By Andy Howlett '10
Staff Writer

On Friday and Saturday, January 30-31, the Law School will host its 10th annual Conference on Public Service & the Law. This year’s conference theme is “Be Not the Bystander,” and will feature many high-profile speakers. The conference is coordinated almost entirely by student volunteers; this year’s co-chairs are Jessica DeVera and Nicole Stockey.

Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will give the keynote address at 11:30 on Saturday in Caplin Auditorium. Alan Morrison, professor of law at American University and the co-founder of the Public Citizen Litigation Group, will give the conference’s introductory address.

The conference will feature several panels on diverse issues in the area of law and public service. One panel will feature author John Grisham and Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins discussing a growing trend of post-conviction exonerations based on DNA evidence.

Several career workshops round out the schedule, including workshops for students interested in careers as district attorneys or public defenders, careers in international law, and pursuing public interest projects at private law firms.

More information on the conference, including registration information, is available online at http://www.uvapublicserviceconference.com.