Please join the University of Pennsylvania Black Law Students Association for our 32nd 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.
This year’s Conference is entitled The Cost of Slavery: How Reparations Correct America’s Balance Sheet. America is an errant corporation that is long overdue to remedy the actual harms of the trans-Atlantic slave trade on Black Americans. The ill-gotten profit of Black bondage produced irreconcilable discrepancies on America’s balance sheet and therefore is incontrovertible evidence that reparations are owed. The primary objective of the Conference discussion is to analyze the legal case for reparations by unpacking complex historical implications, effective impact litigation, practical policy-making, and potential economic benefits.
This program has been approved for 2.0 (1.0 ethics and 1.0 substantive) total CLE credits for Pennsylvania lawyers. CLE credit may be available in other jurisdictions as well. Attendees seeking CLE credit should bring separate payment in the amount of $80.00 ($40.00 public interest/non-profit attorneys) cash or check made payable to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.
Conference Itinerary
Symposium: 10:15AM-4PM, University of Pennsylvania Law School (3501 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104), Business Professional Attire
10:15AM-10:45AM: Registration (continental breakfast provided)
11:00AM-12:15PM: "Compounding Moral Debts": The Systemic Plunder of the Black American Economy
12:45PM-1:45PM: From Bondage to Bonds: Modern Efforts to Implement Reparations (lunch provided)
2:00PM-4:00PM: Career Fair*
2:00PM-4:00PM: Networking Reception
*Participating law firms and first-year Penn BLSA members only.
Formal Gala: 6PM-11PM, Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia (10 Ave Of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102), Black Tie Attire
6PM-7PM: Happy Hour Networking Reception
7PM-10PM: Formal Dinner with Keynote Address
10PM-11PM: After Reception
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.
Partners of Dr. Alexander: Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia.
Associates of Dr. Alexander: Dechert LLP.
Advocates of Dr. Alexander: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP; Hogan Lovells US LLP; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Winston & Strawn LLP.
Allies of Dr. Alexander: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Baker & McKenzie LLP; Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP; Clifford Chance US LLP; Covington & Burling LLP; Duane Morris LLP; Fenwick & West LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Greenberg Traurig LLP; Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Latham & Watkins LLP; Milbank LLP; Morrison & Foerster LLP; Norton Rose Fulbright LLP; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Ropes & Gray LLP; Schulte Roth and Zabel LLP; Shearman & Sterling LLP; Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Friends of Dr. Alexander: Berger Montague LLP; Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP; Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; O'Melveny & Myers LLP.