Kevin Woodson’s Post

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) Financial Associates Hugh Ebb and Jordan Dunbar spoke at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Black Law Society on November 20. They shared insights into their journeys as attorneys and the experiences that shaped their career paths. The Black Law Society promotes events and programs designed to foster professional development, leadership, and interpersonal skills while providing students with a deeper understanding of the legal field. The organization also seeks to empower minorities on campus to pursue careers in law and underscores the importance of diversity in the legal profession.

"All of us have to learn how to invent our lives, make them up, imagine them. We need to be taught these skills; we need guides to show us how. If we don't, our lives get made up for us by other people," Ursula K. Guin, hmm. In learning, there is this agency to apply. Not always get it - not until the end. Cycles of four years, and today is one: the conclusion of Black History Month and a day only recognized once in a while. Yet, I wonder if I feel like something is missing, one day for the next few years, in a time that I have subscribed to. Much to think about, while time remains rare. At what speed will my inventions tell, or at what derivative of function will my perception make. We will see. This newsletter, a part of history: a time that I am really here for. Some of last semester's happenings captured here by me, as the Historian of UHLC Black Law Students Association. I look forward to what comes of the rest of my time, here, in law school.

✨Cumberland School of Law alumnus Judge Houston Brown, JD '73, was recently celebrated by AP News for his role as a judge, mentor and community leader. 👏After becoming one of the first Black students to receive a Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law, Brown's career has been committed to positive change and community involvement, serving as a source of inspiration and leadership for other lawyers. ➡️Read more about his journey in this great feature by AP News: https://lnkd.in/gd-hCDYu

Have a read of my first article with The Student Lawyer for Black History Month below.

Did you know that Sarah Early was the first Black woman college professor? Watch this video to learn more about Professor Early’s groundbreaking career as an educator, author, abolitionist, and civil rights pioneer.

Choose powerful thoughts about yourself as a black lawyer and you will be bigger than your circumstances. You will learn to respond to the challenges of being black in a white world, instead of reacting to them. This is how you rise above them. This is how you win. To learn more about building the confidence to succeed as a black lawyer, join my free Webinar: HOW TO BE CONFIDENT This coming Friday 15th November, 2024 at 1pm UK / GMT You'll learn: 1. What Imposter Syndrome is and how you know you have it 2. The common mistakes you make when you want to feel confident 3. The simple way to overcome Imposter Syndrome so you can focus on what works 4. The essential tool that gives you the confidence to get to work 5. The 5 vital steps to building confidence in who you are This Webinar is free, but you must register to attend. Register here https://lnkd.in/em6s8GMp

✨ One of the most powerful and beautiful aspects of the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair is the way we pour into aspiring Black lawyers—not just with words, but with purpose, empowerment, and connection. 💡 This event is about more than preparing for law school; it’s about shifting mindsets, transforming perspectives, and building a legacy. Every ounce of effort, planning, and investment in this conference isn’t just for attendees to take and move on. It’s a call to action—a charge to each participant to pay it forward, to uplift others, and to make a meaningful impact in their communities. 🌟 Our voices, experiences, and presence carry power. And when we share them, we create ripples that inspire change. At this year’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, we were honored to witness Romario R. Ricketts, a proud 2019 conference alumnus and current law student at Penn State Dickinson Law, embrace this mission fully. He understood the assignment. 🎤🔥 Listen in as Romario R. Ricketts delivers a heartfelt and insightful BLACK PRE-LAW TALK to inspire the next generation of Black lawyers. This is what legacy-building looks like in action! 💪🏾⚖️ #BlackPreLaw #FutureBlackLawyers #NBPLConference20 #MindsetShift #LegacyInAction

In honour of Black History Month 2024, it is important to investigate how the continued lack of diversity at the biggest UK law firms has permeated all levels of seniority. With Black lawyers rarely advancing to partnership, we must ask ourselves why after a push for diversity in 2020, the proportion of Black partners typically decreases as the law firm size increases and how the legal industry can remedy this. Have a read of Imani Stewart’s recent article: Why aren’t Black Lawyers becoming Partners? https://lnkd.in/eE3bYyFZ #thestudentlawyer #blackhistorymonth #readnow #blacklawyers

Choose powerful thoughts about yourself as a black lawyer and you will be bigger than your circumstances. You will learn to respond to the challenges of being black in a white world, instead of reacting to them. This is how you rise above them. This is how you win. To learn more about building the confidence to succeed as a black lawyer, join my free Webinar: HOW TO BE CONFIDENT This coming Friday 15th November, 2024 at 1pm UK / GMT You'll learn: 1. What Imposter Syndrome is and how you know you have it 2. The common mistakes you make when you want to feel confident 3. The simple way to overcome Imposter Syndrome so you can focus on what works 4. The essential tool that gives you the confidence to get to work 5. The 5 vital steps to building confidence in who you are This Webinar is free, but you must register to attend. Register here https://lnkd.in/em6Jcj-b

Special thanks to my friend and fraternity brother, Dominique D. Calhoun, Esq. for joining me on the podcast for a powerful discussion about the work of the National Bar Association and how each of us has a role to play in protecting civil and political rights for all. Check out the episode below!