Jordan was elected to the board’s executive committee in 2000, and he served as chair of the board from 2003 to 2008. Through the years, he demonstrated philanthropic leadership and spearheaded efforts to increase the effectiveness of the board.

“Don Jordan has provided extraordinary leadership and service for more than 30 years on the law school’s board,” said Genora Boykins ’85, chair of the South Texas College of Law Houston Board of Directors. “His commitment has been unfailing, and he has tirelessly given of his time, wisdom, and counsel to the board and administration — directly and positively impacting past and future students, faculty, and staff.”

A resolution unanimously adopted by the law school’s board of directors at the Dec. 13 meeting commended Jordan for “his dedication to the mission, success, and achievement of South Texas College of Law Houston.” The board also extended its heartfelt thanks for his service and commitment and congratulated him on his retirement.

Jordan is the former chairman and CEO of Reliant Energy, the Houston-based international diversified energy services company. Joining the company in 1956 when it was called Houston Lighting & Power Company, Jordan moved up to ever higher management positions and was CEO from 1977 until his retirement in 1999.

Through the years, Jordan’s community leadership and service included chairing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and roles on many corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Association of Electric Companies of Texas, the World Energy Council, AEGIS Services, Inc., BJ Services Co., the Texas Medical Center, and the Texas Heart Institute.

His many honors include being named Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Texas and South Texas College of Law Houston, Distinguished Non-Alumnus by the University of Houston, South Texan of the Year by the Texas Chamber of Commerce, Father of the Year by Community Partners, Outstanding Proud Partner by Keep Houston Beautiful, and Man of the Year by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

He also has received the Community Service Award from the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce; the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Rotary Club of Houston; and the Executive of the Year award from World Cogeneration Magazine.

Jordan was a 2001 inductee into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, 2006 honoree for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Ben Johnson Memorial Classic, and Honorary Chairman of CCFA’s 2007 Winter Ball.

A Corpus Christi native, Jordan received a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from the University of Texas and a law degree from the South Texas College of Law Houston in 1969. He is married to Barbara Jordan and has three daughters: Leslie Hazelwood, Lisa Cunningham, and Laura McNear.

Ruthie White ’97, South Texas College of Law Houston board member since 2016, passed away Nov. 30.

“Ruthie was a perceptive and engaged member of our board, and we were blessed by her leadership, wisdom, and wit over several years,” said Genora Boykins ’85, chair of the STCL Houston board of directors. “She taught and mentored our students as an adjunct professor, taught multiple CLEs, and mentored many young lawyers about important topics, including diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. Her life made a positive impact on so many, and she will be greatly missed.”

White regularly volunteered her time and expertise on behalf of student at South Texas Law. She served on the board executive committee and chaired the board’s effectiveness and nominating committee in 2021. In addition, White regularly contributed pro bono legal services to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program.

She was a partner, and the labor and employment practice group leader, at Spencer Fane in Houston. White’s broad in-house and outside-counsel background gave her the ability to counsel employers on a wide range of labor and employment issues.

White was passionate about diversity in the workplace, as well as fairness and equality in all areas of life. She founded The Downtown Group, a 200-member networking organization of African American female lawyers, and she contributed pro bono legal services to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. She was a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars for law schools and bar associations.

White earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, her J.D. from South Texas, and her MBA from the University of Houston.

Her wisdom, sense of humor, mentorship, and friendship were legendary. Read her official obituary and share your condolence reflections here: Ruthie White ’97 Obituary

South Texas College of Law Houston recently received notification that the “Prelude to the Centennial” video produced by the Office and Marketing and Communications and Limelight Films in fall 2022 was selected as one of four Best of CASE District IV winners in the category of Videos: Promotional (Long).

The video was produced for the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement and shown at The Gala of South Texas Law in September 2022, and it currently is featured on the law school’s Centennial microsite.

The project was co-led by Terri Parris, director of strategic communications, and Ken Kosub, director at Limelight Films, in coordination with Dr. Michelle Morris, associate vice president for marketing and communications.

According to CASE, the “Best of District IV Awards celebrate the best work in educational advancement in the Southwest region and acknowledge superior accomplishments that have lasting impact, demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, and deliver exceptional results.”

Winners are showcased in the winners gallery on the CASE website. CASE District IV represents 260 educational institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

CASE is the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a global nonprofit association dedicated to educational advancement professionals — in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services — who share the goal of championing education to transform lives and society.

In an early celebration of Veterans Day, South Texas College of Law Houston hosted Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht for a discussion about his service as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Navy Reserve and about the importance of the U.S. Military in protecting our freedoms as a nation.

“In their service across all branches of the military, veterans have contributed in a very special way to the life of our country,” Hecht said. “We are fortunate to live in a country that not only honors the military, but that has built a military designed to preserve and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. There is great respect and honor for veterans in our country these days, and that’s a very good thing.”

Hecht noted the importance of incorporating that respect and high esteem into the legal system itself, and he suggested to the auditorium filled with law students that they can do so in two ways. First of all, he challenged the law students to be the best possible advocates for their clients, always displaying the highest integrity. By so doing, those who think of attorneys will recall their ethics and professionalism.

Second, Hecht noted, when the students become practicing attorneys, they should become involved in the Bar, to help shape the legal profession, and in pro bono service, to help ensure access to justice.

He noted that the Texas judiciary — with the support of the two other branches of government — has been proactive in trying to provide additional legal services for people living in poverty. Unfortunately, Hecht said many veterans fall into that category, which he described as “sorrowful.”

Hecht praised officials in Texas for being supportive of funding for legal aid for veterans, of which South Texas Law has been a beneficiary. The law school, through its Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics, has been a significant provider of free legal services for more than 30 years — and a good portion of the grant funding for the legal clinics comes through the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (a nonprofit founded by the Texas Supreme Court in 1984 to administer funds for legal services for the poor).

South Texas Law President and Dean Michael F. Barry, whose father was an attorney and judge in the U.S. Coast Guard, linked service in the military to service in the legal profession. “Both expect us to live values of service, integrity, honor, and duty,” Barry said. “And both serve ideals – the rule of law and our democratic principles – that are greater than any one of us individually. We all play a vital role in maintaining our way of life.”

Vanessa Botello, president of the Veteran Law Students Association (VLSA) at South Texas Law, said, “Veterans Day honors the diverse backgrounds of our veterans from all walks of life who have served in a variety of roles. They have a wide range of skills, talents, and expertise that strengthen our country. Veterans Day is not just about the past; it’s about the present and the future, and it’s our duty to support our veterans once they complete their service. We owe them a huge thank-you.”

Wednesday’s event was co-sponsored by the VLSA and the Federalist Society at South Texas.

For more photos from the event, click here: Veterans Day 2023 – Justice Hecht

South Texas College of Law Houston welcomed recent graduates to the Texas Bar on Wednesday, hosting  a Bench and Bar reception and swearing in ceremony.  This reception also honored South Texas graduates who serve our community as members of the judiciary.

Some of South Texas Law’s most recently credentialed attorneys were sworn in by the Hon. Erika Ramirez ’15. The judge for Harris County Criminal Court No. 8 administered the oath to the alumni who recently passed the bar exam.

“This special event is a culmination of all the hard work our alumni put in for several years — to graduate from South Texas Law and to pass the bar,” said Darcy Douglas ’07, vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “We are delighted to celebrate this noted beginning of their legal careers, and we look forward to all their achievements and success in the future.”

The law school offers an intensive Bar Prep Program — led by Assistant Dean for Bar Prep and Academic Support Lisa Yarrow — that has proven highly successful in preparing students to succeed on their bar exam the first time through. The Bar Prep team joined in the celebration Wednesday.

For more photos, click here: Bench and Bar – Fall 2023

Century-old South Texas College of Law Houston’s 11^th 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.

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.

 

 

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 100^th 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 72^nd 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.

 

A day of celebrations marked South Texas College of Law Houston’s Centennial Founder’s Day April 13 on the campus of Houston’s oldest law school.

Addressing an audience of some 500 alumni, community leaders, faculty, staff and students, STCL Houston Board Chair Genora Boykins ’85 kicked off the day’s activities. She welcomed the audience and a slate of guest speakers that included judges, community leaders, and federal, state, and local officials.  From Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, each emphasized the significant contributions South Texas has made to the community in its first 100 years.

Dave Oelman, a member of the STCL Houston Board of Visitors and a great-grand nephew of the law school’s founding dean, Judge Joseph C. Hutcheson, Jr., introduced STCL Houston President and Dean Michael F. Barry. A partner at the law firm of Vinson & Elkins, Oelman included historical context and family recollections about Judge Hutcheson in his introductory remarks.

Dean Barry delivered a  multi-media presentation, “STCL at 100,” highlighting the law school’s many accomplishments over the last century and its distinguished place in the region’s legal community. The presentation provided an historical background and timeline, interwoven with the school’s commitment to its mission.

“I stand here in awe today of what this law school has accomplished over a century… the opportunities created, the doors opened, the minds sharpened, the lives changed,” Barry said. “South Texas has contributed greatly to the legal community and has changed the face of law in Houston, in Texas, and across the country.”

Many national, state, and local organizations and individuals marked the day by issuing special proclamations, including Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht, U.S. Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, City Councilman Robert Gallegos, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who proclaimed April 13 as “South Texas College of Law Day.”

 

Other guest speakers included U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, State Bar of Texas President Laura Gibson, YMCA of Greater Houston President and CEO Stephen Ives, and Executive Director Betty Balli Torres of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

A number of guests who could not attend were featured in recorded remarks, including Governor Greg Abbott, U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, Texas Representative and STCL Houston alumna Ann Johnson, and Baylor Law Dean Brad Toben.

In addition to the presentations and the dean’s address, the Centennial Founder’s Day Celebration included a 24-hour “Give Day” fundraiser. The goal was to raise 100 for 100 or $100,000 for 100 years of legal education, and the results were impressive. Give Day raised $117,924 from 256 donors. Alumna Sharon Schweitzer ’89 stepped up with a leadership gift of $50,000 to challenge her fellow alumni to make their own commitment during Give Day. Alumni can still give by going to my.stcl.edu/giveday.

“The law school of the future does not yet exist,” Barry said. “It is our collective responsibility to envision it. And then it is our responsibility to create it. For 100 years, we have provided individuals with a chance. And future generations are counting on us to innovate and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of students — and the legal profession — for the decades to come.”

The future of STCL Houston will build on its strong foundation. Barry said, “We will remain true to our history and our mission. We will strive for excellence in all we do. We will commit ourselves to diversity. We will create opportunity. And we will be bold in service to our community and our profession.”

Second-career attorney Ron Haggerty ’96 attended law school part-time at South Texas College of Law Houston while working for a large power company.

“I was a mechanical engineer, working as an operations manager at a power generating facility,” Haggerty said. “In a few years’ time, I went from being a guy who worked in power plants, to being a guy who worked on deals to build power plants.”

A background in science made Haggerty the ideal candidate to become a patent and intellectual property lawyer. After passing the bar, he found himself in the legal department of the power company he worked for, eventually rising to the position of Assistant General Counsel. A corporate attorney at the forefront of the energy business, he consulted on the development and construction of power plants and pipelines and was plunged into international travel and transactional work.

“STCL Houston allowed me to experience the career-changing potential of the law degree,” he said. “However, I did have a big learning curve when I began the journey. As a nontraditional student, I had to relearn how to study and take exams.” As a graduate of Prairie View A&M University, a historically black institution, Haggerty had never attended a predominantly white school. “I had to learn how to navigate this new environment.”

Remembering how it felt to be in that situation, Haggerty is dedicated to helping others learn to navigate unfamiliar waters and bring people together. He was involved in the creation of the Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Chapter (BAC) in 2016 and became its president in 2017.

“I wanted to use my skill set and talents to help others, while creating an opportunity for people to bring a different perspective to STCL Houston,” he said. BAC members have served on search committees and advised leadership on various social issues.

Haggerty believes his most significant contribution as president of the BAC was creating an emergency fund to assist students who are “in the no-man’s land” between earning the law degree and passing the bar exam. “It can be a tough time. You are not a student any longer, and you are not a lawyer yet,” he said. “You are studying for the bar exam. Your financial aid is running out, and there are bills to pay. We were able to galvanize BAC members to give generously.”

A native Houstonian from Sunnyside, Haggerty credits his parents with his passion for public service. His father was a first-class machinist and civil rights pioneer who successfully sued his employer and won the right for African Americans to apply for skilled labor jobs and be hired. His mother was an entrepreneur who owned a successful hair salon and always encouraged him to “do his part.”

“I got a lot of encouragement and support from my parents, in word and in example,” he said.

Haggerty, now a solo practitioner, plans to remain involved with the BAC as the immediate past president and lend stability to the organization as the transition to new leadership takes place. “I will still be available to meet with students and alumni to let them know they belong, they can do this, and they get to decide what success will look like as they pursue their career.”

Stogner is excited about her new position and the opportunities it brings to make a difference in the careers of attorneys – both recent graduates and established lawyers.

“Building community requires relationships,” she said. “It requires connections and conversations.  Diversity and inclusion are necessary. The Benny Agosto, Jr. Diversity Center is a fantastic way to really bring us together and to listen to all the elements of our community. It also requires trust: knowing you can ask for help when you need it, and you will receive it. Community also means giving back through new relationships. If you had a great mentor, I hope you will consider paying it forward and being a good mentor to a young lawyer who is just like you used to be.”

Born in Galveston and raised in Corpus Christi, Stogner is a married mother of three. She always wanted to be a lawyer.

“I liked to argue, and often found myself standing up for what I thought was right, even as a child,” she said. Stogner worked as a legal assistant for her father, making $6 an hour for two years prior to law school. His gold standard is still her golden rule: “If it goes out with our family name on it, it had better be right. Otherwise, it tarnishes the reputation we worked so hard to build.” Forty-nine years after graduation, her father continues to practice law in Corpus Christi.

Stogner decided to attend STCL Houston because it was her father’s alma mater (Michael O’Brien ’74) and because, as a debate and theater veteran, she dreamed of joining the award-winning advocacy program under Associate Dean T. Gerald Treece. Also, one of the largest factors was a conversation with Assistant Dean of Admissions Alicia Cramer.

“I had toured other schools, but there was a synergy at South Texas,” Stogner said. “Dean Cramer really listened and answered all my questions. It just felt right.”

She met the man she would marry on the first day of orientation at STCL Houston — fellow student Brant Stogner ’06. “We were study partners, we started dating, and we won a national title in mock trial together,” she said. “I like to think it was meant to be.”

Building on their relationship and ties to the school, Dean Treece officiated their wedding ceremony.  Indeed, two of their law school classmates, Ryan Haun ’06 and Rick Berlin ’06, are godfathers to their two sons.

Today, Stogner is Of Counsel with Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner, the oldest plaintiff’s personal injury firm in Texas, where she works with her husband and firm partner, Brant.

Celebrating the law school’s centennial year as the president of the Alumni Association board is particularly exciting for Stogner, who also is serving on the Centennial Steering Committee.

“I think about the original mission of South Texas: to provide a legal education to anyone,” Stogner said. “This school was founded during Prohibition, just after World War I ended, and a few years after women were given the right to vote. They created this co-ed law school for working people. It took a leap of faith based on the relationships of our founders. 100 years is an amazing milestone, but without relationships, without community, we never could have made it this far. It’s our job to continue that legacy – to foster faith in the practice of law and fellowship with one another.”

Stogner is working with other board members to create new opportunities for meaningful networking and mentorship that will bridge the gap between students and alumni.

“Being a young lawyer can be scary. Each one deserves a good mentor,” Stogner said. “Additionally, the energy that law students and recent graduates bring with them benefits established attorneys. They can see the spark in their eyes and sense their excitement and good energy. That ultimately benefits the firm who hires them and their clients, too. It’s win, win, win.”

Outside the office, Stogner enjoys watching her three children play basketball, soccer, baseball, or beating them in any board game or video game of their choice.

Married with three children, D’Olive is also a volunteer mentor with the Houston Bar Association. His demeanor is calm and collected. You might not suspect he once spent time jumping out of airplanes as a paratrooper.

The former Squad Leader, U.S. Army 82^nd Airborne Division, is proud of his combat infantry badge and his six years of service. D’Olive enlisted in 2003, not long after the beginning of the Iraq War. With a family history of military service, he knew he wanted to do his part. He had always told himself that if there was a war, he would go fight in it.

“I arrived in Iraq at the time of their elections, and our mission was to re-establish order,” D’Olive said. “I am so glad I was able to serve at that time, but it seems a bit surreal to have been part of history, part of something that happened on the world stage.”

D’Olive continues to make full use of what he learned during his military service. He believes veterans often succeed as law students and as attorneys because of their training.

“We know how to plan and prepare, and when you are prepared there is no need to be nervous,” he said. “Combat veterans usually bring a grateful, positive attitude. There is a certain confidence and maturity you gain in the field — an ability to stay focused and keep things in perspective, even in the face of unexpected adversity.”

South Texas College of Law Houston received notice that Taylore Williams, a law student in her final semester, was commended by the Texas Access to Justice Commission for “her outstanding contributions to the provision of legal services to the poor.”

Williams was nominated by the law school as STCL Houston’s 2022 representative for the TAJC Law Student Pro Bono Award. The TAJC executive director, in her letter to the school, noted that she was “personally very impressed with Taylore’s work.”

Law school is Williams’ second career. Prior to law school, she worked as a scientist and regulatory affairs manager in cell and gene therapy at Lonza Biologics. She chose to attend STCL Houston was because she wanted to close the socioeconomic equity gap in the biopharmaceutical field. As she notes, the only way for scientists to discover new and unique solutions to medical diseases is by diversity of thought.

“Diverse groups of people from all socioeconomic backgrounds are needed to solve these complex problems,” Williams said. “However, lower socioeconomic populations are generally excluded from being able to engage in scientific research.” Her goal as an attorney is to help start-ups navigate the fundraising, corporate, legal, and regulatory landscape to ensure society has the best medicine science can create.

While in law school, Williams has been actively and passionately involved in the Actual Innocence Clinic within STCL

Houston’s Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics. This clinic is close to her heart. While working in Maryland, she volunteered as a track and field coach, and one of her athletes was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit.

“I felt helpless in that situation, and I never wanted another person to feel that way, so I enrolled in the Actual Innocence Clinic with Dean Burnett,” Williams said.

Her background in science was rare and valuable in the Actual Innocence Clinic. It allowed her to discover alternative ways science can be used to make sure the wrong person is not wrongfully incarcerated. She provided roughly 120 hours of pro bono work with the Actual Innocence Clinic.

“One of the problems we encountered in the clinic is sifting through all the mail we get from people who are incarcerated and think they have a claim,” Williams recalled. As part of her service, she worked on a machine-learning text analytics tool that would be able to sift through the mail and help determine potential claims vs. non-claims. After graduation, she wants to complete the tool so that the team at South Texas can spend more time helping clients and less time doing non-value-added work.

Outside of school, the majority of Taylore’ legal pro bono work is in the realm of government affairs as a lobbyist. She has had the opportunity to meet with legislators on the state and federal level to lobby for programs that benefit all levels of society. In the past year, she was able to go to Capitol Hill to meet with several senators on behalf of patient groups to lobby for the passing of two bills to benefit ultra-rare disease patients.

Williams went to Virginia Tech, and the school motto there is UT PROSIM, which is Latin for “that I may serve.”

“That is what pro bono means to me… being a servant to the most vulnerable people in society,” she said. “I think the kind of student you are is the kind of lawyer you will be. So even as a student, I have committed myself to serving others. I believe that we, as future leaders, have a responsibility to create pathways of accessibility for the next generation.”

At STCL Houston, Williams has been actively involved in the Black Law Students Association, serving on the BLSA board for two years. She has helped BLSA raise more than $9,000 for scholarships. With BLSA, she also has focused on helping students dealing with food insecurity and food instability, helping them understand how they can apply for SNAP benefits without feeling shame or guilt.

After law school, Williams plans to join Wilson Sonsini in the corporate and biotech transactional practice groups. With the skills she learns in the transactional practice group, she wants to help impoverished and underrepresented groups start tech companies. She also plans to continue working with the Actual Innocence Clinic because it is “very dear to my heart.”

Catherine Greene Burnett,  South Texas associate dean for experiential education, professor of law, and director of the Actual Innocence Clinic, said, “Taylore exemplifies the passion and commitment that are hallmarks of the STCL Houston student.”

Alumnus Derrick Johnson ’97, president and CEO of the NAACP, addressed a standing-room-only crowd Tuesday, Oct. 4 as he delivered the inaugural lecture for The Benny J. Agosto, Jr. Diversity Center at the South Texas College of Law Houston.

Urging members of the legal community to “force the Constitution to live up to its promise,” Johnson spoke passionately about the need to support diversity and strengthen democracy.

“Democracy is messy and none of us has all the answers,” he said. “But we all have a piece of the solution, which means we must work together. It’s our job to make possible what others think is impossible.”

“We are excited to launch our Agosto Lecture Series with an alumnus who is a champion for civil rights and racial justice,” said South Texas Law’s Dean and President Michael F. Barry. “Derrick Johnson’s inaugural lecture today is the first of many conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal community.”

The center, founded with a $3 million donation from alumnus Benny Agosto, Jr. ’95 and his wife, Nichole, will host prominent scholars, thought leaders, and innovators who can foster important conversations — both inside the law school and in the larger legal community.

“Our differences make us stronger,” said Benny J. Agosto, Jr. ’95 in his remarks. “Diversity creates firsts, and to be the ‘first’ is to be free of the restraints of history.” He encouraged those present to “set remarkable goals.”

The Agosto Diversity Lecture series aims to engage STCL Houston students and the legal community on diverse topics, fully embracing the conversations and public policy surrounding diversity and what it
means to be a lawyer in a pluralistic society.

Johnson thanked the Agosto family and praised STCL Houston’s leadership for “creating a space at the
law school that is welcoming and inclusive – and leading important conversations about diversity.”

“We are grateful to the Agosto family for making the center possible and we appreciate Mr. Johnson for launching the center’s Diversity Lecture Series with such an excellent presentation,” said Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Professor of Law Shelby Moore.

 

About the Distinguished Speaker

Derrick Johnson ’97 serves as president and CEO of the NAACP, a position he has held since 2017. Johnson formerly served as vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors and as state president for the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. A longstanding member and leader of the NAACP, Johnson has helped guide the association through a period of re-envisioning and reinvigoration.

Under his leadership, the NAACP has undertaken such efforts as the 2018 “Log Out” Facebook Campaign, pressuring Facebook after reports of Russian hackers targeting African Americans; the Jamestown-to-Jamestown Partnership, marking the 400th year enslaved Africans first touched the shores of America; and the 2020 We are Done Dying Campaign, exposing the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large.

Born in Detroit, Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Mississippi. He then received his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law Houston. He completed fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has served as an annual guest lecturer at Harvard Law School and as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College.

 

About South Texas College of Law Houston
South Texas College of Law Houston is one of America’s most diverse law schools in America’s most diverse city. In 1923, the YMCA established the law school to offer night classes for working professionals. Today, the ABA-accredited, independent law school in downtown Houston offers both full-time and part-time schedules to earn a J.D. degree. STCL Houston, recognized nationally as an advocacy powerhouse, provides an exceptional legal education featuring renowned faculty and nationally recognized, experienced-based learning. The law school’s 16,000-plus alumni lead and serve with distinction as Texas Supreme Court justices, Fortune 500 CEOs, Tier 1 attorneys, state and national officials, judges, law professors, and more.

Published annually by the ABA’s Law Student Division, the list recognizes law schools that go the extra mile to help prepare their students for practice. The list is compiled using law schools’ performance in four national practice skills competitions – Arbitration, Negotiation, Client Counseling, and the National Appellate Advocacy Competition. This year, more than 1,300 students from 281 law schools virtually participated in one or more of the competitions sponsored by the Law Student Division.

“Our four competitions offer students an amazing opportunity to hone essential lawyering skills before they enter practice,” said Connie S. Smothermon, ABA competitions committee co-chair. “Through consistent participation and success in ABA competitions, these law schools display especially well-rounded practical skills training programs. We are thrilled to recognize these schools through the Competitions Championship.”

STCL Houston Prof. Debra Berman, director of the law school’s Frank Evans Center for Conflict Resolution, said, “These competitions are an integral component of the experiential programming available to students at the law school. Our successful track record is attributable not only to the hard work our students and alumni coaches devote to preparing for the competitions but also to the practical skills students learn simultaneously in classes.” Prof. Berman’s students have brought home 23 national and international championships over the last decade.

Under the guidance of Prof. Rob Galloway, STCL Houston’s vice president, advocacy, South Texas students have claimed five national advocacy championships in the past academic year, bringing the law school’s total to 138 — more than twice as many as any other law school.

This year’s top 10 list was dominated by Texas law schools, with five of the positions going to schools in the Lone Star state.

The 2021-22 top 10 ABA competition law schools by points were:

• University of Houston Law Center, 1st
• Mercer University – Walter F. George School of Law, Tie for 2nd
• SMU – Southern Methodist University – Dedman School of Law, Tie for 2nd
• South Texas College of Law Houston, 4th
• Fordham University School of Law, 5th
• University of California Hastings College of the Law, 6th
• Texas Tech University School of Law, 7th
• Stetson University College of Law, 8th
• Baylor University School of Law, 9th
• Brooklyn Law School, Tie for 10th
• Michigan State University College of Law, Tie for 10th

For more information, contact:
Pamela Gibbs-Smith
Director, Public Relations and Community Engagement
281.832.2178 (c) | 713.646.1799
pgibbs@stcl.edu

The Houston Methodist Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Grant Program has awarded STCL Houston’s expunction/nondisclosure program a 2022-2023 Social Equity Grant — the second year the program has been recognized with a generous grant from this fund.

The grant will support the efforts of the expunction/nondisclosure program in the Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinic to help Black and Hispanic adults clear or seal criminal records — which assists them with obtaining employment, housing and economic stability.

 “The cases that come through this program involve people with compelling stories, seeking access to justice but lacking the funds to do so,” said Vinh Ho, managing attorney of the Civil Practice Clinics and Immigration Initiatives at STCL Houston. “Without legal aid and volunteer legal service programs, many would be denied the right to work, live and protect their families.”

This year’s grant will aid STCL Houston’s program with managing more than 50 cases it currently handles for disadvantaged persons of color who have been disproportionately affected by past criminal history.

With the grant funds received last year, Ho said, the law school was able to co-host two successful community outreach events where people reviewed their criminal history with attorneys; trained 34 attorneys and law students; created materials and a video for future training; screened more than 150 people for expunction/nondisclosure eligibility; filed 27 petitions for 17 different clients; had 13 granted expunction and/or nondisclosure of their criminal records; and are waiting on results on the rest. Additional cases are nearly ready to file.

To learn more about STCL Houston’s legal clinics, click here.

Over a two-week application period, nearly 800 students applied to be considered for the 2023 summer associate and summer intern positions that, in many cases, lead to job offers when students near graduation.

Shantal Formia, J.D., interim senior director for the CRC, noted that the law school has not been able to host a fully in-person interview program since the Covid shutdown in spring 2020.

“We were thrilled to see the area filled, once again, with students in their best suits, waiting to talk with representatives of exceptional employers,” Formia said.

Fifty-six practitioners — many of whom are South Texas Law alumni — conducted 337 unique interviews this
week.

The CRC will hold the next round of on-campus student interviews in September. Interested firms can sign-up for the September sessions here.

Several employers had positive things to say about recruiting students from South Texas Law.

Ray Kutch ’09

Thompson Coe

“I know the caliber and determination of the students here. I know the value of the instruction and the professional preparation.” 

Assumpta Iheaso ’20

Thompson Coe

“The exceptional caliber of people that South Texas produces, especially with regard to advocacy. They make strong litigators, and that’s important to our goals.” 

Alyssa Henke 

Recruiter, Jackson Walker

“South Texas College of Law people are great, and they bring with them a willingness to help out. Also, they are a great cultural fit with our firm. Also, the staff and faculty here make connecting easy.” 

Participating firms

Andrews Myers, P.C.
BakerHostetler LLP
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
BDO USA, LLP
Bracewell LLP
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Aughtry
Cokinos |Young
Crady Jewett McCulley & Houren LLP
Fee Smith & Sharp LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP
Foster LLP
Frost Brown Todd LLC
Germer PLLC
Gray Reed & McGraw LLP
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Hirsch & Westheimer, P.C.
Holland & Knight LLP
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Husch Blackwell LLP
Jackson Walker LLP
Kane Russell Coleman & Logan PC
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Locke Lord LLP
Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC
MehaffyWeber PC
Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Norton Rose Fulbright
Patterson + Sheridan, LLP
Peckar & Abramson, P.C.
Phelps Dunbar, LLP
Polsinelli PC
Porter Hedges LLP
Seward & Kissle LLP
Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox PLLC
Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons LLP
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP

“I am at my best when my hands and mind are busy and I am connected to something outside myself, working with others to solve problems,” said STCL Houston alumna Brittny Mandarino Curry ’20.

Her intention to make an impact on education reform figured prominently in her decision to become a lawyer. She works for the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in the juvenile division, representing the interests of justice-involved youth in matters of discipline, special education and educational access.

“Students frequently have difficulty navigating their re-entry to school after involvement with the juvenile justice system,” Curry said. “The stigma attached to justice involvement is pervasive in education, and it’s my job to help identify the students’ needs — on campus and off — and collaborate with the school district’s staff to see that the student receives the appropriate support during this transition to return to school.”

She gets tremendous satisfaction out of working with a team of former educators and passionate youth advocates at the Public Defender’s Office.

“My teen clients want and deserve to be heard,” she said. “As their attorney, I may be one of the very few adults in their lives to ask what they want and to advocate for the outcomes they desire. By making a case for their stated interest, I can help them develop a sense of agency and become empowered to make positive, productive decisions in the future.”

Curry’s desire to make an impact and inspire others drives her to be an active and passionate volunteer.  While at STCL Houston, she was involved with several student organizations, including the Women’s Law Society, The Black Law Students Association and AMICUS — the school’s affinity group for LGBTQ+ students. Curry also was an active leader with the South Texas Law Review and the Houston Young Lawyers Association.

Curry was recently elected the 2022-23 president-elect of the Houston Young Lawyers Association (HYLA). She has served as a board member and committee co-chair for HYLA’s Know Your Rights Committee, an initiative that focuses on promoting healthy interactions between youth and law enforcement in our communities.

“These programs, and those like it, are critical for increasing positive outcomes for youth in the Houston area,” Curry said. “We are all responsible for supporting this next generation, and what better way for our lawyers to be involved than in educating young people about their constitutional rights. It’s a rewarding experience and the kids are engaged.”

Curry also is a member of the Houston Bar Association’s Gender Fairness Committee, which is committed to promoting awareness of issues related to gender parity in the legal profession.

 “As a lawyer and female person of color, who also identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, my presence and representation is noticed, and I have the incredible opportunity to pull others in,” she said.

Curry uses the platform provided by the Gender Fairness Committee and the Houston Coalition for Diverse Bar Associations to encourage meaningful dialogues and conversations about diversity, equity and fairness in the workplace, and its impact is far reaching.

The Gender Fairness Committee published its most recent Gender Fairness Commitment Statement in 2021, welcoming more than 60 Houston law firms and government agencies who pledged support to advancing gender equity in their respective organizations.

“There’s room for so many more at the table,” Curry said. “I urge stakeholders to sign on and commit!”

As a member of the coalition, Curry supports its mission to advance diversity in the legal profession and to address common concerns and strategic goals of organizations like the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston, the South Asian Bar Association and the Houston Lawyers Association —Houston’s African American bar association.

Interested in service opportunities that were not legal in nature, Curry discovered Covenant House Texas (CHT) and the Hollyfield Foundation. Curry and her wife, Nahdra, are active in Covenant House Texas’ Young Professionals group. They slept on a sidewalk recently as part of the organization’s annual “Sleep Out” fundraiser to bring attention to the experience of homeless individuals.

Curry hopes to continue volunteering to support CHT’s mission to shelter and support homeless, abused and abandoned youth in Houston and across Texas. “LGBTQ+ youth have an increased risk for homelessness and are especially vulnerable to trafficking and other harmful victimization, and we are committed to sharing our time and talents to this cause,” she said.

The Hollyfield Foundation also benefits from Curry’s involvement. This organization is a Houston-based endowment that funds nonprofits on the front lines who serve the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS populations.

“We donate to historically underfunded initiatives, providing the financial means to help these organizations advance in their work,” Curry said. “It makes a real difference, and we see those dollars invested back into our community. Our impact is far-reaching, and I am blessed to be able to do this work.”

Curry is dedicated to doing things that bring her joy. This includes competitive bowling, cycling and enjoying Houston’s exciting food scene.

“If you’re on social media, please follow my friend and fellow STCL Houston alum John Nechman ’95 as he highlights Houston’s best undercover food finds,” Curry said.

She is also dedicated to personal growth as she continues to give of herself to make the world a more equitable place. “I am constantly evolving as an individual and as a leader, and I am excited for what’s in store!” she said. “What’s for certain is that I will continue to show up, be present and listen, and do what’s in my power to move the needle toward a more just and inclusive world.”