by Olivia Discon
After a quick recess for Winter Break, the Pre-Law Society (PLS) reconvened for our very first (official) meeting of the semester! With many important items to cover, including some general business, exciting upcoming events, and the election of our Secretary and Vice President of Marketing positions for this semester, our members were prepared to deliberate. And in great numbers, as well! Once more, the Pre-Law Society has broken its membership record with an astounding 116 members.
Dr. Chris Thompson, a Business Law Professor at Sam Houston State University and local attorney, joined us as our guest speaker for the evening.
Before jumping into the engaging discussion with Dr. Thompson, there were a few matters to cover. The group, very graciously, allowed me to go over these items and participated in a meeting in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order. Dr. Thompson would later note that parliamentary procedure is a key element of the legal field, and through such participation, we are gaining valuable experience in our young professional careers.
We had quite a few members who ran for office in PLS. Niya Thompson…
Michelle Moya…
Ashlee Orizaba…
and Jacqueline Santos Romano ran for Vice President of Marketing.
On the other hand, Olivia McCaughan…
and Laila Alimi ran for the Secretary position.
Each of these students did an excellent job articulating their vision for the organization, and we would be proud to have any of them serve as leaders within PLS.
The votes were cast, but while we counted, Dr. Chris Thompson took the podium to have a Q&A session with the students about the legal field. Receiving his undergraduate degree at Stephen F Austin University and his J.D. at St. Mary’s University School of Law, he comes from a wealth of experience and expertise.
He shared that his story isn’t particularly “special”, not to diminish himself or his accomplishments, but rather to emphasize that it was possible for everyone in the room to attend law school. He went over the LSAT and the importance of discipline in studying, the rigor of law school classes, and how he entered the workforce as a young attorney.
What I particularly enjoyed was his reasoning for working in Walker County, both at the DA’s Office for 9 years, and currently, at a local law firm. Having lived in Huntsville and having family in the area, serving in a local capacity seemed natural. However, it was the idea of working to do “what is right” and doing so for the people in his community, that made that decision all the more admirable.
The Q&A concluded with one final question: “If you could go back and start your law school journey all over again, what would you change?” He replied: “To learn how to use commas and semicolons”–a lesson that the members would do well to take to heart.
At last, the verdict is in! Laila Alimi secured the position of Secretary! But our VP of Marketing position required a runoff between Niya Thompson and Michelle Moya. Niya ultimately won the vote to serve as our VP of Marketing for the semester.
Congratulations were in order, along with a photo of our new team. I look forward to working with them and seeing what all we will accomplish together this semester!
Stay tuned for our next meeting, which will be held on March 19, and it will include a series of hands-on workshops over various topics– all designed to help students grow professionally and progress toward their law-school dreams.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 