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 second annual Lawtina Network Summit with a welcome dinner on Friday Oct. 4, and sessions and events on 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. 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.
Attendees pose for a selfie with Chief Justice Dori Contreras of the Texas Thirteenth Court of Appeals and the Hon. Antonia (Toni) Arteaga (J.D. ’00), 57th District Court of Bexar County, at the 2022 Lawtina Network Summit.
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
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.
“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.
2023 Sponsorship Levels
MADRINAS - $3,000 or more:
COMADRES - $2,000:
AMIGAS - $1,000:
QUERIDAS- $500:
COMPAÑERAS- $300:
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
Lawtina Network Summit Schedule
Saturday, October 5 |
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| Times | Tracks | Events | Location |
| 8-9 a.m. | Moot Semi-Finals | ||
| 9:30 a.m. | ALL | Check-in and Breakfast | |
| 10 to 10:50 a.m. | ALL | Plenary Opener – Luminarias | |
| 10:50 to 11 a.m. | BREAK | ||
| 11 to 11:50 a.m. | Pre-law/Law | Law School Financial Literacy | |
| Legal Professionals | Lawtina Life Hacks | ||
| 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. | LUNCH – All participants | Lunch Panel- Building a Lawtina Familia (Support system, mental health, mentor/coaching) | |
| 12:50 to 1 p.m. | BREAK | ||
| 1 to 1:50 p.m. | Pre-law/Law Students | Know Your Worth | |
| Legal Professionals | Know Your Worth | ||
| 2:50 to 3 p.m. | BREAK | ||
| 3 to 3:50 p.m. | Pre-law | Resume/Cover Letter and Interview Workshop (Undergrad Legal Jobs, Law School Applications and more) | |
| Law Students | Resume/Cover Letter and Interview Workshop (Clerkships, Associate Positions and more) | ||
| Legal Professionals | Adelante: Career Advancement | ||
| ALL | Moot Final Round | ||
| 3:50 to 4 p.m. | BREAK | ||
| 4-6 p.m. | Pre-law | Law Fair/Closing Reception | |
| Law Students | Meet the Employers | ||
| ALL | Closing Reception/Networking Bingo | ||
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