NBLSA National Convention Registration

Arnstein & Lehr, LLP Diversity Reception

Arnstein & Lehr, LLP, Fort Lauderdale's office is hosting a cocktail reception for first year, minority law school students on Thursday, April 10, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event is located at 200 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Students can RSVP to Carey Mansfield, Administrator, by e-mail at clmansfield@arnstein.com on or before Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Please forward this information to any students you know that will be in the local area during this date.

Akerman Senterfitt 1L Opportunity

There is a NEW paid summer position (10 weeks) with Akerman Senterfitt available for first year students with a demonstrated interest in environmental law. Minority and female law students are strongly encouraged to apply, although all 1L applications will be accepted. The position is located in the firm's Miami office and targets students interested in environmental regulation, environmental redevelopment, environmental justice, and/or environmental public health.
Make sure to logon to Symplicity to submit your application materials for consideration well before the DEADLINE of 2/21/08.

1L Opportunity!!!!

Subject: 1L's: Philadelphia Dist. Atty Summer Internship Prog Philadelphia District Attorney's OfficeThe Philadelphia District Attorney's Office seeks first-year law school students for our exciting summer internship programs. Students gain exposure to criminal case prosecution and are given responsibility, meaningful work, and a chance to leave their mark as members of our summer workforce. The application deadline for first-year students is March 1, 2008; http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/careers/firstYear.html NOTE: The 1L opportunity is unpaid, however, it can segue into a paid 2L opportunity.

Regional Covention Approaching

Attention Students in Dade County!!! MINORITY BAR PASSAGE PROGRAM

Attached is a flyer for the Dade County Bar Association's Minority Bar Passage program. It will begin tomorrow on the University of Miami School of Law's campus. Please forward this to anyone that you know that is studying for the February bar exam. If they are interested, then they may be able to the sessions. It will end February 6. I will be the opening speaker.

The program is great and has been in existence for the past 11 years. It meets weekly (Wednesday nights) and has been helpful for students preparing for the bar exam. Each student gets assigned a attorney mentor/tutor who reviews their essays weekly.

It will be offered again in the summer. So please post this information for your third years that will be studying in the Miami area.

Take care

Erica N. Wright
Attorney at Law
Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.
450 East Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 1400
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Telephone: 954-468-1325
Facsimile: 954-523-1722

Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law

SEC Summers Honor Program, Deadline Approaching Soon

Central Florida Diversity Picnic Hosted by Stetson University School of Law

SRBLSA 37th Annual Convention Early Registration Deadline Extended

• Early Registration for Convention Particpants now ends December 01, 2007. Pay only $100.00 if you register or make a deposit postmarked by December 01, 2007. And there’s more great news!!! You may make a $50 placeholder deposit postmarked no later than December 01, 2007 to lock in this early bird registration fee. If the remaining balance is not postmarked by December 14, 2007, the regular registration fee ($150) will apply.

• Regular Registration: Pay $150.00 if you register or make a deposit postmarked by December 14, 2007.
  
• Late/On-Site Registration: Pay $200.00 if you register on or after December 15, 2007 and by January 5, 2008.

Shutts & Bowen LLPJob Announcement

SRBLSA Regional Convention Early Registration Deadline Approaching

Early Registration for Convention Particpants ends
December 01, 2007.

Pay only $100.00 if you register or make a deposit postmarked by November 15, 2007. And
there’s more great news!!! You may make a $50 placeholder deposit postmarked no later
than December 01, 2007 to lock in this early bird registration fee.

If the remaining balance is not postmarked by December 14, 2007, the regular registration fee ($150) will apply.

Regular Registration: Pay $150.00 if you register or make a deposit postmarked by December 14, 2007.

Late/On-Site Registration: Pay $200.00 if you register on or after December 15, 2007 and by January 5, 2008.

SUB REGION IV'S ACADEMIC RETREAT SUCCESS

4th Annual Minority Picnic in South Florida

Annual Minority Picnic in the Miami area on October 27 @12:00.

The minority picnic is an annual event started by Atty Kozyak and his South Florida firm to address the needs of minority law students throughout the state in terms of connecting with majority firms, partners, etc. There are students there from basically every law school breaking bread with and “meeting and greeting” hiring partners and other lawyers from large & small law firms (not just in South Florida), corporations, judges (there are always a lot of them there), etc. The atmosphere is very informal but inviting, and the folks there are definitely about the business of breaking down barriers between majority law firms and minority students and promoting “equal opportunity.” Justice Quince and June McKinney always attend, and I’ve seen other lawyers representing Tallahassee firms there, too.

November MPRE Deadline

MPRE Dates and Application Deadlines

Sat. Nov. 3, 2007 Test Date

Application Receipt Deadline: Sept. 25, 2007

Late Application Receipt Deadline: Oct. 11, 2007

Examinees must be present at 9 a.m. on test day.

International Relations Committee

This month on the IRC Blog:--

Meet Magda Theodate, Young Black Professional of the Month--
Hear what law students are saying about Haiti--
Want an internship in International law but don't know where to start?
We have some links for you.
Don't forget to Suscribe to the International Relations Committee's BlogSee these stories and more at:http://ircnblsa.blogspot.com/


Are you interested in joining the committee, please contact Michelle Augustine, the National International Relations Chair at international@nblsa.org .

Sub Region IV Academic Retreat in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Please Wear Black Today in Support of the Jena Six Rally in Jena, Louisiana.

The National Black Law Students Association Calls For Justice in the Jena Six Case

In past weeks and months we have watched events unfold in Jena, Louisiana with heavy hearts. In response to a racial incident arising from nooses being hung from a tree at the local high school, a group of six African-American students got into a fight with a white student, who allegedly had been racially taunting black students in support of the students who hung the nooses. Allegedly, the white student was taken to the hospital treated, released, and reportedly attended a social function later that evening.

While the National Black Law Students Association does not condone violence, the actions of the Jena District Attorney and the Judge in this case have amounted to a gross miscarriage of justice. The six African-American students involved in the altercation were initially charged with attempted second degree murder. On the morning of the trial, the District Attorney reduced the charges from attempted second degree murder to second degree aggravated battery and conspiracy. Aggravated battery in Louisiana law demands the attack be with a dangerous weapon. The prosecutor was allowed to argue to the jury that the tennis shoes worn by Mychal Bell, one of the defendants, could be considered a dangerous weapon.

Therefore, the National Black Law Student urges the Judge to consider all the factors surrounding these events during sentencing of Mychal Bell, the first of the six students to be tried. Additionally, we appeal to the Jena District Attorney, Reed Walters, to drop the charges against the remaining five students.

We are also calling on the Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr to intervene in the Jena Six case to ensure that the defendants’ constitutional right to a fair trial is ensured. The National Black Law Students Association is working with the ACLU of Louisiana to provide pro bono assistance to Mychal Bell and the other defendants in the Jena Six case.

You can contribute to this cause in a variety of ways such as:

1) Traveling to Jena, Louisiana on September 20th for a large protest against conviction of Mychal Bell. This event coincides with the National Academic Retreat in New Orleans and NBLSA may be able to help coordinate transportation to Jena from New Orleans. If you are interested in attending this event please contact Jared Boyd at

2) Writing a letter to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and State Attorney General
Charles C. Foti, Jr to intervene in the Jena Six case. A letter can be emailed to Governor Blanco at contact@la.gov and the State Attorney General can be contacted at Executive@ag.state.la.us.

3) You can also sign a petition demanding justice in the Jena Six case athttp://colorofchange.org/jena/.

Barry University's Black Law Student Association's Ol Skool Fish Fry

Barry University's School of Law
Black Law Student Association is Welcoming Their Students Back with an "Ol Skool" Fish Fry on September 28, 2007.

• There will be live music and a family fun environment.
• The event begins at 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm at Barry University's Courtyard.
  
• The address is 6441 East Colonial Dr. , Orlando, FL, 32807.

National Conference of Bankruptcy Judge’s Law Student Outreach Project Hosted by Florida A&M University College of Law

Please RSVP to cmc_ohsbmail@ohsb.uscourts.gov by September 21, 2007.

SRBLSA is Looking for Two Corporate Relations Specialists

The Southern Region is looking for two driven indiviuals who would like to serve on our executive board. Corporate Relations Specialist is an appointed position.

• Are you interested in joinging the Southern Region of the National Black Law Student Association?
• Are you a member of you Black Law Student Association Chapter?
• Do you have experience in building relationships and solicitng?

• Specialists are in charge of helping the Corporate Relations Co-Chairs with overseeing all fundraising on behalf of the SRBLSA.
• Specifically, assist Convention Co-Coordinators in seeking sponsors for the 37th Regional Convention, the Editor-N-Chief of the Law Journal in seeking sponsors for the law Journal, and Regional Chairs in seeking sponsors for the Academic Retreats.
• Applicants should have pervious fundraising experience (preferably for an organization) and good time management, along with sales or marketing experience.
• Specialist will be able to gain valuable experience in networking, public relations, fundraising, and the inter-workings of the SRBLSA organization.

All applicants must submit a letter of intent, good academic standing, and a resume by September 16, 2007. Please forward information to Sheryl Montour at sherylmontour@gmail.com .Please email all questions regarding this position to Sheryl Montour.