Southern Region of the Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA)
The Southern Region of the National Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) is one of the six regions of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). It serves black law students from Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Puerto Rico. SRBLSA hosts dozens of events throughout the region each year, including the Annual Job Fair and Golf Tournament, Sub-Regional Academic Retreats, and other activities aimed at skill building and increased netorworking opportunities. The region also disseminates a monthly newsletter, The Southern Archive, to its members, highlighting various events, job opportunities, and achievements throughout the region.
Annual Convention
SRBLSA hosts an annual convention for all black law students in the region. The convention features speakers, job fairs, panel discussions and competitions. The 36th Annual SRBLSA Convention was held January 17-21, 2007 in Miami, Florida. The Convention took place at the Radisson Hotel in Miami, and was hosted by the University of Miami School of Law and St. Thomas University School of Law. This convention was sponsored by several distinguished law firms in the Miami area, including Greenberg Traurig, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, LLP, Akerman Senterfitt, Shutts & Bowen, LLP, Becker Poliakoff, PA, Darden Restaurants, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Southern Region hosts the regional qualifier for both the National Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition and the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition. At the 2007 Regional Convention, 30 teams competed in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, and the Southern Region will be sending three teams to represent the region at the national competition in March, 2007. Those teams are The University of Miami School of Law (1st place), Louisiana State University School of Law (2nd place), and University of Memphis School of Law (3rd place).
In addition, 29 teams competed in the spirited leg of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. Georgia State University School of Law claimed the Championship title, the runner up was the University of Florida School of Law, and the University of Miami School of Law came in third place. These three teams will represent SRBLSA in the National Thurgood Marshall Competition.
SRBLSA Law Journal
The SRBLSA Law Journal, a student-run legal periodical, publishes student notes, comments and articles written by legal practitioners annually. Created in 2005, the Journal stands as a testament to students and legal practitioners’ awareness of a lack of representative voice for legal issues facing Blacks residing in the south. While the Journal's primary focus is on the southern Black populace, it affords writing opportunities to all persons and appeals to a plethora of audiences regardless of race. The Journal is distributed nationally and is a resource for law students, academic institutions, and legal practitioners.
The first volume addressed the “Penal Systems’ Legal Impression on the Southeastern Region of the United States.” In line with this year's national theme of "Extending a Vision of Progress: Preparing for Excellence in the Law," the SRBLSA Law Journal is dedicated to the efforts in rehabilitating and strengthening the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, which served as a brutal reminder of the importance of economic power. This year's volume will stimulate thought on issues in different areas of law relevant to the development and preservation of wealth in the Black community. By doing so, the theme of this year's volume is Economic Sustainability, which includes areas of law, such as Real Estate and Land Use Law, Bankruptcy Law, Environmental Law, Insurance Law, Health Law, Employment Law, Education Law, and some aspects of Criminal Law.
Awards and Accolades
In 2006, the Southern Region won NBLSA's inaugural "Region of the Year" Award, presented at the 2006 National Conference.
In response to the success of the regional convention, SRBLSA received a proclomation from the Miami Dade County Office of the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Thursday, January 18, 2007 was proclaimed Southern Region, National Black Law Students Association Day in Miami Dade County.
Current and former chairs of the Southern Region
2007‑2008 Brian Baptiste
2006‑2007 Kelli Byers Hooper
2005‑2006 Ronald Haley
2004‑2005 Raymond H.B. Fraser
2003‑2004 Joyce Neal
2002‑2003 Francys Johnson (also National Chaplain)
2001‑2002 Michelle Crawford
2000‑2001Wiliam J. Green
1999‑2000 Oliver Gilbert
1997‑1998 Vanecia Belser‑Kimbrow
1996‑1997 Donna Scott
1995‑1996 Ron Whetstone
External links
NBLSA Official Website 1
SRBLSA Official Website 2
SRBLSA Sub-Region 4 3
Nationalbar.org 4
SRBLSA Law Journal 5
SRBLSA Sub-Region 5