Welcome to2nd Annual Break Into Law Conference

Creating diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field starts with ensuring that educational opportunities are accessible to all aspiring legal professionals, with emphasis on BIPOC, first-generation, and marginalized professionals.

The goal of this free, two-day, virtual conference is to be the bridge helping BIPOC, first-generation, and other marginalized aspiring legal professionals access legal education and the workplace, therefore affecting change in the workplace and our communities. We hope our conference will be an inspiration to aspiring law school applicants, current law school students, and young practitioners as they embark on their legal careers.

Agenda

July 8, 2023
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 8, 2023
12:00 - 12:50 p.m. EST
Keys to a Successful Law School Application
Sydney Montgomery, Esq
Founder & Executive Director of Barrier Breakers®, Inc.
Alice Foley
Dir. of Pre-Law Programming at Barrier Breakers, Inc.
Cynthia Rivera
Associate Law School Consultant at Barrier Breakers®, Inc.
July 8, 2023
1:00 - 1:50 p.m. EST
Conquering the LSAT
Mena Pirone
Founder & Tutor at Logic Games Pro
Jasmeene Burton-Martin
Founder & Tutor at Tutoring by Jasmeene
July 8, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Using Your Strengths to Start a Successful Law School Career · Presented by LSAC
  • “Registration is FULL for this exclusive session!”

Legal employers try to hire capable, engaged, self-directed lawyers. They are the ones who engage with work and clients at a high level of self-awareness, empathy, and initiative. While a GPA and class rank serve as convenient measures for competence in analysis, reasoning, and writing, law school doesn’t provide a similar measure for self-directed professional development. The High5 test, which you will take before this session, can help with this gap. The High5 test is an online tool to assess an individual’s go-to strengths in working with others. When you know your cognitive and personal strengths, you can develop them to enhance your effectiveness as a lawyer and as a colleague. This in turn will help you to target lawyer roles, practice areas, and work settings that will give you more satisfaction. You also will be in a position to give more value to an employer – who will then want to hire you. This session will help you to develop your cognitive processing strengths and guide you to communicate them positively to prospective employers.

July 8, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Law School Fair · Made Possible by 7Sage

Our Law School Fair gives you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with admissions officers from law schools around the country. Just a few of the law schools that you can meet with include:

July 8, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Financing Your Legal Education
LeAndra Ross
South Regional Director of AccessLex
Yolanda Ingram
Director of Access to Law School Education Programs at Penn Carey Law
Abigail Mbuvi
Assistant Director of Financial Aid at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
July 8, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Faith in the Legal Profession
Gabrielle Best Husband
Owner & Managing Partner at G. Best Husband Law
Kaysia Earley
Founding Attorney for Earley Law Firm
Amani Taha
Vice President of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association
July 8, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Surviving 1L Year
Aisha Bah
Rising 2L at Notre Dame Law School
Thomas de Xavier
Rising 2L at Georgetown University Law Center
Amaya Roncyzk
Rising 2L at Harvard Law School
July 8, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
10:45 - 11:00 A.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
11:00 - 11:50 p.m. EST
Future of Legal Education: Affirmative Action, AI, and Beyond
Sydney Montgomery, Esq
Founder & Executive Director of Barrier Breakers®, Inc.
Mike Spivey
Founder & Consultant at Spivey Consulting Group
Chris Williams
Social Media and Assistant Editor for Above the Law
July 9, 2023
12:00 - 12:50 p.m. EST
Equity in Law School Admissions
Angela Winfield
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer for LSAC
Valerie James, Esq.
Sr. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid & Diversity Initiatives at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Linda Sheryl Greene
Dean and MSU Foundation Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law
July 9, 2023
1:00 - 1:50 p.m. EST
Interviewing & The Job Search · Made Possible by Summer Associate Hub
Akua Akyea
Associate Dean for Career Services at Cornell Law School
Lauren Jackson, Esq.
Assistant Dean of Career Services at Howard University School of Law
Terra Davis
Chief Diversity & Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens
Natasha Zech
Director of Attorney Recruiting, Diversity, and Development at Williams & Connolly
July 9, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Harness Your Strengths to Start Law School Successfully · Presented by LSAC
  • Registration is FULL for this exclusive session!”
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What traits come to mind when you think “lawyer”? Common ones are “smart,” “argumentative,” “confident,” “social,” “good communicator,” “takes charge/leads.” While many lawyers have these traits, many lawyers don’t and are still (equally/more) successful. The beauty of the legal profession is that it is big enough to need practitioners with many combinations of identities, personalities, experience, expertise, and skills. Success depends in part on using personal traits and strengths wisely and matching them to the right role and workplace. This session will help participants pursue success based on who they are and what they want to do with a law degree. Before the session, participants will take the High5 test, an online strengths assessment, to learn more about their go-to strengths. During the session, participants will explore their go-to strengths and learn how to use them, along with their values and passions, to chart a satisfying professional identity and career.

July 9, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Career & Law Firm Fair - Made Possible by Weil, Gotshal, and Manges

Visit our Career Fair to meet one-on-one with law firms, public interest organizations, and other potential employers from around the country! Just a few of the law schools that you can meet with include:

July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Working as a Government Attorney
Sir Williams
J.D. Admissions Consultant at Spivey Consulting Group
Ayana Dow
Associate at WilmerHale
Aaronette Carter
Assistant Public Defender at the Rockville Office of the Public Defender
July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Sports Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Paige Diggs
Associate Athletic Director of DEI at San Diego State University
Samira Jackson
In-House Counsel at The Players Company, Associate Attorney at Paré & Associates, LLC, NLFPA Certified Agent
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Understanding Federal Clerkships
Hon. Judge Theodore McKee
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jordan Kennedy
Judicial Law Clerk at U.S. Courts of Appeals
Alejandra Salinas
Partner at Susman Godfrey
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
IP Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Jolene Robin-McCaskill Ph.D
Associate at Haynes & Boone
Evita Grant
CEO and Founder of TecHustle
Chanille Carswell
Chief Diversity Officer & Co-Chair Litigation, Brooks Kushman
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Legal Aid & Public Interest
Cameron Clark
Supervising Attorney at UC Berkeley School of Law
Abena Williams Coates
General Attorney, Office of the General Counsel for U.S. Department of Education
Fareeda Brewington
Fast Track Supervising Attorney at Women Against Abuse, Inc.
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Corporate Litigation: Opportunities & Experiences
Cam Viney
Associate at Reed Smith
Adabelle Ekechukwu
Associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Preetha Rini
Litigation Associate at Robinson Bradshaw
July 9, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 8, 2023
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 8, 2023
12:00 - 12:50 p.m. EST
Keys to a Successful Law School Application
Sydney Montgomery, Esq
Founder & Executive Director of Barrier Breakers®, Inc.
Alice Foley
Dir. of Pre-Law Programming at Barrier Breakers, Inc.
Cynthia Rivera
Associate Law School Consultant at Barrier Breakers®, Inc.
July 8, 2023
1:00 - 1:50 p.m. EST
Conquering the LSAT
Mena Pirone
Founder & Tutor at Logic Games Pro
Jasmeene Burton-Martin
Founder & Tutor at Tutoring by Jasmeene
July 8, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Law School Fair · Made Possible by 7Sage

Our Law School Fair gives you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with admissions officers from law schools around the country. Just a few of the law schools that you can meet with have include

July 8, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Financing Your Legal Education
LeAndra Ross
South Regional Director of AccessLex
Yolanda Ingram
Director of Access to Law School Education Programs at Penn Carey Law
Abigail Mbuvi
Assistant Director of Financial Aid at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
July 8, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Faith in the Legal Profession
Gabrielle Best Husband
Owner & Managing Partner at G. Best Husband Law
Kaysia Earley
Founding Attorney for Earley Law Firm
Amani Taha
Vice President of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association
July 8, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Surviving 1L Year
Aisha Bah
Rising 2L at Notre Dame Law School
Thomas de Xavier
Rising 2L at Georgetown University Law Center
Amaya Roncyzk
Rising 2L at Harvard Law School
July 8, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
12:00 - 12:50 p.m. EST
Equity in Law School Admissions
Angela Winfield
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer for LSAC
Valerie James, Esq.
Sr. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid & Diversity Initiatives at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Linda Sheryl Greene
Dean and MSU Foundation Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law
July 9, 2023
1:00 - 1:50 p.m. EST
Interviewing & The Job Search
Akua Akyea
Associate Dean for Career Services at Cornell Law School
Lauren Jackson, Esq.
Assistant Dean of Career Services at Howard University School of Law
Terra Davis
Chief Diversity & Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens
July 9, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Career Fair:

Visit our Career Fair to meet one-on-one with law firms from around the country!

July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Working as a Government Attorney
Sir Williams
J.D. Admissions Consultant at Spivey Consulting Group
Ayana Dow
Associate at WilmerHale
Aaronette Carter
Assistant Public Defender at the Rockville Office of the Public Defender
July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Sports Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Paige Diggs
Associate Athletic Director of DEI at San Diego State University
Samira Jackson
In-House Counsel at The Players Company, Associate Attorney at Paré & Associates, LLC, NLFPA Certified Agent
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Understanding Federal Clerkships
Jordan Kennedy
Judicial Law Clerk at U.S. Courts of Appeals
Alejandra Salinas
Partner at Susman Godfrey
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
IP Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Jolene Robin-McCaskill Ph.D
Associate at Haynes & Boone
Evita Grant
CEO and Founder of TecHustle
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Legal Aid & Public Interest
Cameron Clark
Supervising Attorney at UC Berkeley School of Law
Abena Williams Coates
General Attorney, Office of the General Counsel for U.S. Department of Education
Fareeda Brewington
Fast Track Supervising Attorney at Women Against Abuse, Inc.
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Corporate Litigation: Opportunities & Experiences
Cam Viney
Associate at Reed Smith
Adabelle Ekechukwu
Associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
July 9, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 8, 2023
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 8, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Financing Your Legal Education
LeAndra Ross
South Regional Director of AccessLex
Yolanda Ingram
Director of Access to Law School Education Programs at Penn Carey Law
Abigail Mbuvi
Assistant Director of Financial Aid at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
July 8, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Faith in the Legal Profession
Gabrielle Best Husband
Owner & Managing Partner at G. Best Husband Law
Kaysia Earley
Founding Attorney for Earley Law Firm
Amani Taha
Vice President of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association
July 8, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
12:00 - 12:50 p.m. EST
Equity in Law School Admissions
Angela Winfield
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer for LSAC
Valerie James, Esq.
Sr. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid & Diversity Initiatives at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Linda Sheryl Greene
Dean and MSU Foundation Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law
July 9, 2023
1:00 - 1:50 p.m. EST
Interviewing & The Job Search
Akua Akyea
Associate Dean for Career Services at Cornell Law School
Lauren Jackson, Esq.
Assistant Dean of Career Services at Howard University School of Law
Terra Davis
Chief Diversity & Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens
July 9, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Career Fair:

Visit our Career Fair to meet one-on-one with law firms from around the country!

July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Working as a Government Attorney
Sir Williams
J.D. Admissions Consultant at Spivey Consulting Group
Ayana Dow
Associate at WilmerHale
Aaronette Carter
Assistant Public Defender at the Rockville Office of the Public Defender
July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Sports Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Paige Diggs
Associate Athletic Director of DEI at San Diego State University
Samira Jackson
In-House Counsel at The Players Company, Associate Attorney at Paré & Associates, LLC, NLFPA Certified Agent
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Understanding Federal Clerkships
Jordan Kennedy
Judicial Law Clerk at U.S. Courts of Appeals
Alejandra Salinas
Partner at Susman Godfrey
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
IP Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Jolene Robin-McCaskill Ph.D
Associate at Haynes & Boone
Evita Grant
CEO and Founder of TecHustle
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Legal Aid & Public Interest
Cameron Clark
Supervising Attorney at UC Berkeley School of Law
Abena Williams Coates
General Attorney, Office of the General Counsel for U.S. Department of Education
Fareeda Brewington
Fast Track Supervising Attorney at Women Against Abuse, Inc.
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Corporate Litigation: Opportunities & Experiences
Cam Viney
Associate at Reed Smith
Adabelle Ekechukwu
Associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
July 9, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 8, 2023
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 8, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Financing Your Legal Education
LeAndra Ross
South Regional Director of AccessLex
Yolanda Ingram
Director of Access to Law School Education Programs at Penn Carey Law
Abigail Mbuvi
Assistant Director of Financial Aid at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
July 8, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Faith in the Legal Profession
Gabrielle Best Husband
Owner & Managing Partner at G. Best Husband Law
Kaysia Earley
Founding Attorney for Earley Law Firm
Amani Taha
Vice President of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association
July 8, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. EST
Welcome Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit
July 9, 2023
12:00 - 12:50 p.m. EST
Equity in Law School Admissions
Angela Winfield
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer for LSAC
Valerie James, Esq.
Sr. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid & Diversity Initiatives at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Linda Sheryl Greene
Dean and MSU Foundation Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law
July 9, 2023
1:00 - 1:50 p.m. EST
Interviewing & The Job Search
Akua Akyea
Associate Dean for Career Services at Cornell Law School
Lauren Jackson, Esq.
Assistant Dean of Career Services at Howard University School of Law
Terra Davis
Chief Diversity & Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens
July 9, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Career Fai:

Visit our Career Fair to meet one-on-one with law firms from around the country!

July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Working as a Government Attorney
Sir Williams
J.D. Admissions Consultant at Spivey Consulting Group
Ayana Dow
Associate at WilmerHale
Aaronette Carter
Assistant Public Defender at the Rockville Office of the Public Defender
July 9, 2023
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. EST
Sports Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Paige Diggs
Associate Athletic Director of DEI at San Diego State University
Samira Jackson
In-House Counsel at The Players Company, Associate Attorney at Paré & Associates, LLC, NLFPA Certified Agent
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
Understanding Federal Clerkships
Jordan Kennedy
Judicial Law Clerk at U.S. Courts of Appeals
Alejandra Salinas
Partner at Susman Godfrey
July 9, 2023
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. EST
IP Law: Opportunities & Experiences
Jolene Robin-McCaskill Ph.D
Associate at Haynes & Boone
Evita Grant
CEO and Founder of TecHustle
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Legal Aid & Public Interest
Cameron Clark
Supervising Attorney at UC Berkeley School of Law
Abena Williams Coates
General Attorney, Office of the General Counsel for U.S. Department of Education
Fareeda Brewington
Fast Track Supervising Attorney at Women Against Abuse, Inc.
July 9, 2023
6:00 - 6:50 p.m. EST
Corporate Litigation: Opportunities & Experiences
Cam Viney
Associate at Reed Smith
Adabelle Ekechukwu
Associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
July 9, 2023
6:50 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Closing Session· Made Possible by Legally Fit

Speakers

We’re excited to bring together a variety of diverse voices to share their experiences and expertise with you! Below are just some of the amazing legal professionals that you’ll be hearing from at our 2023 conference.

Sydney Montgomery, Esq

Founder & Executive Director of Barrier Breakers®, Inc.

Sydney received her B.A. in English and Certificate in French Language and Culture from Princeton University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. As the first lawyer in her family, She has used her platform since 2012 to help 4,000+ students break down generational barriers and step confidently into their future. She holds a graduate certificate in Independent Educational Consulting through UC Irvine and is in the process of obtaining her Graduate Certificate in Anti-Racism in Urban Education online from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Sydney is an MDiv/MACEF Candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is a member of the Ethics Committee, the current Graduate School Committee Chair of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, and a member of the National Association for College Counselors, among others.

Angela Winfield

Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer for LSAC

Angela Winfield is the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for the Law School Admission Council. In this role, she provides leadership, vision, energy, and a unified philosophy to LSAC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on behalf of member law schools and the students who seek a career in law. Prior to her current position, Winfield was associate vice president for inclusion and workforce diversity at Cornell University, where she led the university’s affirmative action and federal contractor compliance programs, managed the university’s five identity/affinity-based colleague network groups, provided training opportunities for the 7,000+ member staff, oversaw religious accommodations, and served on the university’s ADA coordinator team. Winfield earned her JD from Cornell Law School and is admitted to the New York bar. She earned her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University.

Akua Akyea

Associate Dean for Career Services at Cornell Law School

Akua Akyea leads a re-imagined office focused on supporting students and alumni in all practice areas. Before coming to Cornell Law School, she worked in Career Services and Public Interest at the University of Iowa College of Law and Yale Law School. Akua is a graduate of the University of Iowa Law School, where she served on the Journal of Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems and was a member of the Legal Clinic working on asylum petitions and §1983 cases. She has presented on international public interest careers, working with public interest alumni, and supporting students’ social justice goals at the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and Equal Justice Works conferences.

Jordan Kennedy

Judicial Law Clerk at U.S. Courts of Appeals

Jordan is a graduate of Harvard Law School, Class of 2021. Upon graduating from law school, he clerked for the Honorable John J. McConnell, Jr., Chief Judge for the District of Rhode Island. Currently, he clerks on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia for the Honorable Jane R. Roth. Upon completion of his second clerkship, he will be joining the Security and Exchange Commission’s Office of General Counsel in their Appellate Section. In his free time, he enjoys running, baking, consuming said baked goods, and spending time with his family. He is also very excited to be here today!

Jolene Robin-McCaskill Ph.D.

Associate at Haynes & Boone

Jolene Robin-McCaskill draws on experience and advanced degrees in science, engineering, and geophysics to assist clients with the management of their patent portfolios, patent prosecution and litigation before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Prior to joining the firm, Jolene utilized her B.S. in Electrical Engineering, M.S. in Applied Physics and Ph.D. in Geophysics as an Electrical Engineer, a Geophysical Experimentalist and a Petrophysicist with a Fortune 500 E&P company. Jolene’s background allows her to provide advice to clients on a spectrum of scientific and technical matters. Jolene’s experience includes managing the petrophysical drilling program for an international oil well, designing and constructing a novel experimental system for extracting acoustic properties of irregularly shaped rock samples, and providing engineering design and maintenance support for energy transmission facilities. Jolene is also committed to the advancement of female and diverse attorneys in the legal community. She serves as a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion, Women’s and Working Parents initiatives. Jolene is also an active member of “Stanford Where You Live,” Stanford University’s Alumni Organization.

Lauren Jackson, Esq.

Assistant Dean of Career Services at Howard University School of Law

Lauren R. Jackson, M.P.A., Esq., is a social entrepreneur, attorney, and speaker who is passionate about elevating Black women and girls. As the Founder of Instilling My Ability to Naturally Embrace Excellence, Inc. (IMANEE), she is dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders and social justice advocates. Lauren has spoken on topics such as leadership development, the adultification of Black girls, and the school-to-prison pipeline at various events, including the Seeds of Fortune Leadership Academy, Educating Children of Color Summit at Colorado College, and The Black Girl Project Summit ,and the Young Enterprising Sisters Conference. In 2016, she was selected to attend the Inaugural United State of Women Summit in Washington, D.C. Lauren's legal career has involved working with organizations such as the New York State Department of Human and Civil Rights and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She was a judicial intern for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during her tenure on the District Court bench for D.C. and upon graduation, worked as a law clerk for Judge Magali M. Francois of the New Jersey Superior Court. Prior to her current role she practices as a Labor & Employment associate at a regional firm in New Jersey. She holds a Juris Doctor from Howard University, a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Seton Hall University, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity at Howard University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Epsilon Sigma Iota Legal Sorority, Inc. Currently, Lauren is the Assistant Dean of Career Services at Howard University School of Law, where she continues to work towards empowering the next generation of social engineers.

Jasmeene Burton-Martin

Founder & Tutor at Tutoring by Jasmeene

Jasmeene is a Princeton University graduate currently in her 2L year at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. As a neurodiverse woman of color who struggled to study the LSAT on her own, her mission is to help students of all backgrounds close the LSAT performance gap by offering affordable and effective personalized LSAT coaching.

Adabelle Ekechukwu

Associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Adabelle (Belle) received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2018 after receiving her A.B. in Neurobiology from Harvard College in 2014. After serving as a clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, she came to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz’s Litigation Department.

Abigail Mbuvi

Assistant Director of Financial Aid at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law

Abigail Mbuvi is a Southern Illinois University at Carbondale graduate with a bachelor's degree in Photojournalism and Anthropology. Before joining Texas Law, she worked in the Office of Student Aid at The Pennsylvania State University, assisting undergraduate students and academic advisors as a financial aid counselor. Abigail has worked in financial aid for about ten years, with experience helping undergraduate and graduate-level students with their financial aid. She has also worked hard to create financial education programs to ensure a more holistic approach to financial aid offices in higher education. Beyond assisting students with financial aid, Abigail also enjoys cooking, hosting friends in her home, and card games.

Cam Viney

Associate at Reed Smith

Cam is an associate Reed Smith’s Pittsburgh office and a member of the firm’s Global Corporate Group. His practice focuses on advising clients in connection with public and private mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, private equity transactions, corporate formation, corporate governance and financial transactions including debt financing and leveraged acquisitions. In addition, Cam is a member of On-Chain: Reed Smith’s Crypto & Digital Assets Group where part of his work has involved analyzing digital assets under the SEC’s Howey framework. Cam also has experience discussing the federal tax implications surrounding cryptocurrency investments.

Chanille Carswell

Chief Diversity Officer & Co-Chair Litigation, Brooks Kushman

Chanille has over 20 years of litigation experience across the country. She focuses her practice on trademark, trade dress, and copyright litigation, representing prominent brands in the enforcement of their IP assets in District Courts, as well as opposition and cancellation proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.She is active in the legal community and is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) both within Brooks Kushman and the greater legal community. As a part of these efforts, she has facilitated the firm’s partnership with organizations that share the firm’s commitment to diversity in the legal profession. Carswell is passionate about giving back to her community and prioritizes civic engagement activities to improve her local community.

Natasha Zech

Director of Attorney Recruiting, Diversity, and Development at Williams & Connolly

Natasha earned her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia. After clerking for Judge Thomas Motley on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and working as a trial lawyer for several Washington area firms, she began her present career in law firm recruitment. For over a decade, she has managed all aspects of Williams & Connolly’s associate and summer associate hiring, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and associate professional development, as well as the planning and oversight of the firm’s summer associate program and firmwide social events.

LeAndra Ross

South Regional Director of AccessLex

LeAndra is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and the South Regional Director in the AccessLex Institute Center of Education and Financial Capability where she directs and manages the financial education programs and activities at ABA-accredited member law schools in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.

She has 15 years of higher education and financial aid administration experience, and has passionately worked with students from a variety of backgrounds on making their college experience realistic and affordable. At a Midwestern law school, she had the unique opportunity to work directly with law students not only on financial wellness, but emotional, mental, and physical wellness also. It is where she gained her deep appreciation and advocacy for investing in the overall holistic health of the law student and the legal education profession.

Mena Pirone

Founder & Tutor at Logic Games Pro

Mena Pirone graduated from Harvard Law School after scoring in the top 1% on her LSAT. She began her career in Intellectual Property Litigation with LSAT Tutoring as a simple pastime on the side. She soon came to appreciate the more significant impact she could have by helping others achieve their law school dreams and made LSAT Tutoring her full-time endeavor. Since that move some 13 years ago, Mena has developed a unique and targeted approach to the test which has helped hundreds of students gain admission to top schools like Stanford, Colombia, Yale, as well as her alma mater Harvard. She prides herself on her flexible and dynamic personalized approach to tutoring, and her focus on helping first-generation and underserved students (especially those of color) put their best foot forward as they begin their legal careers.

Yolanda Ingram

Director of Access to Law School Education Programs at Penn Carey Law

After completing her B.A. in English, Yolanda attended Washburn University School of Law as a first-generation law student. She began her career at a mid-sized law firm and eventually became a law professor at Drexel University Kline School of Law. Her journey led her to her current role supporting underrepresented students in applying to law school.

Abena Williams Coates

General Attorney, Office of the General Counsel for U.S. Department of Education

Abena received her B.S. in Biology from Clark Atlanta University before earning her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. While in law school, she held several roles as a District and Federal Judicial Law Clerk. A public interest enthusiast, Abena chose to work at Maryland Legal Aid. There, she quickly ascended to the role of Senior Human Rights Attorney. She later assisted with launching the Baltimore City District Court location of the Maryland Courts Self Help Centers, as a Supervising Attorney. Abena has twelve years of experience in the legal field and previously held a position as an Administrative Law Judge for Maryland's Office of Administrative Hearings where she adjudicated hundreds of administrative hearings and proceedings. In her current role, Abena focuses on advising government entities on Special Education law.

Alejandra Salinas

Partner at Susman Godfrey

Alejandra Salinas is a partner at Susman Godfrey and co-chair of the firm's diversity committee. Named one of Houston’s “Top Women in Law” by The National Diversity Council, Alejandra represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex and high-stakes commercial litigation. She has successfully faced off against industry titans, including global media and technology conglomerates. Her client list ranges from large Fortune 500 retail and energy companies, to small businesses and individuals. She received her J.D. from Boston College Law School and her undergraduate degree in Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ayana Dow

Associate at WilmerHale

Ayana Dow advises broker-dealers, financial institutions and other global and domestic financial entities on a broad range of regulatory and enforcement matters. Ms. Dow also regularly counsels companies on compliance issues relating to Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, and other self-regulatory organization rules and regulations. Prior to joining WilmerHale, Ms. Dow was an associate in the financial services group at another international law firm in Washington DC. She was previously a policy fellow in the Office of Congressman James Clyburn.

Cameron Clark

Supervising Attorney at UC Berkeley School of Law

Cameron D. Clark (he/they) is an Instructor and Supervising Attorney in Berkeley’s Policy Advocacy Clinic, pursuing legislative reforms to abolish administrative fines and fees imposed on youth who are involved in the criminal legal system. A civil rights attorney by training, Cameron previously litigated on behalf of clients to challenge solitary confinement and the sentencing of youth to life-without-parole. Cameron received his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he studied as a NAACP-LDF Earl Warren Scholar, a Harvard University Presidential Scholar, and managing editor of the Harvard Blackletter Law Journal.

Evita Grant

CEO and Founder of TecHustle

Evita earned her BSc from MIT before going on to receive her Ph.D. in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics from Harvard University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. Before founding her own company, she was an Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she worked on patents and innovations. At TecHustle, she is working to build the AFi payment platform to support the payment needs of offline MSMEs, the backbone of African economies.

Paige Diggs

Associate Athletic Director of DEI at San Diego State University

Paige Diggs is a staunch proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and an empowering force for marginalized individuals. She received her J.D. and MBA from West Virginia University, along with her B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism from Fresno State. Diggs currently serves as the inaugural Associate Athletic Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the San Diego State University Athletic Department. Diggs is a sought-after speaker for various organizations allowing her to share the importance of infusing DEI at all levels. Though Diggs has not taken the traditional route with her J.D., she has used the skills she acquired to propel her career in college athletics. In addition to her work in higher education, her extensive industry experience, education, and desire to see everyone win are foundational in her drive to have a meaningful impact on those she encounters.

Samira Jackson

In-House Counsel at The Players Company, Associate Attorney at Paré & Associates, LLC, NLFPA Certified Agent

Samira earned a B.A. in Communciation and Media Studies from The University of Maryland, College Park before earning her J.D. from St. Thomas University. She has over ten years of experience in the legal field and the sports realm, including being an NFLPA Certified Agent representing professional football players in the NFL. She was able to sign onto her first SRA with an active NFL client within 3 weeks of being NFLPA certified. She and her mother are the first NFL Agent mother/daughter duo to sign an SRA for an active client. In addition, she is also an agent on her husband’s NFL contract, they were college sweethearts, making them the first spousal, agent/client duo. In her current role at The Players Company, a collective of over 300 professional athletes committed to financial literacy and empowering our communities, she handles day-to-day legal and regulatory matters for the company.

Sir Williams

J.D. Admissions Consultant at Spivey Consulting Group

Between his current role and previous experiences as a law school admissions officer, Sir has reviewed thousands of law school applications, counseled hundreds of students on admissions and financial aid, and aided the successful implementation of multiple pre-law diversity pipeline summer programs. Before entering law school admissions, Sir was a special prosecutor for the Dane County District Attorney’s Office in Madison, WI.

Aaronette Carter

Assistant Public Defender at the Rockville Office of the Public Defender

Aaronette Carter, Esq., received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, College of Law. She also received a Master of Arts Degree in sociology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from the University of Florida. Ms. Carter is currently an attorney in Maryland. In 2001, she began her career as a solo practitioner, litigating cases in the area of family law, juvenile law, CINA law and criminal law. In 2003, she joined the Office of the Public Defender in Rockville, Maryland, as an Assistant Public Defender, representing indigent parents in child abuse and neglect cases.

Hon. Judge Theodore McKee

Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Ted McKee was sworn in as a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on June 20, 1994 and became Chief Judge of that court on May 4, 2010. He graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law in 1975 where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and earned several honors for outstanding academic performance. He began his legal career at a large Philadelphia law firm, but left there in 1977 to begin his career in public service. He has since been an Assistant United States Attorney, Deputy Solicitor in the Law Department of the City of Philadelphia, and General Counsel to the Philadelphia Parking Authority. He was elected to a 10-year term as a Judge of the Court of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania in 1984. While a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Judge McKee chaired the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals by President Clinton shortly after being retained for a second 10 year term on the Court of Common Pleas. Judge McKee serves on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations and institutions including the Vera Institute of Justice, Syracuse University and the National Constitution Center. He is also a member of the Board of Visitors of Temple Law School, an honorary member of the Board of Visitors of Syracuse University Law School, and has been an advisor to the American Law Institute’s Project to revise the sentencing provisions of the Model Penal Code. Before becoming Chief Judge of the Third Circuit, he served on the Criminal Law Committee of the United States Judicial Conference. Most recently, Judge McKee was appointed to serve as a member of the National Academy of Science Committee on Law and Justice, and is one of the inaugural members of the Council on Criminal Justice, a national thinktank comprised of leading scholars, lawyers and judges that focuses on issues related to criminal justice and criminal justice reform. Judge McKee’s official travels have included Ghana, where he taught law and worked with the Ghanaian Supreme Court; as well as Russia, where he had the honor of addressing the Council of the Russian Judiciary on the Independence of the American Judiciary.

Aisha Bah

Rising 2L at Notre Dame Law School

Aisha Bah is a rising 2L attending the University of Notre Dame Law School where she's involved in the Black Law Students Association and the Student Bar Association. Prior to law school, Aisha was a Strategic Communications Coordinator for a full-service advertising agency where she created communication proposals, performed market research, and handled social media for clients. Aisha hails from Indianapolis, IN originally and earned her B.A. from Butler University in 2021. After law school, she hopes to practice litigation in a big city somewhere where there are endless things to do.

Gabrielle Best Husband

Owner & Managing Partner at G. Best Husband Law

A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Gabrielle A. Best Husband received her undergraduate Bachelor's Degree from Washington and Lee University and her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law. After years as a consultant, she followed her passion and pursued law to continue her commitment to advocating for others. After a judicial clerkship, Gabrielle continued her advocacy and litigation skills at a nationwide domestic law firm. She then transitioned to a real-estate boutique firm based in Washington, D.C. Gabrielle was led to follow her entrepreneurial spirit and founded G. Best Husband Law, PLLC, and concentrates her practice in domestic & family law and civil litigation. Her areas of concentration include divorce, custody and support, visitation, maintenance/support, equitable distribution, landlord and tenant, and defamation litigation.

Thomas de Xavier

Rising 2L at Georgetown University Law Center

A Toronto native, Thomas received his undergraduate and MBA degrees from Mount St. Mary's University in Maryland where he was a student-athlete on the DI Men's Swim Team, served as a Center of Student Success student-leader, and the student-Athletic Advisory Committee’s DEI Student-Executive. During his 1L year, he served as a 1L Section Delegate of the Student Bar Administration, and SBA Diversity Committee member. He is also a part of the South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA), Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Corporate and Financial Law Organization (CFLO), Immigration Law Student Association (ILSA), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and the International Law Society. Thomas hopes to pursue a career in M&A law with a focus on pro-bono immigration. Fun Facts: He is a fan of Toronto sports and a proud owner of a German Shepherd puppy.

Amaya Roncyzk

Rising 2L at Harvard Law School

Amaya is a recent graduate of Dillard University, where she earned a B.S. in Urban Studies and Public Policiy. Throughout her undergrad experience, she has conducted notable research on mass incarceration, juvenile recidivism, and microaggressions in the courtroom. She also created programming for Black women on campus and in her community through her work with In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda. As a student at Harvard Law School, she is a member of the Women's Law Association, First Class, and is the External Vice President-elect for the Black Law Students Association.

Valerie James, Esq.

Sr. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid & Diversity Initiatives at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

With 13 years of law school administration experience and 20 years of legal experience, Valerie D. James serves as the Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Diversity Initiatives at the UOP McGeorge School of Law. She previously served as an assistant dean at UC Davis as well as at the law schools at UNT Dallas (founding) and the University of Arkansas Little Rock (UALR). She holds a JD degree with honors from the UALR and an Arkansas attorney’s license (2008). Valerie’s professional career has focused on building and leading diverse, inclusive, equitable, and accessible higher education programs.

Alice Foley

Director of Pre-Law Programming at Barrier Breakers®, Inc.

Alice Foley received her B.A. from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2009 and her J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2013. She has spent the past 6 years as Assistant Director for Enrollment Management at West Virginia University College of Law and previously served as an Admissions Counselor at the University of Kentucky School of Law where she spent much of her time traveling the country and meeting with students interested in law school.

Since her graduation from law school, Alice has been working in law school admissions - helping take as much stress out of the admissions process as possible. She is passionate about expanding access to legal education and has spent years working with first-generation law school students from the Appalachian region.

Preetha Rini

Litigation Associate at Robinson Bradshaw

Preetha Suresh Rini received her B.A. from Centre College and her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She now represents clients in complex business litigation and appeals at Robinson Bradshaw in Raleigh, North Carolina. Preetha also owns her own art business, Prints By Preetha.

Kaysia Earley

Founding Attorney for Earley Law Firm

Kaysia Earley is known for achieving exceptional results. As a Christian Attorney whose moral compass is grounded in faith and fellowship, she has gained a well-deserved reputation as a fierce litigator who zealously fights for her clients’ fundamental rights. Founding attorney for Earley Law Firm, PLLC, she focuses on both criminal and civil litigation and is a strong advocate for her clients. In 2022, she was honored as a member of The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.

Fareeda Brewington

Fast Track Supervising Attorney at Women Against Abuse, Inc.

Fareeda Brewington is currently Supervising Attorney at Women Against Abuse. Fareeda attended Suffolk University Law School where she received the Suffolk Public Interest Law Grant after her first year as a law student. That SPILG grant opened the door for her to be an intern at The Victim Rights Law Center which specifically assists victims of sexual violence with all legal matters. Fareeda's passion for assisting people experiencing violence lead her to Women Against Abuse where she started as a Staff Attorney in 2017 and then became the supervisor of the Fast Track Program which is a program that she believes in wholeheartedly. When Fareeda is not practicing law, she is spending time with her daughter Jewel in their South Jersey home.

Linda Sheryl Greene

Dean and MSU Foundation Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law

Linda Sheryl Greene is Dean and MSU Foundation Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law and an elected life member of The American Law Institute. She previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Evjue Bascom Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Inaugural Vice Chancellor for Equity/Diversity/Inclusion at the University of California San Diego.

A graduate of Berkeley Law, she was a civil rights and constitutional law attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney who specialized in civil rights and constitutional law, and a Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. She was the Chair of the 1990 Wisconsin Conference on Critical Race Theory, President of the Society of American Law Teachers, the founder of the People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference movement, and Vice Chair of the Counsel on Legal Educational Opportunity.

She co-founded the Black Women in Sports Foundation, served the U.S. Olympic Committee as Chair of its Legislation Committee and Vice Chair of its Audit Committee, and was a member of the UW Madison Athletic Board.

She has lectured and advised on constitutional and civil rights issues around the world. This past March, she visited Chilean law schools under Fulbright auspices to lecture and advise on the proposed Chilean constitution. Her forthcoming book is THURGOOD MARSHALL, DISSENTING: TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY (2023).

Terra Davis

Chief Diversity & Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens

Terra Davis is the Chief Diversity and Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens. She is responsible for leading and integrating the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion, and talent development efforts, focusing on the recruitment, retention, and progression of diverse attorneys. Outside of Knobbe, she served as the 2020-2022 co-chair of the Legal Marketing Association’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Shared Interest Group and is a member of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals. Terra is a graduate of Howard University and received her DEI certification from Cornell University. She is passionate about DEI, serving marginalized communities, and pushing the needle forward for change.

Mike Spivey

Founder & Consultant at Spivey Consulting Group

Mike Spivey is an author of the Powerscore/Spivey Consulting Law School Admissions Bible, motivational speaker and the founder of The Spivey Consulting Group. He is a former senior and dean-level administrator at Vanderbilt, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Colorado law schools with responsibilities covering admissions, career, rankings and law school strategy.

Cynthia Rivera

Associate Law School Consultant at Barrier Breakers®, Inc.

Cynthia’s belief in the power of education and access to critical information has shaped her deep commitment to mentoring, advising, and motivating students and young professionals to develop their academic and career goals. Her passion results from her own journey through college and law school as a first-generation student. As a law school admissions consultant, Cynthia is dedicated to helping law school applicants discover their strengths and craft a personal narrative that maximizes their potential. She obtained her B.A. in History from Cornell University before earning her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. While attending Cornell, Cynthia was a student recruiter with the undergraduate admissions office. At the University of Virginia, she was a student member of the Admissions Task Force. She later returned to UVA, where she worked as a reader with their law school admissions office reviewing and assessing numerous applications. Before working in admissions, she worked as a financial advisor for a wealth management firm and as an attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Office in Washington, D.C. Raised in Puerto Rico, Cynthia is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Chris Williams

Social Media and Assistant Editor for Above the Law

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. Before that, he wrote columns for an online magazine named The Muse Collaborative under the pen name Knehmo. He endured the great state of Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

Join a world where entering the legal field is accessible.

Our free conference includes:

  • Expert advice from attorneys, recruiters, legal professors and admissions officers, and current law school students
  • A Career Fair with the chance to meet one-on-one with law firms in a variety of fields
  • A Law School Fair with a chance to meet one-on-one a variety of law schools across the country
  • The opportunity to get your questions answered live
  • Virtual networking spaces to meet with other attendees and panelists
  • Exclusive giveaways and promotions from Barrier Breakers® and our sponsors
  • And more!
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