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Pre-Professional Advising Center

UCR & HNBA Pre-Law Conference
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2026 UCR/Hispanic National Bar Association Conference

Access, Opportunity, and Advancement:
Your Path to a Career in Law

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 9 AM - 4:30 PM | UC Riverside

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Conference Description

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Pre-Professional Advising Center and the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS), in partnership with the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), are proud to host the inaugural Fall 2026 Pre-Law Conference.

This free, one-day conference will bring together law school admissions professionals, practicing attorneys, judges, legal scholars, and other leaders from across the legal profession to help students and community members explore careers in law. Sessions will cover topics including preparing for law school, succeeding during the first year (1L), judicial clerkships, emerging areas of legal practice, and professional networking.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with law school admissions representatives, LSAT preparation providers, and practicing attorneys during a networking luncheon and resource fair. Whether you're just beginning to explore a legal career or preparing to apply to law school, this conference offers valuable insights, practical guidance, and meaningful connections to help you take the next step.

Conference Location

INTN & INTS, University of California, Riverside

Room Occupancy
INTS 1109 40
INTS 1111 40
INTS 1113 88
INTS 1128 96
INTN 1020 300
ucr&HNBA conference location -- UCR INTS and INTN building
UCR INTN and INTS Buildings

Interactive UCR Campus Map

Conference Agenda

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Arrival and Coffee/Muffins

Location: INTN 1020

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Welcome Remarks

Location: INTN 1020

9:30 AM - 9:55 AM
Keynote

Opening Keynote

Speaker: Carla Martin, Director of Programs, Hispanic National Bar Association

Location: INTN 1020

Hotel & Travel Accommodations in UC Riverside Area

  • Air Travel

    The meeting organizers recommend flying into:

     

    Other airport options include:

     

    Transportation for airports:

    • Shuttle service (Prime Time Shuttle, Super Shuttle)
    • Rideshare (Lyft, Uber, Wingz, Opoli)
       

    Train Travel

    Rail options provide access near UC Riverside

    Metrolink is SoCal's regional rail system linking Riverside County to Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties. The meeting venue is near the following Stations:

    Metrolink:  

    • Riverside - Downtown Riverside Station 
    • Riverside - Hunter Park / UCR Station 

     

    Amtrak:

    • San Joaquin Valley ( Northern California ) 
    • Pacific Surfliner ( Southern California )
       

  • The following services are available from all listed airports:

    • Shuttles: Prime Time Shuttle, Super Shuttle
    • Rideshare: Lyft, Uber, Wingz, Opoli

  • Local and long-distance bus options are available:

    Riverside Transit Agency (RTA)

    • Route 1: from Downtown Station
    • Route 56: from Hunter Park/UCR Station

    FlixBus

    • Stops at UC Riverside Lot 30

  • UCR Visitor Parking

     

    UC Parking Reciprocity

    • Faculty/staff who work at another UC and pay for a long term (quarter or annual) parking permit issued from that campus may receive up to five days of complimentary parking each fiscal year at the Riverside campus.
    • Location to pick-up a complimentary parking permit:
      • University Kiosk: Located on Kim Wilcox Drive West, South of University Avenue
    • UCR Transportation and Parking Services
      • Address: 683 Linden Street, Riverside, CA 92521
      • Tel: (951) 827-TAPS (8277)
      • Email: parking@ucr.edu
      • Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
    Starting City Location Driving Directions to UC RiversidThe Barn/Stable
    From Los Angeles 60 East (Riverside) – Exit left on University Ave
    Turn right on W. Campus Drive
    (OR)
    10 East to 15 South (San Diego)
    60 East (Riverside) – Exit left on University Ave.
    Turn right on W. Campus Drive
    From Orange County/Beach Cities 91 East (Riverside) to 60 East – Exit left on University Ave.
    Turn right on W. Campus Drive
    From San Bernardino

    215 South to 60 East (Riverside) – Exit left on University Ave.

    Turn right on W. Campus Drive
    From San Diego/Temecula

    215 South to 60 East (Riverside) – Exit left on University Ave.

    Turn right on W. Campus Drive
    From Palm Springs 10 West to 60 West (Riverside) – Exit left on University Ave.
    Turn right on W. Campus Drive

  • Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of established agreements and discounted rates available for UC meetings at various local hotels. For this conference, we highly recommend the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, which offers a special, automatic discount for UCR-related accommodations. Please note that this rate is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability (the discount may not apply once the hotel reaches 85% capacity), so we recommend booking early! We recommend calling these hotels in advance of booking for guidance on what is needed in order to benefit from any available UCR-related discounts

While You’re Here

Conference Planning Committee: 

  • Jeremy Haldeman, Executive Director, Hispanic National Bar Association 
  • Carla Martin, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • John Cioffi, Associate Professor, Political Science, Chair, Law & Society, CHASS
  • John Perez, Event Specialist, Career Center 
  • Julie Salgado, CHASS Event Manager   
  • Melanie Ramiro, Performing Arts Marketing Specialist, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences 
  • Adelina Hernandez, ’25 UCR Alumna – Political Science/Pre-Law 
  • Estella Acuna, Director, Chicano Student Programs 
  • Lawrance ‘LA’ Edwards, Pre-Law Advisor 
  • Charlie Scruggs, Director, Pre-Professional Advising Center 
  • Shanshan Liao, Web and IT support 
     

*Special thanks to the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences for providing the foundational funding for this conference.

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