HISTORY OF BLSA

The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) was founded in 1968 by Algernon Johnson Cooper, the former mayor of Pritchard, Alabama, at the New York University School of Law. NBLSA was created and designed to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of black law students, foster and encourage professional competence, and focus upon the relationship of the black attorney to the American legal structure.

Today, NBLSA is one of the largest student-run organizations in the United States, comprised of over 130 chapters.  NBLSA chapters represent over 6,000 members and are organized into six regions.  

NBLSA has served as a model for other law student organizations, assisting in the formation of the Black Law Students Association of Canada (BLSAC), the National Latino/Latina Student Association (NLLSA), the National Association of Law Students with Disabilities (NALSD), and the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (NAPALSA).

Through its national reach and local chapters, NBLSA strives to develop lawyers of tomorrow by sponsoring its prestigious mock trial and moot court competitions at the NBLSA Annual Convention. NBLSA also develops community service and social action initiatives  to further advance its mission.

VIRGINIA LAW CHAPTER 

Founded in 1970 and formally chartered in 1996, the Virginia Law Chapter of the Black Law Students Association is dedicated to the development of talented, engaged, and diverse attorneys. In order to fulfill the goals of the national organization, UVA BLSA sponsors various student support programs, community outreach projects, panel discussions, and receptions. The Virginia Law Chapter is a leading BLSA chapter, and in recent years, has been recognized as Regional Chapter of the Year five times and National Chapter of the Year three times. UVA BLSA also regularly sends its members to serve as regional and national officers, boasting three past National Chairs and various other Directors, Coordinators, and Specialists among our alumni.

MISSION of blsa

To increase the number of culturally responsible black and minority attorneys who excel academically succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

BLSA in the UVA News