News

The National Bar Institute (NBI) is pleased to welcome new members to its Board of Directors. These distinguished leaders bring a wealth of experience, professional expertise, and dedication to service that will help further NBI’s mission of empowering the next generation of lawyers through scholarships, programs, and mentorship.

Newly Appointed Board Members:

James Carter – Board Member
James Carter is a nationally accomplished attorney, educator, and civic leader with over 25 years of experience. He serves as Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm–Trials & Mass Torts and sits on its national board. A Life Member of both the National Bar Association and NBI, he has been widely recognized for leadership, service, and advocacy. To learn more, visit our Leadership page.

Charlyn Stanberry – Board Member
Charlyn Stanberry is a lawyer, lobbyist, professor, and community leader based in Washington, D.C. She serves as Vice President of Government Relations at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and is an adjunct professor at Florida International University’s Honors College. She lives by the words of Shirley Chisholm: “Service is the rent we pay for living on this earth.”To learn more, visit our Leadership page.

Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah – Board Member
Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah is an accomplished attorney and community leader with a strong record in legal education, diversity initiatives, and advocacy, advancing equity and access across the profession.To learn more, visit our Leadership page.

Together, these leaders embody the spirit of service, mentorship, and excellence that define the National Bar Institute. Their contributions will help strengthen NBI’s impact on future generations of legal professionals and continue our commitment to fostering diversity, access, and opportunity within the legal community.

We are proud to highlight the grants awarded during Spring and Summer 2025. These awards showcase our commitment to supporting programs, sections, and divisions that embody leadership, advocacy, and service across the legal community.

Through the generosity of our sponsors and donors, NBI was able to provide the following grants:

• The National Association of Bench and Bar Spouses (NABBS) – $5,000, April 2025
• NBA Veterans Affairs & Military Law Section – $1,500, June 2025
• NBA Women’s Law Division – $3,000, July 2025
• NBA History Committee – $1,000, July 2025
• Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO) – [Insert amount, Spring/Summer 2025]

These grants reflect the direct impact of sponsorships and contributions, ensuring NBI continues to support initiatives that educate, empower, and inspire.

A new update on our website now features a dedicated link to follow our grantmaking activity, so members and supporters can see firsthand how contributions are being put into action.

For more information or to get involved, please contact us at info@nationalbarinstitute.org.

We proudly congratulate the winners of the 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition. This national program celebrates the legacy of Dr. King by encouraging students to use the power of advocacy and public speaking to advance justice and equality.

This year’s winners are:

• First Place ($5,000): Basira Adelaja
• Second Place ($3,500): Erikah Sanders
• Third Place ($2,000): Hunter Brogdon

The Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition brings together finalists from across the country who advance through regional contests to compete on the national stage. Through their passion, preparation, and voices for change, these students exemplify Dr. King’s spirit of leadership and service.

We applaud Basira, Erikah, and Hunter for their outstanding achievements and look forward to all they will accomplish as future leaders in law and justice.

We are happy to introduce the third class of Top Choice Recipients for the 2025 Affiliates Scholarship Award. These future leaders of the legal profession have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, resilience, and a deep commitment to service.

In addition to receiving a $5,000 scholarship, each Top Choice recipient will participate in our Bar Passage Success Program, an initiative designed to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary for success. Through this program, scholars will benefit from expert-led training, personalized guidance, and a strong network of peers and mentors devoted to their growth.

By providing access to vital tools, proven strategies, and a supportive community, the program prepares them not only to excel on the bar exam but also to make lasting, positive impacts in their legal careers.

The 2025 Affiliates Scholarship Award Recipients (Top Choice):

• Jasmine Hardin – University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, MD (Region IV)
• Donovan Bailey – Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA (Region V)
• Sheraya Benard – Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School, Carbondale, IL (Region VII)
• Joshua C. Johnson – University of San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), San Francisco, CA (Region IX)
• Vernon Jamison – University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque, NM (Region X)
• Jalah Falcher – Georgia State University College of Law, Lithonia, GA (Region XI)
• Nile Blass – American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC (Region XII)

Also Invited to Participate in the Bar Passage Success Program:
The following students, while not receiving a monetary award, have also been selected to participate in the Bar Passage Success Program. They will join our third cohort Law Scholars, Top Choice recipients, and the HBCU Law School–nominated student in this important initiative:

• Jasmine Felder – Region XI
• Ebony R. James – Region X
• Saleshia Ellis Shoecraft – Region IX
• Alvin Oliver II – Region VII
• Starmanda Ducker – Region IV

Congratulations to the Class of 2025–2026 Affiliates Scholarship and Bar Passage Success Program!
We are excited to support these outstanding students as they embark on the next phase of their legal education.