Events

Things to Do, Places to Be . . .

BLSA and its members sponsor and present many activities throughout the school year. BLSA also co-sponsors and participates in activities with other student groups in the law school and the wider University of Michigan community.
Every year, BLSA presents the Butch Carpenter Scholarship Ball where BLSA members have the opportunity to receive scholarships to aid them in overcoming the financial burdens associated with Law School. BLSA also cooks and serves the annual Soul Food Lunch, which is a welcome change for hungry law students and professors!
To view our upcoming events, check out this year's Calender.

Michigan Law Students Enjoy BLSA’s Inaugural Picnic

by Lisa Helem

Sept. 9, 2006

Ann Arbor, MI – Nearly 25 University of Michigan Black Law Students Alliance members gathered on a brisk fall Saturday at Gallup Park for the inaugural BLSA picnic.

During the afternoon, students chatted, played a serious game of spades and tossed the football in a lighthearted, chock with trash-talking, pickup game. They also bore witness to the grilling skills of second-year students, Chris Porter and Rotolu (Ro) Adebiyi.

Porter took a break from monitoring his culinary offerings to wax poetic on why this tight-knit group turned out for the event. "This gets us out of a formal setting. People get to gather in a family environment. Then we can bring that feeling back to campus." Or as his partner-in-crime, Adebiyi, put it humorously, "You got cards. You got chicken. You got black people."

Tony Jones, a first-year fall starter and 2006 graduate of Morehouse College said the event was a welcome respite from the grind that comes with a professional program. "Due to our varied schedules in the stressful environment of law school, opportunities like these are necessary to foster collegiality."

Check out our Photo Gallery for photos of the event.

Dores McCree Day, 2006

by Solandra Craig

BLSA gave back to the community on Friday March 31st, 2006 with the 3rd Annual Dores McCree Day.
High school students and Principals from Pioneer High School and Huron High School and Mrs Dores McCree herself, came to spend the day with BLSA at the Law School.

Dores McCree Day was designed to expose high school students to the law school environment. BLSA hopes that by reaching out to these high school students they will encourage other minority students to follow the path to higher education and especially to law school.

This year, Dores McCree Day began with an Introduction by the Dean for Student Affairs, Charlotte Johnson, followed by a mock law school class presented by UMich Law School Professor, Sherman J. Clark. Next, the high school students worked with BLSA members, to prepare for a mock trial which was held after lunch.

During the lunch break, there was a "How to Get To Law School" panel. Here BLSA members shared information about their backgrounds, undergraduate experiences, majors, financial aid resources and social experiences at college.

Finally, the high school students got to experience the life of a trial lawyer. Students served as the jury, the panel of judges and as counsel for the plaintiffs and defendants. The high school students made opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations and a closing statement. Both BLSA and this group of high school students had an exciting, fulfiling day and look forward to Dores McCree Day, 2007.