University of Houston Law Center’s Criminal Justice Clinic Director Joshua Lake and UHLC alumna & clinics employee Taylor Daugherty (J.D. '23) connected community members with free legal help and resources at Goodwill Houston’s recent “re-entry” career event.
Oct. 2, 2025 — The University of Houston Law Center’s Criminal Justice Clinic participated in its first community outreach event of the semester at a Goodwill Houston event, connecting directly with community members impacted by the criminal justice system.
The clinic, one of nine UHLC legal clinics, provides pro bono legal representation to low-income individuals while giving UH law students hands-on experience in criminal defense under faculty guidance.
Criminal Justice Clinic Director Joshua Lake said the event, which focused on job opportunities and resources, was a good fit for the clinic.
“Goodwill marketed this event to their "Re-Entry" customers, who have been affected by the criminal justice system, and one of our Clinic's primary missions is to serve and empower those impacted individuals,” Lake said. “We were honored to attend and to tell those customers about the legal services our Clinic offers to low-income Houstonians.”
At the event, Lake and Taylor Daugherty (J.D. ’23), a law clerk who works with the UHLC clinics, shared information about the clinic’s pro bono legal services and distributed flyers and business cards with contact details, and answered questions.
“Our two goals were to raise awareness of our Clinic’s services and to encourage people to contact us later for consultation and potential representation,” Lake said, adding that about 200 people attended the event.
With support from the BeyGOOD Foundation, funded by actress, musician and businesswoman Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, the clinic extends its mission beyond the classroom by providing free legal education and representation to low-income communities surrounding UH.
“Our Clinic exists, in part, to educate and empower the neighborhoods and communities around the University of Houston and the greater Houston area,” Lake said. “Outreach events serve that mission by enabling us to speak directly with Houstonians, offer them free legal representation, and educate them about their rights and their options when going through the criminal justice system.”
More outreach events are planned this fall, including “Know Your Rights” presentations at Agape Development and Fresh Start, a community program organized by the Harris County Courts. Lake is looking forward to that and is working on future collaborations with other local organizations, including the NAACP Houston branch.
