June 11, 2024 — Vishaal Kuruvanka, a first-year law student at the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC), will spend this summer participating in the Skadden 1L Scholars Program, a competitive opportunity the law firm extends to candidates from leading law schools nationwide.
“I knew that if I was accepted into the program, I would be trained by some of the best attorneys in the world,” said Kuruvanka. “My goal for this summer is to understand the work of different practice groups and the type of cases they handle. All the experiences I gain during my time there will be immensely beneficial to my development as an attorney.”
Before choosing to pursue a legal education at UHLC, Kuruvanka worked in education and government as a high school Calculus and Statistics teacher, Founder and Director for the Houston Mayor's Student Leadership Alliance, the Vice Curator for the Houston Chapter of the World Economic Forum and Founder and CEO of Promoting Education Across the Country (PEAC). During his undergraduate studies at UH, he founded the national nonprofit organization PEAC to engage youth in local communities.
Kuruvanka aspires to earn a law degree to profoundly transform and uplift the Houston and Texas communities. In this Q&A, he discusses his previous experience in those roles and the pursuit of legal education at UHLC.
University of Houston Law Center student Vishaal Kuruvanka
Vishaal Kuruvanka at the Skadden office for the summer 1L Scholars Program
Vishaal Kuruvanka at the Skadden office for the summer 1L Scholars Program
Vishaal Kuruvanka presenting during a Houston Mayor's Student Leadership Alliance meeting.
What led to your interest in Skadden's 1L Scholars Program?
I knew if I was accepted into the program, I would be trained under some of the best attorneys in the world. I felt like that was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Whether it was litigation, transactional, or technology practice I encountered, they’re world-class attorneys, and for me to become the best attorney I can be, I need to learn from the best.
I spoke with many people in the Houston office to understand the Skadden culture better. The attorneys emphasized Skadden's commitment to resolving their clients' issues and their dedication to pro bono work and community service. This focus on serving the community is crucial to me as I embark on my legal career. I have always sought to make a tangible impact on the community, and it became clear that this value is important to Skadden as well. This realization further solidified my decision to apply for their program.
How will this summer associate position at Skadden’s help you in pursuit of a legal career?
This summer associate position at Skadden will be instrumental in helping me discover the kind of attorney I want to become. Observing the various practice groups in action—whether it be energy, litigation, intellectual property, technology, corporate, or capital markets—presents an incredible opportunity. My goal is to gain a clearer understanding of the direction I want my career to take. Although I currently have a general idea, I believe the best way to truly understand a field is through firsthand experience. This was something I learned during my time as a teacher; I initially thought teaching would be easy, but it was only through direct experience that I realized the challenges involved.
Similarly, while I have a basic understanding of these legal subcategories, I anticipate that immersing myself in them will provide me with a completely new perspective and appreciation. My goal for this summer is to observe the different practice groups, understand the nature of their work, and learn about the firm’s culture. The experiences I gain during my time at Skadden will be invaluable in shaping my future legal career.
What led you to pursue your education at the UHLC?
The first component of my decision was deciding to embark on a legal education. I wanted to be in a dynamic career that was constantly changing but also utilized my writing and reading skills. I searched around a lot for those qualities. I worked for the MD Anderson Cancer Center doing research, as a public school teacher, as an nonprofit director and then for Mayor Turner doing the Student Leadership Alliance. In all those experiences, I encountered several attorneys. After seeing the type of work they did and the positive influence they had, I started to think that was something I wanted to do.
As a lover of history, I was inspired by many great lawyers and lawgivers who used their legal expertise to improve their communities. Influential figures such as Hamilton, Lincoln, and Gandhi demonstrated the powerful impact that skilled lawyers can have on society. I also believe that learning how to make logical arguments through a structured thought process is an invaluable skill, applicable whether you are trying to determine education policy for a state or in advising clients with their legal problems.
The second component, why I chose UHLC, is because I’m from Houston; this is where I grew up and have started my career. I envision my career being generally in Texas. Because the UHLC is one of the top law schools in the state, I knew this was where I should pursue my education.
What are some of your favorite professors/memories here so far?
When I first came to UHLC, Dean Baynes was gracious enough to meet with me to discuss a series of essays I had written about the state of education. He took the time to read them and encouraged me to write an op-ed piece about current issues in education in Texas. Although the op-ed did not get published, this experience demonstrated to me how deeply Dean Baynes and the rest of the faculty at UHLC care about our development as lawyers.
Last semester, one of my favorite professors was Professor Gebru, who taught the Contracts class I attended. I enjoyed the subject immensely, as my background in Economics made the intersection of Contracts and Economics particularly compelling.
A favorite memory from this semester involved mock arguments in our Statutory Interpretations class. I relished embodying one side of the issue and crafting an argument in front of the entire class. This exercise not only deepened my understanding of the material but also required me to think critically about my position and approach it as a real-time lawyer would. This experience will undoubtedly contribute to my development as a better lawyer.
Another class I loved this semester was my Constitutional Law class. It was fascinating to see how the text and interpretation of the Constitution have evolved throughout America’s history. Additionally, learning about the country’s most pressing issues and having Professor Berman challenge us to think about how we would address these issues was incredibly engaging. The cases and discussions in this class have given me a deeper appreciation for the Constitution and the power of democracy. I learned how the Constitution is an essential document because it establishes the foundational principles and framework of our government. It delineates the separation of powers, safeguards individual rights, and ensures the rule of law. In today's rapidly changing world, understanding constitutional law is more important than ever, as it provides the legal foundation necessary to uphold justice and adapt to new challenges. The Constitution's ability to be interpreted and amended allows it to remain relevant and effective in guiding our nation through contemporary legal and societal issues, reinforcing the stability and continuity of our democratic system. This adaptability and its role in protecting freedoms make the Constitution a cornerstone of American democracy and an example for the world to follow.
How and when did you discover your interest in the law?
I have a unique path; I didn’t know from the outset that I wanted to be a lawyer. My interest in law emerged through exploring various experiences and realizing how they resonated with me. The stereotypical portrayal of attorneys in TV and movies doesn’t fully capture the breadth of what the job entails, and I wanted to gain as much experience as possible to understand it better.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I was offered a position with Teach for America, where I taught AP Calculus and Statistics for two years. I chose this role because I was looking for something dynamic that required me to be constantly engaged and impactful. Teaching 120 students and helping them improve their math skills had an immediate and tangible impact on their lives. Guiding them through their academic journeys and mentoring them through high school and college applications also facilitated my personal growth.
As I considered my next career move, I knew I wanted to continue having a broad impact. My teaching experience, combined with my work for Mayor Turner alongside attorneys leading various city departments, including my mentor Mrs. Juliet Stipeche, gave me insight into the profound impact one could have with a law degree. During COVID-19, while working with Mayor Turner, I witnessed how the city maneuvered to help as many people as possible. The pandemic was a challenging time, and no one knew what was happening, but I saw how laws and policies played a crucial role in uniting people to solve complex problems. Although science and technology were vital, it was the laws and policies that captivated me. Conversations with attorneys during this period solidified my interest in law. I realized that, as a lawyer, every case is an opportunity to contribute to the evolving body of law, and this realization inspired me to pursue a legal career. A law degree would enable me to work within the realms of business and government, two pivotal sectors for societal progress. Reading history has shown me that the law is an effective tool for building a society that is efficient and works for everyone.
How was your experience founding and directing the Mayor’s Student Leadership Alliance Council and how has this helped in your pursuit of a legal career?
When I was interning with the city, I noticed they had an education department, which immediately piqued my interest. Education has always been a passion of mine because I believe it's the bedrock of our society; today's youth will eventually lead in business, politics, law, healthcare, and other fields. A robust education system is crucial for our city, state, and nation. I saw an opportunity to enhance engagement between the city and college students. I thought it would be beneficial for college students to gain exposure to city government operations while the city could benefit from fresh ideas. With this in mind, I drafted a proposal to create a committee comprising representatives from all the colleges in Houston. The committee would meet with Mayor Turner once a semester to provide a report. I sent it to the director of the education department in the city. I didn’t think anything would come of it.
She emailed me back saying she liked my proposal and would talk to Mayor Turner about it and see if he’s interested in doing it. She discussed it with him, and he liked it as well, so she gave me the go and said let's do it! That experience taught me that anything is possible. If you want to try something, do it, you just have to try. Then we collaborated and selected students from all 14 graduate and undergraduate institutions in the city. That included med schools, law schools, graduate and undergraduate schools. Together, we worked on various policy issues and advised the city on the most pressing problems identified by the youth.
This experience was instrumental in my pursuit of a legal career as it demonstrated the power and impact of law in shaping people's lives. For example, during the pandemic, many K-12 students lacked internet access for remote learning. The city quickly set up internet providers for these students through a city-sponsored program. This showed me that with strong leadership, vision, and a thorough understanding of the law, significant positive changes can be made, especially in times of need.
We also collected data on students' mental health to understand their needs better and explored potential collaborations between the city and state to address these issues. Additionally, we helped raise awareness about the census on college campuses to ensure accurate population data and adequate federal funding for the city.
This internship provided me with invaluable exposure to city leaders, many of whom were attorneys. Observing their multidimensional approach to problem-solving has greatly influenced my thinking. Now, when I contemplate an issue, I consider various perspectives and solutions, which has been beneficial in my law school career so far.
What was your role as a vice curator (Houston) for the World Economic Forum and how has this role helped you in future endeavors?
During COVID, I was asked by the previous curator if I wanted to be the next curator. There was another person who was running for the position, and I was not sure if I wanted to take on the role, so I decided to learn under him and that's how I became vice curator.
I wanted to use the full scope of the World Economic Forum’s stage, with all the different hubs across various cities. I tried to get people who were highly established and global shapers to come and speak to K-12 students or college students about their career trajectories. I believe a lot of accomplished people and global shapers have unique stories; they all have tough trials they went through. Those types of stories can show young people that even if you’re going through something challenging right now, you can overcome that and become highly successful in the end.
That experience sharpened my leadership abilities and helped me further understand the impact I could have as an individual. That will translate into my legal career by forcing me to think “How can I positively impact this client and/or the community?”
How will your experience as a teacher help you in your pursuit of a legal career?
I taught for over two years at two different charter schools called the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) and the School of Science and Technology (SST). I was placed first at KIPP, where I taught Calculus and Stats for two years. Then I taught for about half a year of seventh grade for SST.
Teaching is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. This job really pushed me to the brim every day. Being a teacher, you must perform for your students constantly while maintaining their attention. You must also control the students' behaviors in the classroom, encourage them to become good humans and establish respect between you and the students. You must be on all the time, and it can be a very draining job. I don’t think a lot of people understand that.
Though it was a difficult job, it forced me to become more organized and think about how I could be more effective in conveying information. I found myself thinking a lot about how I could break the information in these subjects down to make them easily understandable for kids that age. It taught me to reengineer those problems so I could better explain them to them. Now, that helps me as a law student, because I have that insight to speculate “What is that professor trying to ask? What are they looking for?” I used to be in that position as a teacher asking questions to my own students, which has been helpful to me as a student because I understand better what the professors are thinking and looking for.
The emotional bandwidth I grew during the process has also benefited me greatly. Teaching pushed my boundaries and showed me what I was capable of and how much I could endure. Now, if something difficult comes up in law school, I feel like it’s not even close to what I was dealing with as a teacher. Now, I truly think that if someone wants to serve their community and have a solid career, becoming a teacher in the beginning stages of your career will be extremely helpful. It forces you to become a better communicator, leader, and time manager. Getting that exposure and development early in your career will pay off in the long run.
What is one beneficial lesson you’ve learned here at the UHLC?
Being able to communicate as a writer is incredibly important. Being a clear, effective writer can change not only your career but your whole life, including the way you communicate with your friends and family. That’s something law school has taught me. When I read some of the cases I’m presented with, some of them are clear and easily understandable, but some of them aren’t. I don’t blame the writer for this, but now I try to be as clear and concise as I can because I don’t want something I wrote to be misconstrued or too vague for a client or judge to comprehend. Professor Reed, who taught my LSS writing class emphasized the value of strong writing skills and demonstrated how being a good writer can greatly benefit one's legal career. I hope to utilize these skills this summer and continue to build on what I have learned under Professor Reed.
What advice would you give someone considering going to law school?
Focus on your undergrad classes and grades. Try to take the LSAT exam as early as you can. Talk to many different attorneys to figure out if law school is truly something you want to do. You should do that research beforehand, because you don’t want to come to law school and pay thousands of dollars in tuition, books and fees to do so, just to realize it’s not for you. It's important to talk to attorneys in different practice groups to get a full scope of the different kinds of attorneys out there. Lastly, dream big. Everything around you was once just a thought in someone else's mind, but they took steps to manifest it. You too can contribute to the world in remarkable ways. Find what you can excel at and pursue it passionately.
