The biggest law school event of the year isn’t taking place on your campus. No, the biggest event is the ABA Annual Meeting, taking place in New York City from August 7–12, 2008.
During the Annual Meeting, law students travel from across the country to meet, set policy, network, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the country’s most famous city. Law students participate in the sessions and events of the Law Student Division and student-oriented programs of other ABA groups, but the excitement only begins there. They’re also invited to attend any CLE session presented during the Annual Meeting at no additional cost. Students have opportunities to attend a variety of networking events, where they can meet lawyers from their state or in their practice area of interest.
This year the Law Student Division kicks off its Annual Meeting activities with its second-annual Career Fair, a one-day table talk and résumé review event. Law students who attend will talk to employers one-on-one about summer and associate positions. Participating recruiters will represent large, medium, and small firms, corporations, state and federal government agencies, and public interest and nonprofit agencies. The Career Fair’s résumé reviewers will be law and career professionals, who will critique résumés with an eye toward maximizing impact and effectiveness. For updates on the Career Fair, visit www.abanet.org/lsd/career.
“The Annual Meeting is an opportunity to network with law student and lawyer leaders from around the country. It’s also a great venue to learn and discuss the issues that are important to law students and the legal profession,” says Daniel Suvor, chair of the Division and a third-year student at The George Washington University Law School.
This year law students will be working together to continue the Division’s work on the National Mental Health Initiative. Students will learn about the mental health problems law students face and receive tools to help make a difference.
The Division has a voice in the ABA House of Delegates through its three Division delegates. The delegates and the vice chair for student bar associations are elected to join the Division Board of Governors each year at the Annual Meeting. While the ABA representatives and SBA presidents elect the delegates and SBA presidents elect the vice chair-SBA, every student is encouraged to attend and offer input to school leadership who will be voting.
The Annual Meeting is not all business—it’s a lot of fun as well. Join other law students at the Division Awards Reception, where student leaders, deans, and law schools will be honored for their various accomplishments. (See “ABA Law Student Division Seeks Award Nominations” on page 41.) In your spare time, you can catch a show on Broadway, see the Statue of Liberty, stroll through Central Park, and stand at the top of the Empire State Building.
Early registration for law students is $50 by May 30. The price increases to $75 thereafter. For more information about the
Annual Meeting, visit www.abanet.org/annual/2008. To stay updated on what will be happening at the Law Student Division portion of the meeting, visit www.abanet.org/lsd. •
Ema Garcia is a third-year student at St. Mary’s University School of Law.
