The case
Ten years before videos of a police officer suffocating George Floyd launched nationwide protests, Jamail Amron called 911 asking for help. Paramedics arrived, followed by deputies with Harris County Constable Precinct 4.
South Texas College of Law alumna Kenesha Starling ’20 served as the first Black editor in chief of the South Texas Law Review in 2019-20. Eric Williams II, a May 2022 J.D. candidate, is the current editor in chief of the Law Review. Encouraged by Dean Barry and Vice President Moore, Chanae Williams, a May 2022 J.D. candidate and articles editor for the South Texas Law Review, captured a candid discussion with Starling and Williams that explores diversity, equity and inclusion within the legal profession.
CW: What are some misconceptions about Black law students and attorneys that need to be dispelled?
A DIVERSE PERSPECTIVE: What We Wish the Legal Profession Knew Read More
South Texas College of Law Houston representatives participated Friday morning in an invitation-only joint White House and Department of Justice virtual meeting to recognize law schools’ “laudable and swift response” to an August 2021 call to action to address the housing and eviction crisis.
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.
When Rene Sigman ’02 learned her 9-year-old son Blake had cancer in 2015, she had no idea the advocacy skills she learned at South Texas and honed as a litigator would become so valuable in her personal life.
Blake’s diagnosis of rare and aggressive stage-4 lymphoma led Sigman into an unwanted crash course in medications, hospital procedures, transplant lists and insurance battles.
Last week, South Texas College of Law Houston Professor Ryan H. Nelson, joined by Gerstein Harrow LLP and the National Legal Advocacy Network, filed an opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on behalf of his pro bono client, One Fair Wage. The case raises novel issues of personal jurisdiction, standing, and employment discrimination law and, if successful, would forge a new path for securing nationwide injunctive relief against discriminatory employers despite their employees being forced to sign individual arbitration agreements.
One Fair Wage alleges that Darden Restaurants — the largest owner and operator of full-service restaurants in the United States, with brands like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille — maintains two nationwide policies that cause servers and bartenders to suffer increased sex and race discrimination.
South Texas Professor Files Pro Bono Employment Discrimination Appeal Read More
The advocates in South Texas College of Law Houston’s Immigration Initiatives, comprising the Asylum/Human Trafficking Clinic and Immigration Clinic, represent clients in challenging, often life or death situations, and most of the clients do not have the funds or networks to seek help elsewhere.
In 2021, the Immigration Clinic — one of more than 20 pro bono STCL Houston Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics — closed 67 cases. Among those, 27 clients received advice and counsel on any relevant laws and a suggested course of action; 33 were closed with a final decision or resolution; and seven received extensive services but a final decision or resolution was not reached.
South Texas Immigration Initiatives Serve the Diverse Houston Community Read More
by Professor Njeri Mathis Rutledge
Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law Houston
USA Today, Opinion Columnist – Board of Contributors
STCL Houston professor reflects on legacy of former law professor Read More
South Texas College of Law Houston recently recognized 13 faculty members for their excellence in teaching, scholarship or service.
“We have exceptional faculty across the board,” said Professor Ted Field, vice president and associate dean for faculty. “With these awards, we were delighted to recognize individuals who stood out in one particular area because they were especially innovative and effective in teaching, served in an extraordinary way internally and/or externally, or achieved the highest levels of scholarship in 2020-21.”
STCL Houston Faculty Recognized for Teaching, Scholarship, Service Read More
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution Dec. 10 to recognize South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL Houston) and its accomplished alumnus Benny Agosto, Jr., ’95 for taking action to create a more diverse pipeline of law students entering the legal profession.
“South Texas was honored that the Texas Access to Justice Foundation recognized Benny and Nikki Agosto and our school for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession and greater access to justice,” said Michael F. Barry, president and dean. “Our goal is to become the most intentionally and successfully diverse law school in the nation, and this resolution was an encouraging affirmation of our collective efforts.”
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