WASHINGTON - Marylandian -- The 10th-anniversary celebration of the National HBCU Pre-Law Summit & Law Expo was recently held from September 21st to September 23rd, 2023 at the University of the District of Columbia, the only public land-grant historically Black university, in Washington, DC. This year's event celebrated an entire decade of empowering and encouraging students and alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) interested in pursuing law school and becoming lawyers.

The summit is the only major national pre-law event specifically focused on addressing the unique challenges HBCU students and graduates face. This event supplied game-changing information, invaluable resources, and transformative connections that many attendees otherwise might not have had access to.

This year's summit featured panel discussions on the end of race-conscious affirmative action, culture shock and the HBCU vs. PWI (Predominantly White Institutions) experience, Black law student success, planning and strategizing one's legal career, and becoming a Black lawyer CEO.

In addition, there were plenary sessions that inspired attendees throughout the summit weekend. The featured keynote speakers included Jay Austin, Executive Director, RISE Alliance, Law School Admission Council (LSAC); Gregory J. Vincent, Esq., Ed.D., 21st President, Talladega College; Darrell D. Jackson, J.D., Ph.D., Winston Howard Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Wyoming College of Law; Veronica N. Dunlap, Esq., M.B.A., Deputy Executive Director, ACLU of Maryland; Frederick Lloyd Keith II, Esq., M.B.A., Legal Counsel, Commercial Litigation, Apple; Kisha A. Brown, Esq., Founder & CEO, Justis Connection; Dominique D. Calhoun, Esq., President, National Bar Association; Joy B. Tolliver, Esq., Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and General Counsel, Monroe College; and Tiffany Hill, Esq., Owner, TH Legal Consulting.

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Special guest speakers included The Honorable Dedra Davis, District Judge, 270th Civil District Court, Harris County, State of Texas; Nicholas "Nick" Austin, Esq., Principal Corporate Counsel, Microsoft; Camille M. Davidson, Esq., Dean and Professor of Law, Southern Illinois University School of Law; Angela D. Minor, Esq., M.L.S., M.Div., Associate Professor and Director of Forensics - Debate and Mock Trial, Howard University; T. Anansi Wilson, J.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Law and Director, Center for the Study of Black Life and the Law, and Mona Saghri, M.P.A., Senior Manager, Social Responsibility and Weil Foundation, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

The summit also hosted other important sessions including a Law School Admissions and Preparation Advisement Help Clinic, a Paying for Law School workshop, the HBCU Law School Deans Showcase, the Law School Recruitment and Resources Expo, the HBCU Pre-Law Honors Awards, the National HBCU Pre-Law Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Presentations, the Aspiring Lawyers Pinning Ceremony, and the 10th Anniversary Cupcakes and Champagne Toast.

Among the event's highlights, sponsored by Amazon Studios, included a complimentary takeaway dinner featuring food from local Black-owned food trucks and a private preview screening of Amazon original movie The Burial, along with a special appearance by celebrated attorney Willie E. Gary (played by Jamie Foxx in the film) in conversation with Dean Patricia Timmons-Goodson of North Carolina Central University School of Law.

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Elated about reaching a decade of impact, Attorney Evangeline M. Mitchell, the summit's founder and a graduate of HBCU Prairie View A&M University, explained that the event is vital in the HBCU community not only because it provides critical law school admissions, preparation, and career information, but because of the power of connection-making that happens there. "We deliberately create opportunities for attendees to find peer accountability partners and law student and lawyer connections that they can build relationships with after the event. The people they meet can become their cheerleaders, supporters, and mentors to help them navigate the difficult journey ahead. It's the power and potential of those connections that make this event invaluable and for which I am most proud as we look toward the next ten years."

Sponsored by the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, AccessLex Institute, White & Case LLP, Brooks & Kushman P.C., Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, Balch & Bingham LLP, ETS GRE, Mayer Brown, Troutman Pepper, and Morgan Lewis, the entire summit was offered completely free of charge and was open to all. For more information about the National HBCU Pre-Law Summit and to learn about next year's event, please visit their official website at https://www.hbcuprelawsummit.org.