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Barristers at the Barricades
‘Rebellious' lawyers plan Yale confab
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Business New Haven
2/3/2003
By: BNH
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NEW HAVEN - The Rebellious Lawyering Conference, the nation's largest student-run public interest law conference, will take place February 21–23 at the Yale Law School.
The annual confab brings together practitioners, law students and activists from around the country to discuss innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change. The conference highlights non-traditional methods of legal and quasi-legal representation, such as grassroots organizing, as well as alternative ways to impact litigation, direct services and criminal defense.
This year's conference, the ninth annual, will feature 11 panels representing a range of progressive social issues and social justice concerns. Topics include: the Bush administration's energy policy, violence against animals and its links to violence against women, immigrant workers' rights, the anti-death penalty movement during the war against terrorism and the future of feminism.
In addition, several smaller workshops focus on military recruitment at college campuses, law school faculty diversity, lobbying basics, courtroom advocacy for children, international law and human rights.
An opening address will be given by Maria Blanco, national senior counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, who will discuss “Post 9/11 and Civil Rights in a Global Society.” Blanco is actively involved in immigrant rights, women's rights, educational equity and employment discrimination as a lawyer, policy analyst and community advocate. Most recently she led legislative efforts in California to obtain higher education opportunities for undocumented students. Her address will be on February 21, at 6 p.m. in Rm. 127 at 127 Wall Street.
Following Blanco's address, a screening of Fighting for Life in the Death Belt and a discussion with filmmakers Jeff Marks and Adam Elend of E.M. Productions is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. in Room 127. The film profiles Steven Bright, a Yale Law School visiting lecturer who is also the director of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. Bright is known for his work in advocacy for death-row prisoners and anti-death penalty activism.
The keynote address, “With Justice for All,” will be given by Morris Dees, founder and chief trial counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center, on February 22 at 6 p.m. The center is a non-profit organization that combats hatred, intolerance and discrimination through education and litigation.
Dees founded the center in 1971 and now devotes his time to suing violent white supremacist groups and developing ideas for “Teaching Tolerance,” the center's educational project. His latest book, Gathering Storm: America's Militia Threat, examines the danger posed by today's militia groups.
Conference registration is $20 (which may be reduced in case of hardship). Registration fee covers a potluck dinner, to be held on Saturday night. Reception Friday night will be sponsored by the National Lawyers' Guild. Attendees may register up to the day of the conference or in person. Both the film on Friday night and the keynote address on Saturday night are open to the public and free of charge.
Online registration is available at http://islandia.law.yale.edu/reblaw.
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