UVA BLSA and SBA invite you to participate in our Winter Coat Drive which aims to enhance the quality of life for youth and the disadvantaged within the Greater Central Virginia community.

We are asking anyone who can to donate a coat or two. Old and new coats/shoes of various sizes will be accepted. There will be a box in Scott Commons from Friday, November 15th until Friday, December 14th. All coats will be given to First Baptist Church on Main Street. Donations can also be left in the BLSA office (Slaughter 192A). 
 
The coats will be handed out to those in need at First Baptist Church on December 15, 2012 from 2-4 PM. Last year, the Church collected 700 coats and was able to help out many families just in time for Christmas.  This year we have a new goal to collect 1,000 coats and 250 pairs of shoes. Let's make the holidays an enjoyable time for everyone in our community! 

Najla Long is a 3L from Cincinnati, Ohio who served as UVA BLSA's Social Chair in 2011-2012. Najla embodies UVA Law's spirit of collegiality: she wants to see her classmates thrive and if she can think of some way to help others she does, without hesitation. Najla invests her time in our chapter by looking over members' resumes and cover letters, giving academic advice, speaking on panels, participating in community service, and offering her home for BLSA events. She deserves to be highlighted because she has been a resource for others with and without a positional role and her help has been invaluable to our chapter.

Najla spent her summer working for Skadden in New York and plans to work there after graduation.

UVA BLSA will cover the FULL COST of THREE (3) members trips to the MABLSA Convention held in Pittsburgh, PA on February 13-17, 2012.  Please read the convention guide below for more details.  The BLSA members receiving a free trip will serve as UVA BLSA delegates and be selected by random drawing from a hat, which will be held on December 20, 2012 in the BLSA Office. All are welcome to attend the drawing, however attendance is not required in order to win the free trip to the MABLSA Convention.  The last day to enter the Raffle is DECEMBER 19, 2012.

Once selected you will have THREE (3) days to officially claim your trip. Once you claim your trip to the MABLSA convention attendance is REQUIRED. Three (3) members will be selected and three (3) additional names will be drawn on December 20, 2012 and placed on a wait list in the order drawn.  If any of the original three selected members turn down the trip they will be replaced by the wait listed members in the order that the wait listed  members are drawn.  Wait listed members will have ONE (1) day to accept the trip or else they will forfeit their trip to the next wait listed member. Should all the wait listed members decline their trip, the VIce President will select a BLSA member from the hat to attend the convention.  

By submitting your name and signing this application you agree to attend every day of the MABLSA convention and fulfill your delegate duties. By signing this application you agree that should you cancel your trip for any reason after notifying UVA BLSA you will attend, you will be REQUIRED to pay: (1) the full price of the late registration fee ($195);  (2) the cost of your lodging ($175); and (3) the cost of your travel ($50) totaling $450.    

If you missed our November GBM, please see the slideshow presentation below for a quick review.

This holiday season BLSA has decided to partner with the University of Virginia Hospital to provide books, toys, and art supplies for the children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

If you have new or gently used children's books, toys, or art supplies (coloring books, crayons) that you would like to donate to this cause, we will have a collection box in Scott Commons from November 13 to November 30, 2012. You are also welcome to leave items with a BLSA member in the BLSA office in Slaughter 192A.

If your members would like to donate to this cause monetarily, we are also accepting checks and cash. Please contact our Community Service Chair, Andrea Canfield at anw4zf@virginia.edu to donate.

On Friday, November 2, high school students from Albermarle High School visited the Law School to receive a tour, learn about different legal careers, and discuss what it takes to be succesful in college and in postgraduate studies.