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Upcoming Events In convo with Dean Barry
Black Alumni Chapter General Meeting - November (Updated)

Event Date(s) / Time: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Details:

Join the Black Alumni Chapter for a regular Chapter meeting on November 14, 2023 at the law school. Assist BAC in continuing their work to assist students, and network with fellow alumni. This meeting will be held via zoom.  Please register to receive the meeting link.


Register Here


Location: Virtual
Updated by: Sara Aguillard


Wednesday, November 8, 2023 12:52:44 PM

Black Alumni Chapter General Meeting - November

Event Date(s) / Time: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Details:

Join the Black Alumni Chapter for a regular Chapter meeting on November 14, 2023 at the law school. Assist BAC in continuing their work to assist students, and network with fellow alumni. This meeting will be held via zoom.  Please register to receive the meeting link.


Location: Virtual
Created by: Sara Aguillard


Wednesday, November 8, 2023 12:50:12 PM

Houston Holiday Party (Updated)

Event Date(s) / Time: Thursday, December 14, 2023 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Details:

Houston Holiday Party Invite


Register Here


Location: Lott Hall
Updated by: Sara Aguillard


Wednesday, November 1, 2023 3:16:57 PM

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Organization Blog
Alumni Spotlight with Dave Polsinelli ’13

Q:  What brought you to law school?

A:  I went to college not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life. And the luckiest thing that happened to me – one of the required courses for my finance degree was business law.  I cracked open the textbook for business law, and I realized that for the first time in three years I actually enjoyed reading a textbook. After that, I started looking into what I needed to do to apply to law school. 

 

Q: What brought you to South Texas?

A: While I was applying to school and taking the LSAT, I started thinking about where the best place would be to live. And for me, being a California native and going to college in Connecticut, I learned being in Connecticut that cold weather is not my thing! So I looked into options in Texas, and South Texas College of Law Houston looked like a very pragmatic school where a lot of successful lawyers and judges had gone. And I guess you could say the rest is history.

 

Q:  What was your most memorable time at South Texas?

A:  Absolutely, undoubtedly moot court.  I was in several tournaments and was lucky enough to win a national championship in the National Criminal Law Tournament in San Diego. Some of my best friends to this day were in moot court with me, and I think probably the most valuable skill that I apply to this day as a lawyer is what I learned during moot court, especially when it comes to seeing both sides of an issue.

 

Q: What's special about South Texas?

A: South Texas to me is a very practical school that has a focus on skills that will help you become a better lawyer. It certainly has great professors, nice facilities, great location, but the focus is always on what's it going to take to put this student in a position to succeed in a legal career.  What kind of skills do we want to provide to these these students so they can become better lawyers? You know, I can only attest to my experience in South Texas, but having conversations with people that went to different law schools, you know, oftentimes it's kind of a theoretical approach. You know, this is why laws exist and this is just kind of up and, you know, a bigger picture view, but without really understanding what then how do you take that approach and put it in a brief and convince the judge that your side is right? You know, that's the kind of thing the South Texas emphasizes.

 

Q: Do you feel a special camaraderie with other South Texas graduates?

A: Absolutely, especially if I was in school with them. Law school is a grind.  I don't know any other way to describe it. You create a bond with your classmates that you really can't replicate in any other experience, especially your first year when you're new to it and you're kind of getting your feet wet in terms of what it takes to succeed. But even for South Texas lawyers who I wasn't in school with, there’s obviously a bond there.

 

Q: Why is it important to stay connected with South Texas?

A:  One, South Texas helped me to get to where I am today. It’s just paying back for what the school helped me achieve. Two, I have a passion for helping people.  And so if I have the opportunity to help a current student or an incoming student with their law school career and their legal career, I want to take it and I want to help them achieve their full potential.

 

Q: Did any South Texas experience change your life?

A:  The experience in law school that changed my life was when I was auditioning for the varsity moot court team in the trophy room with Dean Treece, and he said “Oh Dave, you know, you're real good, and I got a spot for you on the team. And just make sure, you know, don't tell anybody, because I'm not releasing publicly yet. But, you know, you got a spot on the team.”  And I remember leaving the room and just glowing. I was... I felt like I was bouncing as I as I left the trophy room.  I just remember this feeling of confidence that he put in me.  I had no idea that I was good enough to be on the varsity moot court team. But that that day when Treece told me that I was changed my life.

 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A:  I spend a lot of my spare time with my wife and our three-year-old chocolate lab named Cow. As boring as it sounds, one of my favorite things is just to lay on the couch with them and watch a movie or watch a show. But aside from that, I love to travel, and my wife and I try to travel as much as we can in different places around the world.

 

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to apply to law school?

A:  I would ask him or her “Why do you want to apply to law school?” That would be my first question. And if the answer tells me they're serious about it and they have an real interest in it, I would say go for it. But I would make sure that they understand that you can't go into law school half committed.  If you want to get the most out of law school, you need to fully commit to trying as hard as you can in all your courses. You want to expose yourself to as many extracurriculars and different kinds of courses as you can. 

 

Q: What do you want to do in the future?

A: I want to be someone who people consider a reasonable person, a fair adversary, a good teammate, and someone who practices law the right way.

 

Click Here to Watch the Interview


Thursday, October 26, 2023 2:08:00 PM

SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HOUSTON PRESIDENT AND DEAN WILL STEP DOWN NEXT SUMMER

 

Century-old South Texas College of Law Houston’s 11th President and Dean Michael F. Barry has announced he will not seek reappointment to his leadership role when his term ends next summer.

Barry said he and his wife Lee made the decision together “after much thought and prayer.”

“The decision on when to leave a leadership position is never easy, and this decision is bittersweet,” Barry said. “For many reasons, however, my sense is this is the proper time. The law school is living its mission of diversity, opportunity, excellence, and service; is fiscally sound; is well-positioned for the next 100 years; and has strong board, faculty / academic dean, and administrative leadership. It is well positioned for its next leader.”

Board Chair Genora Boykins said, “The board greatly appreciates all Dean Barry has accomplished for the law school since his arrival in 2019, and we look forward to working with him and the South Texas Law community to build on the successes achieved under his leadership.”

In recent years, the law school South Texas has launched a number of new initiatives and important improvements, including an ABA-approved online J.D. program, the Benny Agosto, Jr. Diversity Center, and a Legal Writing Center. Bar passage and career placement rates are at their highest in a decade, the advocacy program continues to be the envy of other law schools, and our Randall O. Sorrels clinical program has garnered two Texas Access to Justice Foundation awards in the last four years.

Boykins said the Board of Directors will establish a Search Committee to identify the law school’s next president and dean and to ensure a smooth leadership transition.


Friday, September 29, 2023 2:08:00 PM

SOLD-OUT SOUTH TEXAS LAW CENTENNIAL GALA RAISES NEARLY $750,000 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

 

Close to 600 South Texas College of Law Houston alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters celebrated the law school’s 100th anniversary Saturday night. The sold-out Centennial Gala exceeded expectations, raising nearly $750,000 to support student scholarships. A highlight was a performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee the Spinners.

“We are thankful to the many generous contributors for their support of our students and our law school,” said President and Dean Michael F. Barry. “The sole focus of the gala is student scholarships, and this is our largest fundraiser. The annual gala is tremendously important to our ability to bring an exceptional legal education within reach for dedicated students eager to study law.”

Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz and Stogner was presenting sponsor for the gala. Two couples with strong ties to the law school — Karen and Roland Garcia ’86, and Jen and Brant Stogner, both class of ’06 — chaired the event. Roland Garcia is a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Brant Stogner is a partner at Abraham Watkins, and Jen Stogner is Of Counsel at Abraham Watkins and president of the STCL Houston Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The gala featured a film celebrating four second-year South Texas Law students: Davis Burns from Houston; Jaylan Sanders, originally from Macon, Ga.; Paola Vela from Mission, Texas; and Malik Wilson, part-time student from Houston.

Guests filled the lower and upper stories of the classic Corinthian. The special evening included a champagne toast to STCL Houston’s first 100 years — and to the next 100 years as well!

The Gala was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of September 24, 1923 — the official day classes began at South Texas 100 years ago.

Click here for more Centennial Reunion Week event photos.

Anyone wishing to donate to student scholarships at South Texas Law may do so at stcl.edu/give.


Monday, September 25, 2023 2:07:00 PM

STCL HOUSTON CELEBRATES J.D. GRADUATES AT SPRING 2023 COMMENCEMENT

 

 

 

South Texas College of Law Houston conferred Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degrees to more than 240 graduates May 13 during the Spring 2023 Commencement ceremony at the George R. Brown Convention Center. STCL Houston, which is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, honored the graduates for their hard work, outstanding academic achievement, and their perseverance through the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Congratulations on a job very well done,” said President and Dean Michael F. Barry. “As the graduates of 2023, you will forever be known as the ‘Centennial Class’ of South Texas College of Law Houston. I hope this distinction carries with it a special sense of pride for you — and a special sense of purpose. I am sure our founders would be proud of your persistence, commitment, and dedication, undeterred by the seemingly ever-changing landscape the global pandemic created. Because you persevered, I have the honor of proudly welcoming you today into the distinguished profession of law.”

 

Commencement speaker Nathan L. Hecht, Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and the longest-tenured Texas judge in active service, delivered a commencement speech that congratulated the graduates for their accomplishments – and challenged the newly minted attorneys to foster innovations that will make the justice system more accessible to Texas citizens.

Justice Hecht also reminded the graduates of their role in preserving the rule of law, engaging in civil discourse, and maintaining our democracy using the art of persuasion. “Law school has enveloped you in a culture of persuasion, has shown you the power of ideas and words, and has given you the tools to use them,” Hecht said. “Now it’s your turn to take on the changes that will keep our justice system not only the best in the world, but the best in the history of the world.”

 

 

Taylor Leger, valedictorian of the graduating class, was an active and successful member of the law school’s award-winning Advocacy program. A second-career student, Leger achieved the highest grade in many of her classes, securing a spot on the Dean’s Honor List each semester. She won the Best National Brief Award at the prestigious New York City Bar’s 72nd National Moot Court competition, and the Dean’s Outstanding Advocate Award.

Leger encouraged her fellow graduates to share their moment of triumph with all the people in their lives who were supportive of them throughout their law school experience. Her address included wishes for success and personal growth – particularly when that growth is the result of conflicts and difficulties.

 


Wednesday, May 31, 2023 1:08:00 PM


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