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December 2025

From the Classroom to Paris: UHLC Students Deliver Powerful Performances at International and National Contests

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Dec. 23, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center is celebrating a standout semester for its advocacy programs. The school’s moot court, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and mock trial teams brought home awards for written and oral advocacy, professionalism, and overall team performance.

ELPAR Selects Hester’s Work Among Year’s Leading Environmental Law Scholarship

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DEC. 19, 2025— University of Houston Law Center Professor Tracy Hester, co-director of the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources (EENR) Center, has earned an honorable mention in the seventeenth edition of the Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review (ELPAR) for his recent article, “Spinning Off Carbon: Corporate Restructuring in a Climate Bankrupt World.” The recognition places Hester’s work among the year’s most impactful contributions to environmental and energy law scholarship.

Expert Shares Intricacies of State Sovereignty and Contracts in Global Energy Deals at UH Law Speakers Series

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Dec. 19, 2025 — International legal scholar Darya Shirokova, with expertise in energy law and arbitration, delivered a talk, titled “The Fiction of State Contract in Energy Industry” recently at the University of Houston Law Center. The seminar, hosted by the Global and Graduate Programs in collaboration with the International Law Students Alliance (ILSA), examined how international law balances power between governments and private companies in the global energy sector.

UH Law Center Community Gathers for Festive Holiday Coffee Event

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Dec. 18, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center welcomed alumni, faculty, staff and their families and friends to its annual Holiday Coffee on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the John M. O’Quinn Law Building.

UHLC’s Professor Trujillo Featured on High-Level Panel at North America Future Conference in Mexico City

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Dec. 17, 2025 University of Houston Law Center Professor Elizabeth Trujillo recently served as a panelist at “The Future of North America,” a two-day conference focused on the region’s evolving economic and policy landscape.  The conference was sponsored by El Colegio de México, and Georgetown University Law’s Center for the Advancement of the Rule of Law in the Americas (CAROLA) and its Institute of International Economic Law (IIEL).

UH Law Center among top 10 nationally for return on investment, analysis finds

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Dec. 16, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center has been recognized for delivering substantial value to its graduates, earning the No. 9 spot among the nation’s top law schools for return on investment (ROI), according to a new analysis highlighted by the American Bar Association Journal.

UH Law Center Professor Brem Publishes New Guide to Help Students Excel at Law School

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Dec. 12, 2025 ‒ The University of Houston Law Center Professor Katherine Brem has authored a new book, “What You Need to Know, When You Need to Know It: A Modular Orientation Course to Start Law School with Confidence,” a new interactive course published by West Academic to help incoming law students navigate the transition into legal education with confidence and clarity.

Experts Share Lessons from Pandemic-Era Policy Shifts at UH’s Law 2025 Frankel Lecture

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Dec. 12, 2025 – The expansion and reversal of federal benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S show how vulnerable U.S. public policies are to hidden power dynamics.

Allocating Lifesaving Care: Expert Digs into the Ethics of Medical Scarcity at UH Law Discussion

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Dec. 11, 2025 — How should society decide who gets critical medical care when resources run short? That question was at the heart of a recent interactive presentation by Professor Govind Persad from the University of Colorado Law School. The event, held recently, was part of the University of Houston Law Center’s Health Law and Policy Institute Speaker Series.

UH Law Center Professor Julián Cárdenas Testifies About US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement

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Dec. 10, 2025 ‒ As the United States, Mexico and Canada prepare for an upcoming review of the trade agreement linking the three countries, Julián Cárdenas, research professor and director of the Center for U.S. and Mexican Law at the University of Houston Law Center, offered testimony highlighting issues related to legal education and legal practice across North America.

Maleaha Brown Takes National Lead on Violence Prevention as Chair of ABA Commission

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DEC. 09, 2025— According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence in America. For Maleaha Brown, a clinical associate professor at the University of Houston Law Center, that statistic is a call to action. Her appointment as chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence provides her an important avenue to advance her mission to improve access to justice and resources for survivors.

Fifteen Years In, Is the ACA Built to Last? Health Experts Weigh in at UH Event

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Dec. 09, 2025— With federal healthcare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year and regulatory changes on the horizon, healthcare experts are emphasizing how health law debates shape real-world outcomes. To explore these issues, the University of Houston Law Center’s Health Law & Policy Institute and the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine hosted “Health Coverage at a Crossroads: Key Developments in Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Regulation”, a virtual panel featuring leading voices on the state of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid, and Medicare.

Build Your Global Arbitration Skills with UH Law’s Certificate Program in June 2026

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Dec. 08, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center is presenting the International Arbitration Certificate Program, a five-day intensive workshop for legal practitioners, in-house counsel, and advanced law students who want to master international, commercial, and labor arbitration while connecting with leaders in international dispute resolution.

UH Law Professor Bret Wells Testifies Before Congress on Needed Improvements to US International Tax Policy

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Dec. 3, 2025 ‒ Reforming U.S. international tax laws was the focus of the testimony presented today by Bret Wells, John Mixon Chair and Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center, before the House Ways and Means Committee, the nation’s oldest and influential tax-writing body.

UH Law Professor Trujillo Among Elite Scholars Invited to UNAM-Institute for Legal Research in Defining the Future of North America in Global Trade

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Dec. 3, 2025 ‒ University of Houston Law Center Professor Elizabeth Trujillo recently presented her chapter on the Path Forward for Environment in the USMCA, at a seminar hosted by the National Autonomous University of Mexico Institute for Legal Research (Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas) (UNAM-IIJ) for its upcoming book, “The End of Free Trade?: Challenges to International Trade and Investment Regulation in the Face of New Protectionism.”

UH Law Center Celebrates Order of Coif Inductees for 2025

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Dec. 01, 2025 —The University of Houston Law Center recently inducted 19 new alumni members into the Order of the Coif, a prestigious national honor society that recognizes exceptional academic achievement in legal education. Membership is extended to

November 2025

UH Magazine: The Storyteller

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Story by Christine Weems, as told to DeAnna Janes
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A judge and UH adjunct law professor by day, Christine Weems moonlights as a theater director, merging her worlds with presence and persuasion.

UH Law Center Announces Spring 2026 Colloquium Series Showcasing Law Deans

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Nov. 21, 2025 — The University of Houston Law Center is bringing together law school deans from across the country to present their in-progress research at its Spring 2026 Colloquium Series. The scholarly papers presented at the monthly workshop series, held January to April, will cover a wide range of disciplines and topics – from constitutional law and ethics to health and intellectual property laws.

UH Law Center Professor Renee Knake Jefferson Publishes Comprehensive Constitutional Law Book

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Nov. 20, 2025 ‒ University of Houston Law Center Professor Renee Knake Jefferson, along with co-author Professor Charles Rhodes of the University of Missouri, have published a new constitutional law book titled “Constitutional Law: Foundations, Interpretations, and Commentaries.”

UH Law’s Criminal Justice Clinic Brings Trials Tactics to Life for Students

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Nov. 14, 2025 ‒ Students in the University of Houston Law Center’ Criminal Justice Clinic, recently participated in a hands-on mock trial exercise to develop one of the most essential skills in criminal law— cross-examination.

‘Privacy is Safety,’ Cybersecurity Expert Warns at UH Law’s Domestic Violence Webinar

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Nov. 12, 2025 — As smart technologies become go-to resources in daily life, they are also being used as tools of surveillance and control in domestic violence situations, according to a presentation at the “Domestic Violence Awareness: A Survey of Critical Issues for Family Law Practitioners” webinar. The event was hosted recently by the University of Houston Law Center in partnership with Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse.

Regional AALS Workshop at UH Law Center Provides Future Legal Professors a Roadmap into Academia

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Nov. 11, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center hosted aspiring law professors from across the region for the Association of American Law Schools Southwest and Big 12 Faculty Pre-Recruitment Workshop, which provided insights into faculty hiring, scholarship, teaching and more.

University of Houston Law Center’s International Energy Lawyers Program Celebrates 10 Years

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November 10, 2025— It may have taken Andrea James a little longer to graduate from law school than the typical law student, but a decade later and the University of Houston alumna wouldn’t change a thing.

That’s because her experience was unique. James was part of the first cohort of students to participate in the UH Law Center’s International Energy Lawyers Program, which trains students to practice law in both the United States and Canada.

UH Law Students Learn Three Pillars of Courtroom Trial Success

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October 31, 2025— Preparation, professionalism, and respect are the cornerstones of effective advocacy, according to a panel of seasoned legal experts who spoke to students at the University of Houston Law Center during “The Art of Persuasion and Advocacy.”

UH Law and Bauer College Remember Veteran Finance Attorney and Alumnus Frank T. Garcia Who Built a 50-Year Career in Business Transaction Law

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Nov. 05, 2025—The University of Houston Law Center and C. T. Bauer College of Business mourn the loss of Frank T. Garcia (J.D. ’75), a respected UH alumnus and a longtime legal practitioner with a career spanning five decades at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (formerly known in the US as Fulbright & Jaworski). He passed away Oct. 10, 2025, just shy of his 77th birthday.

UH Law Professor Launches Interactive AI-Tool to Help Media Cover Supreme Court Showdown Over Trade and Executive Power

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Nov. 4, 2025 — The Supreme Court will hear Learning Resources v. Trump tomorrow, a case that could redefine presidential power over trade and economic policy with global ripple effects.

UH Law Center Hosts Lunch for 2025 Public Interest Fellows, Highlighting Their Real-World Experiences

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Nov. 4, 2025 — The University of Houston Law Center recently celebrated its 2025 Summer Public Interest Fellows with a fall semester luncheon.

Brew Breaks Made Easy: Katz Coffee Cart Now Open for UH Law Students and Others

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Nov. 3, 2025 —Thanks to a new pilot program with Chartwells Dining Services, Katz Coffee has set up a dedicated cart inside the University of Houston Law Center.

UH Law Center Panel Explores Ways Lawyers Can Be Effective and Ethical Leaders, Advisors

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Nov. 3, 2025 – Lawyers play pivotal roles across the wide spectrum of American centers of power – from the White House to local governments, from corporate boardrooms to nonprofit organizations.

October 2025

UH Law Students Channel Contracts Cases for Halloween Fun

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Oct. 31, 2025 — University of Houston Law Center professors Aman Gebru and Elizabeth Trujillo combined Contracts law with Halloween creativity for a Contracts-themed Costume Contest and Review Session.

UH Law Celebrates Student Success and Donor Support at “Fuel the Future” Event

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Oct. 28, 2025— The University of Houston Law Center recently held its annual “Fuel the Future” Scholarship Luncheon, bringing together students, benefactors, faculty, and alumni to recognize the life-changing impact of scholarships and those who make them possible. The event offered heartfelt moments of gratitude and inspiration.

Alumni Spotlight: UH Law Center alumna Dori Contreras (J.D. '90) receives lifetime achievement award for decades of judicial service

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Oct. 28, 2025 - Dori Contreras, a former Chief Justice of the Texas 13th Court of Appeals, recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Bar of Texas' Judicial Section. Contreras, a 1990 alumna of the University of Houston Law Center, served as a justice and chief justice for 22 years until she retired at the end of 2024.

UHLC Community Joins Dean Baynes for Conversation on Progress and Growth

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October 23, 2025 — Students, faculty, and staff joined University of Houston Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes for a lunch-time heart-to-heart at the beginning of the fall semester.

Faculty Spotlight: Meet Joshua Lake, UH Law Center’s Criminal Justice Clinic Director, Guiding the Next Generation of Criminal Justice Attorneys

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Oct. 21, 2025 — Earlier this year, Joshua Lake stepped into a new role at the University of Houston Law Center as the first full-time director of the Criminal Justice Clinic, a transition that built on his years of experience as a criminal defense attorney and his commitment to community-centered advocacy.

New UH Law Center Students Begin Their Journey with Service, Professionalism, and Pride

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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.

Expert at UH Law Webinar Says Lack of Legal Help Hurts Disaster Recovery in Rural America

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Oct. 14, 2025 — Rural communities are often left out of disaster planning and recovery efforts, leaving them more vulnerable to long-term setbacks after hurricanes and other natural disasters. That was the message John Travis Marshall, professor at Georgia State

UH Law Center Webinar Focuses on Lawyers as Effective and Ethical Leaders

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Oct. 13, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center is presenting “Lawyers Who Lead: Ethics, Influence, and Impact,” a continuing legal education program, on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Trailblazing UH Law Center Alumni Judges Offer Inspiration, Insights to Law Students

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Oct. 10, 2025 The University of Houston Law Center honored six judicial pioneers at its Judicial Pioneers Heritage Celebration held on Sept. 26. The event showcased a range of professional accomplishments from the first Hispanic to serve on the Texas Supreme Court to, at the time of her appointment, the youngest judge ever appointed to the federal bench.

UH Law Center celebrates new faculty, promotions and service

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Oct. 9, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center has added three new faculty members to its ranks and has promoted three professors for the 2025-26 academic year.

UH Law Center’s 30th Frankel Lecture Explores COVID Policy Reversals and the Future of American Social Safety Net

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Oct. 07, 2025 – The Houston Law Review at the University of Houston Law Center is hosting Samuel R. Bagenstos, a nationally recognized expert in health, labor, and social policy as the keynote speaker at the 30th Annual Frankel Lecture on Friday.

UH Law’s Criminal Justice Clinic Partners with Local Goodwill to Bring Free Legal Help to Community

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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.

Alumni Spotlight: UH Law Alumna Mishell Parreno Taylor Receives National Recognition for Championing Workplace Justice

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Oct. 1, 2025 - Mishell Parreno Taylor (J.D. ’03), a University of Houston Law Center alumna, was recently elected as a fellow to The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Class of 2025.

September 2025

Faculty Spotlight: UHLC’s David Froomkin Earns National Recognition for Reimagining the Separation of Powers

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Sept. 30, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center’s Assistant Professor David Froomkin received the 2025 Leonard D. White Award from the American Political Science Association, honoring the year’s best dissertation in public administration

UH Law Center Ranked Among Nation’s Best for Career Outcomes by National Jurist

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Sept. 30, 2025 — The National Jurist, a leading news source focused on legal education, has awarded the University of Houston Law Center an “A” in its latest Best Schools for Law Firm Employment rankings.

UH Law Center to Honor Judicial Pioneers, Dedicate New Judicial Wall

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Sept. 23, 2025 — The University of Houston Law Center is recognizing trailblazing alumni judges, who have impacted many lives serving on both the Texas and U.S. courts, at a special event titled “Judicial Pioneers Heritage Celebration.”

UH Law Center Marks Constitution Day 2025 with a Public Video Series Exploring the Amendments to the Constitution

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Sept. 17, 2025 — To celebrate Constitution Day, the University of Houston Law Center is releasing Dean Leonard M. Baynes’ video series and a one-page educators’ guide on constitutional amendments as free educational resources for teachers, community groups and the public.

UH Law Center Welcomes Record Setting Incoming Class for Fall 2025 Semester

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Sept. 16, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center’s entering J.D. class has the highest academic credentials in the Law Center’s history.

UH Law Center Celebrates Alumnus John M. O’Quinn’s Birthday and Legacy

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Sept. 12, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center marked what would have been the 84th birthday of legendary trial lawyer, philanthropist and alumnus John M. O’Quinn (J.D. ’67) with a gathering at the John M. O’Quinn Law Building on Wednesday.

UH Law Center Mourns Loss of Former Judge and Director of Student Advisement Amy Martin

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Sept. 9, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Amy Martin, director of student advisement, on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025

UH Law Faculty Analyze Important SCOTUS Rulings From 2024-2025 Term

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Sept. 2, 2025 – The U.S. Supreme Court concluded its latest term in July with a flurry of headline-grabbing rulings, involving questions of birthright citizenship, parental rights, workplace protections, and voting rights. University of Houston Law Center’s faculty shared their insights about the most important cases to help the public understand their impact.

August 2025

UH Law Center Marks 10 Years of Paving the Way for Aspiring Lawyers with its Pre-Law Pipeline Programs

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August 27, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its Pre-Law Pipeline Programs.

Alumni Spotlight: Threading the Needle Between Fashion and Law: UH Law Alum Ugonna Abakwue’s Next Chapter

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August 15, 2025 - Ugonna Abakwue, a 2025 graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, is combining his passion for law and fashion as he builds his career.

UH Law Center Graduates Rated ‘Market-Ready’ Amid Industrywide Skills Gap Concerns

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Aug. 22, 2025 - While a recent national report warns of a “practice-skills gap” among new lawyers, University of Houston Law Center graduates are earning strong praise from employers for their preparedness to enter the profession.

UH Law Alum Bill Jackson Helps Deliver $2 Billion Landmark Settlement Involving ‘Forever Chemicals

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Aug. 21, 2025 - Bill Jackson, a 1992 graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, played a central role in securing a settlement exceeding $2 billion for the state of New Jersey in a contamination case — the largest environmental recovery ever obtained by a single state and among the largest legal settlements in U.S. history.

UH Law’s Houston Law Review Climbs National Rankings, Secures No. 2 Spot in Texas

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August 19, 2025 - The 2025 Meta Rankings have placed the University of Houston Law Center’s Houston Law Review at No. 51 out of 191 in the nation, rising two spots from last year.

Student Bar Association Honors UH Law Professor Gina Warren for Mentorship and Teaching in Energy Law

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August 15, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center’s Student Bar Association recently named UH law professor Gina Warren as the 2025 Professor of the Year, recognizing her commitment to student success, impactful teaching and mentorship.

Marine Carbon Fixes Hindered by Outdated Environmental Laws, Expert Says at UH Law Webinar

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August 14, 2025 – As scientists look to the ocean to help curb rising global temperatures, international environmental law expert Wil Burns warned that laws have not kept up with new technologies and are posing problems during a recent University of Houston Law Center webinar.

Rising Stars in Energy Law: Seven UHLC Alumni Join IEL Leadership Class

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Aug 08, 2025 – The Institute for Energy Law included seven University of Houston Law Center alumni in their 2025-2026 Leadership Class, a national honor recognizing early-career professionals making an impact in the energy sector.

UH Law Center Fuels Bar Exam Success with Meals and Positivity for Test-Takers

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August 5, 2025 - Last week, University of Houston Law Center faculty and staff offered lunch — and moral support — to graduates taking the Texas Bar Exam at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. 

Current U.S. Immigration Trends Mirror Limiting Past says Experts at UH Law Center Webinar

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August 1, 2025 – A recent University of Houston Law Center webinar, titled “The History of U.S. Immigration,” brought together a panel of immigration scholars to examine the evolution of American immigration laws and how past policies continue to exert influence today.

July 2025

Alumni Spotlight: UH Law Center alumnus Robert W. Jones ‘91 Leads Texas Exes, Shares Leadership Insight

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July 30, 2025 – Robert W. Jones (J.D. ’91) was recently named chief executive officer of Texas Exes, the official alumni association for the University of Texas at Austin. He assumed the role in May.

Alumni Spotlight: UH Law Alum and Veteran Judge Aliseda to Lead Texas A&M Center in McAllen

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July 24, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center alumnus Ernest Aliseda (J.D. ’91) has been appointed chief operating officer and associate vice president of the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen, effective August 15.

TaxProf Blog Spotlights UH Law Professor Seth Chandler’s New AI and Legal Education Blog

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July 21, 2025 – The widely read “TaxProf Blog,” a leading source of legal academic news, recently featured University of Houston Law Center professor Seth Chandler’s new blog, “AI for Legal Education.”

UH Law Center No. 34 in Above the Law Rankings

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July 17, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center is among the top 50 law schools in the country, according to recent rankings by Above the Law.

Global Advocate: UHLC Alumnus Eduardo Alvarez (LL.M.’ 24) Utilizes Dual U.S. and Mexican Law Degrees in Legal Role

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July 16, 2025 – Eduardo Alvarez (LL.M. ’24), a University of Houston Law Center alumnus, has recently been promoted to senior legal and corporate compliance manager at Access World, a large freight-forwarding company that is active in over 30 countries.

UHLC Professor Anozie Showcases Energy Justice Research at National Workshop

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July 15, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center Assistant Professor Chinonso Anozie was recently selected as one of nine participants to present at the Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law at Case Western Reserve University’s second Junior Faculty Workshop

UH Law Center Releases Updated Texas Bench Book as a Guide for Public Health Crises

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Houston, July 8, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center’s Health Law & Policy Institute (HLPI) has released an updated digital edition of the “Texas Bench Book on Control Measures and Public Health Emergencies,” a critical legal resource for Texas judges, public health officials and emergency planners.

Joshua Lake Appointed Director of UH Law’s Criminal Justice Clinic

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HOUSTON, July 3, 2025 — The University of Houston Law Center has appointed Joshua Lake as the director of its Criminal Justice Clinic and professor of practice, effective July 1, 2025.

Two UH Law Center alumni honored by Texas Bar Foundation

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July 2, 2025 — Trailblazing University of Houston Law Center alumna Ruby Kless Sondock (J.D. ’62), and adjunct professor and alumnus Gus Tamborello (J.D. ’87) were recognized for their accomplishments at the 2025 Texas Bar Foundation dinner on June 20 in San Antonio

June 2025

Alumni Spotlight: UH Law Center Graduate Tackles Timely Legal Issues, Wins Two Prestigious Awards

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June 27, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center graduate Audrey Sivasothy (J.D. ’25) earned both the Joan Garfinkel Glantz Scholarship and the Yale Rosenberg Memorial Prize during her last semester this spring.

Forging International Lawyers: UH Law and the University of Calgary Collaborate on Cross-Border Legal Education

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June 25, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of graduating the first class from the International Energy Lawyers Program (IELP), a dual degree J. D. program.

UH Law Webinar Highlights Ongoing Criminalization of People Displaced by Extreme Weather Events in the U.S.

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June 24, 2025 – Despite decades of catastrophic storms and wildfires, the United States continues to treat many displaced disaster survivors as criminals rather than victims, according to Professor Michele Okoh, the featured speaker at a recent University of Houston Law Center webinar.

UH Law Center earns nine Collegiate Advertising Awards

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June 24, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center’s Communications and Marketing Department has received nine recognitions, including five gold awards, from the Collegiate Advertising Awards.

UH Law Center wins multiple Education Digital Marketing Awards

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June 23, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center has been recognized by a national panel of industry experts for its digital marketing and social media efforts. As part of results

Student Spotlight
Building A Legal Future: Arsalan Darbin Shares His Experience as a Business Law Fellow

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June 23, 2025 – University of Houston law student Arsalan Darbin has spent the past year honing his legal skills as a fellow with the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

UHLC Expert Explores Human Rights at the Core of Energy Transition

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June 17, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center research scholar Qaraman Hasan recently co-edited an issue of the Business and Human Rights Journal, which is a part of the Cambridge University Press.

A Father’s Day Story: How UH Law Helped One Dad Build His Future and His Legacy

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June 13, 2025 - When Nicholas Kacal (J.D. ’20), associate attorney at The Cobos Law Firm, talks about his legal journey, he says fatherhood changed his life.

UH Law Center’s Professor Chandler Launches “AI for Legal Education” Blog to Guide the Next Generation of Lawyers

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HOUSTON, June 13, 2025 – For a law student in 2025, is refusing to use Artificial Intelligence the same as a 1990s student refusing to use a computer? 

UH Law’s Online LL.M. Programs Open Doors for Legal Professionals Nationwide

June 11, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center is expanding access to its nationally recognized LL.M. programs by offering online learning opportunities

2025 Golden Brunch pays tribute to UH Law Center alumni

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June 10, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center recently hosted its annual Golden Brunch, a tradition honoring alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago. This year, special recognition was given to the Class of 1975 as they celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Student Spotlight: UHLC Student Lauren Santibanez Receives Workers Defense Project Fellowship

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June 05, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center student Lauren Santibanez has been selected as a fellow for the Workers Defense Project (WDP) by the Peggy Browning Fund.

May 2025

The 10 Texas Law Schools Face Uncertainty as the State Seeks Comments on the Continued Viability of ABA Accreditation

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May 29, 2025 ‒ What if the 10 Texas law schools no longer were accredited with the American Bar Association’s (ABA) seal of approval?.

Alumni Spotlight: From Circuits to the C-Suite: UHLC Alumnus Bill Stewart Shares His Journey

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May 27, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center alumnus J.W. “Bill” Stewart (J.D. ’73) didn’t follow a conventional career path — he created his own.

Step Into Art: UH Law Unveils Interactive Art Experience

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Houston, May 22, 2025 ‒ University of Houston Law Center is partnering with the Public Art University of Houston System to launch a self-guided audio art tour that brings law, creativity and new-age technology together. From intriguing sculptures to bold paintings, visitors will have the chance to be immersed in the installations featured around UH Law’s John M. O’Quinn Law Building and learn about the importance and significance of each piece.

UHLC Duo Wins Tri-Law School Negotiation Competition with Teamwork and Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques

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May 20, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center students Rebecca Heaton and Katelynn Nichols recently won the top prize at the inaugural 2025 First Tri-Law School Negotiation Competition. The competition was held with two virtual rounds over Zoom and a championship at South Texas Law on April 11.

5th Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez urges 2025 UH Law Center graduates to follow passion, embrace new possibilities

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May 16, 2025 - Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, the first Latina woman to serve on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, told the University of Houston Law Center’s Class of 2025 to strive for excellence as they embark on their legal careers.

UH Law Center Event Bridges Gap Between Law Students and Hiring Small and Mid-Sized Firms

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May 6, 2025 - Nearly 100 law students attended the recent Spring Small & Midsize Firm Open House, hosted by the University of Houston Law Center’s Career Development Office.

Texas Senate Fellowship Gives UH Law Student Cormier II Front Row Seat on Health Policy Development

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May 6, 2025 - Craig Cormier II, a 3L at the University of Houston Law Center, is spending his last spring semester of law school as a fellow for the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in Austin.

University of Houston Law Professor Douglas Moll Wins Prestigious Teaching Award

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May 5, 2025 — University of Houston Law Center Professor Douglas Moll has received the 2024–2025 Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award from the University’s Teaching Excellence Award Committee. The honor recognizes his outstanding commitment to teaching at the Law Center.

April 2025

Experts Gather at UH Law Center to Address Tariffs, Uncertainty, and the Growing Demand for Electricity

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April 28, 2025 - Electricity use is expected to increase dramatically over the next few decades as new data centers, artificial intelligence and expanded electrification come online. But speakers at the University of Houston Law Center’s 9th annual North American Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Conference said the nation’s ability to meet that demand has been complicated by tariffs, the wider threat of a trade war, supply chain constraints and growing unpredictability.

UH Law Center Alumnus Mark R. Meador Appointed as FTC Commissioner

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April 25, 2025 — The U.S. Senate recently confirmed University of Houston Law Center alumnus Mark R. Meador (J.D. ’11) to serve as a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

UHLC Celebrates Faculty, Staff and Student Excellence at the 2025 Dean's Awards Ceremony

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April 24, 2025 — The University of Houston Law Center honored the outstanding accomplishments of its community during the annual Dean’s Awards Ceremony, held recently at the John M. O’Quinn Law Building.

Guest Lecturer Noah Sachs Delves into Rights of Nature vs. Human Needs at UH Law Webinar

April 24, 2025 — A thought-provoking conversation unfolded at the “Anti-Democratic Rights of Nature” hosted on Wednesday by the University of Houston Law Center’s Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Center. The central question: Should the rights of organism and ecosystems — like marshes or streams and the creatures living there — hold legal rights that may supersede human development and use?

Energy Law Expert James Coleman Says Carbon Storage is Vital for Addressing Climate Risks at UH Law Webinar

April 23, 2025 – Net-zero — the idea that what goes up in the environment will come out of the environment at the same rate — along with the carbon capture and storage was the focus of a recent webinar featuring James W. Coleman, an energy law professor at the University of Minnesota. Coleman's research focuses on addressing critical energy policy issues, particularly around energy infrastructure and its regulation.

EENR Scholar Monika Ehrman Explores Legal Issues in Space Exploration and Extraction of Resources

Houston, April 21, 2025 – A modern-day gold rush is upon humankind, but this time the sought-after resources are extraterrestrial. As commercial and private space exploration continues to rise, the lack of specific legal frameworks creates significant risks and questions, according to Monika Ehrman, the Inaugural Distinguished Scholar of the University of Houston Law Center’s Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Center.

UH Law Center Student George Buckley Wins EENR Student Scholarship Award

April 16, 2025 – George Buckley is the recipient of the Second Annual Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Center Student Scholarship Award.

UH Law Center Hosts Event for Experts to Advise International Lawyers on How to Navigate the U.S. Legal Market

Panelists Enrique Jaramillo, a legal counsel at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt and Mosle LLP; Tania Albuja, senior associate at Nelson Mullins; Audrey Guaqueta, general counsel and corporate secretary at Ecopetrol U.S.A. Inc. and Darya Shirokova, assistant director of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, share insights and answer questions at the event.

April 11, 2025 — International lawyers trying to establish their careers in the U.S. often face hurdles in networking, career advancement and demonstrating their value in the legal field.

Get to Know the UH Libraries

Library

A world of knowledge is available to you at our world-class libraries and special archives.

Erwin Chemerinsky Warns of Growing Executive Power at UH Law Center’s Rosenberg Lecture

UC Berkeley Law School’s Dean Erwin Chemerinsky presents the keynote to a packed room and virtual audience at the UH Law Center’s 2025 Yale L. Rosenberg Lecture.

April 11, 2025 - The United States faces an increasingly fragile democracy due to the steady expansion of presidential authority, and the decline of the other two branches of government, according to globally renowned constitutional law scholar Erwin Chemerinsky, who was the featured speaker at the University of Houston Law Center’s 2025 Yale L. Rosenberg Lecture.

Health Policy Expert Discusses How Better Investments Can Improve U.S. Health Outcomes at HLPI Event

HLPI event image

April 08, 2025 – The U.S. spends more on health care than most developed countries yet receives the worst outcomes – but there is a solution, according to health policy expert Elena Marks who spoke recently at the University of Houston Law Center’s Health Law and Policy Institute’s Speaker Series.

Two UH Law Center Programs Land in Top 10 in Latest U.S. News Rankings

View from the John M. O'Quinn Building

April 8, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center’s Part-Time and Health Law programs are among the top 10 in the country according to the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings released today.

UHLC Student Savannah Witte Wins Global AIEN Student Writing Competition

UHLC Student Christopher Cabrera Wins Prestigious Health Care Writing Awards

March 31, 2025 – Christopher Cabrera, a third-year student at the University of Houston Law Center, is making an impact and winning awards with his insightful articles that explore the complex interplay between law, medicine and pharmaceutical advancements.

April 07, 2025- Savannah Witte, a third-year student at the University of Houston Law Center, won the top prize in the prestigious Association of International Energy Negotiators’ annual Student Writing Competition.

LLM GUIDE Highlights UH Law Center for Affordability and Three Specialty Programs in Top 10 Listing

UHLC Student Christopher Cabrera Wins Prestigious Health Care Writing Awards

March 31, 2025 – Christopher Cabrera, a third-year student at the University of Houston Law Center, is making an impact and winning awards with his insightful articles that explore the complex interplay between law, medicine and pharmaceutical advancements.

April 4, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center was named a top 10 best budget school in the U.S. for an LL.M., and in the top 10 for energy law, global law and health/medical law LL.M. offerings by the LLM GUIDE for its Top 10 Lists by Specialty for 2025.

UH Legal and Policy Experts Weigh in on Sweeping Shifts Under New Administration

UHLC Student Christopher Cabrera Wins Prestigious Health Care Writing Awards

March 31, 2025 – Christopher Cabrera, a third-year student at the University of Houston Law Center, is making an impact and winning awards with his insightful articles that explore the complex interplay between law, medicine and pharmaceutical advancements.

April 4, 2025 - During the last six weeks, over 100 presidential executive orders have been signed and issued resulting in a whirlwind of change. To unpack the implications, the University of Houston Law Center and the Hobby School of Public Affairs hosted a webinar, bringing together 13 legal and policy experts to dissect how these orders are reshaping key policies.

March 2025

Student Spotlight: UHLC Student Christopher Cabrera Wins Prestigious Health Care Writing Awards

UHLC Student Christopher Cabrera Wins Prestigious Health Care Writing Awards

March 31, 2025 – Christopher Cabrera, a third-year student at the University of Houston Law Center, is making an impact and winning awards with his insightful articles that explore the complex interplay between law, medicine and pharmaceutical advancements.

March 31, 2025 – Christopher Cabrera, a third-year student at the University of Houston Law Center, is making an impact and gaining awards with his insightful articles that explore the complex interplay between law, medicine and pharmaceutical advancements.

Admitted Students Day Showcases UH Law Center’s Vibrant Legal Community

Student

March 28, 2025 – Prospective law students were welcomed to the University of Houston Law Center’s Spring Admitted Students Day with an inspiring theme, “Space City: Where Your Legal Dreams Take Flight.”

Alumni Spotlight: UHLC’s Casey Roy brings commercial bankruptcy expertise to expanding law firm

Casey Roy

March 28, 2025 — University of Houston Law Center alumnus Casey Roy (J.D. ’94) has joined Kane Russell Coleman Logan PC, a full-service law firm originally based in Dallas that recently opened an Austin office.

Alumni Spotlight: UHLC Alumna Sarah Morton (J.D. ’08) Leads FordHarrison’s New Houston Office

Abby

March 27, 2025 – Sarah Morton, a University of Houston Law Center alumna, recently established the Houston office for FordHarrison LLP, a national Iabor and employment defense boutique firm with 27 offices nationwide. 

Experts Say U.S. Tax Reforms Face Challenges Driven by Political and Economic Uncertainty

Panelists Andrea Iturbide, associate at Clark Hill in Mexico, Eduardo Canales, counsel with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field LLP in Houston, and Mario Barrera, tax partner at Clark Hill, discuss clean energy tax and policy issues challenging energy investments in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

March 25, 2025 - March 10, 2025 – International energy and tax law experts gathered at the University of Houston Law Center to discuss the global impact of proposed tariffs, regulatory changes, and investment challenges in the energy sector.

Young Orator Inspires UH Law Center, Connects Community and Classroom

Houston fifth-grader Montoia Murray performing her award-winning speech at the University of Houston Law Center

March 24, 2025 -The University of Houston Law Center recently welcomed an extraordinary young voice to the John O’ Quinn Law Building: fifth-grader Montoia Murray, the only two-time champion of Houston’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Best Oratory Competition.

Renowned Constitutional Law Expert Erwin Chemerinsky to Discuss Allocation of Power Among the 3 Branches of Government at UH Law Center’s Rosenberg Memorial Lecture

Erwin Chemerinsky

March 21, 2025 - One of the nation’s foremost constitutional law scholars, Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, will be the keynote speaker of the annual Yale L. Rosenberg Lecture at the University of Houston Law Center. 

UH Law Center SBA President Duncan Reedyk Helps Rally Support for Harris County Court Expansion

Clip from hearing

March 13, 2025 — In a significant move to address Harris County's burgeoning legal demands, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted 3-1, with one abstaining, to request that state lawmakers create five additional civil district courts. Judge Beau A. Miller, presiding judge of the 190th Judicial District Court, championed the initiative to expand the county's civil courts.

Legal Expert Says Weakening of Environmental Reviews is Accelerating Climate Concerns at EENR webinar

No. 1 arbitration team

March 12, 2025 – Climate change continues to be a pressing concern for both public and private sectors, often viewed as a formidable challenge in the pursuit of dependable energy resources due to stringent environmental policies and regulatory demands. This complex issue was at the heart of a recent webinar titled “Permitting Reform’s False Choice” hosted by the University of Houston Law Center’s Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource (EENR) Center.

UH Law Center Students Win American Bar Association’s National Arbitration Competition

No. 1 arbitration team

March 6, 2025 - Four University of Houston Law Center students emerged as the No. 1 arbitration team in the country, winning first place at a recent American Bar Association tournament in Chicago.

UH Law Center and Hobby School of Public Affairs to Host Webinar on Navigating Policy Changes in a New Political Era

Houston, March 3, 2025 – As the new presidential administration reaches its first 100-day milestone, legal and policy experts will discuss implications for the economy, higher education, immigration, energy and the environment in an upcoming webinar titled “Key Policy Considerations for the Administration.”

February 2025

UH Law Center’s Abby Trahan Wins Prestigious AFP Award

Abby

HOUSTON, Feb. 25, 2025—Abby Trahan, M.P.A., CFRE, director of development at the University of Houston Law Center, has been recognized as one of two Outstanding Young Professionals by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

UH Law Center Strengthens LSS Program with New Educators

HOUSTON, February 24, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center’s Lawyering Skills and Strategies program has added two new faculty members.

UHLC Grad Armin Salek (J.D. ’16) Nominated for Texas Young Lawyers Association President-Elect

Feb. 24, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center alumnus Armin Salek (J.D. ’16) is a candidate for president-elect of the Texas Young Lawyers Association. Voting in the State Bar elections starts April 1, and the winner of the election will be announced in May.

UH Law Alumni Association names 2024-2025 award recipients

Feb. 21, 2025 — The University of Houston Law Alumni Association will recognize several University of Houston Law Center alumni, faculty and friends with a variety of accolades at its 48th Annual Law Gala & Auction in April. These awards honor individuals who have positively impacted and enhanced the Law Center and the legal profession through their service and contributions.

UH Law Center Black History Month Speaker Dr. Ruth J. Simmons Calls for Courage in a Divided Time

Baynes and Simmons

Feb. 20, 2025 — As the nation grapples with issues of race and fairness, Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, a trailblazing academic leader, says different groups must join forces in service of “an overridingly important common project: a thriving democracy.”  

Build A Bouquet: UH Law Center Students Unwind with Flowers and Fun

Students

Feb. 14, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center’s Student Lounge was a riot of color, candies, punny cards and laughter at the third annual free “Build A Bouquet” event on Thursday. 

Texas Governor Taps Two UHLC Alumni for State Appointments

LogoLogo

Feb. 13, 2025 - Gov. Greg Abbott recently selected University of Houston Law Center graduates Katrina Griffith (J.D. ’05) and Sean Gorman (J.D. ’88) to serve in key state advisory roles.

UH Law Center Alumni and Students Help Houston Artist Secure a Copyright Settlement Against Warner Bros. Discovery and TLC

Houston, Feb. 6, 2025 – When University of Houston MFA student and artist Sarah Welch spotted her mural, “Commute,” in an episode of the reality TV show “Bad Hair Day”— used without her permission — she knew something was off.

UH Law Center’s Government and Public Interest Table Talk Connects Students to Public Service Careers

Feb. 05, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center’s Career Development Office kicked off the spring semester with its annual Government & Public Interest Table Talk. The event, held on January 24, brought together students, alumni, and representatives from about 50 local, state and national government agencies and nonprofit organizations to explore internship and employment opportunities in the public sector.

Legal Expert Says True Grid Reliability Means Power Anytime, in Any Weather at UH Law Center Webinar

February 3, 2025 – Texans still remember the devastating winter storm of 2021, when record snowfall, freezing temperatures, and widespread power outages crippled the entire state.

January 2025

UH Law Professor Trujillo Heads to Italy with Prestigious Braudel Fellowship

Houston, Jan. 28, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center Professor Elizabeth Trujillo has been named a 2024-2025 Fernand Braudel Senior Fellow and will spend the Spring semester at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy (EUI).

UH Law Center Secures Hicks Thomas LLP as Title Sponsor of Acclaimed Moot Court National Championship

Winners

Houston, Jan. 28, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center’s annual competition has a new name this year: The Hicks Thomas LLP Moot Court National Championship. Houston-based Hicks Thomas LLP, a leading litigation boutique established in 1997, has signed up as the event’s exclusive sponsor.

UH Law Center Vail Conference Speakers say Immigration Lawyers Must Be Ready for Sweeping Changes

Conference

Houston, Jan. 27, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center recently hosted the 2025 Joseph A. Vail Immigration Conference, bringing together legal experts, advocates, and educators to address critical issues involving immigration law, enforcement and asylum

Faculty Spotlight: Legal Expert Available to Discuss Impact of Biden’s Title IX Rules Being Rejected

Fowler

Houston, Jan. 9, 2025 – A federal court ruling in Kentucky just invalidated a Biden administration regulation that expanded Title IX protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.

UH Law Center Dean Baynes Appointed to Association of American Law Schools’ Executive Committee

Baynes

Jan. 13, 2024 - Leonard M. Baynes, dean of the University of Houston Law Center, has been selected to serve a three-year term on the Executive Committee of the Association of American Law Schools.

 

December 2024

UH Law Center Receives Gift from Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s BeyGOOD Foundation to Support Criminal Justice Clinic

Richard R. W. Brooks

December 11, 2024 – The BeyGOOD Foundation, founded by music icon Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, has given a $100,000 gift to support the University of Houston Law Center’s Criminal Justice Clinic.

Annual Frankel Lecture explores how words used to address others influence civil, political, and social lives

Richard R. W. Brooks

December 11, 2024 – A simple, “Hey, you!” can express more – and give a myriad of meanings – than only a basic greeting or acknowledgment in communicating with others.

UH Law Center alumna Adrogué ‘91 makes history as judge on new Texas Business Court

Adrogue

Dec. 4, 2024 - Sofia Adrogué was sworn in as a judge of the newly-established Texas Business Court, Eleventh Division, this Fall.   Adrogué, a 1991 honors graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, was recently appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, and will serve a two-year term.

EENR Lecture Legal Expert Advocates for Transforming Energy Systems to Build a Better Future

Top to bottom – Daniel Farber, Qaraman Hasan, and Tracy Hester

December 2, 2024 – The global consequences of climate change are engaged in one of the most extreme love/hate relationships with energy in all its forms including but not limited to what kind or energy is available, where it comes from, and how it might be exchanged for something safer, renewable, and sustainable for the benefit of all.