The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA), founded in 1968,[1][2] is a nationwide organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuates change in the legal community. As the largest law student organization in the country[3] with over 6,000 members, NBLSA includes chapters or affiliates in six countries including the Bahamas, Nigeria, and South Africa. NBLSA encourages the development of talented, social conscious lawyers of tomorrow. NBLSA help start the Black Law Students Association of Canada (BLSAC), the National Latino/Latina Student Association (NLLSA), National Association of Law Students with Disabilities (NALSD), and the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (NAPALSA). The headquarters of NBLSA is located in Washington, D.C. Organized into six regions (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southern, Mid-West, Rocky Mountain and Western Region)[1] the organization has over 200 chapters and is present in all but a few of the nation's accredited law schools, as well as unaccredited law schools. Each year, the organization holds an annual convention to engage in legal activism and while preparing new generations of black lawyers to "effectuate change." Additionally, the Frederick DouglassMoot Court and Thurgood MarshallMock Trial Competitions are held during its Annual Convention.
National Black Law Students Association
Logo of the National Black Law Students Association
Abbreviation
NBLSA
Formation
1968; 56 years ago (1968)
Founder
Algernon Johnson Cooper
Founded at
New York University Law School
Type
Organization
Purpose
To articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuate change in the legal community
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
Region
United States
Membership
6000
Affiliations
National Bar Association
Website
Official website
In 1968, Algernon Johnson Cooper, former mayor of Prichard, Alabama, founded the first Black American Law Students Association at the New York University Law School.[1][2] In 1983, BALSA revised its name and the word "American" was deleted to encompass all blacks, including those not of American nationality. Later, the word "National" was added to reflect the organization's national expansion, which now includes representation in the law schools of forty-eight states and Puerto Rico.
The association has ties with the National Bar Association, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, The National Black Alliance, and the National Black Leadership Roundtable.
At the fortieth anniversary convention of the NBLSA in Detroit Cooper, speaking on the origins of the organization, said:[2]
We organized at NYU during the halcyon days of the late '60s, in the midst of riots, and our mission was contemplated, debated, discussed, agreed upon, refined and re-refined as only law students can do. But finally, we decided that our mission was to articulate and promote professional needs and goals of African American law students ...to initiate a change within the legal system that would make it more responsive to the needs of the African American community.
Referencesedit
^ abcDunham, Mark A. (October 30, 2017). "NBLSA National Chair's Mid-Year Message". National Black Law Students Association. from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
^ abcWeaver, Kendall (February 1, 2016). Ten Stars: The African American Journey of Gary Cooper—Marine General, Diplomat, Businessman, and Politician. NewSouth Books. p. 118. ISBN9781603064149. At its fortieth anniversary convention, in Detroit, Jay reflected on its formation and its future: We organized at NYU during the halcyon days of the late '60s, in the midst of riots, and our mission was contemplated, debated, discussed, agreed upon, refined and re-refined as only law students can do. But finally we decided that our mission was to articulate and promots professional needs and goals of African American law students ...to initiate a change within the legal system that would make it more responsive to the needs of the African American community.
^"Many of This Year's Competition Successes Were Unprecedented". UB Law Forum. 28 (2). University at Buffalo School of Law. Spring 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2020. The Douglass competition is a national appellate advocacy competition organized by the Nation Black Law Student Association, the largest law students organization in the United States.
External linksedit
Official website
Founding chapter of BLSA at NYU Law School
April 12, 2024
national, black, students, association, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, sch. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources National Black Law Students Association news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The National Black Law Students Association NBLSA founded in 1968 1 2 is a nationwide organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuates change in the legal community As the largest law student organization in the country 3 with over 6 000 members NBLSA includes chapters or affiliates in six countries including the Bahamas Nigeria and South Africa NBLSA encourages the development of talented social conscious lawyers of tomorrow NBLSA help start the Black Law Students Association of Canada BLSAC the National Latino Latina Student Association NLLSA National Association of Law Students with Disabilities NALSD and the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association NAPALSA The headquarters of NBLSA is located in Washington D C Organized into six regions Northeast Mid Atlantic Southern Mid West Rocky Mountain and Western Region 1 the organization has over 200 chapters and is present in all but a few of the nation s accredited law schools as well as unaccredited law schools Each year the organization holds an annual convention to engage in legal activism and while preparing new generations of black lawyers to effectuate change Additionally the Frederick Douglass Moot Court and Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competitions are held during its Annual Convention National Black Law Students AssociationLogo of the National Black Law Students AssociationAbbreviationNBLSAFormation1968 56 years ago 1968 FounderAlgernon Johnson CooperFounded atNew York University Law SchoolTypeOrganizationPurposeTo articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuate change in the legal communityHeadquartersWashington D C RegionUnited StatesMembership6000AffiliationsNational Bar AssociationWebsiteOfficial websiteIn 1968 Algernon Johnson Cooper former mayor of Prichard Alabama founded the first Black American Law Students Association at the New York University Law School 1 2 In 1983 BALSA revised its name and the word American was deleted to encompass all blacks including those not of American nationality Later the word National was added to reflect the organization s national expansion which now includes representation in the law schools of forty eight states and Puerto Rico The association has ties with the National Bar Association the Council on Legal Education Opportunity The National Black Alliance and the National Black Leadership Roundtable At the fortieth anniversary convention of the NBLSA in Detroit Cooper speaking on the origins of the organization said 2 We organized at NYU during the halcyon days of the late 60s in the midst of riots and our mission was contemplated debated discussed agreed upon refined and re refined as only law students can do But finally we decided that our mission was to articulate and promote professional needs and goals of African American law students to initiate a change within the legal system that would make it more responsive to the needs of the African American community References edit a b c Dunham Mark A October 30 2017 NBLSA National Chair s Mid Year Message National Black Law Students Association Archived from the original on August 29 2020 Retrieved August 29 2020 a b c Weaver Kendall February 1 2016 Ten Stars The African American Journey of Gary Cooper Marine General Diplomat Businessman and Politician NewSouth Books p 118 ISBN 9781603064149 At its fortieth anniversary convention in Detroit Jay reflected on its formation and its future We organized at NYU during the halcyon days of the late 60s in the midst of riots and our mission was contemplated debated discussed agreed upon refined and re refined as only law students can do But finally we decided that our mission was to articulate and promots professional needs and goals of African American law students to initiate a change within the legal system that would make it more responsive to the needs of the African American community Many of This Year s Competition Successes Were Unprecedented UB Law Forum 28 2 University at Buffalo School of Law Spring 2014 Retrieved August 29 2020 The Douglass competition is a national appellate advocacy competition organized by the Nation Black Law Student Association the largest law students organization in the United States External links editOfficial website nbsp Founding chapter of BLSA at NYU Law School Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Black Law Students Association amp oldid 1125392326, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
