Attorney General

National Attorney General
Jonathan Evans
Southwestern Law School
ag@nblsa.org

Greetings NBLSA members!

I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as NBLSA National Attorney General for the 2013-14 term. We have an amazing year in store for us, and it is because NBLSA is led by people who have come alive; people who know what makes them "tick" and pursue their passions everyday.

This year, in an effort to wield greater influence in the legal community, we will expand our amicus brief opportunities, looking not just to cases before the United States Supreme Court but also to those before Circuit Courts of Appeal, State Supreme Courts, or state appellate courts. Our advocacy team will produce programming that connects our national advocacy efforts to your region and campus. We will use every tool and resource at our disposal to respond to pressing legal and social issues, in order to continue our mission of bringing about meaningful legal and political change that addresses the needs and concerns of the Black community.

NBLSA members are not just the future leaders of this nation - you are its current leaders. When you reflect upon the arc of history, it has always been the students who have bent it toward justice. It has always been the students that mobilize. It has always been the students who speak truth to power.

Take a moment to explore the programs and events to learn how you can get involved in legislative or judicial advocacy with NBLSA this year. I look forward to working with you!

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
- Dr. Howard Thurman

NATIONAL ADVOCACY INITIATIVES

Five Point Plan

NBLSA implemented a five year advocacy strategy during the 2011-2012 which took effect during the 2012-213 administration. Previously, the organization would choose new advocacy issues each year as chosen by each year's new leadership. While great work was done, the organization would move to new issue after building a presence around an issue and partnerships with other organizations.

The Five Point Plan encompasses issues (Education, Elections & Voting, Criminal Justice, Environmental Justice, and Rapid Response) which the organization is dedicated to advocating over the next five years. The structure gives the organization time to build a brand within a certain issue area, falls in line with the time take for legislative action on a bill, and allows us to truly build worthwhile partnerships with other organizations. Furthermore, it takes time to educate and train the membership on issues. With the consistency of this plan, members will be more aware of the issue areas during their law school career.

Within the Five Point Plan, the administration has put forth advocacy objectives to guide the organization during the 2013-14 term.

Please contact the Attorney General at ag@nblsa.org if you would like to be involved in this year's initiative or for further information.

OVERVIEW OF THIS YEAR'S ADVOCACY OBJECTIVES

EDUCATION, including:
-Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline
-Affordability in Higher Education
-Diversity in Higher Education
-Increasing Number of African-Americans in Law School

ELECTIONS & VOTING, including:
-Fighting and/or Narrowing Voter ID Laws
-Election Protection
-Contributing to Dialogue on Reforming Election Processes
-Educating on Felon Disenfranchisement

LEGAL PROFESSION AND JUDICIARY, including:
-Building Career Pathways for African-American Law Students
-Increasing Number of African-American Professors in Law School
-Increasing Number of NBLSA-approved Judicial Nominees

SOCIAL ACTION, including:
-Eliminating Stand Your Ground Laws
-Reducing Gun Violence
-Exposing and Overturning Institutionally-Imposed Inequality

National Advocacy Goals, 2013-2014

Accomplishing our national advocacy objectives is made possible my implementing concrete goals and metrics of successes.

• Submit at least two amicus briefs in cases of national importance that affect the Black community, including at least one before the United States Supreme Court.
• Foster stronger partnerships with Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL).
• Successfully partner with a member of Congress for programming during CBC Annual Legislative Conference (CBC-ALC).
• Conduct nationwide legislative outreach, including a Lobby Day to be simultaneously held in at least three state capitals and on Capitol Hill.
• Produce at least two webinars aimed at encouraging Black law students to pursue careers in the judiciary.
• Participate in regional hearings of American Bar Association's National Task Force on Stand Your Ground Laws.
• Continue involvement in voter protection efforts.
• Encourage local and regional efforts aimed at ending the school-to-prison pipeline and increasing the student-to-professional pipeline.

Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (CBC-ALC)

The goal of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is to "promote the public welfare through legislation designed to meet the needs of millions of neglected citizens." Currently 43 members strong, the CBC holds an Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) which attracts over 12,000 business, industry, and community leaders to address social justice issues and solutions for those problems. The theme of this year's ALC is "Inspiring Leaders | Building Generations." NBLSA will be conducting numerous events is support of the ALC theme throughout the weekend including the Ninth Annual NBLSA CBC Reception. NBLSA's theme for the year is "Enhancing The Dream". In order to fulfill our credo, our programming will continue building upon the advances that have been made in education and equal justice over the years with the support of our sponsors, alumni and current law students.

This year's CBC Weekend will take place in Washington, DC on Thursday, September 19, 2013 through Sunday September 22, 2013. Please stay tuned for further information!