Page 46 - Briefcase Volume 38 Number 1

FACULTY

Professor Sandra Guerra Thompson, the
Newell H. Blakely Professor of Law and
director of the Criminal Justice Institute,
helps University of Houston Law Center
students understand the finer points of
Criminal Law, Evidence, Hot Topics in
Criminal Law and Procedure and
Criminal Evidence in her courses.

But her dedication to students does not stop
in the classroom. Thompson serves as a
faculty advisor for the Hispanic Law Students
Association, a group at the Law Center that
is dedicated to promoting representation of
Hispanic people in the legal community.

“Groups like HLSA provide students
with a network of students with similar
backgrounds who face similar challenges
adjusting to law school, and I am proud
to support the organization,” she said.
“HLSA provides social and educational
programming aimed at these students
and, more importantly, provides a kind
of home away from home.”
SANDRA G. Thompson, who has taught at the Law
Center since 1990, said she enjoys this
additional interaction with students and
THOMPSON remains impressed with how students
over the years have taken the initiative and
managed HLSA in a professional manner.

“My role is to be there when needed,” she
GOES said. “A bonus for me is that I get to interact
with the officers and keep up with the

BEYOND THE group’s activities, especially HLSA Week
and other events.”

CLASSROOM Thompson believes that support from
Law Center graduates has been critical to
HLSA’s success.

“Alumni attorneys serve as guest speakers, as
TO SERVE AS FACULTY mentors to students, provide career guidance
ADVISOR FOR HISPANIC LAW and support HLSA by purchasing tables
for the banquet, which supports critical
STUDENTS ASSOCIATION scholarships for students,” Thompson said.

46 UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER