BlueAtlas

Adam McCoy, president of the Veterans Association at South Texas College of Law Houston, is committed to helping fellow veterans succeed after their service. Learn why this 2L is studying the law and leading this organization rather than dealing blackjack in Las Vegas. And take the time to stop by the Veterans Association table in the student lounge on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, to learn more.

What attracted you to South Texas College of Law Houston?

Tam “Tom” Pham, U.S. Army veteran and third-year student at South Texas College of Law Houston, loved serving his country in the Middle East for multiple tours from 2005-16, but he always felt a sense his service wasn’t complete.

When the U.S. military began its full withdrawal from Afghanistan in September 2021, Pham was concerned for the Afghan families, many of whom had served as close partners with various military units. Though he was busy with his law classes, his clerkship for Harris County District Court Judges Sonya Heath and Charles Collins, and his family obligations, the 11-year veteran felt drawn to help.

At South Texas College of Law Houston, student groups offer more than just a gathering place for law school members or a bullet point on a resume. They also offer a greater sense of purpose and a different way of thinking about how the law and legal practice affect the everyday lives of real people.

Now in its third decade at STCL Houston, AMICUS continues its mission of supporting the LGBTQ community as it “educates, advises and informs its members and the College community about issues and concerns, particularly in the practice of law, that affect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) people.”

by Professor Val Ricks

Clerk for a judge if you possibly can. In Texas, the state supreme court, federal appellate and trial courts, and federal magistrates and bankruptcy courts hire clerks. Federal administrative law and immigration courts also hire clerks. Across the country, federal and state courts (including many state trial courts) together hire thousands of clerks each year. The typical trial judge’s clerk researches and writes for the judge, assists during oral argument or trial, and helps with case management. An appellate judge’s clerk will read the briefs, prepare a bench memo recommending a decision, and in many cases write the first draft of the opinion. A clerk’s term usually lasts one or two years. Any graduate can serve as a clerk (few judges require their clerks to have passed a bar exam), but many judges interview and extend offers to 2Ls and 3Ls, who then wait until after graduation to begin work.