Black Law Students Association

The Notre Dame Black Law Students Association (BLSA) was established in 1972, and is a chapter of the National Black Law Students Association. BLSA’s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black and minority attorneys who excel academically, succeed professionally, and influence the community positively.

The organization's objectives include fostering solidarity between Black law students, alumni, faculty, and staff; working with members of the Law School community to promote issues of social importance and create greater inclusivity; and addressing the pressing Civil Rights issues of the day. BLSA also seeks to provide its members with educational and technical opportunities to hone their professional competencies and legal skills.

BLSA welcomes all individuals and does not discriminate based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, nationality, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Current students, alumni, and prospective students are all encouraged to participate in BLSA activities.

In this section:

• Upcoming Events
• Past Events
• News & Publications
• Resources for Students
• Resources for Alumni
• Donate to BLSA

Upcoming Events

Affinity Alumni Reunion Weekend, March 20-21

The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Middle Eastern Law Student Association (MELSA) and Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA) will host our Alumni Reunion Weekends together, on Friday and Saturday, March 20-21, 2026, in conjunction with the Law School’s Admitted Students Weekend. This unique occasion offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with all three vibrant communities at Notre Dame Law School, and we invite you to support this landmark event.

Past Events

A Conversation with Dr. Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Central Park 5

As part of Notre Dame Law School’s inaugural Death Penalty Abolition Week, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) organized “A conversation with Dr. Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Central Park 5” and welcomed Yusef Salaam to speak to an audience of about 100 including students, faculty, and staff from across the University of Notre Dame, and the broader South Bend community.

Alumni Reunion Weekend: March 21-22, 2025

For the first time, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), and the Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA) hosted their Alumni Reunion Weekends together on March 21-22. This unique occasion offered a fantastic opportunity to engage with all three vibrant ND Law communities.

• BLSA Alumni Fireside Chat with Kevin Warren: Friday, March 21st
• Joint Affinity March Madness Game Watch: Friday, March 21st
• Joint Alumni Brunch & Panel with Mark Wattely & AJ Simonton: Saturday, March 22nd
• BLSA 52nd Alumni Reunion Gala with Jodi-Ann Quarrie: Saturday, March 22nd

State of the Law: A Discussion on One Year After Students for Fair Admissions

This discussion delved into the effects of Students for Fair Admissions on the law schools admissions process in leading law schools and the effects on ongoing efforts in law school and beyond to foster diverse and inclusive campus and work environments. Attendees gained insight into the evolving college admissions landscape and a renewed understanding of Notre Dame Law School’s unwavering commitment to fostering a diverse student body.

BLSA Alumni Tailgate

BLSA hosted an alumni tailgate. There was food, music, good vibes, and fellowship between JD, LLM, and JSD students and alumni.

Panelists included Leslie-Richards-Yellen, Chief Diversity Officer at Sidley Austin, Patricia Kinney, Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at Indiana University McKinney School of Law, and Karrah Herring, Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer for the State of Indiana.

View the photo gallery for our 2024 BLSA Alumni Weekend.

2024 BLSA Awards Ceremony

2023 Black History Month Day of Solidarity

2023 BLSA Alumni Spring Weekend 50th Reunion

• Thursday, March 23rd
  • Cocktail reception for those arriving early into town, sponsored by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
• Friday, March 24th
  • Weekend welcome reception with admitted students
  • Notre Dame Law School BLSA through the years – an alumni fireside discussion
  • March Madness game watch with NDLA Board members
• Saturday, March 25th
  • Daytime social outing at Generations Adventure Plex, sponsored by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
  • Alumni banquet and award ceremony
• Sunday, March 26th
  • BLSA farewell brunch

BLSA Homecoming Weekend: September 15-17, 2022

ND BLSA hosted its Alumni Homecoming Weekend September 15-17. The weekend commenced with its inaugural 1L Pinning Ceremony on Thursday evening to welcome its 16 new members to the BLSA community and debut our official BLSA lapel pin. On Friday, BLSA hosted the "Staying in the Game" Sports and Entertainment Law Panel which featured prominent leaders in the sports and entertainment industry.

Panelists included:
Raghib "Rocket" Ismael '94 B.A., Former NFL Wide Receiver
Ndidi Massay '93 J.D., Vice President of Workplace Culture & Diversity Initiatives at CBS Sports
Max Siegel '92 J.D., CEO of USA Track & Field
Mickey Carter '92 J.D., Executive Vice President of U.S. Network Distributions at Paramount Global
Jonathan Beane, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the NFL

Saturday wrapped up the weekend with the BLSA Alumni Brunch, during which Dean Cole provided a State of the Law School Address, followed by the NDLA Tailgate for the ND v. California game. Thank you to all of our students, alumni, and guests for making the weekend a huge success!

BLSA Alumni Spring Weekend: March 24-27, 2022

BLSA hosted alumni, current students, admitted students, faculty and friends for a four-day celebration of the community that BLSA has built over the last 50 years. The long weekend started with a welcome reception on March 24 sponsored by Bryan Cave. March 25 featured a cocktail reception with admitted students, followed by a fireside chat with Jackie Wilson II '07 J.D., Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the Brooklyn Nets, who was interviewed by BLSA President Monica Bell and Fitness Connection USA General Counsel Mauri Miller ’13 J.D. Following the fireside chat, weekend attendees gathered for a March Madness Sweet Sixteen gamewatch in the Commons. On Saturday, March 26, attendees had a continental breakfast and State of the Law School address by Law School Dean G. Marcus Cole. Attendees could also sit in on a symposium on race & the judiciary that was offered for CLE credit. That evening, attendees gathered for a banquet, where several current students were honored with awards and the new BLSA executive board was presented to the group. After dinner, Danisha Hall ‘11 J.D., director of US Leadership and Business Communications at McDonald’s, gave the keynote address, followed by a fireside chat with Hall and BLSA Vice President-Elect Jazmyn Ferguson, a 1L student. The weekend closed out with a farewell brunch sponsored by Faegre Drinker.

Check out highlights from the weekend in the photos and videos below:

• Facebook Photo Album
• Video: Fireside Chat with Jackie Wilson II, '07 J.D.
• Video: Banquet Welcoming Remarks, Student Awards, and New Executive Board
• Video: Banquet Keynote and Chat with Danisha Hall '11 J.D.

2021 BLSA Fall Banquet and Awards Ceremony: October 27, 2021

BLSA hosted and welcomed back alumni to campus for the 49th Annual Alumni Banquet. The program included a cocktail hour, an awards ceremony and dinner where current students, staff and fellow alumni gathered and connected with one another. The 49th Annual Alumni Banquet awardees included:

• Charles F. Crutchfield Professional Excellence Award— Dean G. Marcus Cole
• Alvin J. McKenna Alumnus of the Year— The Honorable Judge Cristal Brisco
• Rebecca B. Ward Appreciation Award— Mauri Miller
• For a full list of past winners, visit the Notre Dame Law School Scholarship Repository. Each award has a separate listing.

A Conversation with Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren ’90 J.D.

Notre Dame Law alumnus and Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren ‘90 J.D. joined Notre Dame Law School Dean G. Marcus Cole for a conversation at the Chicago Athletic Association the night before Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series game at Soldier Field. Read a recap of the event.

An Evening With Dean Cole: October 5, 2021

Dean G. Marcus Cole, the first person in his family to become a lawyer, shared his story with Notre Dame Law School students at an event co-sponsored with First Generation Professionals. See a video of the event below:

Black History Month Panel Discussion: February 16, 2022

A panel of Notre Dame Lawyers discussed the sources of their inspiration, overcoming challenges, advice for law students and young attorneys, and what it means to be a “different kind of lawyer.”

News and Publications

ND Law Black Law Students Association explores DEI challenges and opportunities following SCOTUS race-conscious admissions decision (Notre Dame Law School News, September 27, 2024)

Notre Dame Law students champion civil rights and liberties this summer with the ACLU (Notre Dame Law School News, August 2, 2024)

Peggy Brown Fellowship awarded to Notre Dame Law student Maya Joseph (Notre Dame Law School News, June 12, 2024)

Celebrating excellence: Notre Dame BLSA honors community leaders, students, and alumni (Notre Dame Law School News, May 13, 2024)

3L Jakim Aaron wins Black Excellence Award from Notre Dame Student Government (Notre Dame Law School News, February 13, 2024)

The DEI Podcast with Max Gaston Season 2 Episode 3: Perspectives of Black men in law school Part 2 (Notre Dame Law School News,

The DEI Podcast with Max Gaston Season 2 Episode 3: Perspectives of Black men in law school Part 1 (Notre Dame Law School News, December 11, 2023)

Notre Dame Black Law Students Association holds 50th alumni reunion (Notre Dame Law School News, April 19, 2023)

ND Law student Macio Sexton Jr. receives prestigious diversity scholarship from Ropes & Gray (Notre Dame Law School News, December 7, 2022)

2L Jazmyn Ferguson to speak at National Black Pre-Law Conference (Notre Dame Law School News, November 1, 2022)

Judge Ann Claire Williams '75 J.D. testified at Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson's hearing before Senate Judiciary Committee on March 24, 2022. See her testimony as part of a panel in this video. Williams' panel runs the first hour of the video.

Dean G. Marcus Cole speaks at Walk the Walk Week prayer service (Notre Dame Law School News, January 19, 2022)

Two BLSA leaders named journal editors-in-chief (Notre Dame Law School News, October 19, 2021)

ND Law student Samantha Contreras receives Michael Best Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship (Notre Dame Law School News, March 3, 2021)

Two ND Law students named National Black Law Students Association executives (Notre Dame Law School News, July 23, 2020)

"Building a More Inclusive NDLS," a co-hosted symposium between the Program on Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion and Notre Dame Law Review, hosted in 2021. Papers from the symposium are available here, including Dean Cole's essay, "I Am George Floyd. Except, I Can Breathe. And I Can Do Something" and Professor Veronica Root Martinez's "On Being First, on Being Only, on Being Seen, on Charting a Way Forward".

Resources for Students

Scholarships for Black students

External Scholarship Database, maintained by the Law School. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Resources for Alumni

Jackie Wilson II ’07 J.D. is the Notre Dame Law Association Board’s affinity representative for Black alumni.

Find more alumni resources at law.nd.edu/alumni.

If you would like to be added to our BLSA alumni listserv and receive information and updates on BLSA alumni events, please click on the button below to fill out a short form.

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• Instagram: @ndblsa
• Facebook: Notre Dame Law School BLSA
• Twitter: @ndlsblsa
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Donate to BLSA

Click here to donate directly to the Black Law Students Association.