2017 Conference Overview
Draft Conference Schedule
Updated 4/28/2017                       

Wed., June 7, 2017

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM New Pre-Law Advising Training at Chapman University Fowler School of Law, Donald P. Kennedy Hall (southwest corner of Sycamore and Glassell), One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866 | (714) 628-2515  | Map & Directions | Parking:  Email Allison Takeda (takeda@chapman.edu) for a parking permit. | Wi-Fi

The basics that new and relatively new pre-law advisors need to know about the profession. This three-hour workshop will cover the foundation of pre-law advising including: personal statement considerations, the admissions process, application components and timeline, LSAT preparation considerations and LSAC pre-law advisor account and resources, among other topics.

4:30 PM to 6:00 PM Concurrent Sessions at Chapman University Fowler School of Law
  • Supporting First Generation and Community College Students (Track 5) Fowler School of Law Office of Admission developed two new programs to support first generation and community college students.  The first is receiving approval for the grant for a DiscoverLaw.org PLUS Program that will begin Summer 2017.  The five-week residential program is focused on community college students seeking to be future lawyers.  The second program provides support to current law students who self-identified as first generation college students.  Specific topics and skills are discussed, such as library research skills and notetaking, study tips from current 2Ls and 3Ls on how to prepare for finals, and career service resources to help prepare to secure internships, externships, and summer associate positions.  A presentation will be given to discuss both programs in more detail plus a panel of students to provide insight, feedback, and recommendations for pre-law advisors.
  • Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admissions Process: “Red Flags, Disclosures and Determinations” (Track 1) Attorneys are expected to possess good moral character, and are bound to the highest levels of professionalism, civility and ethical conduct. Prospective law students are held to the same high standards of disclosure, truth, and accuracy through the entire law admission process‐ even when applying to law school. Upon a finding of misconduct or irregularity, a prospective law student may even find that their offer of admission to their dream school may be revoked. Admissions Committees encounter a variety of common mistakes that run the gamut from minor needs for revision in an application answer to full-blown accusations of misconduct on the LSAT or submitting false information in an application. Pre‐Law Advisors can and should act as the first line of defense in educating law school applicants on these common pitfalls and consequences. In our session, we plan to discuss common “red flags” in the law school application review process, how to avoid these mistakes, and the consequences they incur by making these mistakes. We'll be able to share the perspective of a member of a law school admissions committee who has been exposed to some of these issues in application review. We'll also share the perspective of a member of LSAC's Misconduct and Irregularities Committee, and during this time I'd plan to discuss the purpose of the committee and the process an applicant goes through when they are reported to the committee. 
                                                                  
Thurs., June 8, 2017

10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Concurrent Sessions at California Western School of Law, 225 Cedar Street San Diego, CA 92101 | (619) 239-0391  | Map & Directions  | Parking:  The Law School does not provide parking. There is free street parking around in the neighborhoods to the north, west and east. There are metered, two-hour parking spaces and myriad pay lots nearby. See Parking for more information. | Wi-Fi will be made available upon arrival.

  • “Law Graduate Voices:  What does it mean to be $100,000 in debt? (or $200,000, or $50,000, or $0)” (Track 1)  The goal of “Law Graduate Voices” is to hear from recent law school graduates about their experiences dealing with debt after graduation.  After a short presentation on financial aid resources available to pre-law advisors, the highlight of the program will be a panel of 3 to 4 recent graduates representing a variety of possible post-graduation outcomes.   They will share with the audience their personal financial situation as well as how their debt affects their lives.  The panel will be interactive, with questions coming directly from the audience.
  • Advising Students about Financial Aspects of Law School -- Net Cost Trends (2010-2014) Across Different LSAT Categories and Practical Tools, Resources, and Strategies to Help Students Navigate Law School Financing to Impact Financial Wellness upon Graduation (Track 1) This presentation will review the results of a dynamic net cost model (tuition less scholarship) that distributes entering students in fall 2010 through fall 2014 into six LSAT categories (165+, 160-164, 155-159, 150-154, 145-159 and <145) with six corresponding cost categories ($0-10K, $10K-20K, $20K-30K, $30K-40K, $40K-50K, $50-60).  The model shows that net cost has increased for those at the high LSAT and low LSAT ranges while net cost has remained relatively flat or decreased for those in the middle LSAT ranges.  Moreover, reflecting the changing pool of applicants, all LSAT categories have seen the average rank of law school attended improve over this period. Regardless where students find themselves, law school is an important investment. How can you help your students make more informed decisions on financing this most important investment?  Learn about the practical tools and resources, schools can use to help students make the best financial decisions so that they can be financially well grounded when they leave law school.  

1:30 PM to 2:15 PM LSAC Report at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, 1155 Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 | (619) 297-9700 | Directions from I-8 to 1155 Island Avenue: 1. Head west on I-8 W toward Exit 5 2. Take exit 4A to merge onto CA-163 S toward Downtown 3. Continue onto 10th Ave. 4. Turn left at Island Ave. 1155 Island Ave. is on the right. |  Directions from I-5 to 1155 Island Avenue: 1. Head south on I-5 S 2. Take exit 1A to merge onto CA-163 S 3. Continue onto 10th Ave. 4. Turn left at Island Ave. 1155 Island Ave. is on the right. | Parking: Please park in the San Diego Padres Parkade. Entrance to the Parkade located near 433 10th Avenue (10th Avenue & J Street), San Diego, CA 92101. Please park in any spot on levels 6 through 9 only. Bring your parking entrance ticket with you to receive a validation sticker from the Admissions Office. In and out privileges not permitted. | Wi-Fi will be made available upon arrival.   

The most recent updates from LSAC and a review of the current test taking, application, and enrollment trends based on the 2016-2017 admission cycle data.

  • 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Plenary at University of San Diego School of Law, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110-2492 | (714) 459-1101 | Map & Directions | Parking: Metered parking is available in The Missions.  You may ask for directions at the security kiosk.  | Wi-Fi will be made available upon arrival.

​Advising Undocumented and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) Students Going to Law School (Tracks 5 & 6)
In this presentation by law school admissions deans and faculty experts on immigration, pre-law advisors will be provided with information on how to advise undocumented and DACA students applying to law school based on the latest information available at the time of the conference. This presentation will include a description of the challenges that these students face, as well as resources and avenues available to them to pursue a legal career, during and after law school and in applying to the bar.

                                      
Fri., June 9, 2017

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Concurrent Sessions at Western State College of Law at Argosy University, 1 Banting, Irvine, CA 92618-3601 | (714) 459-1101 | Map & Directions | Parking: Please see front lobby receptionist for complimentary parking pass. | Wi-Fi will be made available upon arrival.

  • The Legal Job Market and What Employers Look for When Hiring (Track 2) A two-part program about the current legal job market (using NALP’s most current data) with a panel of employers talking about what they look for when they hire law students for summer and permanent positions.  The goal is to give pre-law advisors some “ammunition” they can use when talking to pre-law students about expectations “out in the real world.” 
  • Pathways to Law School – 2+2+3 Programs (Tracks 5 & 6) 24 California Community Colleges, 6 undergraduate institutions and their respective law schools are participating in this program to offer advancement in the legal profession for students from diverse and traditionally underrepresented populations in the legal profession. This presentation will include a panel from some of these participant institutions and will discuss the progress, challenges, and anticipated benefits of this program.
​
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM Concurrent Sessions at University of California, Irvine School of Law, 401 E. Peltason Drive, Suite 1000, Irvine, CA 92697-8000 | (949) 824-0066 | Map & Directions | Parking:  Please pay at the kiosk. | WiFi.pdf
  • Career Center Deans - Preparing Pre-Law Students to Hit the Ground Running: Beyond the Academic Pipeline (Tracks 2 & 6) Starting law school with little to no exposure to fields of law and being unprepared for their career development can be just as damaging to future JDs as being underprepared academically. In addition to being prepared for the rigors of law school, pre-law students should also be prepared to take advantage of the para-professional experiences they must pursue during law school (clerkships, clinics, internships, externships) to be as practice-ready as possible for an effective transition into their careers. This is an opportunity for Career Center Deans to guide pre-law advisors on what JD students are expected to do for this part of their legal education AND to provide suggestions for pre-law advisors to share with their students for basic exploration and exposure to various fields of law as undergraduates.
  • Best Practices for Programing: A Guided Roundtable Discussion on Various Event Formats and Programming for Pre-Law Advisors from Different-Sized Institutions (Track 4)  This presentation will include a discussion on collaborative partnerships that pre-law advisors can forge at their institutions to streamline efforts, reduce costs, and distribute effort among various interested partners to create effective programming with greater participation and engagement from students and law school representatives.

3:30 PM to 5:00 PM Plenary at University of California, Irvine School of Law, 401 E. Peltason Drive, Suite 1000, Irvine, CA 92697-8000 | (949) 824-0066 | Map & Directions | Parking:  Please pay at the kiosk. | WiFi.pdf

Join the Admissions Deans from our host law schools for an insightful panel discussion about law school admissions. They will share their perceptive and give their best advice for guiding students as they prepare for admission to law school and for a career in law taking into account recent and trends and developing dynamics in the current legal market.

Sat., June 10, 2017

9:15 AM to 10:15 AM Breakfast at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Santa Ana - Orange County Airport, 201 East MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92707 | (714) 442-1979 | Map & Directions

10:15 AM to 11:15 AM PCAPLA Meeting for Advisors and Law School Reps at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Santa Ana - Orange County Airport
Pacific Coast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (PCAPLA) | Contact