Bowman and Brooke’s Post

UMass Law Class of 2024 Commencement is in the books! Below is the full text of the portion of my remarks to our amazing graduates that is referenced in the article. "My second and final charge to you today is a deceptively simple one. Rather than further exhort you to do great and good things in the world with your law degrees, I instead offer a seemingly more prosaic charge, but one I argue is equally profound and capable, if executed, of creating tremendous good in the world. Here it is: Offer the grace to others that you would want offered to you.  Grace is hands down my favorite word in the English language, connoting as it does forbearance, understanding, mutuality, and kindness.  Four elemental human needs that are sorely lacking in our social, political, and legal conversations and interactions today. Extending grace to others, like lawyering, is a lifelong practice that is never perfected.  And that is what gives it its heft and its beauty. This practice begins with the grace you give yourself as a new lawyer to make mistakes and to seek guidance from others without shame or spiraling into negative self-talk.  The learning curve is steep as a new lawyer, meaning you will often be unsure of what to do and feel overmatched and overwhelmed. There is deep satisfaction to be found in lawyering, I promise, but not all at once and not right away.  You will have to work hard to climb that learning curve. I ask that you be kind to yourself on the journey up. This practice of grace giving extends to the grace you offer to others by assuming good faith in their words and actions and that simple human frailty and not a bad nature is the root cause of their shortcomings, as it is for each of us. Grace is a superpower, like X-ray vision, that reveals the simple yet profound truth that we are all – each of us – imperfect works in progress, and all the more wonderful for being so. Class of 2024, we live in extraordinary times. I speak on behalf of the UMass Law faculty and staff in saying that we are thrilled that you are poised to pursue justice in your communities. We have never needed you more."                 #PursueJustice

The Runnymede Society is searching for undergraduate law students studying at a Canadian law school, students articling with a Canadian law firm, or judicial clerks at a Canadian superior or appellate court for the 2024 Blackstone Prize! 2 prizes available, $5,000 and $3,000 for the runner up. The deadline is coming up Friday, April 26, so don't delay! follow the link for all the details: https://lnkd.in/duA8W47A #law #lawundergrad #canadianlaw #canadianconstitutionalism #blackstoneprize

Do you have questions about the #lawschool admissions process, how much law school costs, or what #financialaid options are available? If yes, then you're in luck! University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law is hosting the 24th Annual For People of Color, Inc. Law School Admissions Conference on **March 2, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. PT via Zoom.** Learn more and sign up below. #lawstudents #lawschool #diversityinlaw #mentorship #careersinlaw

Check out this great article about Leticia M. Diaz, PhD, JD! It is a thrill to be able to work with her every day at Barry University/Barry University - Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

In academia and in life, I find that the African-American community represent resilience and embody GRIT in the collective. Consider that every year since education was made legal for people like me in the United States, there have been individuals whose life existence contributes to the data points that force the unwilling to face their own willful ignorance. I find that the United States demonstrates in this era a resurgence of resistance to the resilience and embodied GRIT of the African community members in the US, which has given rise to the dilution of the concept of affirmative action for its elimination, and the deflection from the historical wrongdoings against Africans in the United States to champion alternative causes that give the nation a sense of victory while there remains significant work to do in properly redressing systemic issues. For certain, law plays a major role in the work. Lawyers committed to educating more human beings about how the law impacts us and how we must impact the law are integral to the work that remains. Legal experts who care enough to apply their expertise to the resolutions of issues that redress that which our community knows hinders accelerated progress are needed. What we hope in this century is that those leaders who come from the African community will not fear when in position of legitimated authority to act when ones can and speak when one must on prevailing issues that prevent the paradigmatic shift that many cultural communities within the United States await.

Last Monday, Hofstra Law recognized student accomplishments at the annual Graduation Awards Ceremony. The event featured powerful remarks from elected 3L class speaker, John Healy Jr., SBA president, Rochelle Podolsky, and elected teacher of the year, Professor Theo Liebmann. Learn more about the recent graduates who were honored for their contributions to each other and the legal profession: https://lnkd.in/e8Gkmd6r #lawschool #Classof2024

Read the attached letter signed by the deans of most of the law schools in the United States. Glad to see that University of Virginia School of Law signed. For any deans who didn't sign, why not? #RuleOfLaw #Leadership #LegalEducation #DefendDemocracy Association of American Law Schools American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative https://lnkd.in/epfB7Ei3

Ethnic diversity, like all forms, is a vital aspect of any degree program, especially in the field of law. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, the legal profession is evolving to reflect and understand a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Which programs in the United States are recognized for their ethnically diverse student bodies? We take a closer look at schools like Harvard Law School New York University School of Law University of California, Berkeley - School of Law and Georgetown University Law Center. 👀 🎓 #LLMGuide #LawSchool #LegalStudies #LLMPrograms

“The importance of preparation... that was a really valuable lesson, not just for that class, but throughout my law school experience and obviously, throughout my professional career.” Learn more about alumna Keesha-Lu Abrahams-Mitra, '89, State Farm senior vice president and general counsel and her time at Mizzou Law.

Good Evening Everyone! On September 23rd, I had the opportunity to tour the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill School of Law and engage with the Admissions Advisor, alongside the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Inc. NCCU Chapter. This experience not only provided valuable insights into the law school environment but also strengthened my resolve to pursue a legal education after graduation. I am eager to take the next steps in my academic journey! #LawSchool #UNC #PhiAlphaDelta #FutureLawyer