The MSBA Children and the Law Section Presents

"The Annual State of the Child in Minnesota's Legal System Summit"

Beginning with a dynamic speaker, Nekima Levy-Pounds, Associate Professor of Law, Community Justice Project Director at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, our CLE will cover a range of issues facing Minnesota children. Legislative Panel: Speakers will cover the latest legislative session and what the resulting effects are on our children. They will also enlighten us of policies affecting MN children that may arise in the future session. Racial Disparities Panel: Speakers will cover the current trends, possible causes, and current work in the area of racial disparities within our criminal justice, child protection, and education systems. Perspectives from the Courts Panel: Speakers will cover current trends seen from the bench and from the practice in Juvenile Court. They will also cover positive efforts in MN of creating needed change within Juvenile Court and areas that still need work. We will also be presenting our Annual Child Advocate and Pro Bono Service Award.

7:30-8:30 Registration & Breakfast
8:30-8:40 Welcome & Introduction of Speaker
8:40-9:30 Opening Speaker & Q&A
9:30-9:40 Awards & Recognitions
9:40-10:40 Legislative Review Panel
10:40-10:50 Break
10:50-11:50 Racial Disparities Panel
11:50-12:00 Break & Snack
12:00-1:00pm Perspectives from the Courts Panel

Main Speaker and Topic:

Nekima Levy-Pounds - "In Pursuit of Justice & Equality for Children in Minnesota."

Nekima Levy-Pounds is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and the founder and director of the Community Justice Project, an award-winning civil rights legal clinic. Levy-Pounds teaches and trains law students to use the law as a tool to advance the cause of justice in society, especially on behalf of the poor and working poor. Levy-Pounds is a frequent commentator in the media on civil rights issues, a lecturer, public speaker, and scholar-activist. Levy-Pounds primarily focuses on issues at the intersection of race, poverty, and the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, as well as in challenging laws and policies that produce disparate outcomes for poor communities of color. Levy-Pounds was recently appointed as chairperson of the Minnesota State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and was awarded the 2011 Shanara Gilbert Award by the American Association of Law Schools.

Legislative Review Panel

Panelists:

Alexandra Fitzsimmons 
Legislative Affairs and Advocacy Director, Children's Defense Fund

Linda Miller - Click here for biography
Executive Director of Civil Society

Emily Baxter - Click here for biography
Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Council on Crime and Justice

Diana Hamilton - Click here for biography
Youth Law Project Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis

Racial Disparities Panel

Panelists:

Perry Moriearty - Click here for biography
Associate Professor of Clinical Law at the University of Minnesota Law School

Tribal Judge Andrew Small - Click here for biography
BlueDog, Paulson and Small, P.L.L.P

Tonya Long
Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, Youth Law Project Advocate

Angelique Kedem 
Site Manager, Burns Institute For Juvenile Justice Fairness & Equity

Perspectives from the Courts Panel

Panelists:

Judge Lucy Wieland -  Click here for biography

Irene Opsahl - Click here for biography
Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis

Andrew Gordon - Click here for biography
Legal Education Program Director, Legal Rights Center

Kelly Leaf
Hennepin County Guardian Ad Litem Program


2.5 hours of Standard and 1 hour of Elimination of Bias CLE credits approved

Event code: 159973

Details:

Date:   Friday, September 23, 2011
Time:   07:30 a.m. to 01:00 p.m.
Location:   MSBA Offices
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 380 Minneapolis, MN 55402 [Directions/Map]

Cost:

Section Members:  $10.00
MSBA Members (But Not Children Section Members):  $15.00
Non-MSBA Members:  $25.00
Nonprofit Lawyers:  $5.00
New Lawyers :  $5.00
Law Students:  Free

Teleconferencing is available. Please contact Tamara Patton at tpatton@mnbar.org or 612-278-6305 for teleconferencing information.

Cancellation Policy:

Refunds will be processed for cancellation requests received in writing on or before noon on the registration deadline. Requests should be directed to the event contact person listed at the bottom of this notice. Cancellation requests received after this time are not eligible for refunds. You may send a colleague in your place if you are unable to join us and the registration deadline has passed.

Requests for an exception to this policy should be directed to Elyse Farnsworth, Section Services Director, by e-mail or at (612) 278-6336