Standard 303 Workshop 1: Exploring Professional Values and Identity

Workshop I: Exploring Professional Values and Identity

First-year law students are invited to an engaging, interactive dialogue with BU Law alumnus John Ward (’76), founder of GLAD Law, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization serving the LGBTQIA+ community. Ward, Boston’s first openly gay male attorney and the first openly gay man to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, will discuss how personal values, identity, external pressures, and self-acceptance shaped his career and professional impact.

This conversation will help first-year students connect their values and developing professional identities to early choices about coursework, mentorship, experiential opportunities, and career paths. It will also encourage them to consider how they can contribute to a more inclusive legal profession equipped to serve a pluralistic, democratic society.

Friday, September 25, 2026 12:45–2:00 p.m. Law Auditorium

*Attendance is required. This event fulfills the ABA Standard 303 professional identity mandate. Please notify Krista Woods (kmwoods@bu.edu) in advance if you are unable to attend.