Anna Carruth '20
May 18, 2020 - Having worked as an intern at the R. McConnell Group since her 2L year in 2019, Anna Carruth will not need to conduct a lengthy job search. After graduating, the member of the University of Houston Law Center Class of 2020 will begin her legal career at the firm.
She will primarily work as outside counsel, doing compliance work for companies.
"It's a lot of research and writing, but I like it because it's different from most legal practices," Carruth said. "I get to work with companies that I would have never had the chance to. It's hands-on work and less rigid."
Carruth got her foot in the door through an edition of the Small & Midsize Firm Open House, hosted regularly by the Law Center's Career Development Office.
"They weren't actually in-person at the career fair, it was a resume drop box so I applied," Carruth said. "I saw it through Symplicity and the firm wanted to make sure I was the right fit since it is a smaller firm. I was very lucky and applied at the right, at the right place."
During her time as a Law Center student she participated in the Houston Journal of International Law and in the Student Bar Association. She also worked as a judicial intern in the chambers of Texas 151st District Court Judge Mike Engelhart '95. Carruth said she appreciated the practical aspect of the experience.
"You see how the law works," she said. "It was day-to-day issues coming to court and getting them fixed. Especially since it was after my 1L year, everything was so theoretical there. It was great to apply what I learned in class the first time. Judge Engelhart was great to work for."
Carruth completed her undergraduate career as a history major from the University of Texas a semester early in 2016. She was drawn to pursue a legal education because of her strengths in research, writing and critical thinking. After visiting several law schools around the state, what sealed her decision to attend the Law Center was its Admitted Students Day.
"I visited a lot of schools," Carruth said. "The professors, the other admitted students and the students who already went here made me feel like this was a place where I will do well."
