*This year's Conference will take place in a hybrid format. All panelists will attend the conference remotely. Attendees, however, are welcome to participate in person on the Penn Law campus (must abide by Penn Law COVID-19 protocols). The Keynote Address will be fully virtual via webcast. We will stream all three speaker events for those who want to attend virtually.
ZOOM LINK FOR THE CONFERENCE:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://pennlaw.zoom.us/j/98347316866?pwd=MlhrbGZGUy9LeTlob0dHSW0xNE44QT09
Passcode: 644346
Webinar ID: 983 4731 6866
Passcode: 644346
Please join the University of Pennslyvania Black Law Students Association for our 34th Annual Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Commemorative Conference, which celebrates the life of Dr. Alexander, the first Black woman to graduate from Penn Law in 1927. Since 1988, Penn BLSA has held an annual conference to honor Dr. Alexander's legacy by delving into legal issues that are pertinent to the Black community and committing to progressive legal advocacy.
The title of this year's Conference is Reflections on Critical Race Theory: Creating Static to Interfere with Dominant Legal Ideologies. The Conference will include panel discussions, a career fair, and a keynote address.
The content of the Conference will center around celebrating the work of Professor Regina Austin, a renowned fixture of the Penn Law community and the wider community of Black scholars. Professor Austin's revered recent scholarship looks at the intersection between documentary film and the law, specifically putting inequalities regarding race, gender, and class at the heart of her work. In addition, Professor Austin is a pioneer in the field of critical race feminism, writing a seminal piece of scholarship in 1989 titled Sapphire Bound!, which challenged the oppressive systems inherent to the field of legal academia for Black women. Professor Austin also teaches courses in torts. We look forward to having rich conversations that challenge existing legal structures via three lenses: documentaries, torts, and critical race theory, while paying homage to Professor Austin.
This program has been approved for 2.0 Substantive and 1.0 Ethics CLE credits for Pennsylvania lawyers. CLE credit may be available in other jurisdictions as well. Attendees seeking CLE credit must register for CLE credit and make a payment via the online CLE registration link in the amount of $120.00 ($60.00 public interest/non-profit attorneys). In order to receive the appropriate amount of credit, passcodes provided throughout the program must be noted in your evaluation form.
Penn Law Alumni receive CLE credits free through The W.P. Carey Foundation’s generous commitment to Lifelong Learning.
CONFERENCE ITINERARY
9:30AM-10:15AM: Coffee and tea served in the Penn Law courtyard
10:15AM-10:30AM: Welcome & Introduction [live streamed from Fitts Auditorium]
10:30AM-11:30AM: Panel 1 -- Reflections on Critical Race Theory [live streamed from Fitts Auditorium]
1:00PM-2:30PM: Career Fair* [Levy Conference Room]
1:30PM-2:30PM: Networking Reception** [The Great Hall]
3:00PM-4:00PM: Panel 2 -- Critical Race Theory in Practice [live streamed from Fitts Auditorium]
6:30PM-7:30PM: Keynote Address and Closing Remarks [live stream only]
*Participating law firms and Penn BLSA members only
**Penn BLSA members and alumni only
Thank You Penn BLSA Sponsors!
Penn BLSA is honored to have the support of several esteemed law firms. Without the generous contributions of our sponsors, the Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Commemorative Conference--and other missions critical to Penn BLSA initiatives such as our service trip, mentoring program, and professionalism events--would not be possible. Thank you to all of our sponsors for your continued support and allyship.
Advocates of Dr. Alexander: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom LLP; Paul, Weiss; Davis Polk & Wardell LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; Latham & Watkins LLP; Winston & Strawn LLP; Sidley Austin LLP; Troutman Pepper.
Allies of Dr. Alexander: Shearman & Sterling LLP; Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Clifford Chance LLP; Foley & Lardner LLP; Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP; Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Hogan Lovells LLP; Duane Morris LLP; Milbank LLP; Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz LLP; Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Friends of Dr. Alexander: Ropes & Gray LLP; Perkins Coie LLP; Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.
COVID-19 Protocols for Attending In-Person -- Current University COVID protocols require non-Penn guests to have a green Penn Open Campus Pass to enter the Law building the day of the event, along with a photo ID. The Open Campus Pass system does ask for attestation of COVID vaccination to receive a green pass. Further, the University has instituted specific masking requirements (requiring individuals to double mask [layering a cloth mask on top of a disposable mask] or to wear a KN95/KF94 or N95 mask) for all events indoors on campus. Please be mindful of these protocols as you prepare for the event.