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NATIONAL BLACK PRE-LAW CONFERENCE HELPS PREPARE AND ENCOURAGE FUTURE BLACK LAWYERS
DALLAS, TEXAS - The Second Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2006 will be held from Friday, September 8, 2006 until Sunday, September 10, 2006 on the campus of Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas. The host institution holds the distinction of being the first African American liberal arts college in Texas and the oldest historically Black college west of the Mississippi River.
The conference theme is "Encouraging Excellence, Strategic Thinking, and a Competitive Mindset Among African American Pre-Law Aspirants." In the wake of a drop in Black enrollment into law schools, its goal is to increase the chances of admission of prospective Black law students by emphasizing the importance of early strategic planning, understanding the highly competitive nature of the law school admissions process, the significance of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and stressing the significance of academic preparedness and standing out from tough competition. Another component of this conference is to inform students about the academic rigors, demands, and expectations of professional legal education, and to impart strategies to help them prepare for the challenging law school experience prior to actually beginning their law school careers.
Additionally, it is designed to expose law school aspirants to Black attorneys who will share their real-life experiences with the practice of law and nontraditional work. Furthermore, it gives conference participants the opportunity to fellowship and network with others with similar higher education and professional goals in order to create positive support systems with achievement-oriented peers, as well as current law students and attorneys who can potentially help them in their quest to become lawyers.
Conference workshops and panel discussions will be held all day on Friday, September 8, 2006. Numerous featured workshop panelists and presenters will participate in several sessions including leading, community-minded law school administrative professionals, law students and attorneys from all over the nation. Workshop topics cover everything from race in law school admissions, financial planning, differences between college and legal education, legal writing, preparation for the bar exam, to the realities of legal practice. There will be also be a Law School Recruitment Fair where pre-law students will have the opportunity to talk to law school representatives from law schools across the country. In the afternoon, participants will have the chance to take part in the conference's signature interactive event - The Law School Admissions Help Advice Clinic where law students and attorneys will talk one-on-one with law school hopefuls about their personal admissions credentials and answer any individual questions they might have about getting into law school, choosing a law school, and preparing for the law school experience.
What's new this year is the Vendor Fair/Marketplace where businesses, particularly Black businesses, will be able to showcase their products and services to those in attendance. An intensive LSAT course will also be available over the weekend for a very reasonable cost for those students gearing up for the October LSAT.
The conference will kickoff with a dynamic opening keynote address given by Dennis J. Shields, a law school diversity and admissions expert, and Dean of the Phoenix International School of Law. Dean Shields was the Assistant Dean of Admissions at the University of Michigan Law School and a named defendant in the landmark Grutter v. Bollinger case (2003) in which the United States Supreme Court upheld the use of race as one factor considered among many as constitutional in law school and higher education admissions because such diversity added to the educational experience of all law students.
Moreover, there will also be other key social and networking activities throughout the conference weekend. There will be a Friday Night Networking Social Reception and Official Conference Party. On Saturday, students will celebrate the National Association of Future Black Law Students (NAFBLS) Day with a NAFBLS New Members Orientation and special sessions including "How to Found a NAFBLS Chapter" and "Leadership Exchange: Passing the Torch for Chapter Continuance" as well as an Organizational Meeting and Question and Answer Session. This will be followed by an African American Leadership Training Institute featuring Timothy Sams, Assistant Dean and Director of the Black Cultural Center at Swarthmore College. Its focus is to encourage strong leadership skills among participants. This high-powered session will be followed by a dynamic Image Enhancement and Self-Marketing Institute led by April Yvonne Garrett, President & CEO of April & Associates and Civic Frame. This session is designed to assist future lawyers in better presenting themselves, exhibiting necessary social and networking savvy, and marketing their skills and abilities in professional settings. During the same time period, an HBCU Pre-Law Consortium Networking Meeting will be held for pre-law and career advisors at historically Black colleges and universities across the country to discuss ways in which they can work with law schools and African American bar associations to better prepare African American students for successful entry and preparedness in law school.
Thereafter, there will be opportunities for social interaction through optional outings in the Dallas area to the African American Museum and/or an African American Dallas Sightseeing Tour, dinner at a local restaurant, and other night time gatherings to further "discover Dallas." On Sunday morning, participants can enjoy an inspirational Sunday Brunch Awards Reception "Building Dreams, Establishing Legacies: In Honor of Community-Minded Lawyers Reaching Back to Pull Up the Next Generation of Black Lawyers." We will honor Black lawyers who have demonstrated a commitment to assisting African Americans in pursuit of becoming lawyers through mentoring, creating special programs and otherwise going above and beyond to help aspiring Black lawyers. A powerful keynote address will be given by Frederick Barrow, President of the J.L. Turner Legal Association, the African American bar association in Dallas, Texas. The conference will end with fun through a group trip to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington.
This conference is truly a groundbreaking "can't miss" event. Further information on registration and updates regarding the conference schedule can be found at the official conference website at www.BlackPreLawConference.com. You may also call 281-247-4070 or send an e-mail to blackprelawconference@gmail.com.
 
For Immediate Release
December 2006
DYNAMIC "SURVIVAL GUIDE" HELPS AFRICAN AMERICANS NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGING LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Houston, Texas – Law school for any student is a challenging and overwhelming experience. In recent years, there have been several law school “survival” guides that have surfaced to help students get through the rigors and demands of a professional legal education. Thus, a valid question is “Do we really need another law school survival guide, and in particular one directed specifically to African Americans?”
“Absolutely yes!” is the response of Evangeline M. Mitchell, the author of the comprehensive new guidebook The African American Law School Survival Guide: Information, Advice and Strategies to Help You Prepare for the Challenges of the Law School Experience with a powerful and insightful foreword written by the legendary founder of Critical Race Theory New York University law professor Derrick Bell.
“There are many basics regarding law school that are true across the board that many books cover - including my own. However, there are several other additional issues that many African Americans face in the law school environment that makes a tough experience even more difficult. This is the only “how to” guide that directly addresses the many issues pertinent specifically to the African American law student. Discussion of how to cope with heavy issues including racism, stereotypes, negative perceptions, low expectations, Black-on-Black concerns and so on are extremely important for Black students. These added realities that I honestly didn’t expect to confront compounded the pressures and frustrations of the grueling law school experience. I sincerely believe that this book is vital for future and incoming Black law students – and really all law students.”
Mitchell, who characterizes her law school experience as a “rite of passage” and a “necessary means to a significant end” feels that more African Americans, many of whom are the very first in their families to graduate from college and from law school, can survive the stresses of law school if they go in with the right attitude and perspective, an appreciation for the commitment and discipline required, and have a better understanding of what they are getting themselves into beforehand.
“Had I gone into law school with the knowledge and insight that I’ve shared in this guide, I believe it would have made a huge difference. I wasted a lot of precious time and emotional energy that could have been better expended on being the best law student I could be trying to navigate the terrain with no roadmap. I kind of felt my way through as I went – as many new law students do - and this is neither a strategic, smart nor recommended approach for such an important, weighty, all-consuming and expensive endeavor.”
Driven by a desire to help others who come from a similar background and who she feels should not have to reinvent the wheel, she wrote this book. “I decided to write this guide while still a law student. I have to honestly confess that I went into law school very idealistic and naïve. I didn’t particularly like law school – but I knew it was something I had to get through. My really sitting down trying to understand and recount my experiences and do research regarding law school was not the most pleasant experience for me, but it was something I was willing to do because I truly felt it was my responsibility to my forefathers and foremothers and to my community. Wishing the best for those who come behind us is really not enough. They need detailed guidance on what it will take to be successful and to know that their feeling that law school is tough and overwhelming is something we’ve all faced.”
This thorough, groundbreaking, yet reader-friendly guide which Mitchell states was a “labor of love birthed out of my care and compassion for those who come behind me” covers everything from daily classroom preparation, studying for law school exams to networking and the law school hooding ceremony and passing the bar exam. Another greatly needed and original feature is her suggestions of ways to make the ideals of diversity work in the law school environment. But it goes much deeper with chapters dealing with creating a solid support system – what she believes is the secret to law school success, and the social responsibility to the community that Black lawyers should embrace.
And Mitchell went a step further by doing something many authors and especially lawyers are afraid to do – she revealed both her successes as well as her failures believing that “one of the misguided beliefs that some first-generation law students may have is thinking that they don’t have what it takes or aren’t good enough. Some of us don’t realize that many successful people have failed before succeeding. The most important ingredient for success is to learn from those failures and to be persistent and always resolve that if you fall down to pick yourself up and dust yourself off knowing you will succeed next time as failure does not have to be final. Many successful people refuse to acknowledge that they’ve failed and this is an important teaching and growing lesson that needs to be shared but really isn’t talked about. I fiercely believe many people would have achieved certain things in life had they known what others went through and had been encouraged to keep going. Aspiring lawyers have to understand that success doesn’t come easy. There is a lot of struggle, blood, sweat and tears that one must endure before they get there. But when you overcome those obstacles, you appreciate the rewards even more.”
Furthermore, she enlisted the help of numerous law students, law professors, lawyers and law school administrators across the country to contribute thought-provoking essays providing further insight and advice on the law school experience to readers. Mitchell hopes that it will not only help African Americans survive law school, but to “truly make the most of and the best of their law school experience.”
Books are now available directly from the publisher through sending an e-mail to hopespromisepublishing@gmail.com, or calling 713-867-5923. The African American Law School Survival Guide (ISBN: 0-9679303-2-4, 8.5” x 11”, 648 pages).
PLEASE NOTE: Press releases and photos of the author and book cover, as well as front matter and an outline detailing the book’s contents can be sent on CD, floppy disk, or via e-mail at your request.
Hope’s Promise Publishing is a Black-owned independent publishing company specializing in educational, self-help publications geared to first-generation African American high school and college students.
Evangeline M. Mitchell is a licensed attorney, author, publisher and entrepreneur currently residing near Houston, Texas with her husband Michael. She is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas), the University of Iowa College of Law (Iowa City, Iowa) and the Harvard University Graduate School of Education (Cambridge, Massachusetts). She is also the author of The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide: Things You Really Need to Know Before Applying to Law School, Profiles & Essays of Successful African American Law School Applicants, and the upcoming Conquering the Bar Exam: Personal Stories and Practical Advice for Overcoming the Final Hurdle to Becoming a Full-Fledged Licensed Lawyer.
* The National Black College Student Success Conference will debut in Houston, Texas.
Visit our website at http://www.blackcollegeconference.com.
* BlackEsquire.com, an online community for current and aspiring Black lawyers and those who want to connect with them, to officially launch in April 2006
Black Esquire
Get connected!
FREE FLOWING COMMENTARY - WHY I HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE "N" WORD
Why do we need more Black lawyers? Why do we need more Black lawyers with a sensitivity to racial injustice to stand up and let people know that racism is not a thing of the past? Well, my friends, because the law is one way to try to make wrongs right. You can't change racism but you can prosecute those who inflict harm on others and the law can act as a deterrent against ignorance. . . . But never forget that race is just as relevant today and racism is just as prevalent today. Yesterday, I had an awakening regarding just why race continues to matter in 2006. Around 6:00 PM yesterday evening, my boyfriend and I dropped my niece off after spending the afternoon window shopping and having lunch together. As we were leaving a local HEB parking lot in Humble, Texas right outside of Houston, I noticed some white men in a truck on the side of us. I glanced over, remember having a negative vibe and chose to pay them no attention. We were having a quiet conversation with the music low. We were simply minding our own business, when one of the White men screamed to us in a loud voice "After I hang every fu--ing nigger around here!" and sped off in a cowardly manner. I was shocked, my heart dropped and my only response was "Wow! I've never had anyone call me a nigger before." I could not believe on New Year's Day 2006, a White man had the audacity to call me a nigger. He didn't know anything about us except the fact that we were Black and he wanted to let us know that he wanted to "hang" the Black people around there. In that moment, I felt demoralized because I had never had anyone make a racial slur towards me directly in that way before. I also found it interesting that although people try to make Blacks believe that they don't see color and race doesn't matter - with the law degree, the Ivy League education, etc. that I had and the college education that my boyfriend possessed, nothing mattered except that we were Black. Being Black was the crime making us worthy of ugliness and ridicule. I have heard others' stories but I didn't think that would happen to me. They only called Black people niggers publicly in the 60s, right? . .. Our music wasn't loud, we weren't being boisterous or fulfilling anybody's negative stereotypes. In fact, all we were doing was minding our own business while waiting for the traffic light to change. We weren't looking at them negatively. There were no exchanges. We are both two people who pride ourselves in being good people to everyone - regardless of race, etc. We were having a conversation on an early Sunday evening. How did we provoke this hateful outburst? We were simply "Being Black" - and nothing we can do can change what we are. I am proud of my Blackness and won't apologize for it or accept anyone trying to make me feel like less than who I am. I have high self-esteem and will continue to. But, my feeling was simply - What audacity? Yes, it happened yesterday in 2006. You guys, you can't sleep. We can't sleep. . . . And how do I feel about using the "n" word? I will never use it in jest, sing it in a hip hop song, or anything else whether it be "nigga" or "nigger." My 10-year niece recently mentioned to me, without my mentioning the incident that happened, that the "N" word was the actual word that Kanye West was referring to in the hit song "Golddigger." I asked her how she felt about the word and she said she didn't like it because "White people made that word to insult Blacks." She's more brilliant than I thought. I think we shouldn't use it - period. After having a White person call me a nigger I will never look at that word the same way again be it nigga or nigger - but the beauty in the incident is that although I was shocked at the end of the day I wasn't really affected because how I accept it empowers that word and I know I'm nobody's "nigger" but I figure that this person must really hate himself to do something like that to a complete stranger. . . . My stance? Even Black people shouldn't use that word. Instead of "What's up, my nigga?", how about "What's up, my beautiful Black brotha (or sista)?" Let's watch our words.
THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING ASPIRING AFRICAN AMERICAN ATTORNEYS IS COMING SOON
October 2005
HOUSTON, TEXAS - The First Annual National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair 2005 will be held on Friday, November 4, 2005 at The University of Houston, University Park in the University Center from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. The event is being organized by Persistence of Vision Productions, and co-sponsored by the Eta Lambda Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the National Association of Future Black Law Students and HBCUConnect.com.
The conference theme is “Empowering African American Law School Aspirants to Effectively Compete.” Our goal is to increase the chances of admission of prospective Black law students by emphasizing the importance of early strategic planning, understanding the highly competitive nature of the law school admissions process, and stressing the significance of academic preparedness and standing out from tough competition. Another component of this conference is to inform students about the academic rigors, demands and expectations of legal education, and to impart strategies to help them prepare for the challenging law school experience prior to actually beginning their law school careers. Additionally, we want to expose law school aspirants to Black attorneys who will share their real-life experiences with the practice of law and nontraditional work. Furthermore, we want to give conference participants the opportunity to fellowship and network with others with similar higher education and professional goals in order to create positive support systems with other achievement-oriented peers, as well as current law students and attorneys who can potentially help them in their quest to become lawyers.
Conference workshops and panel discussions will be held all day. Numerous featured workshop panelists and presenters will participate in over seventeen sessions including leading law school administrative professionals, law students and attorneys from all over the nation. There will be a mandatory break between 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. During this two-hour period, conference activities will pause and the law fair will take center stage. Students interested in attending law school will have the opportunity to talk to law school representatives from nearly 90 law schools across the country. In the afternoon from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M., participants will have the chance to take part in our signature event - The Law School Admissions Help Advice Clinic™ where law students and attorneys will talk one-on-one with law school hopefuls about their personal admissions credentials and answer any questions they might have about getting into law school, choosing a law school and preparing for the law school experience.
There will also be other social and networking activities throughout the weekend. During the evening of Friday, November 4, all day Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6 there will be a First Friday Networking Social, the National Association of Future Black Law Students (NAFBLS) Day Membership Recruitment Drive, a special NAFBLS Reception honoring outstanding leaders and those who have gone above and beyond to assist pre-law students, a Black Author/Lawyer Book Signing featuring authors/lawyers Norma Jarrett (Coffee Table Quotes for the Contemporary Christian and the Essence® bestseller Sunday Brunch) and Evangeline M. Mitchell (The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide, Profiles & Essays of Successful African American Law School Applicants and The African American Law School Survival Guide). Finally, the conference weekend will come to a close with a Sunday Brunch Fellowship. All events will take place at various popular venues throughout the Houston area.
This conference is a historic and groundbreaking “can’t miss” event and is free of charge for ALL participants. Free breakfast will be provided starting at 8:00 A.M.. Special gifts will also be given away to the first 100 registrants to arrive on conference day. You can register by sending an e-mail with your contact information to blackprelawconference@yahoo.com. Further information and updates regarding the conference can be found at the website www.ForFutureBlackLawStudents.com under “Conference Information” and at www.BlackPreLawConference.com.
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PRE-LAW INSTITUTE/DAY CAMP TO BENEFIT HOUSTON-AREA MINORITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
WITH LAW SCHOOL ASPIRATIONS -
COMING SUMMER 2006
Houston, Texas - This fall will mark the start of The LEGAL E.A.G.L.E.S. (Early Awareness and Guidance about Legal Education Sessions) Pre-Law Institute for Minority High School Students. This day-long, pre-law boot camp is an information-packed, motivational, highly interactive, early awareness institute designed especially for underrepresented minority and socially, educationally and/or economically disadvantaged high school students who could greatly benefit from receiving early access to critical information regarding law school and the legal profession.
It was created especially for those students who are now thinking about going to law school in the future but who may not have any lawyers in their families or know anyone who has successfully gone through the process. Houston-area law students and lawyers from similar backgrounds will lead workshops where they will share their stories and impart information on the importance of doing their best in school now, making the most of college, the realities of pursuing law school admission, the challenges of getting through the demanding law school experience, requirements for admission to the state bar, and the different career options available for law graduates.
Informational workshops and a reception are all being planned for selected participants. All participants will be matched with a mentor and given special memberships into the National Association of Future Black Law Students (NAFLS), a networking, information-sharing and support organization for pre-law students. A continental breakfast, snacks and lunch will be provided.
Author, entrepreneur and attorney Evangeline M. Mitchell, LEGAL EAGLES founder and director, says “This program is so important because many of our young people decide that they want to go to law school in high school. By participating in this program, they will have the opportunity to learn a great deal, but most importantly, network and make connections with area law students and lawyers who truly do care that they are able to have access to the information and inspiration they need to help them realize that they absolutely can achieve their dreams of attending law school and becoming lawyers. We want to tell them the information they need to know to help them understand the critical importance of working extremely hard and developing a strong work ethic starting now and the significance of being competitive, striving for excellence in all that they do and staying focused.”
“At the same time, we will talk about where we come from and stress that if we could overcome the obstacles we have to achieve our goals, then so can they. It all depends on how bad you want it. Many of us presenting are from the communities they are being raised in. We are the very first in our families to become lawyers and have a special sensitivity to the issues they will face. We will emphasize to them that where they come from does not have to be an excuse or justification for their not making it. With a strong inner-fire, the willingness to work hard and face challenges and adversity head on, the strength and confidence to ignore the negativity of the nay sayers and nonbelievers, and the fearlessness and ability to be proactive in setting up a solid support system and seeking out mentors and role models, they can succeed if this is something they really want.”
The program is free of charge. Interested high school students should submit an application form and a one-page statement as to why they are interested in participating in the program and reasons why they are considering law school and want to be lawyers for acceptance into the program. Application packages may be obtained by sending an e-mail to prelawinstitute@forfutureblacklawstudents.com or by mail by making a request to Attn: Evangeline M. Mitchell, Legal Eagles Pre-Law Institute, P.O. Box 631234, Houston, Texas 77263. The number of available spaces is limited so students should submit their applications as soon as possible to reserve a seat.
Evangeline was quoted in the U.S. News &
World Report’s Ultimate Guide to Law Schools, as well as
in an article featured in the Wall Street Journal’s
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U.S. News and World Report’s Ultimate Guide to Law Schools Edited by Anne McGrath and U.S. News Staff.
What minority students need to know
Last summer, law school admissions deans across the country watched as the Supreme Court decided their fate. In June 2003, in Grutter v. Bollinger, the Court ruled that University of Michigan law school administrators were justified in counting an underrepresented minority applicant’s race in his or her favor when making their admissions decision. While the case concerned Michigan, every other law school sat up and took note too.
As well they should. “I am one admissions director in the country who can feel pretty certain that the way we do things is constitutional,” says Sarah Zearfoss, assistant dean and director of admissions at Michigan, whose practices were challenged by a 49-year-old white woman – a consultant and mother of two – who’d been rejected by the school. There is no formula for admission at Michigan; deans weigh race, among other myriad factors, in a complex decision-making process. As a result, sometimes students with lower-than-average scores or grads are admitted to the school because they have other important assets such as leadership or service experience or are from underrepresented racial backgrounds.
The larger result of Grutter v. Bollinger is that most schools will continue to consider minority status as one attribute among the many that influence their choices – though it cannot be an overriding factor, nor can it be assigned a specific weight through point systems or quotas. And it certainly will not compensate for generally poor performance.
How should you handle the question of race in your application? “It’s helpful to speak about race if it has meaning for you,” advises Zearfoss. “It’s not necessary, but it is certainly additional information that we would consider positively in reviewing a file.”
Tamara Gustave, now in her third year at the University of Baltimore School of Law, wrote in her personal statement about why she – a multilingual Haitian woman who was the first member of her family to graduate from college in the United States – wanted to be a lawyer. “I think these qualities are positive things that added to me as a person,” she explains. “I talked about the fact that my family were immigrants from Haiti, my involvement with my [undergraduate] black student union, and the fact that the law sometimes doesn’t apply to everybody equally, which I saw firsthand as a black woman.”
“Don’t think that just marking off a box indicating your racial and ethnic identity on your application is enough,” says Evangeline Mitchell, author of The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide: Things You Really Need to Know Before Applying to Law School. She suggests students include any race-related organizations, activities, and community service work on their resumes. If you have other topics to cover in your personal statement, she also advises submitting an additional, one-to-two page “diversity statement” that covers what race means to you, how it’s shaped you, and how this may have drawn you to the law – as well as how you can contribute to the incoming class.
Evangeline M. Mitchell & Carlos Patron Perez Launch Mexico International Exchange Fellowship Program for African Americans
The Patron & Mitchell International Fellowship Program: The Spanish/English Language and Mexican/American Cultural Exchange and Teaching Program was created in the fall of 2004. It is being sponsored by Carlos Patron Perez, a graduate of La Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Hidalgo (a Mexican citizen) and Evangeline M. Mitchell, a graduate of Prairie View A&M University, the University of Iowa College of Law and the Harvard Graduate School of Education (an American citizen).
After several discussions regarding the importance of traveling, working and studying abroad and forming strong relationships between America and Mexico, as well as fostering a better understanding between the Mexican, American, and African American communities, they developed this volunteer work and learning exchange fellowship program.
Their hope is that recipients will gain the opportunity to teach English, teach American culture and about the African American community in America, learn the Spanish language and first-hand about Mexican culture and life for deserving students and graduates who otherwise would not have the chance to experience Mexico, learn Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country and get to know Mexican people on an intimate level.
In conjunction with this program, Carlos Patron Perez and Evangeline M. Mitchell also plan to develop the Patron & Mitchell Library, an English Language Library in Apan, Hidalgo, housed in Instituto Londres. The library will feature a wide variety of English language books, videos and music with a strong African American representation in various genres. For more information, please send an e-mail to patronandmitchell@yahoo.com.
EVANGELINE SERVES AS FEATURED PANELIST AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY BLACK PRE-LAW SOCIETY EVENT
On Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., Evangeline M. Mitchell was the featured guest during an Applying to Law School Panel Discussion entitled “Things You Really Need to Know Before Applying to Law School: The Must Attend Event for Anyone Applying to Law School.” The event was sponsored by the Stanford Black Pre-Law Society and took place at the Stanford Bookstore in the Bookstore Alcove. The discussion also included three current Stanford students who recently went through the law school admissions process and were successfully admitted to schools of their choice. Evangeline touched on points involving "How to Become a Standout Among Tough Competitors" and answered audience members questions along with fellow panelists. Dinner was provided during the event. At the end of the event, Stanford Black Pre-Law Society’s President Kristen Jones presented Evangeline with a special gift and Evangeline presented Kristen with a framed certificate recognizing the organization as an official college chapter of the National Association of Future Black Law Students (NAFBLS). All core members of the Stanford Black Pre-Law Society received gifts on behalf of the national organization.
EVANGELINE VISITS HBCU TOUGALOO COLLEGE
On Friday, April 29, 2005, Evangeline M. Mitchell visited Tougaloo College, a private, liberal arts historically Black college located in Tougaloo, Mississippi. She spoke with students at their Freshman Forum, participated in a luncheon and discussed law school during Professor Charles Holmes’ Introduction to Law and Constitutional Law classes. Evangeline participated in a panel discussion during the Introduction to Law class along with fellow University of Iowa College of Law graduates Richard Russell, a professor at Jackson State University and Ranie Thompson, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), as well as a current second-year law student from Mississippi College Law School Clifton Jeffery. Evangeline and Clifton facilitated a discussion during the Constitutional Law class. After the last class session, on behalf of the National Association of Future Black Law Students (NAFBLS) Evangeline presented Dr. Charles Holmes, the College’s Pre-Law Advisor for numerous years and the former Pre-Law Advisor at Jackson State University and current Director of the Pre-Law Program with an honorary lifetime membership in the National Association of Future Black Law Students. The President of the Tougaloo College Pre-Law Society presented Evangeline and Clifton Jeffery with Tougaloo College mugs as a thank you for their imparting knowledge and sharing their experiences with the pre-law students in attendance.
Evangeline's books will be used in Tougaloo College's Pre-Law Seminar Course as a part of Tougaloo's Pre-Law Program institutionalized by Dr. Charles Holmes, Esq. Thanks for the support Tougaloo!
EVANGELINE VISITS THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI'S FUTURE BLACK LAWYERS' ASSOCIATION
On Thursday, April 28, 2005, Evangeline visited the Future Black Law Students Association at the University of Southern Mississippi for a special presentation “Dialogue with Evangeline.” The event took place at 4:30 P.M. in the Union Room G. After the dialogue, Evangeline made special presentation as the University of Southern Mississippi was the very first university to charter a college chapter of the National Association of Future Black Law Students (NAFBLS) for which Evangeline is the founding advisor. She presented each general member and executive board member with official national membership certificates and gifts. She also bestowed the Golden Gavel Award for Outstanding Leadership upon Andrew West for his leadership in founding the Future Black Law Students Association at USM, serving as their President and then taking on the task as National Chairperson of the organization. The Golden Gavel Award is the highest honor to be granted to a leader of the organization and consists of a certificate of recognition as well as a wooden gavel and gavel banger with engraving on golden plates.
After the session, Evangeline joined students for an informational session on the LSAT presented by Kaplan and then an informal dinner at Cracker Barrel with the members of the Future Black Law Students Association.
Harvard Black Alumni Society
Press Release
HARVARD BLACK ALUMNI SOCIETY (HBAS) CREATES A LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION GUIDE
The Harvard Black Alumni Society (HBAS), proudly announces the creation of its law school application guide specially tailored for Black Harvard students. The guide was written by a team of Black contributors – all of whom graduated from Harvard College and attended various law schools across the country. They have shared their experiences and advice regarding this often challenging process. The guide is the fist in a series designed to help students and young alumni in their career development efforts.
Boston, MA, April 8, 2005: Founded by alumni of Harvard College, the Harvard Black Alumni Society (HBAS) is a non-profit organization that promotes the interests and development of the Harvard Black community. HBAS also works to keep alumni informed of and involved in university affairs; attract black applicants, staff, and faculty to the University; and ensure that current students benefit from the resources and professional opportunities afforded by the Harvard experience. This April, HBAS launched the first in a series of career guides to help undergraduates and young alumni in their own career planning efforts. This law school application guide is the culmination of a year-long project that involved contributors from inside and outside the Harvard College community. Although the guide will be beneficial to many young alumni, this and the Black Alumni Mentorship Program are two of the largest projects that HBAS has undertaken to date, which directly benefits the Harvard Black undergraduate community.
One of HBAS’ principal goals is to improve the undergraduate experience for Black students at Harvard. This guide works to achieve that goal. The HBAS Applying to Law School Guide provides a comprehensive overview of the application process and addresses a variety of topics ranging from how to best use Pre-Law Tutors at the College (by the way, many of the contributors were Pre-Law Tutors at the College while attending Harvard Law School) to information on getting a joint degree. The manual also features a section entitled, “The Top Ten Tips for African Americans Who Want to Be Prepared to Face the Highly Competitive Law School Admissions Process. ” This piece was written by Evangeline M. Mitchell, J.D., Ed.M. and adapted from her highly acclaimed work The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide: Things You Really need to Know Before Applying to Law School. Ms. Mitchell is a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Administration, Planning and Social Policy. She also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law and earned a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from Prairie View A&M University, a predominantly and historically Black university.
Within two years, HBAS plans to add two additional manuals to its series. The next two career development guides will be on applying to business school and obtaining a job in communications.
The law school guide is free. It will be distributed electronically to current students and will also be available online at www.hbasonline.org. Printed copies will be distributed to interested students at the next HBAS “Applying to Law School Workshop” scheduled to take place this fall on Harvard’s campus.
For more information, please contact Janelle James, Harvard College Class of 2000, HBAS Communications Chair (janelle_james@post.harvard.edu).
Membership in the Harvard Black Alumni Society is open to all degree holders of Harvard University. HBAS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, handicap, source of income, or status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran.
PRESS
KIT
For
a complete Press Kit, please send a letter of request
to:
ATTN:
PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
HOPE’S PROMISE PUBLISHING
P.O. BOX 631234
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77263-1234
IF
YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BOOKING MS. MITCHELL FOR A PERSONAL BOOK SIGNING,
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT OR WORKSHOP, PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ABOVE
OR CALL 713-867-5923.
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Web
Presence
Newspaper
Articles
- African American News and Issues - Profile 2002
- Afro
American
- Dallas
Weekly, Dallas, Texas
- The
Portland Skanner, Portland, Oregon - Books: "Law School De-Mystified" - March 6, 2002
- Inland
Valley News, Pomona, California - Volume 11, No. 8, February 21, 2002, On Cover "Law School Admission Book Written Especially for African Americans"
- Mahogany
Revue, The Entrepreneur's Marketplace, "A Pre-Law School Advice Guide for African Americans," Florida - March 15, 2002
- Orlando Times, Orlando, Florida
- Post
and Call, Ohio
- Pure
News USA, Springfield, Illinois - Volume 20, No. 3, March 2002, A Cover Story, "Things You Need to Know Before Applying to Law School"
- Texas
Lawyer, JD Generation, "Sage Advice," Austin, Texas - February 25, 2002
- Toledo
Journal, Toledo, Ohio
- Black
Collegian Article- “How to Use Computer and Communication
Skills to Improve Your Marketability” by Sandra C. Ceraulo,
Ph.D. - October 2002
- The Seattle Skanner, "Book Sheds Light on Law Schools" - Seattle, Washington - March 6, 2002
- Contempora – Summer
2002 (publication of Perry & Perry & Associates,
The Tennessee Tribune)
- Pre-Law
Insider/The National Jurist – interviewed for article (Fall 2002)
Radio Interviews
- Interview
with Mr. Nati Kamau-Nataki, Cathy Hughes Show, Baltimore,
MD, Washington, DC, Virginia
Online
Magazines
- Black
Collegian On-line “New Books by African-American Authors” -
2001
- BET.com – Featured
book “Roundup: New Books for New Grads” - June 2002
- BlackVoices.com - "Black College Authors Tell Our Story" by Afi-Odelia E. Scruggs
- Rollingout.com - Rolling Out Magazine "Bound Impressions" (Reviews on "The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide" and "Profiles & Essays of Successful African American Law School Applicants" Reviewed by Renita Q. Ward - Jan/Feb 2005
Online
Newsletters
- Black
Excel Online Newsletter – February 2002, June 2002
- AALBC.com
eNewsletter – October 31, 2002 “Authors With a Story
to Tell” - http://aalbc.com/september212002.htm
Online
Booksellers
- Amazon.com
- BarristerBooks.com
- BarnesandNoble.com
- BlackBookPlus.com
- TheBlackLibrary.com
- Borders.com
- CushCity.com
Distributors
- African
World Books – Baltimore, Maryland
- Brodart
Co. – Williamsport, PA (wholesaler)
- Quality
Books – Oregon, Illinois
- Baker and Taylor
Bookstores
- African
Imports – Houston, Texas
- Black
Images Book Bazaar – Dallas, Texas
- Brown
University Bookstore – Providence, Rhode Island
- Cush City - Houston, Texas
- Everyone’s
Place African Cultural Center – Baltimore, Maryland
- Harvard
Coop Bookstore – Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Shrine
of the Black Madonna Cultural Center and Bookstore – Houston,
Texas
Appearances
- Brown
University, Sponsored by the Organization of United African
People and the National Panhellenic Council (Third World
Center) – Providence, Rhode Island, April 2002
- NAACP
National Convention, Houston Black Authors and Publishers – Houston,
Texas, July 2002
- Alpha
Kappa Alpha National Convention (Boule 2002) – Orlando,
Florida, July 2002
- Grambling
State University “All-Day Pre-Law School Preparation
Workshop for Prospective Law Students” – Grambling, Louisiana,
November 2002
- University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, Mississippi, April 2005
- Tougaloo College - Tougaloo, Mississippi, April 2005
- Stanford University - Palo Alto, California, May 2005
- Prairie View A&M University - Prairie View, Texas, June 2005
Displays
- Harvard
Law School Black Law Students Association – Spring Conference
2001
- Book
featured at display for Harvard Graduate School of Education
Student Authors – May 2002
- 2003 American Library Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada PMA Booth, June 21-24, 2003
- Harvard Black Alumni Weekend, Cambridge, Massachusetts
October 2003
- National Pre-Law Advisor Conference - Boston, Massachusetts June 9-12, 2003
Adopted/Utilized
for Programs
- University
of Memphis Law School Summer Program – Tennessee Institute
for Pre-Law
- Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) - Resource
- Florida A&M University Pathway to Law
- Prairie View A & M University Pre-Law Investment for Mentoring Students
- University of Arkansas W.H. Bowen School of Law
Donations
- The
University of Iowa Hubbard Pre-Law School Preparation
Program – Provided books for all participants
- Houston
Area Predominantly Black High Schools – Provided books
to 10 schools for their libraries
- Prairie View A&M University Pre-Law Investment for Mentoring Students - Summer 2004
Magazines
- BVQ Black Voices Quarterly – Winter 2003 – “The Storytellers: Authors from Black Colleges Help Fuel a New Literary Explosion”
- Women of Soul – (Author on Cover with other Black Women Entrepreneurs), Volume One, Edition Four, Fall/Early Winter 2003
- Succeed Magazine - Summer '03; Solo Success Section: “Lawyer takes Law Into Her Own Hands”
- CLEO Edge, Winter/Spring 2004, “Twelve Strategies to Help You Succeed in Law School” by Evangeline M. Mitchell – http://cleoscholars.com/pdfs/P57TwelveStrategies.pdf
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COMMUNITY
SERVICE
Hope's
Promise Publishing Donates Pre-Law Guides to Predominantly
Black Houston High Schools in Celebration of Black History
Month and National Minority Law Student Recruitment Month
In
celebration and recognition of Black History Month and
the Law School Admission Council's National Minority Law
Student Recruitment Month, Hope's Promise Publishing is
currently donating copies of the new book The African
American Pre-Law School Advice Guide: Things You Really
Need to Know Before Applying to Law School to area
high schools. Books (regularly sold for $29.95 each) will
be given to the school library at selected Houston area
inner-city high schools with a predominantly African American
student population.
Those
schools chosen to be awarded books include Kashmere High
School, Jones High School, Barbara Jordan High School,
Madison High School, Sterling High School, Washington High
School, Westbury High School, Wheatley High School, Worthing
High School and Yates High School. All books will be delivered
to these high schools by Thursday, February 28, 2002. This
contribution is being made in order to get this important
informational, motivational and self-help resource to our
future Black lawyers.
If
you or your organization is also interested in giving back
by donating books to junior high school and high school
libraries and/or guidance counselors, or individual students
with an expressed interest in attending law school in your
area, you will be granted a special charitable gift discount
with each book costing only $20.00 each. Shipping costs
are $4.00 for the first book and $2.00 for each additional
book.
If
you have any questions or concerns regarding donating or
sponsoring books for our young aspiring lawyers, please
send e-mail inquiries to info@forfutureblacklawstudents.com or info@hopespromisepublishing.com.
Checks and money orders should be made out to "Hope's
Promise Publishing" and sent to P.O. Box 631234, Houston,
Texas 77263.
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PRESS
RELEASES
Hope's
Promise Publishing
P.O. Box 631234
Houston, Texas 77263-1234
713-867-5923
www.hopespromisepublishing.com
info@hopespromisepublishing.com |
|
February 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE . . .
NEW BOOK SHOWCASES 75 EXEMPLARY MODELS
OF EXCELLENCE FOR ASPIRING AFRICAN AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS
During Christmas vacation in 1993 when Evangeline Mitchell,
then a senior at Prairie View A&M University, was in
the midst of applying to law school, one of her high school
friends who was also applying shared with her copies of resumes,
profiles and personal statements that she had received from
Black law students at a prestigious Ivy League law school
that she visited. When Evangeline got home and looked over
the materials, she was immediately amazed.
“During that time, I could only imagine what other people
who were applying to law school were doing. I mistakenly
thought they just worked on getting good grades, joined the
pre-law club and took and tried to score high on the Law
School Admission Test. But being able to actually see what
others had going for them really gave me a more realistic
and better sense of the extremely high level of competition
that was out there. My breath was literally taken away. It
actually showed me what level law schools admissions officers
expected truly competitive candidates to be on. It was a
defining moment. At the same time, I was happy and proud
to see that these people who had accomplished so much were
Black people. It meant a lot to read their essays and to
be able to relate to our common experiences and unique, diverse
and complex perspectives as Black Americans. Most importantly,
many of these people came out of situations of adversity
and conquered them to achieve their dreams.”
Evangeline eventually found success in the process by matriculating
into and graduating from a top-tier law school - The University
of Iowa College of Law. After reflecting on those memories
and the very real impact that seeing those concrete models
had on her and the effect that they could have had on her
chances of admission arose the idea to compile and publish Profiles & Essays
of Successful African American Law School Applicants .
This book not only includes 75 profiles and over 60 essays
from a diversity of outstanding African Americans who were
successfully admitted into over 100 different law schools
from every tier-level across the nation, but it also provides
actual advice from these Black law students and graduates
directed to future applicants, as well as helpful checklists
to assist applicants in preparing their essays, an advice
book/workbook including a number of detailed tips on writing
the personal statement, the resume, profile, addenda and
recommendations, a listing of useful writing resources, pre-law
organizations and preparatory programs, the text of the important Grutter
v. Bollinger University of Michigan Law School Supreme
Court admissions decision, as well as affirmations for law
school admissions success and a great deal more.
According to the author, “If I would have had this book
as a high school or college student and had been exposed
to this sooner, it would have drastically changed my approach
to what I needed to achieve in college and how I would have
handled the entire law school application process. It would
have forced me to take a good look in the mirror and tell
myself that if law school was something I really wanted I
would need to come up with a strategic plan and step up my
game a few more levels. Although I was a straight A college
student clearly ‘on a mission' with a variety of talents
and interests, there is so much more that I could have been
involved in, initiated and achieved if I would have been
more proactive, assertive and willing to create opportunities
when there weren't very many readily available to me. Unfortunately,
I navigated the law school admissions process alone and never
came into contact with anyone who would tell me how it really is
nor did I have any models to display in a concrete fashion
that the level of expectation to be considered a truly competitive
candidate on the professional level is beyond the stratosphere.”
“No one told me, “Okay, you're smart, but so is everyone
else you will be competing with. How do you stand out from
the crowd? What truly special and unique personal characteristics,
leadership qualities, achievements, unusual and interesting
experiences and perspectives can you bring to the discussion
in a law school classroom and which can enhance the law school
community?” I was also disadvantaged in a number of ways
but did not know how to mention or articulate these things
in a meaningful and compelling way in my personal statement
to show that I was an overcomer who actually had beaten the
odds. I did not have a solid understanding of the true purpose
of this part of the application package and what the admissions
officers were looking for. However, what is important at
this point is that this book will clearly explain what admissions
committees want in the personal statement as well as other
critical parts of the application, raise the tough questions
and show successful models of achievement for other people
and particularly aspiring African American law students.”
If you are or know someone interested in going to law school,
this book is a worthy investment as it actually provides
solid, real-life examples of the kinds of phenomenal admissions
candidates law schools around the country find attractive
and are likely to admit. It also provides an abundance of
information and advice that other books in its category cannot
compare to. Hope's Promise Publishing will have a special
limited release of Profiles & Essays of Successful
African American Law School Applicants in
late February which will only be available direct from the
publisher. In the fall, the book will be re-released on a
larger scale and become widely available through on-line
bookstores and selected bookstores nationwide. The first
100 book orders will receive a special surprise bonus from
the author. For more information, please contact Hope's Promise
Publishing at P.O. Box 631234 , Houston , Texas 77263-1234
, call at 713-867-5923, or visit their website at http://www.hopespromisepublishing.com .
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APRIL
2002
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE . . .
DISCUSSION,
BOOK SIGNING AND RECEPTION TO CELEBRATE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
PRE-LAW SCHOOL ADVICE GUIDE TO BE HELD AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
The
Organization of United African People (OUAP) and the National
Pan Hellenic Council of Brown University and Hope's Promise
Publishing invite you to a discussion, book signing and
reception featuring Evangeline M. Mitchell, J.D., Ed.M.
Evangeline is the author and publisher of the newly released
book "The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide:
Things You Really Need to Know Before Applying to Law School".
This guide is the first and only law school admissions
book written especially, but not exclusively, for an African
American audience.
Evangeline
will discuss her six-year journey from vision to realization
resulting in a comprehensive admissions book for future
law students. She will also talk about the pros and cons
of being a self-published author and explain how one can
self-publish their own works.
In
addition, there will be a question and answer session followed
by a reception with refreshments and dessert. Guests will
have the opportunity to win free books and there will be
other surprises.
If
you or someone you know is interested in law school, self-publishing
or issues of access to legal education, this is one event
you won't want to miss.
The
festivities will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2002
at 6:30 P.M. in the Third World Center on the campus of
Brown University in Providence,
Rhode
Island. The Third World Center is located in Partridge
Hall on the corner of Brown and Waterman Streets (68 Brown
Street). All are welcome.
For
more information, please send e-mail to info@hopespromisepublishing.com.
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January
2002
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE . . .
HBU
Graduate Independently Publishes the First
and Only Law School Admissions Book Written
Especially for African Americans
"I
have not seen any law school admissions books
written especially for African Americans interested
in pursuing a law degree. The book I've written
serves to fill that void," says Evangeline
M. Mitchell, a June graduate of the Harvard
Graduate School of Education with a Master
of Education (Ed.M.) in Administration, Planning
and Social Policy. She also holds a Doctorate
of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from the University
of Iowa College of Law, which in recent years
has consistently ranked among the top 20 law
schools in the nation (U.S. News & World
Report). She earned her first degree, a Bachelor
of Arts (B.A.) magna cum laude in English with
a minor in Integrated Social Sciences, from
Prairie View A&M University, a predominantly
and historically Black university (HBCU) located
about 40 miles outside of Houston, Texas -
Evangeline's hometown. She believes that the
Black college experience helped instill in
her the importance of one's 'giving back' and
contributing something positive to the community.
"While
at Prairie View, I was determined that when
I achieved my goals that I would not be one
of those people with an 'I got mine, go get
yours' mentality. I know what it's like to
not have support and it would be unwise to
perpetuate that kind of thinking, even if I
felt that there weren't people always around
or willing to give me a helping hand in my
pre-law school days."
Her
new book The African American Pre-Law School
Advice Guide: Things You Really Need to Know
Before Applying to Law School is her way of
doing what she's always hoped to - giving back.
Mitchell is adamant that taking the time to
write such a book was a requirement, a social
responsibility, not an option.
The
book is written in memory of her foremothers
and forefathers.
"For
my parents and my grandparents and obviously
the majority of poor Black people generations
before, even the mere idea of going to college
and law school was unthinkable, way beyond
reach. It is because of the struggles of previous
generations that we have the opportunities
that we do today, but it would be foolish for
me to sit around and be complacent just because
I have my law degree. It's about more than
I, me and my. We all have a legacy to leave.
We have a responsibility to those who come
behind us to make things better. There's still
a lot of work to do."
The
book is dedicated to all past, present and
future African American law students. In the
opening preface, Mitchell provides a detailed
personal account of her struggles to overcome
low expectations to become the first in her
family to earn a college and law degree and
she describes how her personal experiences
motivated her to write this book.
"I
truly believe that people are blessed with
opportunities in order to somehow share the
fruits of their blessings with others. For
me to have had the opportunity to have gotten
into a top law school and successfully completed
it and to know firsthand how tough it is to
not have access to the same types of information
that my more advantaged counterparts did, I
believe it would be simply wrong for me not
to take the time to pass on this valuable information.
We all know that anyone who "makes it" does
so because someone somewhere along the way
helped him or her out. Nobody makes it completely
alone."
She
goes on to state that, "there are a lot
of young Black children being asked what they
want to do when they grow up, and some say
they want to go to law school and become a
lawyer one day. Many of these young people
may come out of households where they will
be the first generation to even go to college.
This book is for them. I was one of those children.
My father had a
sixth grade education, and
my mother had a high school diploma when I
was growing up. We did not have lawyers in
our family or that were friends of the family
either. People who were 'professionals' seemed
worlds away and I did not have access to their
guidance or advice. There was just so much
I didn't know."
Mitchell
says her contribution is more than just a typical
law school admissions book in Afrocentric packaging.
Recognizing that this book is one that will
certainly benefit any person interested in
going to law school, she says "this book
was especially intended for African Americans,
particularly those from educationally and economically
disadvantaged backgrounds who don't have the
privilege of well-educated family members and
friends. This book is written for so many of
us who have high aspirations, but simply don't
actually know what is required in the highly
competitive application process."
She
believes that their lack of knowledge has nothing
to do with the fact that they are incapable
or not worthy of this valuable information;
they just don't have ready access to it like
those who are from more privileged backgrounds.
Such students have a better chance of receiving
support and help from many others when they
express their desires to pursue a professional
education.
"Children
of well-educated and professional parents are
expected to succeed and they are much more
likely to have people around them who are willing
to do everything they can to make certain that
happens. For children who are not from such
backgrounds, the expectations for achieving
society's definition of success are lowered,
particularly for Blacks and other students
of color. They are also less likely to receive
the guidance and mentorship that everyone needs
to follow the road to their dreams."
She
notes that many people have commented on how
comprehensive the book is. It is thorough for
a reason. Mitchell says she tried to break
everything down and to make it as detailed
as possible. She also made the concerted effort
to make sure that is both easy-to-read and
easy-to-understand.
"Some
people who have attended good high schools
and have gone on to major universities with
lots of resources and perhaps are also from
college-educated families have stated to me
that a lot of the information provided is a
given and that it's common knowledge. I don't
think some people realize that not everyone
is coming from the same background as they
are, not everyone has access to the same information
that they have. So, for me it was important
to provide as much helpful information that
I could and to spell everything out from A
to Z from the admissions process, making one
a more attractive admissions candidate, to
seeking out contacts - even at the risk of
some readers feeling that a lot of it is information
that they already know. Much of the work of
being admitted into law schools occurs long
before a prospective law student even fills
out the application forms. The book is not
a quick fix. I stress the importance of students
beginning to plan and strategize for law school
acceptance as early on in the students' educational
careers as possible if this is what they aspire
to do."
Mitchell
also talks about the challenges of the LSAT,
the Law School Admission Test, a standardized
test which determines the admissions fates
of law school prospects at most law schools
and has historically had a detrimental impact
on the admissions chances of many African Americans.
She tackles common misperceptions about affirmative
action, mentions the importance of appreciating
and understanding the legacy of those Black
lawyers that have come before them, among other
things. She even touches on the unfortunate
reality that even with a law degree Blacks
will still be faced with daily racial discrimination
and people's refusal to acknowledge their educational
status.
"Some
people may not realize that a law degree does
not make you immune from racial prejudice and
discrimination on an everyday basis. When people
see you, they don't know that you have legal
training. All they see is a Black person and
they treat you accordingly. Despite this grim
reality, I encourage young people to get as
much education as possible because armed with
it, they are in a much better position to feel
empowered and to improve their circumstances."
Other
books fail to discuss these types of things
in addition to the other critical information.
These are things that Mitchell says "are
not a part of everyone's reality, but are things
that we as African Americans really need to
be aware of and think about."
"I
also want the book to be inspirational and
motivational and to let the readers know of
the personal struggles and obstacles I encountered
during the process. I try to incorporate personal
stories in some of these areas, such as when
one of my professors in which I had made the
highest grades in her classes and she had openly
praised the quality of my work, had given me
a recommendation with numerous typographical
errors and she refused to ask her secretary
to make the changes or allow me to make them.
I didn't want to push the issue or step on
any toes because I felt that she was doing
me a favor, so I accepted these recommendations
where she only made the corrections in pencil
and initialed them after I pointed them out
to her. This was totally unacceptable and certainly
adversely affected my admissions chances even
if in some small way. This sent a clear message
to the admissions committee that this professor
didn't really care that this applicant be seriously
considered. I now understand that helping good
students advance to th | |
