In honor of Black History Month, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at the Chicago-Kent College of Law is proud to announce a new program entitled the “Ida Platt Forum” in celebration of the first African-American woman to be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. The event will focus on race, advancing the rule of law, and feature trailblazing Black women making strides within the legal profession.

In the first iteration of the program, we have invited the Honorable Ann Claire Williams (Ret.), one of only two people of color to ever serve on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The panel will be moderated by Associate Professor of Law Kimberly Bailey, another phenomenal Black woman in her own right. Topics of discussion will include being working moms as Black women, navigating the complexities of the law, their commitment to public service and civic engagement, advice to law students/young lawyers, and her path to the federal bench.

You can register for the event, which will take place on Thursday, February 24th, 2022, at 6 p.m. CST via Zoom here.