Racial Justice Toolkit: UB Law School Courses & More
UB Law School Resources & Contacts
Career Fairs & Other Events
- National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) 39th Annual Conference and Job FairTuesday, Aug. 2, 2022
9:00 a.m. | Virtual
8:00 a.m. – Registration
Contact: NBPA NBPAJobFair2022@dany.nyc.gov
Organized by NBPA.
All law students are invited to attend. The goal of the NBPA Job Fair is to promote diversity in prosecutors’ offices by providing a forum in which law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels. UB Law Students: Visit SIP for registration and more information.
-- Cost: Free for law students or 2022 law graduates, $25 for attorneys, if registered by July 1, 2022.
-- Cost: $50 for law students and 2022 law graduates, $100 for attorneys, after July 1, 2022. - Empire State Legal Diversity Career FairFriday, Aug. 12, 2022
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., UB Center for Tomorrow (North Campus)
Contact: Bar Association of Erie County baec@eriebar.org / 716-852-8687
Organized by The Bar Association of Erie County, UB School of Law, Minority Bar Association of WNY.
Law students, JDs and licensed attorneys are invited. The career fair is open to all applicants, with the goal of increasing representation of people from diverse racial, religious, ability, gender and sexual orientation backgrounds. - NYS Public Defender Career FairHosted by UB 's Career Services Office (CSO) annually. Includes links to recordings of presentations and live panels, and a link to an Employer Directory.
UB Law School Resources & Contacts
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (UB School of Law)"The School of Law’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion works with students, faculty, administrators, and staff to promote diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency throughout all levels of the School of Law."
Links to:
--Goals
--Mission Statement
--How We Achieve Diversity
--Tools for You (Special Sessions; Communications; Student Groups; Resources) - Law School Legal Clinic ProgramThe Law School's clinical offerings involve "cutting-edge issues and complex matters in which creativity and innovation play key roles in serving clients effectively."
Current Clinics include: Access to Justice Hybrid Clinic, Animal Law Clinic, Civil Rights & Transparency Clinic, COVID Legal Response Clinic, Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic, Environmental Advocacy Clinic, Entrepreneurship Law Center Clinic, Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic, Mediation Clinic, Puerto Rico Recovery Assistance Legal Clinic, and U.S.-Mexico Border Clinic - Buffalo Public Interest Law Program (BPILP)"Commonly referred to as BPILP, the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program was founded at the School of Law in 1979. The goal of its founding members was to encourage law students to use their talents to bring equal access to those in need of legal help. Since 1993, this goal has been accomplished through providing competitive fellowships to law students who spend their summers working in the public interest sector."
- JD/MSW dual degree programUB School of Social Work is a leader in the US on trauma informed care and restorative justice. The third year of the program includes a full year placement at a student selected legal placement to fulfill requirements of both programs. Placements have include Buffalo City Court Treatment Courts, Legal Aid Attorney for the Child Unit, Neighborhood Legal Services Housing and Family Units
- Pro Bono Scholars Program"The School of Law's Pro Bono Scholars Program gives third-year law students the opportunity to take the February New York State Bar before they graduate, then work full-time in a pro bono placement while taking one course for their final semester of law school....This program was initiated by the NY Court of Appeals in 2015..."
- Fall Pro Bono Week (October)Tabling by pro bono agencies in Western New York (Buffalo, Rochester, Southern Tier) for volunteer, externship and paid positions.
- Externships"The School of Law offers more than fifty externships and judicial externships to students each semester for academic credit. These externships provide enriching opportunities for law students to directly observe the real world practice of law...."
- Externships: Course listings by area of practiceMany are social justice oriented in both civil and criminal practice
- Discover Law Undergraduate Scholars ProgramHow can we make the legal profession look more like America? By giving dozens of bright young scholars a taste of law school life and opening their imaginations to the rewarding possibilities of a legal career. The program is helping to diversify law school classes, and eventually the profession, one promising young person at a time.
Other UB Offerings, Events, and Resources
Other UB Offerings, Events, and Resources
- “Law Distributes: Housing and Credit in Poor Black Neighborhoods”
Friday, September 16, 2022,
12 -2 PM (ET)
Charles B. Sears Law Library, John Lord O’Brian Hall
University at Buffalo, (North Campus)
Fall 2022 Mitchell Lecture
featuring Duncan Kennedy, Professor of General Jurisprudence (Emeritus), Harvard Law School
Watch a Livestream of the Lecture via Zoom
Like other well-intentioned progressives, legal advocates for residents of poor Black neighborhoods face a persistent accusation: that their efforts hurt the very people they mean to help. Disputing this charge, Professor Kennedy will propose a method for evaluating a wide range of legal reform projects.
Immediately following the lecture, Professor Kennedy will discuss his proposal with UB Law’s experts in housing policy (Professor Heather Abraham), political economy (Professor Matthew Dimick), and issues of race, gender, and class (Professor Athena Mutua).
A reception will follow. The entire program is free and open to the public, though registration is required.
- Teaching Black History ConferenceFri.-Sun. July 22-24, 2022.
This event will be held at City Honors School, 186 E. North St. in Buffalo. Participants may attend in person or virtually and are eligible to receive up to 20 professional development credits. Guests may register on the conference website.More information is available here: UB to host international conference on teaching Black history
- Final Report, UB President’s Advisory Council on RaceJune 1, 2022
Executive Summary
Faculty Recruitment, Mentoring and Retention
Scholarship, Tenure and Recognition
Staff Recruitment, Mentoring and Advancement
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Student Experience and Programs
Inclusive Space
Community Engagement
Final Report and Key Documents - UB Office of the Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence (VPIX)Inclusive Excellence Resources include:
Resources Within Schools; Inclusive Pedagogy Resources; Heritage Months; LGBTQ+ Resources; Policies and Reports;Trainings and Toolkits; and Video Resources
UB Faculty Experts
- Racial Justice Faculty Experts (UB News Center)University at Buffalo experts are available to discuss systemic racism, racial inequality and the fight for racial justice in all sectors of society, including in the context of Black Lives Matter and other activism.
Friday, September 16, 2022,
12 -2 PM (ET)
Charles B. Sears Law Library, John Lord O’Brian Hall
University at Buffalo, (North Campus)
Fall 2022 Mitchell Lecture
featuring Duncan Kennedy, Professor of General Jurisprudence (Emeritus), Harvard Law School
Watch a Livestream of the Lecture via Zoom
Like other well-intentioned progressives, legal advocates for residents of poor Black neighborhoods face a persistent accusation: that their efforts hurt the very people they mean to help. Disputing this charge, Professor Kennedy will propose a method for evaluating a wide range of legal reform projects.
Immediately following the lecture, Professor Kennedy will discuss his proposal with UB Law’s experts in housing policy (Professor Heather Abraham), political economy (Professor Matthew Dimick), and issues of race, gender, and class (Professor Athena Mutua).
A reception will follow. The entire program is free and open to the public, though registration is required.