Sharing Memories with Alumni and the PLS

Written by Madison Thurkettle

Pre-Law Society members gathered for our final meeting of the semester, and what we thought would be a typical guest speaker quickly turned into an alumnus reliving his college days and sharing his fascinating career experience. We welcomed Lane Thibodeaux back to SHSU, with Professor Mike Yawn moderating, and for those of us who had just seen him earlier this month at the 10th Court of Appeals at SHSU, we knew we were in for a good discussion.

Instead of a perfectly scripted “how I became a lawyer” story, Thibodeaux gave us a story of his failures and how he succeeded from learning from them. He didn’t start out on a clear path to law school. In fact, he began in animal science here at SHSU before realizing his strengths were in writing, argument, and critical thinking. It wasn’t until taking classes like philosophy and legal philosophy—especially with Professor Jim Carter—that everything clicked. His biggest takeaway? Sometimes one class (or one professor) can completely change your direction.

He also didn’t sugarcoat the realities of law school or the profession. From the cost of law school to the emotional demands of legal work—especially in criminal defense and capital cases—he made it clear that this career is not for the faint of heart. But at the same time, he showed why you should do this, because the work matters.

One of the most interesting parts of the meeting was hearing him break down the difference between trial work and appellate work. Trial law is fast-paced, people-centered, and unpredictable, while appellate work focuses more on writing, research, and analyzing the law itself. For him, appellate work offered something unique: the ability to help shape the law, not just work within it.

Now working with the Public Defender’s Office in Brazos County, Thibodeaux also gave insight into public defense and the importance of providing quality representation for all clients. He even mentioned internship opportunities, which definitely caught the attention of students looking to get involved.

To close out this wonderful meeting, we held our cording ceremony, recognizing one of the largest graduating classes in Pre-Law Society history. We had the pleasure of wishing 34 of our students, including four officers, the best of luck in their future journey, turning May 2026 into a real blessing for everyone.

As the semester comes to an end, we’re excited to see what’s ahead—both for a new executive board and for new members joining the organization. If this meeting showed us anything, it’s that there’s no single path to law, but there’s always something to learn along the way.

Tune in to next semester–we have a game night on September 2, and a “How to Get Into Law School” on September 16.

Have the Lambs Stopped Screaming?: The Silence of the Lambs

Written by Allie Plunk

LEAP students took a Wednesday night trip to Cinemark in the Woodlands for the 35th anniversary screening of The Silence of the Lambs! Arriving around thirty minutes early, we had more than enough time to load up on popcorn, candy, and sodas before heading into the theater.

Once we were seated, the film began with an opening from legendary film critic and historian, Leonard Maltin, who explained some of the historical and cultural significance of the film, including its status as one of three films to win the “Big Five” Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Based on Thomas Harris’ 1988 novel of the same name, The Silence of the Lambs is a staple in American film that inspired an infatuation with the character of a dignified serial cannibal named Hannibal Lector, resulting in numerous spinoff series and prequel films.

The film follows young FBI trainee Clarisse Starling (Jodie Foster) as she interviews Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins) with the hopes that he might provide insight into the mind of a serial killer. On the rise is a man by the name of Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), who skins his victims after he kidnaps and kills them, mysteriously keeping them alive for three days. Starling has the sinking feeling that Hannibal Lector knows more about the killings than he is letting on, and must navigate his psychological manipulations and lies to get to the truth.

Though a clear psychological thriller/horror, we were all able to find humor in some of our favorite parts, especially in Hannibal’s witty dialogue. Several of us had never seen the film before, though it is one of my favorite movies of all time! On the way home, we all agreed that it was an evening well spent.

Master the Art of Courtroom Advocacy with Moot Court

Each year, the American Moot Court Association fields national competition for pre-law students. The competition consists of regional tournaments, preliminary nationals, and then nationals. For those into writing, there is a separate brief writing contest.

The Moot Court experience simulates that of an appeals court, an appropriate match for SHSU, inasmuch as we are one of the few institutions to bring in an appeals court annually to hear cases.

This Year’s Moot Court Case & “How to Win in the Courtroom”

Each summer, Professor Yawn teaches “How to Win in the Courtroom,” which uses the Moot Court case as the class curriculum. Students who sign up for this course will not only receive academic credit, but also have a head start in learning the material. The course unfolds as follows:

  • Introduction to Courts and the Judicial System
  • How to Brief a Case / Moot Court Rules
  • Bronner v. US
  • Con Law Cases (8 involving the 4th Amendment and search and seizure; 9 involving Article II of the US Constitution and Presidential Powers)
  • Oral Arguments

This year’s case involves the detention of Bobby Bronner following a 93-day period of visual surveillance, posing questions of (1) the extent to which the government can use surveillance techniques (in this case, “Ring” cameras installed on telephone poles) and (2) the legality of detaining non-citizens under presidential order.

Moot Court Team Awaits Its Assignment

Students interested in Moot Court are thus encouraged to take the class, allowing them earn credit while gaining low-pressure exposure to Moot Court. Students who do well in the course and otherwise show desirable characteristics of a moot court participant are invited to meet with the coach and team lead.

Depending on the number of participants and the budget, additional students may be able to try out for the team.

How Moot Court Works

“Mooters,” as participants are called, compete in teams of two. One individual handles the first legal issue (in this year’s case, it is the fourth amendment); the second member of the team handles the second legal issue (Article II powers of the President, in this year’s case). with one of the team handling rebuttal, when called for.

To prepare for the Oral Arguments, the team members have to thoroughly know their own issue, and have some knowledge of their teammate’s issue. This involves reading and re-reading the hypothetical scenario posed by AMCA (i.e., Bronner v. US) and the cases that form the backbone of their issue. For the Fourth Amendment issue, as previously mentioned, this involves eight cases, including landmark USSC cases such as Katz v. US. For the Article II issue, this involves reading nine cases, including landmark USSC cases such as Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co v. Sawyer.

Mooters Participate in Weekly Meetings to Prepare

Even after taking the class “How to Win in the Courtroom,” students will need to engage in weekly meetings (approximately two hours long) in preparation of the regional tournament, which typically takes place in late October or early November. Because registration for the tournaments takes place September 1, teams have to be established by then.

The Competition

There are approximately 15 regional tournaments each year, and in the last two years, SHSU has attended tournaments in Fort Worth (TAMU Law) and Fort Lauderdale (Shepard Broad College of Law).

For the first round, teams are assigned their role: either petitioner or respondent, with the petitioner having the opportunity for rebuttal. Three judges (actual attorneys) hear the cases, interrupting as they see fit, and scoring each participant following the round.


Participants are scored on (1) knowledge, (2) response to questions, (3) forensic skill/courtroom demeanor, and (4) organization, logic, and clarity of argument.

For the second round, teams take the side opposite they argued in the first round, and for round three, a coin toss determines the team’s side.

Depending on the size of the tournament, a quarter to half the teams will advance to the tournament’s second day, where the competition will proceed much like the first day.

Benefits of Moot Court

Moot Court sharpens the mind, pushing students to develop reading comprehension skills, sharpen their persuasive skills, enhance their public speaking, refine their use of logic, and expand their legal network.

Almost all law schools offer a Moot Court team, and law students have the option to choose among Moot Court, Mock Law, Negotiations, or all three. Participating as an undergraduate can give students a head start on this decision, while also providing skills and exposure that helps in law school.

Students who would like to learn more about Moot Court can go the American Moot Court Association’s website.