Page 13 - Briefcase Volume 37 Number 1

HURRICANE CONSUMER Nelson, who joined the Law Center
faculty in 2015 as an assistant professor
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM of law, teaches Business Organizations
and a seminar titled, “The Modern
The University of Houston Law Center has received a community Corporation and Society.”
assistance grant to implement a two-pronged program designed to assist “His high caliber research and
area residents still dealing with consumer issues related to Hurricane scholarship was something that the
Harvey and to provide practical information to help people plan better faculty and I recognized when he was
for the next disaster. hired. He is a great exemplar of the
The Hurricane Consumer Assistance Program began with a $205,000 terrific scholarship taking place at the
grant from the Greater Houston Community Foundation. University of Houston Law Center,”
UH Law Center students and volunteer practitioners advise hotline said Dean Leonard M. Baynes.
callers about their legal rights, provide court representation, send “Professor Nelson’s article is a
demand letters in an attempt to resolve disputes, and provide other legal fascinating and original examination Professor James Nelson
assistance. Student lawyers can earn clinical credits for their work. of religious freedom in the context of
“Our goal is to help 1,000 individuals, but one of the main targets is corporations,” said David Fagundes, Baker Botts LLP Professor of
Law and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development. “His selection for
to get the information out there through workshops and community this prestigious honor reflects the importance of Professor Nelson’s
presentations,” said Ryan Marquez, a professor of practice who is contributions to the academic dialogue about the role of corporations in
heading the project. To date, the program has assisted over 400 contemporary America.”
individuals, hosted five community presentations and involved 10
law students in the mission. There are currently 50 active contractor
disputes in the program.
“There are many people in need of help who don’t know their legal UH LAW CENTER APP
rights or the means to pursue them,” said Marquez, who also serves as Prospective applicants can now turn their interest in attending the Law
staff attorney for the Center for Consumer Law, the Texas Consumer Center into action with the launch of the UH Law Center mobile app,
Complaint Center, and the Consumer Dispute Resolution Course at the available for download in the App Store (iOS) and in the Google Play
Law Center. Store.
The number of landlord/tenant disputes has tapered off somewhat The app includes updates and information about admissions, academics,
as many storm victims have found permanent or temporary housing, centers and institutes, clinics, career development, faculty, alumni, a
reached settlements on damages, or filed insurance claims, according to feed of the Law Center’s social media posts and more. It also features
Marquez. The bulk of complaints now, he said, concern unscrupulous a collection of Law Center-related videos. Aspiring students have the
contractors who are unlicensed, unregulated, and work without option to ‘apply now’ within the app.
performance bonds.
“The app will modernize the Law Center’s admissions process,” Dean
Leonard M. Baynes said. “We are excited that each individual student
PROFESSOR JAMES NELSON will have access to this sophisticated technology in a format that they are
accustomed to using every day. It should make the application process
WINS AWARD FOR PAPER ON less complicated and provide the prospective students with information
about the Law Center readily available in the palm of their hands.”
THE LIMITS OF CORPORATE UHLC graduates can also keep up with alumni stories and news via the
new mobile app.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY The Law Center made a strategic decision to develop the app to provide
Law Center Professor James D. Nelson is one of two winners of a more personalized experience tailored toward the needs and interests
the Association of American Law Schools’ annual Scholarly Papers of users.
Competition for his article, “Corporate Disestablishment.” “Our goal is to improve overall communications with law students and
In his paper, Nelson identifies and defends a set of legal principles alums,” added UHLC assistant dean of communications and marketing,
limiting corporate religious liberty in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Carrie Anna Criado.
decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. The paper is scheduled for “Those seeking admission can find all important data on UH Law Center
publication in the Virginia Law Review in 2019. in one place and refer back to it throughout the application process.
“I am honored to receive this award,” Nelson said. “I am also very Law students and graduates alike can also keep up-to-date with news,
grateful to the University of Houston Law Center for its support and to happenings, and events as well as read student and alumni spotlight
the AALS Committee for making the selection.” stories.”

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