The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, the Center on Race, Law & Justice, and the Center for Constitutional Rights are pleased to host an extended discussion titled “Lawyering for Black Lives.” Our distinguished panel will explore the appropriate role of, and effective avenues for, legal practitioners and students in support of the growing Movement for Black Lives and other struggles for people of color.

Building upon energized conversations initiated by the Center for Constitutional Rights during its 2015 “Law4BlackLives” conference, the panel will discuss opportunities for using the law for radical social change and racial justice. The panel will reflect on the current political terrain, discuss the urgent roles of lawyers and legal advocates, and open a dialogue for legal practitioners and advocates to participate in the impassioned legal pursuit of racial justice.

Our moderator Gay McDougall will facilitate a discussion between our panel members and the audience, reflecting on the conference and developments since, engaging students and practitioners on how to best support struggles for social justice. Importantly, the panel and audience will contribute to the growing conversation concerning ‘movement lawyering’ – what this is and how it should look in the context of the Movement for Black Lives and other struggles, in the current political climate.

We hope you can join us to take part in the discussion.

Speakers:
Vincent Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights
Ryan P. Haygood, President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Marbre Stahly-Butts, Director of Partnerships at Law for Black Lives and Member of the Leadership Team for the Movement for Black Lives Policy Table
Iman Freeman, Co-Founder of Baltimore Action Legal Team

Moderator:
Gay McDougall, Member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Distinguished-Scholar-in-Residence at the Leitner Center and the Center on Race, Law and Justice

Event sponsors:
The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice
The Center on Race, Law & Justice
Center for Constitutional Rights
New Jersey Institute for Social Justice 
Black Law Students Association
The Coalition of Concerned Students
National Lawyer’s Guild
Stein Scholars

Light snacks and refreshments will be served afterwards.

Lectures and Panels