University of Houston Law Center Professor Lauren Simpson (J.D. ’94) has been chosen as UHLC’s Part-Time Program Professor of Year seven times.
Feb. 23, 2026—University of Houston Law Center Professor Lauren Simpson (J.D. ’94) has been named the 2025 SBA Professor of the Year for faculty teaching in the part‑time program, marking the seventh time she has earned this honor. Her repeated recognition highlights both her exceptional dedication to student learning and the strength of UHLC’s part‑time program, which supports students balancing career, financial, and family commitments.
“By allowing professionals to obtain their J.D. without sacrificing their jobs, the UHLC part-time program opens doors to skilled students who could not otherwise attend,” said Simpson. “This is an important service to our community and aligns with UHLC’s community-focused philosophy.”
Reflecting on the award, Simpson said her students are at the heart of her work.
“Working with my students has been the most inspiring and rewarding part of my time at UHLC,” she said. “Building relationships with them and helping them develop the skills they need to succeed is deeply meaningful to me.”
Simpson earned her B.A. in French and International Studies from Washington University in St. Louis before graduating from the University of Houston Law Center in 1994. She joined the UHLC faculty in 2010 and now serves as a clinical associate professor teaching Lawyering Skills and Strategies (LSS).
“It’s a real joy to give back to a community that gave me so much as a student,” she said.
Additionally, beyond the SBA award, Simpson has been recognized for numerous achievements, including:
Her long-standing recognition by the SBA highlights the impact of her teaching philosophy and her commitment to creating a student-centered learning environment.
“I describe my teaching philosophy as supportive collaboration,” Simpson explained. “That means creating a learning environment where my students and I work together to build on our strengths and overcome our weaknesses, and where students know that I care about them personally.”
Within the LSS curriculum, a foundational component for all 1L students, Simpson focuses on cultivating essential skills.
“In LSS, students learn to think like lawyers, to locate and analyze the law, to communicate their reasoning effectively across contexts, and to handle the types of tasks they’ll face in practice. These skills matter because they’re central to effective lawyering in any field.”
Guided by UHLC’s mission of excellence and opportunity, Simpson continues to shape the next generation of attorneys with intention and care.
“I always tell my students that, if I’ve done my job right, they’ll leave my class with the tools they need to develop their own written voice and to succeed as both students and young lawyers,” she said. “Equally important to me is that they believe they can succeed—in their own way and on their own timeline.”
Q&A with Lauren Simpson
Who is your role model/inspiration?
LS: Two colleagues stand out as my mentors. The first is Professor Meredith Duncan, the Assistant Dean for Opportunities, Pedagogy, and Community Engagement and a recipient of numerous teaching awards. She’s shown me how to connect better with students and to adapt to their needs, and she’s encouraged me to take thoughtful risks with new teaching approaches. The second is Professor Alyson Drake, Assistant Dean for Legal Research Services and Founding Director of the Initiative for Evidence-Based Legal Education. Her guidance has deepened my understanding of pedagogy and effective teaching practices, and the changes I’ve made based on her advice have made a real difference in my students’ learning. Along with these mentors, I’m also deeply inspired by my LSS colleagues. Their generous feedback and guidance, shared resources, and steady support have helped shape me into the teacher I am today.
How did you choose UHLC as a student? Any favorite memories to share?
LS: UHLC was a great fit for me because it offered a strong education, reasonable tuition, a generous scholarship, and a way to build connections in the community I wanted to serve.
What is something UHLC students would be surprised to learn about you?
LS: For the past 10 years, I’ve dedicated my personal time to educating myself and the community about insect conservation and the native-plant gardens insects rely on. At home, we’ve converted much of our lawn into habitat gardens, and I enjoy photographing the plants and animals that visit.
