April 3, 2018
Malissa Wilson Serves as Panelist for Bessie Young Council Mentoring Conference
In 1915, at a time when women could not vote or sit on juries, Bessie Young graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law. For a female to attend law school when women lacked the status of full citizenship was unprecedented. The UM School of Law has joined forces with a dedicated group of alumnae to honor this trailblazer and her pioneer spirit by creating the Bessie Young Council (BYC) and a scholarship in her name. The BYC will assist students who — as Bessie did — enter the UM Law School as nontraditional students. The goal of the Bessie Young Council is to assist those nontraditional students who bring diversity, fresh perspectives, and varied life experiences to our student body through scholarships and mentorship.
The mission of the Bessie Young Council Mentoring Conference is to provide learning and networking opportunities for non-traditional law students and young lawyers. Through its annual conference, the Bessie Young Council shares the experiences of its member attorneys and others in the field to help foster successful careers for those law students and young lawyers who may encounter unique obstacles along the way. Forman Watkins Partner Malissa Wilson was one of four panelists with diverse law practices from across the state who talked to law students and attorneys about the realities of law practice at the inaugural Bessie Young Council Mentoring Conference in March of 2018. Malissa shared pointers from a defense attorney’s perspective on a variety of topics, including making the most of support staff; billing time and deciding what it’s worth; and, daily dealings with opposite counsel and clients.
