Students & Alumni

Students

South Texas College of Law Houston is committed to helping our students maximize their potential for a successful, rewarding career. In doing so, we facilitate and support students through their transition from law student to legal professional by identifying opportunities in private practice, public interest, government, and business; providing career counseling and job search advice; offering assistance in applying for clerkships and internships; and connecting students with alumni and other potential employers.

From the start of their first semester, students are provided a robust and comprehensive offering of resources for all things career-related – this enables them to explore, develop, and implement their career goals thoughtfully and intentionally.

Services We Offer

The CRC offers several opportunities for students to explore, develop, and implement their career goals. In doing so, the department hosts several programs and practice panels throughout the academic year to help introduce students to practice types/industries, assess strengths, and identify objectives.

Because the road to figuring out what you want to do and how to get there will look different for each one of our students, the CRC provides individualized career counseling through a team of advisors, all of whom have law degrees and practical experience in different areas of law, to assist in developing uniquely tailored job-search strategies to achieve career goals.

Counselors are assigned according to the first initial of your last name:

Enrolled Students Last name A – G, contact Bianca Edwards, JD ’10

Enrolled Students Last name H – M , contact Katie Silver, JD

Enrolled Students Last name N – Z, contact Marie Garcia, JD ’16

Alumni, contact Shantal Formia, JD

General Questions, contact CSO

Although each job search is unique, there are many principles relating to the job search process that are universally applicable and important to understand – one of the most important being the preparation of effective marketing materials including resumes and cover letters.

Every year the CRC brings over 100 employers onto campus and coordinates interviews through its Fall and Spring On-Campus Recruitment programs – these employers are seeking to hire for academic year, summer, or post-graduate permanent opportunities.

  • Our Fall Program is conducted through three distinct phases of recruitment with interviews taking place in early-August, mid-September, and mid-October.
  • Our Spring Program offers two distinct phases with interviews taking place in early-January and mid-February.

For employers who wish to participate in either our Fall or Spring Recruitment program(s), but host interviews independently of the OCI process, the CRC offers interested employers the option of participating as a “Resume Collection.”

STCLH offers area Judges the option of streamlining hiring initiatives for judicial interns through our Fall, Spring, and Summer Judicial Resume Collection Program.

Students who are interested in seeking Judicial internship opportunities, whether paid, unpaid, or for class credit, are able to apply to specific participating Judges.

Our Recruiting Mini-Session program offers an ad-hoc recruitment avenue tailored for legal employers who have a hiring need, including immediate needs, that fall outside of our typical fall and spring recruiting timelines.

Similar to our OCI process, the application requirements and employment credentials are employer-driven while promotion, collection, and packing of the application materials are facilitated by the CRC.

Hosted annually, STCLH’s Government and Public Interest Table Talk (GPITT) provides public interest and government legal employers the opportunity to informally meet with students and introduce their organization, discuss opportunities for internships and permanent post-graduate positions, and collect resumes from interested candidates.

STCLH partners with organizations nationally that hold job fairs for various practice areas, practice settings, and affinity groups. South Texas College of Law is proud to have students routinely participate in the following fairs and diversity opportunities:

The Business Law Section sponsors the Diversity Clerkship Program.  This summer program provides business law clerkship placements for four qualified diverse first or second year law students.  Participating clerks will receive support and mentoring in the business law field and exposure to business practices that many of them lack.  Participants in the Diversity Clerkship will receive a $3,000 stipend to cover living expenses upon the start of the Clerkship.

The ABA Section of Litigation Summer Judicial Intern Opportunity Program places diverse law students with state and federal  judges for summer internships.

The Baker Botts 1L Diversity Fellowship provides first-year law students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience at a large, global law firm through paid participation in their summer program, as well as $12,500 in scholarship funds to assist with defraying the cost of a legal education.  The scholarship funds are paid in two equal amounts – upon acceptance of an offer to join the firm as a first-year summer associate and upon arrival as a second-year summer associate.

Diverse students who complete their first year of law school by June are eligible to apply for the Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship.  The firm will award scholarships to three diverse rising 2Ls for the summer.  Recipients will be awarded a six-week, salaried 2L summer associate position in one of the firm’s offices.  Prior to the award recipients’ third year of law school, each award recipient will also receive $10,000 to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses.

In tribute to Paul D. White, BakerHostetler’s first minority partner and a pioneer for diversity in the legal profession, a scholarship was created to provide students from historically underrepresented backgrounds with valuable experience early in their careers.  1L and 2L Scholars receive summer associate compensation as well as an additional amount toward tuition and law school expenses.  Scholars who accept offers to the join the firm as full-time associates will receive additional compensation upon joining the firm.

The Blank Rome Diversity Scholars Program was established in 2006 as a part of the firm’s priority to recruit, retain, and promote attorneys who add to overall firm diversity, with a focus on increasing representation of attorneys from historically underrepresented groups in the legal industry.  Selected 1L (or 2L evening student) will receive:  a full-salaried position in the firm’s summer associate program, a scholarship paid in two installments toward second-year and third-year law school expenses, exclusive mentoring, coaching, and professional development programs, social networking events, and involvement with DEI strategy implementation.

Bracewell actively recruits candidates with a demonstrated interest in supporting historically underrepresented groups in the legal profession as part of its efforts to foster an inclusive workplace.  It is with this in mind that the firm offers up to two merit-based fellowships to first-year law students who are particularly committed to diversity and inclusion.  Successful applicants to the program will receive up to a $15,000 award as well as a paid summer associate position in their Houston office.  The amount of $7,500 will be paid in the first paycheck as a first-year summer associate.  An additional $7,500 is contingent upon receiving and accepting an offer to return to the firm as a second-year summer associate, to be paid at the completion of the second summer clerkship.

Bradley’s commitment to diversity is not just a passive ideal, but an active goal that allows the firm to build a team with broad backgrounds and experiences.  Every year, the firm offers two Diversity Scholarships to promote the education of well-qualified law students from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.  They have awarded scholarships of up to $5,000 to first-year students who are committed to broadening the diversity of voices in the legal profession.  Scholarship recipients are required to clerk in one of Bradley’s offices for at least six weeks during the summer after the scholarships are awarded.  You must be a current 1L to be considered for this scholarship.

As part of Cole Schotz’s continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal community, they have created the Cole Schotz Diversity Scholarship, open to rising 2Ls.  Consideration is given to the candidate’s academic achievement, involvement in community service, social justice activities, demonstrated leadership abilities and advancement of diversity in the legal profession.

Cozen O’Connor seeks to employ lawyers of diverse backgrounds and also those committed to the furtherance of a more diverse and inclusive profession.  Students in their first year of law school with demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion are encouraged to apply.

  • Fellows will participate in the firm’s summer associate program beginning in May following their 1L year.
  • Fellows will spend two weeks during the summer associate program working on a pro bono project
  • Fellows will participate in a diversity & inclusion mentorship program.
  • Fellows will be eligible for a $10,000 scholarship to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses, paid in two phases:
    • $5,000 will be awarded upon completion of the Fellow’s 1L summer associate position, to be used toward the Fellow’s 2L year; and
    • If the Fellow receives and accepts an offer to join Cozen O’Connor’s summer associate program following his/her 2L year, $5,000 will be awarded upon completion of the Fellow’s 2L summer associate position and acceptance of an offer to return to Cozen O’Connor as an entry level associate, to be used toward the Fellow’s 3L year.

For law students who demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and the broader community, we are pleased to offer these programs:

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars

Foley is proud to be an LCLD Member organization. First-year law students selected for this program receive valuable professional experience and unique opportunities for career development and relationship building.

Diversity Fellowship

Second-year law students selected for this program receive a total of $20,000 paid in two equal amounts: $10,000 following successful completion of our summer associate program and $10,000 paid within 30 days after joining the firm as an associate.

Fish & Richardson is pleased to launch its annual 1L Diversity Fellowship Program awarding fellowships to diverse first-year law students.  The program is a key component of the firm’s ongoing initiative to recruit, retain, and advance attorneys who will contribute to the diversity of the firm’s practice and the legal profession.  Over 80% of their Fellowship recipients have received offers to join the firm as an associate following graduation.  The Fish & Richardson 1L Diversity Fellowship is comprised of four components:

  • A paid summer associate position in one of Fish & Richardson’s domestic offices in the summer;
  • Mentoring throughout the academic year by members of the firm;
  • Participation in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars Program; and
  • Up to a $30,000 award – Fish will award $5,000 to all 1L Diversity Fellowship recipients upon completion of their 1L summer clerkship with the firm; $10,000 to those returning as a 2L summer associate at Fish for the full 10 weeks of the summer program; and $15,000 to those who join the firm as an associate after law school graduation.

The Haynes and Boone 1L Diversity Scholars Program has been established to attract outstanding diverse students into the private practice of law while helping these students be successful in law school through both work and mentorship experiences afforded by the program.  The firm’s Scholars Program includes a paid 1L Summer Clerkship with Haynes and Boone and a stipend during the school year.

The Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair is held in Kansas City, Missouri every summer.  Employers will interview for 2L summer clerkships and for permanent positions for 3Ls after graduation.

The Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention holds an annual convention.  Job seekers will have time to share their resumes at the Career Fair featuring representations from AmLaw firms, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies.

The HBA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee organizes and implements a summer clerkship program for first-year law students from the three Houston law schools to encourage equal opportunities for minority lawyers in the legal profession.  Applications are due in January each year.  Contact the Career Resource Center for more information.

Are you passionate about starting your career in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm?  Looking to meet legal employers from large, medium and small firms, as well as government agencies, corporations and members of the judiciary?  Get a jump start on creating lasting relationships at the IndyBar Diversity Job Fair.

The SJID Project provides summer judicial internships to diverse law students from communities underrepresented in the legal community.  The project is national in scope and will place law students as  judicial interns in the chambers of federal appellate, district, bankruptcy, magistrate, and select state court judges.

Kirkland & Ellis 1L Diversity Scholars Program is an elite program that provides early exposure to one of the world’s leading law firms.  Selected 1l law students are invited to join Kirkland attorneys, clients and alumni for their two-day program, which will help advance selected candidates’ professional development by forming collegial and mentoring relationships.

The best talent is diverse in many ways, including gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin. A diverse talent base provides the range of experience, approach and judgment necessary to achieve the best results for our clients and creates the most collegial and interesting workplace environment.

Achieving a diverse workplace is a fundamental value of King & Spalding, and our diversity fellowship programs further our commitment to recruit, retain, and promote talented lawyers who will contribute to the advancement of diversity within the firm and in the legal profession.

The Lavender Law Career Fair & Conference is held every summer.  Every year, the sharpest legal minds in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community gather at the National LGBT Bar Association’s annual conference and career fair.  Hundreds of practicing attorneys, dozens of scholars, over 500 students and many leading members of the judiciary, all in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, are expected to attend.

The 1L LCLD (Leadership Council on Legal Diversity) Success in Law School Mentoring Program has experienced tremendous success since inception.  The program matches 1Ls to a variety of volunteer mentors to help diverse students gain more success with their job search and promote professional development.  LCLD has recruited large and boutique firm lawyers from its member organizations to provide one-on-one mentoring to qualified law students.  These volunteer mentors can help you achieve your professional goals you’ve set for yourself.  Their mentors not only have their experiences in law school to share, but also their experience of the profession, including networking, practice area choice, and knowledge of the legal job market.  Once students register and are matched, they will receive ongoing mentorship from lawyers practicing in the country’s finest companies and law firms.

The 1L LCLD (Leadership Council on Legal Diversity) Scholars Program is designed to strengthen the legal pipeline by expanding the number of opportunities for diverse first-year students.  The program offers students the opportunity to spend their summer working side-by-side with attorneys from AmLaw 350 law firms and Fortune 500 legal departments and participate in a three day summit designed exclusively for 1L LCLD Scholars, which includes panel discussions, distinguished speakers, and networking opportunities.

The Loyola Patent Law Interview Program is a two-day interview program held in Chicago each year that brings together patent law employers and law students from across the country to interview for summer associate positions and post-graduate employment.

The National Black Prosecutors Association Conference & Job Fair is held every summer.  The Job Fair will provide a unique forum where law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from across the nation can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels.

Global firm Norton Rose Fulbright has established a new diversity fellowship for a second-year law student that will provide a $10,000 scholarship for tuition and related expenses.  The Norton Rose Fulbright 2L Diversity Fellowship recipient also would be a paid summer associate in their Dallas office who would participate in the Summer Associate Academy, training sessions and social and professional events and spend part of the summer working off-site at Toyota Motor North America, a firm client.

Applicants for the 2L Diversity Fellowship need to apply between May and early July after they have completed their first year of law school.  Norton Rose will choose the fellowship recipient in the fall.  The fellow would then work as a summer associate the following summer and would agree to join Norton Rose Fulbright as a full-time associate in its Dallas office upon graduating from law school or completion of a judicial clerkship.

Law students encouraged to apply include highly motivated members of divers populations that have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, and gender minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, first-generation college and/or graduate students, disabled individuals, veterans and socio-economic minorities.

The Diversity Scholar Program is a coaching, mentorship, and recruiting program designed to help law students understand their career goals and secure employment while simultaneously preparing them with the skills required to flourish in their careers.

Hosted annually by Texas Law, the Public Service Career Fair (PSCF) is the largest public service interview program for law students in Texas.

During both days of PSCF, both public interest and government employers will conduct interviews for paid and unpaid summer and postgraduate positions. 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, domestic and foreign-trained LL.M.s, and recent graduates (up to one year after graduation) from all Texas law schools who are eligible to participate in this program.

The Porter Hedges 1L Diversity Fellowship program will provide a unique opportunity for a candidate who has finished their first year of law school and has a strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion on their campuses, as well as during their tenure with the firm. Porter Hedges is dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and development of outstanding lawyers and other professionals who reflect the marketplace, communities, and clients that we serve. We are committed to achieving greater diversity, not just for our firm, but also for our profession.

The highly-qualified candidate selected to receive this fellowship will be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in stipends throughout the duration of their participation in the program, in addition to a salaried Summer Associate position. The stipends are paid to the fellowship recipient in four installments.

The goal of Sidley’s 1L Diversity Mentorship Program is to mentor and support students of diverse background who are interested in working in law firms located in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco or Washington, D.C. for their 2L summer.  The 1L Diversity Mentorship program will provide opportunities to learn about large law firm practice and the OCI process.    

Shook is excited to host a select group of law students at the Shook Scholars Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.  The Shook Scholars Institute, built around what Shook is best known for, is an innovative diversity and inclusion focused development program concentrated on litigation and trial skills, leadership, and career success competencies for the underrepresented attorney.  Student travel, lodging, and meals will be provided by Shook.

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion among their attorneys and their professionals, and believe that including attorneys and staff members from diverse backgrounds is a critically important element in providing quality legal services to their clients and a productive working environment to their team members.  The Shumaker Diversity Scholarship provides, in Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP’s discretion, a $7,500.00 scholarship to one (1) or two (2) outstanding first or second year law students who are enrolled at an ABA accredited law school and who participate in the firm’s summer associate program, to assist in offsetting his or her law school expenses.  The scholarship is in addition to the salary paid to the student for his or her Summer Associate position.

The Sunbelt Diversity Recruitment Program seeks to provide job access opportunities to students and recent graduates who may be otherwise at risk of being underserved in the job market with a goal of creating greater diversity in our law schools and job opportunities through law school efforts.  All students of participating law schools may attend the Sunbelt Diversity Recruitment Program.  Students/graduates of diverse racial, ethnic, national origin, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation and identification, and religions are particularly encouraged to attend.  Student bidding will begin in June.  Contact the Career Resource Center for more information.

The Texas in Washington Recruitment Program is held every summer in Washington, D.C. employers’ offices. Employers will interview for 2L summer positions, 3L permanent positions to begin after graduation, and recent graduate permanent positions through the program.

All bidding will be done online on the Texas Consortium Symplicity website. The Consortium Symplicity system is different from the STCL Symplicity we use and you will receive a different password. The system will be used to upload all necessary documents, check interview status, and sign up for interview times. If you have registered for the Consortium Symplicity in the past, please do not reregister.

USLAW NETWORK is an international organization composed of nearly 100 independent, full practice law firms.The Virtual Diversity Job Fairoffers opportunities to connect diverse law school students to USLAW member law firms, USLAW corporate partners and client companies of USLAW member firms.

Candidates must be a rising 2L or 3L at an ABA-accredited law school and diverse –defined by an underrepresented population and background, which includes but is not limited to, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American,Native American or Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic and/or Latinx, and/or multiple of the aforementioned racial identities, or who identifies as LGBTQ+.

At Womble Bond Dickinson, we believe in a work environment where all are welcome.

Since its establishment in 2004, the Womble Scholars Program has awarded more than $900,000 to scholarship recipients. This program is designed to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the bar and at Womble Bond Dickinson. Each year, Womble Bond Dickinson will award scholarships to up to two diverse members of the Summer Associate class who present solid academic credentials, personal or professional achievement outside the school environment, and a record of community service.

  • The scholarship is open to diverse, first-year and second-year law students who receive a position in the Womble Bond Dickinson Summer Associate Program.

Vinson & Elkins’ 1L and 2L Diversity Fellows receive $25,000 and each awarded student is required to clerk as a Summer Associate in one of their U.S. offices (Austin, Dallas, Houston, New York, or Washington) the summer following his/her first year of law school.

Networking

  • Fall First Look | Meet the Employers Reception
    • Our Fall First Look program is an exclusive 1L event that provides students with an opportunity to “Meet the Employers” in advance of recruitment season.
  • Find Your Fit
    • Every spring, the CRC invites all class years to explore the wide range of practice areas and careers that are available as JD’s while rotating through practice area round tables to help navigate and focus their legal interests.

Mentoring

  • South Texas College of Law Houston’s Peer-to-Peer Network
    • The CRC’s Peer Mentorship Network provides students the opportunity to connect and provide peer-to-peer insights about employers with whom the students have previously worked. Employers include law firms, judges, government and public interest organizations, companies, and more.
  • Career Advisor Directory
    • The Career Advisory Directory (CAD) is an online directory of alumni who have opted-in to receive phone calls and messages from students interested in their practice area.  STCL students can search alumni by city, area of practice, or firm/organization name and email alums through the secure messaging system. 

Looking to practice and improve your interview skills? Consider signing up for a mock interview with Career Services. We offer in-person, phone, and virtual mock interviews to get you ready for any interview that comes your way.

Symplicity is STCLH’s centralized career management system and online job board that is available to all students and alumni. It allows candidates, of all experience levels, to streamline the job search process by providing a mechanism to view available openings (whether part-time, full-time, internship, and permanent post-graduate positions), review job details, and apply for jobs all in one-stop.

STCLH provides information on, and access to, numerous job banks to allow students and alumni to explore opportunities in various areas and locations.

Government

Legal Directories

  • Martindale.com – Martindale-Hubbell listing of attorneys; searchable by city, law school, firm size, practice area, etc
  • LegalDirectories.com – listing of attorneys throughout the United States; searchable by location, practice area, and firm size
  • NALPDirectory.com – listing of firms from The Association for Legal Career Professionals; contains mostly large firms and some government agencies

State Bar of Texas & Bar Associations

Other

General job search sites

Students and alumni looking for positions outside of Texas may be able to obtain reciprocity access for you at a law school in your geographic area of interest. Reciprocity access allows students and graduates to use the career resources of another law school in exchange for offering the same services to a graduate or student of that law school. Every school does have blackout periods where access will not be provided.

Additional resources are accessible via the Campus Life Tab of STANLEY.

Alumni

The CRC engages Alumni throughout their careers by connecting graduates with job search resources and partnering with Alumni to support current students. 

As potential job-seekers, Alumni are provided with all the same services as currently enrolled students.  Whether conducting an initial post-graduate job search, looking to make a lateral jump, or pivot career paths entirely, the CRC provides valuable resources to aid in the process.

Career Advisor Directory

We encourage Alumni to become involved with the Alumni Association and volunteer to help South Texas College of Law Houston continue to grow. Whether you are a recent grad or a lifetime member, the South Texas community maintains a common desire to connect with, and assist in the development of, the next generation of legal talent.

The South Texas College of Law Houston Career Advisor Directory is an online directory of Alumni who have opted in to serve as on-the-ground resources for students and share their expertise, provide career support, and offer mentorship.

**For a full menu of student and alumni services, visit the “Career Resource Center” located in the Campus Life tab of Stanley**

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