When 2L Adrienne Madriaga entered law school at South Texas, she knew it was unlike any endeavor she had ever undertaken. In uncharted waters, she hoped to find someone to guide her through the pitfalls and tough decisions.
When she discovered the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) as a 1L and became a member, Madriaga was paired with a mentor to do just that.
“The mentorship program is really special,” she said. “APALSA pairs second- and third-year students with 1Ls to give advice on classes, internships, clerkships and career paths.” Madriaga said this fosters long-lasting relationships between students in different years who would not typically get to know one another because they’re not taking the same classes.
Madriaga still keeps in contact with her mentor, who encouraged her to run for president of APALSA, the position she now holds. Another APALSA connection, coincidentally the former organization president, recommended Madriaga for her law clerk position at Madan Law PLLC.
APALSA, formed in 1989 at STCL Houston as the first such chapter in Texas, has a deep-rooted network and is a great launch pad for members’ law school educations and legal careers. This manifests through programming like networking events with law firms, seminars, panels and guest speaker events — sometimes in collaboration with organizations like the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and the Asian American Bar Association of Houston.
“APALSA exists to build a space for Asian American law students to find support and access information and opportunities,” Madriaga said. “I truly didn’t realize there are so many Asian Americans represented in the legal world until I became involved in this organization.”
The organizational connections and strong sense of community at South Texas made her feel like she had discovered where she belonged in the hustle and bustle of campus life. Her 1L year was entirely online, but joining a student organization helped her plug in and feel less isolated from her peers.
Due to Covid, planning events was difficult this past year. However, APALSA hosted a creative outdoor gathering for the entire campus to enjoy: the first-ever Diversity Food Truck event.
APALSA spearheaded the event, in coordination with other diverse student groups including the Black Law Students Association, AMICUS, the Democratic Law Society and the Republican Law Students Association. By spotlighting cuisine from different cultures on campus, APALSA aimed to spark exploratory conversations, camaraderie and connection among the student body.
In 2022, Madriaga said the organization’s main event will be the Lunar New Year celebration in February. If local Covid rates are within an acceptable range, APALSA plans to host an in-person event that will include traditional performers and food, as well as various Asian American speakers from the legal community. This will also double as a networking opportunity for members and other STCL Houston students.
Madriaga relishes the chance to hone her professional career skills while also embracing her cultural heritage.
“Dean Barry often shares that STCL Houston is one of the most diverse law schools in Texas, and you can sense that here,” she said. “There’s a real focus on diversity that I’m not sure you find at other law schools.”
As a student organization president, Madriaga is proud that South Texas values student identities, celebrates cultural differences, and makes diversity, equity and inclusion efforts a priority. She wants students to know that APALSA is a great place to build relationships and venture out of your comfort zone.
“It has been such a great stepping stone to where I want to be after graduation,” she said.
For more information about APALSA or about how to join, check out the organization’s page.
