Millennial Inspired to be a Voice in Law

I believe there are three major benefits in attending conferences, retreats and seminars: 1. Learn new techniques, 2. Build mutually profitable relationships, 3. Gain personal and business momentum.

As a lifelong learner, I am committed to an overall development in key areas of my life – which is probably why I enjoy attending conferences, retreats and seminars. I attend conferences with great expectations - and leave with all three benefits being fulfilled.

While surfing online, I came across a promotional outreach for the National Diversity Pre-Law Conference. I thought to myself, “Perfect, this is what I’ve been looking for!” Well, not really.

Just to be clear - I’m not interested in attending law school or practicing law. Yet, I thought the conference would be enlightening - considering the fact that everything we do has a component of law attached to it.

Think about that for a minute.

Everything we come in contact with is attached to some law – even this blog post!

I shared the information about the National Diversity Pre-Law Conference with several people. One young lady thought it was interesting and wanted to learn more about the conference.

So, here’s her story.

Ashley N. Richardson graduated from Rutgers University in 2013 with a double major in criminal justice and sociology and a minor in Africana Studies. It was that one college course, Criminal Law: Theory and Practice, which solidified her aspirations to study law. I later learned that ever since she was in high school, she wanted to attend law school – in fact, the prestigious Howard University School of Law.

Let’s fast forward to 2016.

She attended the conference. I sat down next to her. In my conversation with Ashley, I asked her what motivates her to study law. She told me that “Everyone’s voice needs to be heard. When you have a voice, you have power.”

We had access to vast amounts of information, panelists and one-on-one connections. The speakers encouraged everyone to utilize their law degrees in the continuance of service, advocacy and social justice. If I were interested in attending law school, I had all the information I needed to launch a career in law!

The event was a national outreach, networking and empowerment event specifically for a diverse population of aspiring lawyers from across the country. (And also people like me, who thrive on valuable information and how I can benefit.)

Ashley greatly benefitted from the pre-law conference.

The phone rang.

I was sitting at my laptop working. It was Ashley on the other end. She received an acceptance letter to attend Howard University School of Law and will begin this August. Howard University School of Law will begin orientation from August 8th-12th and its annual pinning ceremony – where they induct its first year law students into its program.

She also received a partial scholarship from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.’s – an educational advancement foundation - Kafi Wilford Constantine Fellowship.

I would like to think that I had something to do with her success, but I can’t.

Ashley spoke her present educational success into existence – ever since high school. She employed faith, action and her passion for law, to make it possible. It was a culmination of quality decisions over many years.

I learned a lot from the pre-law conference – yet significantly more – on many levels - from Ashley.

She invited me to her pinning ceremony at Howard University School of Law this summer. And I look forward to being empowered with new information, building beneficial relationships and gaining even greater momentum and insight.