About

In 1968, Algernon Johnson (“AJ”) Cooper, former mayor of Prichard, Alabama, founded the first Black American Law Students Association (“BALSA”) at the New York University Law School. In 1983, BALSA revised its name, and the word “American” was deleted to encompass all Blacks, including those not of American nationality. Later, the word “National” was added to reflect the organization’s national expansion, which now includes representation in the law schools of nearly every state in the nation and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

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The BLSA chapter at FSU was proudly established in honor of a major trailblazer for higher education in Florida. The legacy of Delores Anne Poindexter Auzenne began when she famously helped integrate Central High School of Little Rock, Arkansas. She was then appointed the first Special Assistant to the Chancellor of the State of Florida’s University System. From 1976 to 1984, she diligently fought to further the black community’s access to academia through equal opportunity programs. Her tireless efforts are currently memorialized within a State University fellowship geared towards increasing the number of black students in professional disciplines underrepresented by minorities. Delores Poindexter Auzenne’s commitment to academic excellence continues to inspire and empower today.

 

BLSA’s History at FSU College of Law dates back over 30 years. BLSA continues to be one of the top and most active organizations at FSU Law. Over the years BLSA has won many national and regional Chapter of the Year Awards and placed regionally and nationally in the Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition and the Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition. BLSA prides itself on creating networking and professional responsibility events for our members, giving back to the Tallahassee community through various service projects and informing the FSU Law Community of various injustices that black citizens and attorneys face through our social justice programming.