Events
About the Lawtina Network Summit
Inspired by the success of the Lawtinas in Training 1L Bootcamp in Summer 2021, alumna Brianna Chapa (J.D. ’23), founder of the Lawtina Network registered student organization, in partnership with St. Mary’s Law faculty, staff and community partners proudly invite you to the third annual Lawtina Network Summit with a welcome dinner on Friday Oct. 4, for all registered participants. The welcome dinner will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at La Fogata Alamo Heights location at 1133 Austin Highway, San Antonio, 78209.
The Lawtina Network Summit sessions and events will be held Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. The Lawtina Network Summit celebrates Latinas at all stages of their legal career—from pre-law to practice. The summit will include info sessions, relationship-building activities, and networking opportunities for pre-law and Latina lawyers across the country. For pre-law students, this year’s Law School Fair hit capacity with representatives from 12 law schools. This is a special opportunity for pre-law students.
As the Lawtina Network continues to grow, Chapa hopes to make it into a nonprofit organization with chapters in law schools across the nation. This event is open to all Latinas in law and non-Latina allies who support their success.
Tracks
Three tracks will be available for participants: Pre-Law (for aspiring law students), Lawtina-in-Training (for law students) and Lawtinas (for members of the bench and bar). Each track will address common issues, questions and concerns that a Latina in Law might face at that stage of their legal career.
Pre-Law Track
Focused on aspiring Lawtinas, our pre-law track will cover law school application basics, financing and selecting a law school, and will join some of the Lawtinas-in-Training track sessions.
Lawtinas-in-Training Track
Focused on accepted or enrolled J.D. students, Lawtina-in-training will explore how to develop and discover one’s law school identity, creating a healthy state of mind, surviving finals, balancing family commitments, time management, managing relationships and academic success.
Lawtinas, Members of the Bench and Bar Track
This track focuses on growth, mindset, and personal and professional development. This includes personal branding and navigating employment, from seeking to negotiating to excelling. Most of all, we provide the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other Latinas in the legal profession.
The reason I am a rising third-year J.D. student at St Mary’s School of Law is all thanks to the Lawtina Network Summit. As an immigrant without any guidance, I knew what my path was, but I did not know how to get there. Brianna Chapa, the founder of this wonderful organization, took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. Attending the first-ever online summit was an experience that will forever shape my legal career. Attending the in-person summit last year was a testament to how many lives the Lawtina Network has impacted, and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings.”
-Yuliana Gaytan Portillo
Third-year J.D. student, St. Mary’s University School of Law
Lawtina Network Summit Chair
Registration
This event is free for St. Mary’s faculty, staff and students. To request the promo code to register for free as a member of the St. Mary’s community, email lawtinanetwork@stmarytx.edu.
2024 Conference Registration Now Open
T-Shirt Pre-Sale Now Available
T-shirts can be purchased now and will be handed out at the summit.
2024 Sponsors
Title Sponsor
Madrinas Sponsor
Texas Latinx Judges
Comadres Sponsor
Linebarger Law Firm
Amigas Sponsors
The Hon. Toni Arteaga
The Hon. Robbie Partida-Kipness
Queridas Sponsors
DMCA – De Mott Curtright & Armendariz LLP Immigration and Nationality Law
Sara Dysart
Claudia Galan
The Hon. Luz Elena Chapa
Companeras Sponsor
Paulina Vera
MABA
The Lawtina Network Summit provided a sense of belonging and encouragement to pursue your dreams. The Summit introduced me to resources such as the Helix program, which helps students prepare for the LSAT. The Summit was a very special experience because I got to connect with my Lawtina sisters hear their stories and struggles and witness their perseverance in becoming a Lawyer. ‘No darse por venzer y echarle ganas emoderando nuestras Lawtinas’ is what the Lawtina Network showed me and provided for me a culture that I want to be a part of.”
-Paulina Felix
Pre-law student, Arizona State University
Sponsorship Opportunities
St. Mary’s University School of Law is pleased to host this important event again. We need your continued support and participation to continue to make this event meaningful and innovative. We hope that you consider some of the options below.
2024 Sponsorship Levels
MADRINAS – $3,000 or more:
- Registration for six (6) to attend the Lawtina Network Summit (includes closing reception).
- One (1) reserved table at the Lawtina Network Summit closing reception (10 seats).
- One (1) reserved company table at the Lawtina Meet the Employer Fair.
- Acknowledgment of your contribution and listing of company name on the Lawtina Network webpage.
- Acknowledgment of your contribution and listing of company name on television monitors in the opening slideshow and event signage.
- Three (3) mentions on Lawtina social media channels.
- Recognition of your contribution during the dean’s address.
COMADRES – $2,000:
- Registration for four (4) to attend the Lawtina Network Summit (includes closing reception).
- One (1) reserved table at the Lawtina Network Summit closing reception (10 seats).
- One (1) reserved company table at the Lawtina Meet the Employer Fair.
- Acknowledgment of your contribution and listing of company name on the Lawtina Network webpage.
- Acknowledgment of your contribution and listing of company name on television monitors in the opening slideshow and event signage.
- Two (2) mentions on Lawtina social media channels.
- Recognition of your contribution during the dean’s address.
AMIGAS – $1,000:
- Registration for two (2) to attend the Lawtina Network Summit (includes closing reception).
- Registration for five (5) guests to attend Lawtina Network Summit closing reception.
- One (1) reserved company table at the Lawtina Meet the Employer Fair.
- Acknowledgment of your contribution and listing of company name on the Lawtina Network webpage.
- A listing of your company name as a sponsor on television monitors in the opening slideshow and event signage.
- A mention on Lawtina social media channels.
- Recognition of your contribution during the dean’s address.
QUERIDAS- $500:
- Registration for two (2) to attend the Lawtina Network Summit (includes closing reception).
- Registration for two (2) guests to attend Lawtina Network Summit closing reception.
- One (1) reserved company table at the Lawtina Meet the Employer Fair.
- Acknowledgment of your contribution and listing of company name on the Lawtina Network webpage.
- A listing of your company name as a sponsor on television monitors in the opening slideshow and event signage.
- Recognition of your contribution during the dean’s address.
COMPAÑERAS- $300:
- Registration for one (1) to attend the Lawtina Network Summit (includes closing reception).
- Registration for one (1) guest to attend Lawtina Network Summit closing reception.
- Acknowledgment of your contribution and listing of the company name on the Lawtina Network webpage.
- Recognition of your contribution during the dean’s address.
Sponsorship payment can also be made by check to St. Mary’s University School of Law, specifying Lawtina Network Summit in the subject line. Checks can be mailed to:
St. Mary’s University School of Law
Attn: Office of the Dean
1 Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228
Going to the Lawtina Network Summit was an eye-opening experience. I learned from guest speakers who detailed their careers and experience as attorneys. Also, I learned a lot of helpful information on applying to law school. I even got to speak to recruiters from my top choice of law schools.”
-Victoria Borjas
Pre-law student, University of Texas at San Antonio
2024 Confirmed Speakers
- Plenary: Dolores S. Atencio presenting Luminarias: An Empirical Portrait of the First Generation of Latina Lawyers
- Marisol Perez
- Marissa Bono
- Jill Cruz
- Laura Peña
- Patricia Diaz Dennis
- Claudia Arevalo
- Lorena Fernandez
- Laura Tamez
- The Hon. Catherine Torres-Stahl
Lawtina Network Summit Schedule
| Times | Tracks | Events | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:30 to 10 a.m. | ALL | Check-in and Grab Breakfast | |
| 10 to 10:10 a.m. | ALL | Welcome | |
| 10:10 to 11 a.m. | ALL | Plenary Opener – Luminarias | |
| 11 to 11:10 a.m. | BREAK | ||
| 11:10 a.m. to noon | Pre-Law/Law | Law School Financial Literacy | |
| 11:10 a.m. to noon | Legal Professionals | Lawtina Life Hacks | |
| Noon to 12:15 p.m. | ALL | Lunch service begins | |
| 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. | ALL | Still Too Few and Far Between: The Status of Latina Lawyers in the U.S. | |
| 1:45 to 2 p.m. | BREAK | ||
| 2 to 3:15 p.m. | ALL | Know Your Worth | |
| 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. | BREAK | ||
| 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Pre-Law | Law School Fair featuring 12 law schools | |
| 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Law/Legal Professionals | Meet Employers and Network (Attorneys can mingle) | |
| 4 to 5 p.m. | Moot Court Finals | Oral Arguments – Open | |
| 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. | ALL | Opening of Exhibit and Closing Reception |
Hotel Accommodations
Special group rates are available for Lawtina Network Summit participants.
Hotel Gibbs
105 N. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78205
SpringHill Suites (Medical Center)
3636 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78201
Ground Transportation
The School of Law will provide transportation to and from the conference hotels, and university campus. Should you wish to drive to San Antonio or utilize a rental car while in town, both hotel locations offer valet parking for a fee.
Uber and Lyft have a robust presence in San Antonio for attendees hoping to schedule independent transportation.
Contact Us
For questions about the summit, email lawtinanetwork@stmarytx.edu. For information about sponsorships, call the Office of the Dean at 210-436-3530.
I was fortunate enough to participate in the Lawtina Network Summit, and I have never been so moved and inspired. The summit gave me so many resources that have helped me continue to move toward my future career. I met so many strong and wonderful Latina lawyers and judges who have used their experiences to empower every move that the Latina community continues to make. The main takeaway from this summit is that Latina law students are not alone. We have a community that is willing to encourage you and help you continue to work hard because we deserve our hard-earned successes. We need more Latinas within the legal system to show that we are just as strong as anyone else.
– Lisette Aguilla
Undergraduate student
University of Arizona