Social
April 7, 2011, Time TBA
Pound Hall, Ropes Gray
CALLING ALL TALENT!!!
Are you a dancer, singer, lyricist, musician, actor, or performer of any kind? If so, we would love for you to show off your talents at HBLSA’s annual talent show! Please email [email protected] for details and to let us know if you’re interested in performing. The show will be co-sponsored by several other HLS organizations.
December 09, 2010
Harvard Law School became the first-ever repeat-winner of the National Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition.
Returning as defending champions, the Harvard Law School Trial Team advanced to the semi-finals with the highest score and remained undefeated throughout the competition, edging out Georgetown Law in the final round to win first place. The prestigious “invitation- only” competition was sponsored by the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Law and the Puerto Rico Bar Association October 28-30.
The Harvard team was sponsored and coached through the auspices of the Law School’s Criminal Justice Institute. The team included 3L’s Mostafa Abdelkarim and Nneka Ukpai and 2L’s Anthony Hendricks and Ieshaah Murphy.
In addition to the team victory, Murphy and Ukpai together secured a total of 8 Perfect Score Awards and were recognized as Best Advocates in the competition.
In this year’s mock case, a recently paroled convict was charged with murder and armed robbery. The prosecution’s witnesses were two decorated police officers who testified that the defendant confessed multiple times to the murder. The defense witnesses were the defendant’s parents as alibi witnesses. The defense team also had the option to call the defendant. Hendricks and Abdelkarim represented the prosecution while Murphy and Ukpai represented the defendant.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of Dean Minow and the Criminal Justice Institute,” said Ukpai. “We competed against some very skilled adversaries but with the training, patience, and commitment of our coaches, Soffiyah Elijah and Dehlia Umunna, we triumphed to become the first school to ever win this competition twice.”
CJI Deputy Director Soffiyah Elijah and CJI Clinical Instructor Dehlia Umunna have coached other teams at the Law School to several other first place finishes in competitions in Massachusetts and New York.
The Criminal Justice Institute is the curriculum-based criminal law clinical program of Harvard Law School. Its mission is to educate students in becoming effective, ethical and zealous criminal defense lawyer-advocates through practice in representing indigent individuals involved in the Massachusetts court system as well as to research and present issues and debates about the criminal and juvenile justice systems in order to effect local and national reform.
[Originally reported: http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2010/12/09_trial-advocacy-competition.html]Congratulations on the last week of classes! Good luck with exams!
NEBLSA REGIONAL CONVENTION: “BUILDING ON EXCELLENCE” Equipping You with Tools to Fulfill Your Destiny
January 26-30, 2011
Contact Leah at [email protected]
Join NEBLSA at the renowned MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, CT for the 2011 Northeast Black Law Students Association Regional Convention. Our annual convention will be held from January 26-30, 2011 and will bring together BLSA members from 33 different law schools in the Northeast Region.
The convention will include: election of next year’s Regional Officers, the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competitions, the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition, the Chapter of the Year Award, Recognition of Outstanding BLSA Members, Informative Workshops, Inspirational Speakers, College Student Division Programming, Career Fair, Networking with Practicing Attorneys and Judges, Opportunities to Network with Practitioners, Themed Luncheons, Receptions, Banquets, Socials, Entertainment, and more!
If you would like to attend, please submit a Letter of Interest to Leah at [email protected]. Your letter should explain why you want to attend the convention, note any intention to run for a regional office, and express the level of your participation in Harvard BLSA events. Please also include your willingness/ability to drive. Qualified delegates will be selected by lottery.
Professional Development
Wednesday, December 1, 6:00-8:00PM
Ropes Gray (Pound)
Please come out to the event to support Harvard BLSA! The 1L Job Fair is a signature event for the organization, and our firm sponsors are expecting to see BLSA members in attendance. Stop by and chat with your summer/future employer. Volunteer to help. Grab some firm swag. Be around to offer last-minute tips to 1Ls. Plus, it’s never too late to speak with recruiters about any possible openings for the summer class.
We look forward to seeing you all at the December Fair! Please spread the word to your friends, including those who are not HBLSA members. If you have questions, please email Lauren Moore, Chequan Lewis and Ieshaah Murphy at [email protected].
Social Committee
Thursday, December 2nd, 8pm-10pm
Conga Bar & Restaurant, 1 Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA
Cocktail attire
Come celebrate the end of the semester, the start of winter and the upcoming holiday season with HBLSA! Enjoy live jazz and free cocktails and h’ordeuvres with your HBLSA family at Conga in Harvard Square. Cocktail attire is requested. We hope to see you there!
