Alumni Spotlight
UH Law Alumna Cailley Vaughan Named NALAE Academic All-American Trial Advocate
Alumna Cailley Vaughan (J.D. ’26), who graduated in May, credits the University of Houston Law Center for sparking her passion for advocacy and helping her grow into an award-winning trial advocate..
June 25, 2026—University of Houston Law Center graduate Cailley Vaughan (J.D. ’26) has been selected for an Academic All-American Trial Advocates Award by the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators (NALAE).
Vaughan earned the national honor by meeting NALAE’s criteria for academic excellence, success in mock trial competition and leadership. She was nominated by Judge Chistine Weems, director of UH Law’s national mock trial team.
“Being nominated by Judge Weems already meant the world to me, but actually receiving this recognition was surreal,” Vaughan said. “NALAE is made up of mock trial program directors whom I deeply admire and respect, so to be recognized by them is an incredible honor.”
Vaughan did not originally plan on a legal career. As an undergraduate at The University of Texas at Dallas, she majored in psychology and child development.
“During my sophomore year, I realized that path was not a true passion of mine,” she said. “I felt somewhat lost, so I met with advisors, talked with family and friends, and decided to explore classes outside of my majors.”
Her perspective shifted after enrolling in law-related courses and participating in a seminar with the Innocence Project, where students reviewed real trial records and evidence.
“That experience completely changed the way I viewed the legal field and ultimately inspired me to pursue law school,” she said.
Vaughan’s introduction to advocacy at the UH Law Center came during the Hippard Novice Mock Trial Competition in February 2024.
“Honestly, I felt both terrified and exhilarated,” she said, describing her first courtroom advocacy experience. “Prior to law school, public speaking was one of my biggest fears, and during Hippard Novice I was incredibly nervous and unsure of myself.”
Since then, Vaughan has competed in 14 mock trial competitions, building an impressive record of success. She won a national championship at Trials and Tribulations, was a finalist at the Fordham Kelly Competition, AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition and the Amicus Cup, and was a semifinalist at the Best in Texas Voir Dire Competition. She was also named overall outstanding advocate at the Amicus Cup earlier this year.
“Through mock trial, I discovered that I genuinely belong in a courtroom advocating for others,” she said.
One of her most formative experiences came at the Fordham Kelly Competition, an intense two-person “Ironman” tournament focused on complex white-collar criminal cases. Vaughan said the competition, which required quick adaptation and deep preparation, was when everything “clicked” for her as an advocate.
In addition to her advocacy work, Vaughan served as articles editor for the Houston Law Review, clerked at several local law firms and served as a judicial intern with U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone for the Eastern District of Texas while in school.
She credits her growth to support from UH Law Center faculty, coaches, alumni, and teammates, particularly Judge Weems and her fellow mock trial competitors.
Reflecting on her journey, Vaughan encouraged other students to pursue advocacy opportunities at UH Law.
“If you have even the slightest interest in mock trial or advocacy, go for it,” she said. “You might stumble into a passion you never knew you had.”
Since graduating in May, Vaughan is studying for the bar exam and will begin her legal career with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as a pre-commit in August.
Q&A with Cailley Vaughn
How did you balance the demands of rigorous coursework with competition and leadership commitments?
CV: It was not easy at times. Juggling mock trial and Law Review my 2L year, and then adding my leadership role and my job 3L year meant I had a lot of things to do all the time. Luckily, I am an extremely Type A person who loves organization, so between my calendars and to-do lists, I made sure to carve out time for everything. Most importantly, no matter what I was working on, I made sure to give it 110% when I was working on it.
How has UH Law Center supported your growth as an advocate and law student overall?
CV: The mock trial team, our director Judge Weems, and our alumni have all supported me greatly. Every time I competed, I wanted to represent UHLC well and make the people who invested in me proud. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am. The advocacy courses were also instrumental in helping me grow over the past few years.
Are there specific mentors, coaches, or peers at UH Law Center who helped you refine your advocacy skills?
CV: I have been lucky enough to have amazing coaches during my time on the UHLC Mock Trial Team and they all deserve shoutouts: Judge Christine Weems, Andy Rubenstein, Ryan MacLeod, Will Moye, Brett Hargis, Sherra Gilbert, Stacy Garcia, Monica Cooper, Spencer Edwards, Ward Goolsby, Michael Killingsworth, Ajay Ketkar, Dean Barth, Mark Murray, Derek Whitmire, Eric Sundin, Kathryn Laflin, Mo Sayeh, and Youssef Abdelhafiz. They have all been instrumental in helping me become a better advocate.
As for my peers, my whole team has been a source of support and guidance because we all push each other to improve. I was lucky enough to compete several times with Anthony Lane and Abigail Mathew, and they made me a better advocate every time I competed with them. Alex LeBlanc has also been an invaluable sounding board for me over the past few years, and I couldn't be more grateful for her support.
What advice would you give to students interested in trial advocacy or leadership opportunities at UH Law Center?
CV: Sometimes the biggest obstacle is convincing yourself that you are not qualified or that you are not the “right type” of person to succeed in advocacy. But there's not one type of person that can be an effective advocate, so you owe it to yourself to give it a shot if you're thinking about it. Participate in Hippard Novice or Hippard Open, or any of the other school-run competitions, because you might stumble into a passion you never knew you had.
