New UH Law Center J.D. students gather with Dean Leonard M. Baynes, law faculty and staff at the 2025 Professionalism Dinner.
Oct. 15, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center started the 2025-2026 academic year by welcoming 219 full-time and 30 part-time J.D. students and helping them settle into their new academic home.
Key highlights included two days of orientation events and the annual Professionalism Dinner, chockful of advice from faculty, encouragement from peers, and a formal pledge into the legal profession.
From student panels to career guidance and networking, the programs gave students a chance to see what their life as law students and future lawyers will look like— a life of challenge, opportunity, and community support.
“I am here because I love this institution, I love its place, and I love its mission. This school provides opportunities for everyone [who] works hard and believes in themselves, no matter their background,” said UH Law Dean Leonard M. Baynes, who is now in the twelfth year of his deanship, as he welcomed the incoming class.
Day One: Building the Foundation
The first day laid the groundwork for academic success and community building. Students were introduced to UHLC’s many campus resources, featuring talks from Assistant Dean of Admissions Pilar Mensah, Professor Meredith J. Duncan, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Monica Mensah, Director of Academic Success Lisa Cohen, and other UHLC leaders.
UHLC Assistant Dean for Admissions Pilar Mensah addresses law students at orientation.
“You were accepted here because you are capable, you are talented, and you are exactly where you belong,” said Student Bar Association President Duncan Reedyk, a 3L, offering reassurance to his peers. “Everyone here, including myself, believes in the potential you have to become outstanding attorneys and leaders.”
The featured panel of the day, titled “What I Wish I Had Known,” spotlighted recent graduates of the Law Center. The group included Samantha Wolf (J.D.’24), associate at McGuireWoods LLP, Levi Loveless (J.D.’24), transfer pricing senior associate at EY (formerly Ernest & Young), Kaileigh Mallin (J.D.’24), associate at Norton Rose Fulbright, and Julia Tape (J.D.’24), labor and employment attorney at Seyfarth Shaw.
“I did moot court and made a lot of great friends,” said Tape. “[Clubs and events] are a great way to get that practical experience and learn from the feedback you will receive through competition.”
Mallin, a former Houston Law Review editor-in-chief, also stressed the importance of extracurriculars. “The way that the journals are run here is helpful when you get into a law firm,” she said. “You’re working with professional authors, professors from prestigious universities, and University of Houston alumni, [while] making contacts with them as colleagues and mentors.”
Day Two: Looking Ahead
The second day focused on career development covering internships, externships, and long-term goals. Representatives from the Career Development Office, including Director for Career Development Paul Klinger, Professional Development Consultant Ashely Scott, and Associate Director for Career Development Stewart Louie, outlined many resources available to 1Ls. They emphasized the importance of the 1L year and exploring different practice areas and taking early initiative.
“The timeline for ‘pre-recruiting’ has historically been in the late fall, but has [since] shifted,” said Scott. “[Employers] are starting to recruit students as early as September and interviewing as early as October. You want to take as many opportunities as you can to gain exposure in the [internships] that draw your attention.”
Following the presentation, a panel of rising 2Ls—Nia Caldwell, Insha Mitha, Amaresh Adusumilli, and Brooke Hanley—shared how they landed their summer internships just months into law school.
All four panelists reassured the new students that each experience is unique and that law school is not about comparing yourself to your peers. “Try to block others out as much as possible because your journey is your journey,” Caldwell said. “My process [took] a little longer than others, so if you don’t hear back [from a firm] right away, keep applying. Something is going to stick for you.”
Paul Klinger, who moderated the panel, encouraged students to visit the Career Development Office. “You will land a position as long as you are diligent and don’t give up,” he said. “The thing you have to [worry about] is burnout. If you need to come see us and check in, please do that.”
For many 1Ls, hearing from students just a year ahead was a relief. “I’m excited and nervous for the upcoming school year,” said Allison Womack. “But I feel a lot better meeting and hearing from people who are in the same boat as me.”
Day Three: Professionalism Dinner
The orientation concluded with the annual professionalism dinner, which brought together full-time, part-time, and transfer students for an evening of connection and networking.
“Congratulations to you all for being here and to the Admissions team for finding you,” said Dean Baynes. “We had three different orientations this week for all our students depending on whether you are a full-time, part-time, or transfer student. It was really important for us to ensure that you all felt a sense of belonging [tonight].”
From L to R; UHLC Associate Dean Greg Vetter, Alumnus John Ngunjiri ( J.D. & LL.M. ’21), Houston Bar Association president Daniella Landers, UH Law Dean Leonard M. Baynes, Judge Michael Gomez (J.D. ’00) at the 2025 Professionalism Dinner.
The incoming class pledged to conduct themselves with the highest standards of professionalism and ethics at the end of the 2025 Professionalism Dinner.
Alumnus John Ngunjiri (’21), the featured speaker, shared his personal story about the struggles and rewards he experienced during law school, encouraging students to embrace both resilience and balance. “The moment you are standing in is a culmination of many years of hard work, late nights, and sacrifices,” he said. “Over the next three years, I challenge you to develop a pride in your new profession, to desire to make a difference, and to learn the rule of law as an abstract principle. It starts now.”
Students also heard from Houston Bar Association president Daniella Landers, who spoke about the standards of professionalism and prestige expected of future lawyers. She encouraged the incoming class to begin building their reputations now, reminding them that integrity and respect are as essential as legal knowledge.
The evening closed with a symbolic pledge, led by UHLC alumnus and renowned Judge Michael Gomez of the 129th Civil District Court, during which all students committed themselves to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct. Standing together, the incoming 1Ls promised to uphold the principles guiding them through law school and throughout their careers.
Service and Community
Orientation week highlighted UH Law’s commitment to community engagement and service by giving the new students opportunity to participate in various volunteer projects.
The 1Ls dived right into giving back, choosing to volunteer at the Houston Food Bank, BakerRipley Citizenship Forum, or the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Veterans Clinic. Some also volunteered at the on-campus Native Seed Packing project.
Highlights of UHLC Community Service Day 2025
At the Seed Packing project, students learned why native plants protect Houston’s fragile ecosystem. Volunteers packaged seeds that will help restore coastal prairie land, of which less than 1% remains in Texas. These native plants play a critical role in flood control, carbon storage, and pollination.
“We form a critical link in the chain that could save insects, and thus the ecosystem, right here, right now, right at home,” said Associate Clinical Professor Lauren Simpson, who led the project.
Dean Baynes, who spoke at the community service events, highlighted how service connected the students to both Houston and the UH Law Center community.
“It’s important to have those strong connections with each other because that’s what’s going to get you through this and make you strong lawyers,” he said.
He reflected on the impact of Hurricane Harvey, which struck Houston just a week into classes for one incoming cohort. Because the students had already bonded through the orientation community service projects, they were able to lean on each other in a time of crisis.
“When they were rained out or flooded out, they [already] knew each other and [could] rely on each other,” said Dean Baynes. “If you needed a couch, people would offer you a couch. All of you need your law school peers and allies as you move not only through law school, but through the law profession.”
