hofstra
Univerisity and plans to pursue a legal career in health law or corporate litigation. Ashley can be reached at
MARSHA BECKFORD, Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Director Marsha S. Beckford is from Bridgeport, Connecticut. Marsha received a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Psychology, with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut. Before attending law
school, Marsha worked as a loss prevention agent for a retail company. Marsha is currently the treasurer of her
local BLSA chapter. Marsha attends Quinnipiac University School of Law. She plans to work in civil practice,