The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) of the University of Wisconsin Law School received significant recognition at the National BLSA Midwest Regional convention in Chicago the weekend of February 1-4, 2007.

Jason Wilson of BLSA's Fredrick Douglass Moot Court Team was named Best Oral Advocate of the Midwest Region, which includes 48 law schools.

The University of Wisconsin BLSA also placed second in the region for the Chapter of the Year competition. In 2005, the UW team captured first place in the same competition.  As a finalist, the team is eligible to proceed to the national competition for Chapter of the Year, to be held in Atlanta in March.

Three members of UW-BLSA were elected to the Midwest Regional Board of the National Black Law Students Association for 2007-08.  Brandon Vaughn 2L is Regional Vice-Chairman, Erick Tyrone 1L is Sub-Regional Director, and Joi Ridley 2L is Director of Programming.

Hosted by John Marshall Law School, the convention featured workshops, a career exposition, a formal awards ceremony, and oral and trial advocacy competitions.  The workshops focused on progressive topics including reparations and the death penalty as well as career-oriented issues such as networking and debt planning.
 
UW-BLSA sent a sizable delegation to the event. Members Scott Colom, Sam Owens, KaSandra Rogiers, and Erick Tyrone competed in the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition, and Brandon Vaughn and Jason Wilson competed in the Fredrick Douglass Moot Court Competition, with Melissa McNair serving as the team’s coach.  In addition, Jamaal Jordan, Kene Okocha, and Joi Ridley attended the convention as UW-BLSA delegates.

Submitted by on February 26, 2007

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