ND Law’s Black Law Students Association leads workshop and shadow day for ND TRIO program | News | The Law School

A man wearing a light blue shirt, khaki pants, and a red tie gestures while presenting in a University of Notre Dame classroom. A woman wearing a black dress stands behind him. Projected on screens are University branding and presentation slides.

On Saturday, March 15, the ND TRIO Student Parent Leadership Conference brought together South Bend high school students and their parents to support their journey toward college success. The event focused on the theme “Telling Your Story,” highlighting the power of personal narratives in academic and professional settings.

As part of the conference, Notre Dame Law School’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) led an insightful workshop, guiding students on how to strategically share their stories to enhance their educational and career opportunities. Participants learned valuable techniques for crafting compelling personal statements, effectively discussing their experiences, and leveraging their backgrounds in both college applications and professional networking.

The BLSA workshop emphasized the importance of self-advocacy and authenticity, encouraging students to take ownership of their unique journeys. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, attendees gained confidence in articulating their experiences in ways that resonate with admissions officers, scholarship committees, and potential employers.

A student with long dark hair, wearing glasses, a navy Notre Dame Law School sweatshirt, and ripped jeans, stands with one hand on her hip. — Shadow Day attendee, Andrielle
Hickman,Senior at John Adams High
School:"I wore the sweater because I
wanted to feel confident and channel
excellencebefore a job interview after
school."

On March 20, BLSA hosted thirty South Bend area 9th-12th grade students at Notre Dame Law school for TRIO Talent Search’s annual Shadow Day, providing them with a firsthand experience of law school life. The day included a class observation, a tour of the Law School, and a lunchtime Q&A panel.

Three people wearing name tags stand in a hallway with light wood accents and reddish-brown patterned carpeting. They are smiling and have their hands clasped in front of them. The person on the left wears a light blue, long-sleeved shirt, khaki pants, and brown dress shoes. The center person wears a teal polo shirt, gray pants, and black shoes. The person on the right wears a black jumpsuit and black flats. — Nick Smith, Noah Washington,
and Kimberly West present
at the TRIO Student Parent
Leadership Conference

"The BLSA x Notre Dame TRIO collaboration was an idea passed over to us by ‘23–‘24 BLSA vice president, Luwam Gabreselassie and we just ran with it and did our best to make it happen. It truly felt fulfilling to pour into those bright-eyed, curious and well-engaged high school TRIO students, some of who have dreams of going on to law school and some who were just curious and eager to soak up everything we had to share with them,” said Nicholas Smith, 2L, BLSA President. “We were grateful for the opportunity to fulfill BLSA’s mission to positively impact both the ND Law community and our neighbors in South Bend and, in so doing, exemplify Notre Dame Law School’s ethos of being a ‘Different Kind of Lawyer.’"

For more information about the TRIO programs at the University of Notre Dame, visit their official website.

Two photos show students interacting. On the left, a student in a red shirt gestures while speaking to another student wearing a black puffer jacket. On the right, a student in a light blue puffer jacket sits in a plaid armchair, talking with another seated student. A person wearing a backpack walks past in the background.