We’ll see you on June 27-29, 2025!
The goal of this free, three-day, virtual conference is to be the bridge helping first-generation and other marginalized aspiring legal professionals access legal education and the workplace, therefore affecting change in the workplace and our communities. We hope our conference will be an inspiration to aspiring law school applicants, current law school students, and young practitioners as they embark on their legal careers.
Join a space where entering the legal field is accessible!
IN 2024:
We encourage you to attend the events that interest you most!
Opening Session & Keynote Speaker
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Fireside Chat with Angela Winfield and Sydney Montgomery ||||
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. EST
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer for LSAC
Angela Winfield
Founder & Executive Director of Barrier Breakers®
Sydney Montgomery, Esq.
Founder of RestoreHER
Pamela Winn
Pamela Winn, known as "The Face of Dignity For Incarcerated Women" is an activist of Atlanta, Georgia. The single mother of two is alumni of Harvard Kennedy School, Spelman College, Emory, and GA State Universities. Winn is national leader in women’s policy that includes ending prison birth, shackling, solitary confinement, and probation reform, advocating the passing of legislation in 23 states throughout the country. Winn has been invited to the White House, United States Commission Civil Rights, and United Nations to speak on “Incarcerated Women’s Issues”. Winn is a recipient of the 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and recognized by Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact list of top women leaders for social change in the United States.
Opening Session & Diversity in This New Era
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Wisconsin Law School
Michael States
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at St. John’s Law School
Vernadette Horne, Esq.
Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion at Albany Law School
Jermaine Cruz
Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs at Howard University School of Law
Tracy Simmons
How to Successfully Apply to Law School Application |
12:15 - 1:15 p.m. EST
Founder & Executive Director of Barrier Breakers®
Sydney Montgomery
Director of Law Student Success & Organizational Leadership at Barrier Breakers®
Dr. Nadia Castriota
Law School & Resource Fair |
1:30 - 4:30 p.m. EST
Meet with admissions officers from these schools and more one-on-one! Full List of 2025 Schools Coming Soon!
Applying to Law School with Accomodations
4:45 - 5:45 p.m. EST
Founder & Tutor at LSAT Logic Pro (formerly Logic Games Pro)
Mena Pirone
Founder & Tutor at LSAT Mastery
Fady Yatooma
Law School as an Underrepresented Student: Breakout Sessions |||
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Black Student Session Leaders:
2L and Academic Chair of Georgetown's BLSA
Mecca Aikens
LGBTQ+ Student Session Leaders:
2L and President of Tulane Law's OUTLaw Chapter
Jupiter Contreras
Latinx Student Session Leaders:
First-gen 2L at University of Miami School of Law
Maia Botero
Outgoing 3L at Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Alexandria Richards
Incoming 2L at Brooklyn Law School
Celina Viscioso
AAPI Student Session Leaders:
Incoming 3L at Duke Law
Rohan Gohel
Incoming 2L at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law
Sakshi Das
Incoming 3L at Georgetown University Law Center
Thomas de Xavier
Incoming 3L at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Keatrice Robertson
Opening Session & How to Afford Law School: Scholarships, Financial Aid, & More
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST
Regional Director - North Central at AccessLex Institute
Natalie Daniels, AFC®
Sr. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid & Diversity Initiatives at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Valerie James, Esq.
Director of Access to Law School Education Programs at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Yolanda Ingram
Conquering the LSAT
12:15 - 1:15 p.m. EST
Founder & Tutor at LSAT Logic Pro (formerly Logic Games Pro)
Mena Pirone
Founder & Tutor at LSAT Mastery
Fady Yatooma
Harness Your Strengths to Start Law School Successfully
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. EST | Pre-Law Students & Incoming 1Ls ONLY
Senior Specialist, Professional Identity Formation at LSAC
Carwina Weng
Complete the additional registration for this session here. This session is ONLY for pre-law students and incoming 1Ls!
What traits come to mind when you think “lawyer”? Common ones are “smart,” “argumentative,” “confident,” “social,” “good communicator,” “takes charge/leads.” While many lawyers have these traits, many lawyers don’t and are still (equally/more) successful. The beauty of the legal profession is that it is big enough to need practitioners with many combinations of identities, personalities, experience, expertise, and skills. Success depends in part on using personal traits and strengths wisely and matching them to the right role and workplace. This session will help participants pursue success based on who they are and what they want to do with a law degree. Before the session, participants will take the High5 test, an online strengths assessment, to learn more about their go-to strengths. During the session, participants will explore their go-to strengths and learn how to use them, along with their values and passions, to chart a satisfying professional identity and career.
LSAT Prep & Resource Fair (+ giveaways!)
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
Applying to Law School as an Older Applicant and Finding Community
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. EST
Chief Diversity and Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens
Terra Davis
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The UndocuLawyer Firm
Jazmín Irazoqui-Morales
Public Interest and Military Law
5:15 - 6:00 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Sports and Entertainment Law
5:15 - 6:00 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Intellectual Property Law
5:15 - 6:00 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Corporate Litigation
6:00 - 6:45 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Sports and Entertainment Law
6:00 - 6:45 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Immigration Law
6:00 - 6:45 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Criminal Defense and Prosecution
6:45 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Immigration Law
6:45 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Public Interest and Civil Rights Law
6:45 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg
Tanvi Patel
Associate at Faegre Drinker
Ahmad Malik
Closing Session ||||
7:30-7:45 p.m. EST
Founder & Executive Director of Barrier Breakers®
Sydney Montgomery
Our free conference includes:
✔ Expert advice from attorneys, recruiters, legal professors and admissions officers, and current law school students
✔ A Career & Law Firm Fair with the chance to meet one-on-one with law firms in a variety of fields
✔ A Law School & Resource Fair with a chance to meet one-on-one a variety of law schools across the country
✔The opportunity to get your questions answered live
✔ Virtual networking spaces to meet with other attendees and panelists
✔ Exclusive giveaways and promotions from Barrier Breakers® and our sponsors
✔ And more!
Have questions or want to get involved in our 2024 conference? Send an email to conference@barrier-breakers.org!
Interested in sponsoring this event?
Learn how your contribution can help first-generation students and professionals achieve their dreams!
If you have questions about sponsorships, reach out to conference@barrier-breakers.org.
Thank you to our valuable sponsors for making this free event possible!
ANGELA VORPAHL | BALLARD SPAHR | FAEGRE DRINKER
THEMIS BAR REVIEW | NEAL, GERBER, AND EISENBERG
7SAGE | LEGALLY FIT | BLUEPRINT TEST PREP