NAPLA 2023 Conference

George Washington University Law School
2000 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20052

Transportation: Attendees will travel from George Washington by DC Metro (passes distributed at registration table).

12:00pm Conference check-in opens (luggage storage available at law school)

12:00pm - 2:00pm  Self-serve snacks and law school tours available

2:00pm - 3:00pm   Concurrent Sessions (choose one to attend)

1. So You Want To Be a Lawyer: Career Trends in the Legal Profession and Alternative Legal Careers for 2023 and Beyond
   • Gihan Fernando, Assistant Vice Provost, American University Career Center
   • Hillary Mantis, Assistant Dean for the Pre-law Advising Program, Fordham University
2. Credentials and the Law School Class Profile: Evolution in Progress
   

   • Joseph G Kenny, Associate Professor of Business Law & Prelaw Advisor, St. John's University

   • Yvonne Cherena-Pacheco, Dean of Admissions, Shepard Broad College of Law, Nova Southeastern University

   • Peter M. Eraca, Director of Admissions, University of California Irvine School of Law

   • Michael J. States, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, University of Wisconsin Law School

3. Addenda: Strategizing Contextual Materials
   

   • Tajira McCoy, Admissions Consultant, 7Sage

   • Matthew Keller, Head of Marketing, 7Sage

3:15pm - 4:15pm    Roundtable Sessions (attendees are encouraged to rotate among sessions)

1. Pre-Law Student Engagement Brainstorm Session: Building Bridges with Student Clubs
   
   • Logan Reed, Career Counselor, University of Virginia
2. Where do AI Writing Tools Fit into Pre-Law Admissions?
   • Ilisabeth S Bornstein, Pre-Law Advisor, Bryant University
   • David Kirschner, Associate Dean for Admissions, Financial Aid, and Innovation, USC Gould School of Law
3. Professionalism and Personal Identity: Tensions and Adaptations in the New Era
   

   • Amy Best, Director of Admissions and Global Engagement, University of Iowa College of Law

   • Jenny Branson, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Baylor University School of Law

   • Alex Jablonski, Assistant Director for Pre-Law and Pre-Grad Advising, Cornell University

4. Successful Practices for Faculty as Pre-Law Advisors

   • Marcus Thomas, Associate Professor and Chair, Music and Performing Arts Management, University of Hartford

   • Edward T. Egan, Director, Pre-Law Program and First Year Symposium, Mount St. Mary's University

   • Heather Frederick, Professor of Political Science and Prelaw Program Coordinator, Slippery Rock University

4:30pm - 6:00pm  Welcome Reception, hosted by George Washington University Law School

Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
3600 John McCormack Rd. NE, Washington, DC, 20064

Transportation: Buses will stage at both conference hotels and depart for Catholic University at 8am.  Buses will transport attendees from Catholic to American, then from American to UDC, before returning to the hotels at 9:30pm.

8:30am - 9:50am  Breakfast

10:00am - 11:00am     Concurrent Sessions (choose one to attend)

1. A Decade of Data: What Have We Learned About Legal Education Since 2010?
   • Jerome M Organ, Bakken Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions, University of St. Thomas School of Law
2. Demystifying the Law School Application Process for First-Generation Students

   • Pete Eraca, Director of Admissions, University of California, Irvine School of Law

   • Michelle Preston, Associate Director of Admissions Operations, University of Wisconsin Law School

   • Kate Vieira, Director of Admissions, Roger Williams University School of Law

   • Mario Villa, Associate Director of Admissions, Texas A&M University School of Law

3. "Why Law?": How Reflection Can Promote Students' Professional Development & Well-Being
   
   • Rachel B. Wickenheiser, J.D., Independent Scholar, Senior Admissions Consultant at Admit Advantage, Collaborator with Live Mind Learning
4. Best Practices for Avoiding a Charge of Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process
   

   • Lisa Rodocker, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Washington and Lee University School of Law

   • Matthew D. Dillard, Director of Admissions, The George Washington University Law School

11:15am - 12:30pm  Plenary Session

An Update on the Entry-Level Legal Employment Market

• Danielle Taylor, Director of Research, National Association of Law Placement (NALP)

12:30pm - 1:30pm  Lunch

1:30pm - 3:30pm  Law School and Vendor Fair

American University, Washington College of Law
4300 Nebraska Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20016

4:30pm - 6:00pm Light reception and law school tours available

University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law
4340 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008

6:30pm - 9:00pm Evening Cookout, hosted by UDC Clarke School of Law and Howard University School of Law

George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School
3301 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22201

Transportation: Attendees will travel to and from George Mason by DC Metro. Buses will stage at conference hotels for a 4:30pm departure to the Spy Museum.

Following the reception, attendees will be encouraged to carry the celebration over to the nearby DC Wharf, home to quite a number of excellent bars and restaurants (a 5-10 minute walk). Those who have signed up will join our sponsors there for small group dinners. Any attendees venturing to the Wharf will return to their hotels via the DC Metro or will make their own transportation arrangements.

For those wishing to return to the hotels at the conclusion of the Spy Museum reception, bus service will be provided at 7:15pm.

8:30am - 9:50am Breakfast (tours available beginning at 9:15am)

10:00am - 11:15am   Plenary Session

Update from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)

• Katya Valasek, Director of Prelaw Advising

11:30am - 12:30pm    Breakout Discussion Sessions, hosted by LSAC Staff Members

1. LawReady - Steve Kappler, Principal Consultant for LawReady
2. The LSAT and other LSAC Services - Katya Valasek, Director of Pre-Law Advising
3. Law School Transparency and LawHub - Kyle McEntee, Senior Director of LawHub Prelaw
   
   

12:30pm - 2:00pm  Lunch, with Dean's Welcome and NAPLA Business Meeting

2:00pm - 3:00pm Law school tours available

5:00pm - 7:00pm  NAPLA 50th Anniversary Celebration, DC International Spy Museum Rooftop Terrace

After 7:00pm Small group dinners, hosted by sponsoring law schools and organizations