University of Houston Law Center student Drew Padley
March 25, 2019 — After gaining previous experience in public interest law and by interning with a federal judge, Drew Padley, a second-year student at the University of Houston Law Center, will add transactional law to his resume by clerking for the firm of Latham & Watkins this coming summer.
"Latham's Houston office only does transactional work, so it will be a totally new experience for me," Padley said. "I am hoping to learn about oil and gas, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and whatever else they throw on my plate."
Padley's upcoming opportunity in a law firm setting will differ from his most recent internship spent in the courtroom and chambers of U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller '78 from August to November 2018."Working for Judge Miller was an incredibly rewarding experience," he said. "I was able to work closely with Judge Miller's clerks in crafting orders and they taught me how to be a better writer. Whenever a hearing ended or there was a break in trial, we were afforded an opportunity to discuss what had happened with Judge Miller. The insight was invaluable."
Padley's previous legal experiences fell in the category of public interest, with internships at the Texas Defender Service, Lone Star Legal Aid and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
“I saw service in action every day and I will carry that with me throughout my whole legal career,” Padley said. "Public interest work can involve decades of work to help one person with an extraordinary issue, or it can involve one day of work to help someone solve a perpetual bother. Either way, it is of paramount importance."
In addition to a passion for energy law, Padley credited Professor Emeritus Richard Alderman, Clinical Associate Professor Richard McElvaney and Professor of Practice Ryan Marquez for deepening his curiosity in consumer law. Participating in the Law Center's Consumer Law Clinic and the People's Law School have been some of Padley's favorite law school activities so far.
"Texas has one of the best consumer laws in the country in the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act," Padley said. "Secondly, after the financial crisis the consumer notched a bunch of wins, mostly through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
"But, in the last few years, the bureau has lost its teeth, the consumer has lost ground, and economic inequality has gripped the country even tighter. It's interesting to think about what the next wins for consumers will be, who will secure them, and when they will be won."
Following the completion of his undergraduate education at Stanford, Padley set his sights on a career that would benefit people who struggle with the legal system. He chose to attend the Law Center based on his preference to pursue a legal education where many cultures and voices are represented.
"I knew I had a skill set that translated well to law, and I thought that my best opportunity to give back would be to get a law degree. I wanted to be in a place with limitless opportunities. All of my interactions with Law Center staff and faculty left me impressed, and the price was right."
