Q: Who is the conference for?
A: Law students with disabilities and recent alumnae. The conference is intended as an open, safe space for students to interact with each other. Because recent graduates can offer some of the best information and advice, we welcome graduates to attend. However, this is an organization comprised of law students with disabilities. If you are not a law student with a disability or a recent law school graduate, but you would like to participate in the organization, please contact us to discuss how you can help.
Q: How can recent law school graduates get involved in the conference? And what role can alumnae play in the organization?
A:Disabled law school alumnae can offer insight and experiential learning to their younger peers on many topics, including entering the job market and career choices. Some of our panelists are recent alumnae, who are attending the conference in order to share their experiences and learn from each other.
Q: Are law school deans and directors of offices for students with disabilities allowed to attend the conference?
A: No, the conference is intended for students and recent graduates.
Q: What will happen at the conference?
A: On Friday, August 15, incoming 1L's will attend 1L Survival Day, a program designed to provide the information disabled law students need to thrive in their first year. Meanwhile, upper division 2L and 3L law students will be participating in the Impact Career Fair for Law Students with disabilities. http://www.law.arizona.edu/impact/welcome.cfm On Saturday, we plan a series of panels with disabled lawyers who work in the government and big firms, and a group of young alumnae recently out of school who can discuss their experiences with job searching and the bar. We also plan a substantive panel on the current state of disability rights law. That evening, at our banquet, we will hear a keynote from Judge Richard Brown, an appellate Judge with a disability. Sunday will be a half-day devoted to internal NALSWD information, including officer elections for the next year, a constitutional convention, and discussions of our future.
Q: What will happen at the 1L Survival day?
A: On Friday, incoming 1L’s will participate in 1L Survival Day, a series of discussions and workshops on the 1L experience of disabled law students. The day will focus on practical information about students legal rights, tips from current students on navigating law school with specific disabilities, and fostering mentoring and supportive networks across the country.
Q: Where is the conference?
A: Sheraton Crystal City 1800 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202 (703) 486-1111 Conference room rate: $109/night
There is also a room block at the Marriott across the street.
Q: What is the IMPACT Career Fair for Law Students and Lawyers with Disabilities? How can I register for it?
A: Impact is a nationwide career fair for law students and lawyers with disabilities, where public and private sector legal employers pre-screen and interview job candidates with disabilities. You can find out more about this excellent program at http://law.arizona.edu/impact/. Registration is open until July 11.
Q: I would like to help NALSWD and have a few hours to volunteer. What can I do?
A: There are several volunteer positions available, helping plan or run the conference, or fundraising for it and other NALSWD activities. Email nalswd.confdirector@gmail.com for more information.
Q: How much does the conference Cost?
A: Conference registration is free due to funding from private law firms. We can also offer a conference rate of $109/night on rooms at the Sheraton Crystal City. Rooms at the second room block at the Marriott cost $129/night. Travel from National Airport to the hotel by metro will cost less than $4 round-trip, and a cab ride will cost approximately $20 round-trip. We recommend that you bring approximately $30 for miscellaneous expenses, such as dinner on Friday night.
Your vocational rehabilitation office may be willing to fund some of your costs. We may be able to help you advocate for this. If you would like the letter we’ve composed to vocational rehabilitation counselors, email .
Q: Which meals will be provided to conference attendees?
Lunch is provided during 1L Survival Day, and Impact attendees are invited to a networking lunch. Impact and NALSWD are co-hosting a reception on Friday evening with light snacks. Breakfast, lunch, and a banquet dinner are provided on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday.
Q: who should I contact if I’d like to keep my travel costs down and share a room with another conference registrant?
A: Email . There are limited double rooms available.
Q: Who should I contact if I know of a law school, law firm or private donor interested in helping fund the conference?
A: Please email nalswd.cfo@gmail.com.
Q: Are there restaurants, bars and coffee shops inside the hotel?
A: There are restaurants in both the Sheraton and the Marriott.
Q: Are there restaurants, bars and coffee shops adjacent to the hotel?
A: Yes. There are sandwich shops and sit-down restaurants within easy walking distance. Details and explicit directions will be available in a guide to the area, coming in late July.
Q: Are there other airports I could fly into or is National airport the only one?
A: We strongly recommend flying into National. It is a short five minute cab ride from the conference hotel, and only slightly longer on the metro. Both Dulles and BWI are much farther away, and taking a cab from either would be extremely expensive.
Q: When I’m booking my airline tickets, how long should I allow traveling from National airport to the hotel and vice versa?
A: Five to ten minutes by taxi and fifteen to twenty minutes on the metro, depending on the time of day. The conference finishes at noon on Sunday, which allows plenty of time to reach the airport for mid-afternoon flights.
Q: Is the Washington D.C. Metro close to the hotel? If so, is it wheelchair accessible and which stop is closest to the hotel and vice versa? Where can I find a Metro map?
A: The Crystal City stop (blue line) is very close to the conference hotel. National Airport is also on the blue line. The metro is wheelchair accessible, with elevators to every platform. More information and maps is available at http://www.wmata.com
Q: During which hours is the Metro not running?
On the weekend the metro runs from 7 A.M. until 3 A.M.
Q: Will there be American Sign Language Interpreters during the conference?
A: Yes. Please indicate your need on the registration form.
Q: Will there be CART services available during the conference?
A: Yes. Please indicate your need for these services on the registration form.
Q: Will there be designated places for service animal relief?
A: Yes. Further details will be available in the guide to the hot
