Southern Virginia Minority Pre-Law Conference Once Again a Success

The Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia State Bar held the fourth Southern Virginia Minority Pre-Law Conference on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington. The Minority Pre-Law Conference is designed to encourage minority undergraduate students to consider the legal profession as a career.

Nearly 70 prospective law students attended the Conference from various undergraduate schools primarily located in Southwest Virginia. The Conference exposed the students to all phases of developing a legal career, from the law school admissions process to the selection of legal career opportunities. Specifically, the program included a panel of law school deans and directors of admissions who provided an inside perspective to the law school admissions process. Additionally, there was a panel of law students and recent law school graduates who provided their perspectives of their experiences in law school.

Clarence Dunnaville, the Co-Founder of the Oliver White Hill Foundation, was the keynote speaker for the Conference. Mr. Dunnaville gave an inspirational speech about his journey through his legal career and described the numerous instances when he witnessed and was subjected to segregation and other forms of discrimination. He emphasized the difference that lawyers can make in this world and challenged attendees to pursue legal careers in order to continue to make a difference.

Other members of the Bar shared their career experiences and gave advice to individuals interested in pursuing a career in the law, including Deputy Commissioner Deborah W. Blevins of the Workers Compensation Commission for the Roanoke regional office; Melvin Hill, a solo practitioner in Roanoke; Howard Highland, an Oliver Hill Fellow; Christen Church of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP; and Melvin Todd of the Richmond Public Defenders Office.

Jon Huddleston, President of the Virginia State Bar, spoke about his dedication to service in the legal profession. Professor Sean Seymore of Washington and Lee School of Law gained the attention of the students with a torts class that discussed an assault case. Jeneice Fitzpatrick from Kaplan provided an overview of, and preparation for, the Law School Admissions Test. Kaplan also held a drawing and gave away two free LSAT preparation courses to two lucky attendees.

Sponsors for the Conference included Washington and Lee School of Law, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP, and Woods Rogers, PC. Christen C. Church and Lindsey A. Waters of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore served as the Conference Co-Chairs. Members of the committee included Lauren E. Davis from Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, Patice Holland from Woods Rogers, and Rachael Sanford from Clement & Wheatley.