Advance registration deadline is 5 PM on Thursday, February 7th. Later registrations will be accepted, including the days of the events, but for planning purposes, please try to register by Thursday.

Keynote Speaker
J. Richard Cohen
President, Southern Poverty Law Center

"Justice is not something that's inevitable," says Cohen. "It's often denied to those who are poor or unpopular. Justice prevails only when dedicated people are willing to fight for it. That's what we do every day at the Southern Poverty Law Center." Over two decades at the Southern Poverty Law Center, Richard Cohen (UVA Law '79) has argued before the US Supreme Court (and won) desegregation in the Alabama Highway Patrol promotion practices, brought lawsuits that have put neo-Nazi groups out of business, and been involved in a wide variety of other civil rights initiatives.

Special Guest
Anne Milgram
New Jersey State Attorney General

Before joining the New Jersey State Attorney General's office, Ms. Milgram worked in the criminal section of the US Department of Justice's civil rights division, becoming the lead federal prosecutor in the nation for human trafficking crimes. While at the Department of Justice, Milgram successfully prosecuted hate crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor and domestic servitude cases nation-wide. She became New Jersey's Attorney General in 2007.

About the Conference

Founded by law students at the University of Virginia nine years ago, the Conference on Public Service and the Law brings together students, faculty, attorneys, and policymakers to explore public interest issues facing today's legal community and related career paths for young attorneys.

Past conferences have drawn more than 500 law students and close to 100 panelists from across the country. Keynote speakers have included Virginia Governor Tim Kaine; Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy '59; ACLU President Nadine Strossen; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano '83.

Questions, comments, or suggestions? Contact the 2008 Conference Co-chairs, Natalie Blazer (nrb5x@virginia.edu) and Nicole Flatow (nf3j@virginia.edu).