Barrister's Ball
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The Barrister's Ball is an annual event held at most law schools in the United States. There are two different types of "Barrister's Balls".
[edit] African American
The term is used at many law schools to describe an event organized by the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). It is a semi-formal affair that affords African American law students with an opportunity to socialize with members of the legal community and to make contact with law firms prior to graduation. In addition, the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition and Nelson Mandela Scholarships are awarded annually at the ball. Although school chapters have the option of scheduling a date, the Ball is usually held during the first three months of the year. Various Student Bar Associations (i.e., the student government for the law school) provide financing for the costs associated with the program. Nationally, more than 100 such balls are produced annually.[1]
In 1968, Algernon Johnson Cooper, former mayor of Prichard, Alabama, founded the first Black American Law Students Association at the New York University Law School.
[edit] Other uses
At some law schools, the "Barrister's Ball" is not an African American-oriented activity, but instead refers to a semi-formal affair, often near the end of the academic year, conducted by the institution's Student Bar Association as a school-wide gathering.
