2011 MWBLSA Academic Retreat Wrap Up

The 2011 MWBLSA Academic Retreat was held on October 7-9 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event kicked off on Friday with an Alumni Networking Reception at the "WXYZ Bar" of the Aloft Minneapolis. On Saturday, students from various schools throughout the region gathered at the University of Minnesota Law School to learn new ways to improve their academic development and meet fellow BLSA members.

First-year law students participated in the "Academic Boot Camp", hosted by Professor Peter T. Wendel of Pepperdine University School of Law, author of Deconstructing Legal Analysis: A 1L Primer. Moji Olaniyan, Assistant Dean and Director of the Academic Enhancement Program at the University of Wisconsin Law School, also hosted a workshop on exam writing and preparation for first-year law students titled "Showing What You Know".

Second and third-year law students participated in intimate panel discussions with attorneys from the Minneapolis area, including "From Call Backs to Job Offers," a panel designed to help students prepare for successful second interviews with potential employers. Students also learned about which skills might be most useful to develop for specific areas of practice during the panel titled, "So How Does This Apply in the Real World?"

All students gathered with Darryl Thomas of Larson King, LLP for a discussion on stress management. Participants shared tips on dealing with law school, personal, and work related stress.
Last, but certainly not least, Hennepin County District Court Judge, Pamela Alexander, shared her experiences and wisdom during her keynote address on the necessity of using a law degree to help the community.

The MWBLSA Executive Board would like to thank Judge Alexander, the panelists and the presenters who contributed to the success of this year's Academic Retreat. We would also like to thank the University of Minnesota and all of the MWBLSA members in attendance. We truly enjoyed the opportunity to serve our constituents and look forward to the 2012 Regional Convention in Columbus, Ohio, February 15-19.