LVNBA Names Dean White Lawyer of the Year

The Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association will honor Boyd School of Law Dean John Valery White as lawyer of the year at its 20th Annual Scholarship Gala Saturday, October 24, at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino.

The award’s criteria comprise exceptional service to clients, serving well the needs of a diverse client base, and inspiring association members through reputation, career accomplishments, and upright ethics, and a proven track record for serving the local community, especially communities of color.

Dean John Valery White

Dean White was selected for the award in large part because of his outstanding impact on improving diversity and his leadership in the school’s increasing commitment to community service.

“While juggling the task of handling a restricted budget, Dean White has continued to provide community service vital to the poor and disenfranchised. Under his leadership, the Boyd School of Law has continued to attract a well qualified and diverse group of law students,” said LVNBA president F. Travis Buchanan.

Stephanie Tavares, Las Vegas Sun reporter, expresses a similar sentiment, “White has led the law school through tough seas, implementing a hiring freeze and shrinking expenses in an attempt to preserve core programs while continuing community service.”

Pointing out that the faculty are “very engaged in the community” and that the law school has “community service programs that put our students in the community,” Dean White told Tavares, ”We want to make sure we can participate in providing really good lawyers . . . who are invested in the community in a very thorough way.”

He notes succinctly, “It’s all about service.”

According to Buchanan, “Our scholarship gala is one of our chapter’s most honored traditions and the largest fundraiser for low income and minority law students. Over the last twenty years, the LVNBA has provided scholarships to African-American law students, many of whom have become attorneys practicing law in Nevada today.”

The NBA was created in 1925 when there were fewer than 1,000 African-American lawyers in the entire country. Its objectives include promoting legislation to improve the economic conditions and protecting the civil and political rights of all American citizens regardless of race, sex, or creed.

Founded in 1981, the LVNBA is Nevada’s only NBA affiliate. Buchanan said, “Our mission is to enhance the professional lives of all members by providing a source of networks, support and mentorship for African-American attorneys while encouraging community service.”

The LVNBA has grown from 14 African-American legal pioneers to an organization consisting of nearly 100 attorneys, representing the private and public sectors, including municipal, state and federal judges.

Other awards to be presented at the gala are the community services award to The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Charitable Foundation, the corporate service award to Nevada Partners, and the law firm of the year to Marquis and Aurbach.

The first lawyer of the year award was given in 2008 to Doreen Hartwell-Spears, of Lionel Sawyer & Collins.

For more information about the LVNBA, go to www.lasvegasnba.org. To purchase tickets to the LVNBA's 20th Annual Scholarship Gala, go to www.brownpapertickets.com...