About Black Law Students Association

About

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is an advocate for the recruitment, retention, and educational development of students of African heritage and other minority law students enrolled at Michigan State University College of Law. BLSA seeks to unite these students in the common purpose of scholastic achievement through diverse educational, professional, and community service experiences. BLSA provides minority law students with the resources and tools necessary to obtain the Juris Doctor degree and pass state bar examinations.

BLSA seeks to bolster the minority presence in the legal profession by:

• Promoting unity within the Michigan State University College of Law minority law student community and the Law College community as a whole through diverse and collaborative programming designed to raise cultural awareness and involvement through mentorship, strategic and informational programming, electronic and print resources, and community service.
• Actively recruiting prospective minority candidates for admission to Michigan State University College of Law.
• Encouraging and supporting diverse individuals at all levels in their pursuit of legal education and training thereby enabling these individuals to be viable candidates in the admissions recruitment pool.
• Promoting community efforts within and beyond the legal realm, which aid, affect, and uplift the local, national, and international underrepresented communities.

History

In 1968, African-American law students at Detroit College of Law founded the Wolverine Student Bar Association (WSBA) / Black Law Students Association (BLSA) as an umbrella organization for Black law students enrolled at Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law), University of Detroit School of Law (now University of Detroit - Mercy School of Law), and Wayne State University Law School. Due to the rapid growth of the organization, each law school decided to maintain its own separate chapter with Detroit College of Law retaining the name WSBA/BLSA. WSBA/BLSA began with the founders and executive board members Edward J. Littlejohn, President; Alex J. Allen, Vice President; William D. Haynes, Secretary; and Clarence M. Bradfield, Treasurer.

Constitution and By-Laws (PDF)