2011 Locke Lord LLP "A" Conference Varsity Season Opener

Locke Lord LLP, a national full-service law firm with nearly 650 attorneys and offices in 11 major cities in the U.S. (including of course Chicago), would like to sponsor and host Tournament One for the “A” Conference, Varsity Division, on Saturday, October 1st. (LLBL doesn’t have the space to host both Divisions, an entire Conference tournament.) This means that the JV teams for “A” Conference would be debating at a different site than the Varsity teams — the JV would be at Von Steuben, the Varsity at the well-equipped offices of LLBL, 111 S. Wacker. This will require that the Varsity teams attending the Locke Lord LLP Season Opener be accompanied by one coach/judge.

Locke Lord LLP will be providing fine meals (breakfast and lunch), some attorney judging, a panel discussion on the connections between urban debate and the legal profession, special awards, and parking. Also, each school will be provided with an incentive of $250, which will be sent to a designated coach, or any other recipient specified. The 2011 LLBL “A” Conference Varsity Season Opener proposed schedule runs basically the same as the JV schedule will.

We will need Varsity team registration earlier (by September 9) to ensure enough time for planning at the law firm.

“A” Conference coaches: let us know if you think that this dual-site arrangement will pose substantial logistical (or other) problems for your debate program.

We thank Chicago Debate Commission Board member Jack Oest, retired Locke Lord LLP partner, for this exciting and new early-season opportunity.