16th Annual Hispanic Law Conference Examines the Evolving Legal Landscape

Event Dedicated to the Progress of Latinos and Latinas in the U.S. and in the Hemisphere

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, February 1, 2013– American University Washington College of Law is proud to host the 16th Annual Hispanic Law Conference, held each spring as part of the law school’s Founders’ Celebration.

The Feb. 28 event will bring together Latinos and Latinas from across the country and hemisphere—from Miami, to New York, to Puerto Rico—to discuss how the legal landscape is evolving.

“During the last 16 years, the American University Washington College of Law, alongside the Hispanic Bar Associations for D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, has been the proud host of the Annual Hispanic Law Conference,” said Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law. “This important conference has become a crucial avenue to talk about the issues relevant to the Hispanic community and the roles lawyers play in promoting opportunities for all. Many distinguished personalities of the Hispanic community will be present at the discussions.”

Panelists, including Hispanic deans and professors, government administrators, and practitioners will share their own experiences in the legal profession, will address the changes and challenges of the current legal landscape, and will discuss strategies for attracting and supporting Hispanic students in legal education.

Local high school students will join AUWCL students and Hispanic Law School deans in the morning for a discussion about life as a college student, the importance of receiving a college education, and their goals for the future. They will also participate in a constitutional literacy workshop, covering the 14th, 15th and 19th amendments of the United States Constitution and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Conference attendees, as well as JD and LL.M. students, will have many opportunities to meet the event's high profile speakers and panelists including:

  • Carlos F. Acosta, inspector general, Prince George's County Police Department
  • Luis A. Aviles, associate dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
  • Angela Bouliakis, president, Latino/a Law Students' Association, American University Washington College of Law
  • Luisa Fernanda Cardona Contreras, fellow, Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project
  • Dante Figueroa, secretary general, Inter-American Bar Association; senior legal information analyst, Law Library of Congress; adjunct professor, American University Washington College of Law
  • Ms. Jamila Frone, deputy director, U.S. Department of Justice Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management
  • Esteban Joseph Freeman, 2014 Graduate Institute candidate, St. John's College, Annapolis, MD; former AUWCL Dean's Office Staff, 2008-13
  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law
  • Traci M. Jenkins, assistant dean, Career & Professional Development, American University Washington College of Law
  • Juan E. Milanés ‘91, Esq., Law Offices of Juan E. Milanés, PLLC
  • Darrell G. Mottley, Esq., Banner & Witcoff Ltd
  • Vivian I. Neptune, dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
  • M. Lucero Ortiz ‘07, special assistant to the Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Labor
  • Natasha Quiroga ‘08, counsel, Educational Opportunities Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; chair, Latino/a Alumni Association of AUWCL
  • Peter M. Reyes Jr., president, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • The Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna, circuit judge, United States Court of Appeals
  • The Honorable Jenny Rivera, associate judge, New York State Courts of Appeal; professor of law, CUNY School of Law
  • Juan M. Sempertegui ‘07, associate, Carr Maloney PC; Region V president, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Jaime Areizaga-Soto, deputy director for Hispanic Affairs, Democratic National Committee; president-elect, Hispanic Bar Association of D.C.
  • John D. Trasviña, assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
  • Moises “Moe” Vela, president and CEO, MoeVela LLC
  • Stephen N. Zack, Esq. Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP

The annual awards dinner will be held at the end of the day in recognition of those individuals who have significantly contributed to the progress of the Latino community. Opening remarks will be given by Dean Claudio Grossman and Hispanic National Bar Association President Peter Reyes, featuring a keynote address from Stephen N. Zack, former president of the American Bar Association. The Honorable Jenny Rivera, recently confirmed associate judge for the New York State Courts of Appeal and AUWCL visiting professor in 2011, and Assistant Attorney General Ignacia Moreno of the US Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division will be recognized for their accomplishments at the dinner as well. List of Awards.

The event is sponsored by the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Associations of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, the Latino/a Alumni Association of American University Washington College of Law, and American University Washington College of Law’s Latino/a Law Students’ Association.

Read more information or register for the event.

Media interested in attending the event should contact Megan Smith, public relations coordinator, 202-274-4276.

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Schedule of Events - Feb. 28, 2013

9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - The College Experience: The Path to Success

International Student Lounges

Local high school students will join AUWCL students and Hispanic Law School deans for a breakfast and a discussion to learn about life as a college student, the importance of receiving a college education, and their goals for the future.

Welcome Remarks:         

  • Angela Bouliakis, president, Latino/a Law Students' Association, American University Washington College of Law

Speakers:

  • Ms. Jamila Frone, deputy director, U.S. Department of Justice Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management
  • Vivian I. Neptune, dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
  • Luis A. Aviles, associate dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
  • Esteban Joseph Freeman, 2014 Graduate Institute candidate, St. John's College, Annapolis, MD; former AUWCL Dean's Office Staff, 2008-13

10:30 a.m. - Noon - The College Experience: Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Workshop

International Student Lounge

High school students will participate in a constitutional literacy workshop where they will go through a brief overview of the 14th, 15th and 19th amendments of the United States Constitution and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Instructor:                  

  • Luisa Fernanda Cardona Contreras, fellow, Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project
 

Noon - 1:30 p.m. - Why We Choose Law

JD Student Lounge

Speakers will share their stories as to why they chose to pursue a career in law, the benefits of the legal education as well as share opportunities in the D.C. metropolitan area and the lessons that such opportunities have to offer.

Introductions:

  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law

Speaker:

  • M. Lucero Ortiz ‘07, special assistant to the chief of staff, U.S. Department of Labor
 

2 - 4 p.m. - The Future of Legal Education in the Hispanic Community

Room 603                    

Panelists will speak on the continuing importance of legal education, discuss strategies in preparing students to be superior candidates in a changing legal landscape and how the Hispanic community can help law students achieve their career goals in a difficult economic climate. Hispanic deans and professors will discuss the challenges they seek to overcome, what trends they see in the future and what strategies they are implementing to attract Hispanic students to legal education. Additionally, with a new presidency in place, the panelists will discuss what reforms and policies have been proposed and how those policies affect those in the legal profession and education. 

Welcome Remarks:
  • Jaime Areizaga-Soto, deputy director for Hispanic Affairs, Democratic National Committee; President-Elect, Hispanic Bar Association of D.C.
Moderator:
  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law
Panelists:
  • The Honorable Jenny Rivera, associate judge, New York State Courts of Appeal; professor of law, CUNY School of Law
  • Vivian I. Neptune, dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
  • Luis A. Aviles, associate dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
  • Natasha Quiroga ’08, counsel, Educational Opportunities Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; chair, Latino/a Alumni Association of AUWCL
  • Dante Figueroa, secretary general, Inter-American Bar Association; senior legal information analyst, Law Library of Congress; adjunct professor, American University Washington College of Law

4:15 - 6:15 p.m. - Trailblazing a New Course: Pioneers in the Current Legal Landscape

Room 603                    

Panelists will address the changes and challenges that the legal profession is currently facing, the various opportunities available to law school graduates and advice on finding your niche beyond the traditional Hispanic legal markets. Following the round of questions to the speakers, the audience will have an opportunity to pose questions.

Welcome Remarks:

  • Juan M. Sempertegui ‘07, associate, Carr Maloney PC; Region V President, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Natasha Quiroga ’08, Counsel, Educational Opportunities Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; chair, Latina/o Alumni Association of AUWCL
Moderator:
  • Juan E. Milanés ’91, Esq., Law Offices of Juan E. Milanés, PLLC

Panelists:

  • The Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna, circuit judge, United States Court of Appeals
  • John D. Trasviña, assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
  • Darrell G. Mottley, Esq., Banner & Witcoff Ltd
  • Moises “Moe” Vela, president and CEO, MoeVela LLC
  • Carlos F. Acosta, inspector general, Prince George's County Police Department
  • Traci M. Jenkins, assistant dean, Career & Professional Development, American University Washington College of Law
 

6:15 - 7:00 p.m. - Meet and Greet the Conference Panelists Reception

Outside Room 603     

An opportunity for conference attendees, JD and LL.M. students to meet with the panelists and deans who will share their experiences and career paths during a networking reception.

Welcome Remarks:

  • Peter M. Reyes Jr., president, Hispanic National Bar Association

6:15 - 7:00 p.m. - LAAW Board Elections

Room 600

7 - 9 p.m. - Annual Awards Dinner

6th Floor Student Lounges       

The dinner will include a keynote address and awards will be presented to those individuals who have significantly contributed to the progress of the Latino community.

Master of Ceremonies:

  • Linda M. Estrada, Esq., US Patent & Trademark Office

Opening Remarks:      

  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law
  • Peter M. Reyes Jr., president, Hispanic National Bar Association

Keynote Speaker:

  • Stephen N. Zack, Esq. Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP

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About American University Washington College of Law

In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school's nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, trial advocacy, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, DC and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu.