Both Reavis and Gay want PAALAS to have the same enduring value as their Penn Law educations. So in order to build the organization for the long haul, they have consulted with leaders of black alumni groups at other major law schools for advice. One of those schools was Michigan.

The Michigan Black Alumni Law Society (MBALS), formed in 1975, has accomplished quite a bit, despite a small membership of 50 to 60 people. The group has established a scholarship fund and holds minority job fairs, seminars and panel discussions, according to Ena Weathers, MBALS president.

Her advice to PAALAS: "Be persistent. Don’t be discouraged (if membership lags), because it only takes a few people to get a lot of things done."

Of more recent vintage is the Stanford Law School Black Alumni Association. Formed in spring 2004, the group is paying dividends already.

"It’s really given people a point of connection not just to alumni but to the law school,"says Charles W. Crockett, who chairs the Association. "We are beginning to see more alumni contributions to the law school, and we’re starting to see people develop business opportunities as a result (of the group)."

Gay expects PAALAS to exert a positive influence as well at Penn Law. "We’re not trying to compete with the Law Alumni Society. As African-Americans we have similar interests and similar experiences and it’s great to get together. But we also had a great time in law school with people who are not African-American. Let’s not forget that."

For more information on PAALAS, please call 215-665-5670.