
About the Lawtina
Network Summit
Inspired by the success of the Lawtinas in Training 1L Bootcamp in Summer 2021, third-year J.D. student Brianna Chapa, 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 sessions and events on Friday Oct. 6, and Saturday Oct. 7, 2023, 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.
Registration Information
2023 Conference Registration Dates
Registration is now closed.
2023 Sponsors
Title Sponsor

Madrinas Sponsor

Scholarship Sponsor
Jill Lynch Cruz, Ph.D.
Texas Latinx Judges
The Hon. Luz Elena D. Chapa, J.D.
Aida Rojas-Moore (J.D. ’01), Immediate Past President, St. Mary’s School of Law Alumni Association
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 - $5,000 or more:
COMADRES - $2,500:
AMIGAS - $1,500:
SCHOLARSHIPS- $500:
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
2023 Lawtina Moot Court Competition
The inaugural Lawtina Moot Court Competition will be hosted at the St. Mary’s University School of Law, in person, during the Lawtina Network Summit on Oct. 6 and 7, 2023. This competition embodies the Lawtina Network’s commitment to academic excellence and social justice with a specific focus on Latina empowerment. The goal of this competition is to inspire Latina law students to advocate on behalf of their clients on cutting-edge legal issues.
Registration opens on June 15, 2023. In an effort to host Latinas in law and non-Latina allies from law schools around the country, registration is reserved for non-St. Mary’s Law teams only. Payment is due by July 31, 2023.
The competition problem will be released on Aug. 7, 2023 by email.
Click here to learn more about the competition rules.
Competition Overview (Read before registering)
- Teams of two — No more than 18 teams
- Teams will be assigned a side to brief on Aug. 4, 2023.
- Briefs are due on Sept. 15, 2023.
- We welcome all visiting law students to register for this competition and practice appellate advocacy skills.
2023 Lawtina Moot Court Schedule
June 15: Registration opens for the Lawtina Moot Court Competition
July 31: Deadline to register
Aug. 4: Informational Zoom to explain competition and rules
Aug. 7: Problem released
Sept. 15: Briefs due
Sept. 22: Briefs released to competitors
Oct. 6: Preliminary rounds and quarterfinals
Oct. 7: Semifinals and final round
2023 Confirmed Speakers
- Juan Alcala
- The Hon. Antonio “Toni” Arteaga (J.D. ’00)
- Kathryn L. Cantu (J.D. ’23)
- Catherine Casiano (M.B.A./J.D. ’07), Assistant Dean of Admissions
- Briana Chapa (J.D. ’23), Founder
- The Hon. Dori Contreras
- Deborah Cordova (B.A. ’98, J.D. ’02)
- Leslie Espiricueta
- Natalie N. Garcia (J.D. ’22)
- Caitlin Hennessy (J.D. ’23)
- The Hon. Marina Garcia Marmolejo (M.A./J.D. ’96), LL.M., Jurist in Residence
- The Hon. Denise Hernandez
- Tanya Hernández, J.D.
- The Hon. Gloria Lopez
- Brenda Marichalar (J.D. ’23)
- Sabrina Milos
- Lydia Mount (J.D. ’98)
- Andrea Oñate
- Monica Palma (J.D. ’23)
- Marisol Perez (J.D. ’00)
- Sabrina Rodriguez (J.D. ’23)
- Amanda Rivas (J.D. ’09)
- Sarah Santoyo
- Christine Stuart
- Valerie Salcido
- The Hon. Cristina D. Silva
- Vanessa Suarez
- Paulina Vera, J.D.
Lawtina Network Summit Schedule
Friday, October 6 |
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8-10:30 a.m. | Moot Court Preliminary Round 1 and 2 (Moot Court Participants and Judges only) | LC103, LC104, and LC105 RABA rooms 103, 202, 205, and 207 |
9:30-10:30 a.m. | Conference Check-in Begins | (Sarita Kenedy East Law Library) |
10:30-11:30 a.m. | Bexar County LEAD: Networking — Students | Law Alumni Room |
11:30-12:15 p.m. | Helix Presentation — Students | LC 105 |
12:15-1:15 p.m. | Opening lunch and Recent Grads Panel | Law Commons |
1:15-1:30 p.m. | Break | |
1:30-2 p.m. | Relationship Building at Work and At School — Students | LC 105 |
1:30-2 p.m. | Networking Cafecito — Lawyers | Law Commons |
2-2:15 p.m. | Break (Prelaw and Law Students Split) | |
2:15- 3:15 p.m. | Prelaw: Admission Crash Course, Processes and Staying Organized with Applications | LC 103 |
Law Students: Studying, Grades, Extra Curriculars and Your Boundaries | LC 105 | |
Lawyers: Exploring Academia | LC 104 | |
3:15-3:30 p.m. | Break | |
Law Student: Bar Exam Mindset | LC 105 | |
Lawyer: Exploring the Judiciary | LC 104 | |
3:30-5:30 p.m. | Prelaw: Prelaw Fair | Law Alumni Room |
6:30-8 p.m. | Welcome Reception and Dinner at Pico De Gallo | 111 S Leona St, San Antonio, TX 78207 |
Saturday, October 7 |
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8-9 a.m. | Check-in and breakfast served | (Sarita Kenedy East Law Library) |
9-10 a.m. | Plenary Opener | Law Commons |
10-10:15 a.m. | Break | |
10:15-11:30 a.m. | Leverage Your Latinadad — Students | LC 105 |
Leverage Your Latinadad — Lawyers | LC 104 | |
11:30-Noon | Lunch Service Begins | |
Noon-1 p.m. | Judges Panel and lunch | Law Commons |
1-1:15 p.m. | Break | |
1:15-2:30 p.m. | Know Your Worth — Students | LC 105 |
Know Your Worth — Lawyers | LC 104 | |
2:30-2:45 p.m. | Break | |
2:45-3:50 p.m. | Moot Semifinal | LC 103, LC 104, and LC 105 RABA rooms 103, 202, 205, and 207 |
Tools For Success: Business | LC 104 | |
Tools for Success: Mental Health | LC 105 | |
3:50-4 p.m. | Break | |
4-5 p.m. | Moot Final Round | LC 102 |
6:30-8 p.m. | Closing Reception and Awards at Herrera Law Firm | 1800 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78207 |
Hotel Accommodations
St. Mary’s University School of Law is proud to offer two lodging options for Lawtina Network Summit attendees.
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. Transportation will be via charter bus. 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.