College Student Division

National Director of College Student Division
Robert Elliott II
Valparaiso University School of Law
collegestudentdivision@nblsa.org

Dear NBLSA Members,

I am honored to serve as the 2010-2011 National Director of the College Student Division (CSD). The College Student Division is a component of NBLSA which informs undergraduate students considering law school about the law school application process, life as a law student, the practice of law, and other relevant knowledge about obtaining a law degree. This year, regional directors and I look forward to working closely with local BLSA chapters in instituting the initiatives that CSD has planned for the year.

Undergraduates may join CSD as members of their undergraduate local chapters or as general members. General membership is available for those individuals who attend institutions which are unable to sustain a CSD chapter for various reasons. The CSD strongly encourages all BLSA chapters located on campuses without CSD chapters to assist CSD in garnering undergraduate interest. Membership application materials are available online, through the Regional CSD Directors, and through the National Director of the College Student Division.

2010-2011 Law Camps
This fall, CSD will be hosting National Law Camps within each region. Law Camps serve as an avenue for prospective law students to gain pertinent information about the law school application process and the benefits of obtaining a legal education. The camps will host various speakers from pre-law organizations who will address topics such as financing a legal education, the law school application process, and making the transition into law school. The tentative locations and dates for this year's law camps are as follows:

September 4, 2010: University of Houston Law Center, Houston, TX
September 25, 2010: University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, CA
October 2, 2010: UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
October 9, 2010: George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, VA
Oct. 15-17, 2010: University of Toledo School of Law
October 23, 2010: Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA

As regional directors continue planning for law camps, other dates will be posted.

Mentoring Program
BLSA members have traditionally served as mentors to CSD members, and this year, we ask you to help us continue this strong tradition of mentorship by encouraging your members to volunteer to become CSD mentors. By serving as mentors, BLSA members will build relationships with a CSD member who holds similar interests. Moreover, they will serve as a guide to mentees as they navigate the law school application process. Please encourage the members of your chapters to become mentors. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can complete the Mentor Application.

• CSD Mentor Application
• CSD Mentee Form

HBCU Initiative
This year the College Student Division is proud to introduce and implement the "HBCU Initiative". This Initiative is designed specifically towards chartering and implementing a CSD Chapter at each and every HBCU in the nation. The initiative involves pairing every 4 year HBCU nationwide with an active BLSA Chapter in its geographic proximity and it is my vision that this initiative will be maintained by subsequent National CSD Directors.

CSD Liaison Initiative
This initiative serves actual and potential CSD members nationwide by requesting local chapters to appoint a CSD Liaison. This liaison's specific goal is to open lines of communication with its undergraduate institution to gauge interest in general membership in the College Student Division of NBLSA or possibly chaptering a CSD Chapter. CSD Liaisons shall be appointed by local BLSA Executive Board.

Charter a CSD Chapter
Finally, one of the major goals of CSD this year is to increase membership and enhance the benefits of being a CSD member. You can help us achieve these goals by encouraging pre-law students at your school to charter a CSD chapter or to become general members of CSD. Moreover, if your chapter is hosting any programs that would be of interest to a CSD member, this year, we will ask that you invite CSD members to such events.

• CSD Chapter Charter Application
• CSD Individual Membership Application

Scholarships
Nelson Mandela Scholarship

The Nelson Mandela Scholarship is a $1000 Scholarship offered exclusively to (2) CSD members to be applied towards law school expenses. The recipients of this award will be provided with room and transportation to the 2011 NBLSA National Convention held March 9-13, 2011 in Houston, TX to accept their awards. Information about the scholarship and its application process will be posted in early November.

Thank you for your interest in CSD. We would love hear from you so please take a few minutes to complete the CSD Questionnaire by clicking here. The regional directors and I look forward to working with you this year. If your have any questions or concerns about CSD, please feel free to contact me or your regional director. Best wishes for a successful school year!