About the LEAP Conference
An Access to Legal Education Collaboration
The University of Tennessee College of Law is excited to announce the LEAP Conference, focused on expanding access to legal education. This year’s conference highlights pipeline programs that are making an impact in the East Tennessee region. Join us as we hear from those who experience, create, and seek to understand the legal education pipeline, from all levels of pre-collegiate education to law school. Mark your calendars for a day of insightful keynote addresses, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops aimed at sharing and building upon successful initiatives and practical tools for optimally inspiring and supporting students along their journey to law school and the legal profession.
We hope you will join us for this exciting opportunity to connect with others dedicated to increasing access to legal education.
The LEAP Conference is approved for 1.5 General CLE credits and 1 Dual credit in Tennessee
Register for the Conference
Schedule for April 5, 2025
8:30 - 9 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast
9 - 9:15 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Lonnie T. Brown, Jr., Dean & Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
- Briana Rosenbaum, Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement & Associate Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
9:15 -9:45 a.m.
Call to Action Address – Building, Maintaining, and Improving Pathways to Justice
- Angela Winfield, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Law School Admission Council
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
Access Innovators: Access to Legal Education Programs in East Tennessee
Facilitator: Carlos A. Yunsan, Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law & Immediate Past President, Knoxville Bar Association
Panelists:
- Suzanne H. Bauknight, United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Tennessee, Adjunct Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law, & Coordinator of Justice for All Program
- Jacqueline O’Bryant, Assistant Dean, Access & Multicultural Affairs, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
- Ernest L. Brothers, Associate Dean, The Graduate School & Past President, Conference of Southern Graduate Schools
- Dimend Little, Founder of Persist Scholars Pre-Law Program & Tennessee Law JD Candidate, 2027
- James Snodgrass, Attorney, Kramer Rayson LLP & Barristers President, Knoxville Bar Association
This panel will highlight existing programs and initiatives focused on increasing access to legal education. Presenters will share success stories and lessons learned, challenges encountered, observed gaps in services, and opportunities for innovation.
10:45 - 11:30 a.m.
Reports from the Pipeline
Facilitator: Terence Norman, Jr., Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Fellow & Tennessee Law JD Candidate, 2025
A moderated panel of current law students discussing their experiences along the path to law school and sharing their insights on making legal education more accessible. Topics will include: barriers to access, experiences that contributed to success, and suggestions for improving the pipeline.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Barriers to Legal Education
Facilitator: Michelle Kwon, Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
Panelists:
- Rukiya Foster, A.S.C.E.N.D. Freshman Academy Principal, Austin-East Magnet High School
- Laura Fonseca, Senior Director of DEI Programs and Initiatives, Law School Admission Council
- Adriannette Williams, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Lincoln Memorial University
- Angela Winfield, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Law School Admission Council
Moderated discussion focused on the challenges students face along the journey to law school and the work being done across the country to address these barriers. This panel will offer a comprehensive look at the intersection of research and real-world experience, addressing the challenges that can hinder student success, and exploring how pipeline programs can better support students and promote access to legal education.
12:30 - 1 p.m.
Lunch Pickup & Networking Break
1 - 2 p.m.
Breakout Lunch & Workshop Sessions
Breakout Session Leaders:
- Joy Radice, Director of Clinical Programs and Associate Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
- Charisse Heath, Director of Academic Success & Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law
- Lucy Jewel, Joel A. Katz Distinguished Professor of Law & Director of Legal Writing, University of Tennessee College of Law
Participants will attend one of several working breakout sessions. Attendees will leverage the diverse experience and expertise in the room to identify gaps in services, generate ideas, and develop practical tools that community partners can use to coordinate efforts, strengthen existing programs, and launch new initiatives.
2 - 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Session Debriefing
Breakout groups will reconvene for a facilitator-lead debrief focused on discussing challenges, collecting insights, creating action steps, and applying lessons learned.
2:45 - 3 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Tennessee Law plans to collect program information, ideas, and action items during the Conference to compile a Call to Action Summary Report that will be distributed to all participants after the Conference.
3 - 5 p.m.
Reception, Rotunda (located on the first floor)
Please join us for light refreshments and an informal networking opportunity, where participants can continue to connect and discuss ways to improve access to legal education in Tennessee.
Parking Information
Parking for on-campus visitors is available in the Volunteer Hall Parking Garage, located at 1545 White Avenue. Volunteer Hall Parking Garage is across White Avenue from the College of Law.
- Turn onto White Avenue from 16th Street
- Turn left onto the downhill ramp to enter the garage directly across from the back entrance to the College of Law
- Enter the College of Law from the entrance across the street from Volunteer Hall parking garage.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the conference,
please reach out to Associate Dean Briana Rosenbaum at brianarosenbaum@utk.edu.
About the LEAP Conference
An Access to Legal Education Collaboration
The University of Tennessee College of Law is excited to announce the LEAP Conference, focused on expanding access to legal education. This year’s conference highlights pipeline programs that are making an impact in the East Tennessee region. Join us as we hear from those who experience, create, and seek to understand the legal education pipeline, from all levels of pre-collegiate education to law school. Mark your calendars for a day of insightful keynote addresses, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops aimed at sharing and building upon successful initiatives and practical tools for optimally inspiring and supporting students along their journey to law school and the legal profession.
We hope you will join us for this exciting opportunity to connect with others dedicated to increasing access to legal education.
Schedule for April 5, 2025
8:30 - 9 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast
9 - 9:15 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Lonnie T. Brown, Jr., Dean & Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
- Briana Rosenbaum, Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement & Associate Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
9:15 -9:45 a.m.
Call to Action Address – Building, Maintaining, and Improving Pathways to Justice
- Angela Winfield, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Law School Admission Council
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
Access Innovators: Access to Legal Education Programs in East Tennessee
Facilitator: Carlos A. Yunsan, Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law & Immediate Past President, Knoxville Bar Association
Panelists:
- Suzanne H. Bauknight, United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Tennessee, Adjunct Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law, & Coordinator of Justice for All Program
- Alexandra Brewer, Associate Director and Pre-Law Advisor, University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences Advising Services
- Ernest L. Brothers, Associate Dean, The Graduate School & Past President, Conference of Southern Graduate Schools
- Dimend Little, Founder of Persist Scholars Pre-Law Program & Tennessee Law JD Candidate, 2027
- James Snodgrass, Attorney, Kramer Rayson LLP & Barristers President, Knoxville Bar Association
This panel will highlight existing programs and initiatives focused on increasing access to legal education. Presenters will share success stories and lessons learned, challenges encountered, observed gaps in services, and opportunities for innovation.
10:45 - 11:30 a.m.
Reports from the Pipeline
Facilitator: Terence Norman, Jr., Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Fellow & Tennessee Law JD Candidate, 2025
A moderated panel of current law students discussing their experiences along the path to law school and sharing their insights on making legal education more accessible. Topics will include: barriers to access, experiences that contributed to success, and suggestions for improving the pipeline.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Barriers to Legal Education
Facilitator: Michelle Kwon, Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
Panelists:
- Rukiya Foster, A.S.C.E.N.D. Freshman Academy Principal, Austin-East Magnet High School
- Laura Fonseca, Senior Director of DEI Programs and Initiatives, Law School Admission Council
- Adriannette Williams, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Lincoln Memorial University
- Angela Winfield, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Law School Admission Council
Moderated discussion focused on the challenges students face along the journey to law school and the work being done across the country to address these barriers. This panel will offer a comprehensive look at the intersection of research and real-world experience, addressing the challenges that can hinder student success, and exploring how pipeline programs can better support students and promote access to legal education.
12:30 - 1 p.m.
Lunch Pickup & Networking Break
1 - 2 p.m.
Breakout Lunch & Workshop Sessions
Breakout Session Leaders:
- Sherley Cruz, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
- Charisse Heath, Director of Academic Success & Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law
- Lucy Jewel, Joel A. Katz Distinguished Professor of Law & Director of Legal Writing, University of Tennessee College of Law
Participants will attend one of several working breakout sessions. Attendees will leverage the diverse experience and expertise in the room to identify gaps in services, generate ideas, and develop practical tools that community partners can use to coordinate efforts, strengthen existing programs, and launch new initiatives.
2 - 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Session Debriefing
Breakout groups will reconvene for a facilitator-lead debrief focused on discussing challenges, collecting insights, creating action steps, and applying lessons learned.
2:45 - 3 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Tennessee Law plans to collect program information, ideas, and action items during the Conference to compile a Call to Action Summary Report that will be distributed to all participants after the Conference.
3 - 5 p.m.
Reception, Rotunda (located on the first floor)
Please join us for light refreshments and an informal networking opportunity, where participants can continue to connect and discuss ways to improve access to legal education in Tennessee.
Parking Information
Parking for on-campus visitors is available in the Volunteer Hall Parking Garage, located at 1545 White Avenue. Volunteer Hall Parking Garage is across White Avenue from the College of Law.
- Turn onto White Avenue from 16th Street
- Turn left onto the downhill ramp to enter the garage directly across from the back entrance to the College of Law
- Enter the College of Law from the entrance across the street from Volunteer Hall parking garage.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the conference, please reach out to Associate Dean Briana Rosenbaum at brianarosenbaum@utk.edu.