KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee College of Law will host a workshop and open house Feb. 17 to help minority students enter law careers.
Karen Britton, the college’s director of admissions, said the program on “Minority Students — Thinking About Law School?” gives high school seniors and college students advice on law school, applications and admissions.
“The UT College of Law has seen minority enrollment increase yearly since 1995 to its highest point ever,” Britton said. “The success of recent efforts such as this workshop are part of the reason for that increase.”
Britton said the college has about 480 students. Minority enrollment has risen from about 11 percent in 1996 to 15 percent today, she said.
Saturday’s workshop is set for 9 a.m.-noon at UT College of Law, 1505 W. Cumberland Ave. Admission is free. Participants may pre-register by calling the law college’s admissions office at (865) 974-4131.
Free parking is available in the faculty-staff section of the UT parking garage at 16th Street and White Avenue, just west of the law school building.
Sessions will focus on undergraduate curriculum planning, financing a legal education and understanding the application and admissions process. UT law students will host discussions about their law school experiences, and local minority attorneys will offer career advice.
Local attorneys participating include: TaKisha Fitzgerald, Knox County Assistant District Attorney; Clarence Risen, an associate with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, and Caldwell law firm; and Diona Eberhardt, Tennessee Supreme Court Judicial Clerk.
The workshop also is helpful to advisors, guidance counselors, teachers and principals, Britton said.
It is sponsored by the Law School Admissions Council, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knoxville Bar Association, and UT Arts and Sciences Advising Services.