Pre-Law – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Building Future Leaders: Lessons from TX Supreme Court Justice James Sullivan

One of the advantages of attending SHSU is the opportunities afforded by the College of Criminal Justice, whose activities continue deep into the semester and even the summer. And so it was we found ourselves at lunch with 74 professionals from the legal and corrections community across the state of Texas–while listening to Texas Supreme Court Justice James Sullivan.

After an introduction by TDCJ General Counsel Stephanie Greger…

…Justice Sullivan highlighted five keys to leading teams of public servants.

Hire people smarter than you;
Grow a coaching tree;
Lead from the front;
Show people you care;
Build resilience.

He offered examples from his career, which he often shared tinged with traces of humor and a lot of common sense. He described his career as a government attorney and noted that while he didn’t earn as much as his private-practice counterparts (his wife, he says, “funds my government attorney hobby”), he was part of a team that produced successful leaders. This involves, he noted, disruption: good attorneys come in and work for the state; after a couple of years, they get better offers; and they move on to higher-paying jobs with greater influence. This creates turnover, but it is a product of a good strategy: hiring good people. And while those people leave eventually, they become coaches in their own spheres of influence, producing leaders that go on to serve.

Sullivan’s audience was on hand at SHSU to attend the Texas Criminal Justice Legal Conference, where leading practitioners were present to collaborate, think, and act to make Texas a better place. There were numerous attorneys present, including our friend Jack Choate and his excellent staff, and some new people we met, such as Rachelle White, Chief of Staff for TDCJ; Sean Groves, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Juvenile Justice; Eric Nichols, attorney at Butler Snow and Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice; and Wyvonne Long, Director of TDCJ Independent Office of Inmate Counsel. In short, there were a lot of people present from whom we could learn.

And learn we did! Between the conversations at the table and in the room, and the presentation by Justice Sullivan, we were exposed not only to tips for managing public servants, but also to the many careers in the law that also allow for public service.

A Time to Gain, A Time to Lose

To Everything There is a Season…

After a long day of Moot Court competition and work that persisted late into the night, our LEAP competitors enjoyed the mercy of an extra hour of sleep, courtesy of Daylight Savings Time. But the sun rises even after the longest nights, and we–Madison Thurkettle, Allison Lindle, Katie Wilson, and our Day Two competitors, Ashton Droll and Madison Cawthon–hastened to the Shepard Broad College of Law to extend our Moot Court season.

A Time to Keep…

With admonishments to arrive no later than 9:30am, we arrived early, in time to witness the coin toss that would decide whether we were representing the petitioner or respondent.

Our competition was Connor Rust and Inanna Khansa from the University of Chicago, and winning the coin toss, they chose to represent the respondent–which was fine with us.

A Time to Build Up…

A win in this round would place us at the Preliminary Nationals, scheduled for Virginia in January. For Maddie, who wasn’t expecting to get this far, much of the pressure had been shed from her shoulders. Ashton, on the other hand, animated by what many judges described as “a passion for moot court,” felt the pressure and the need to win. Both, however, experienced the ups and downs of preparing for competition.

Both sensed immediately the elevated level of competition. “We could cite the record and the cases,” observed Droll, “but Rust and Khansa took it a step further. They cited the record and then cited cases within the cases.”

A Time to Speak, a Time to Keep Silence…

Nonetheless, Droll and Cawthon executed their best performances. Heeding the Biblical admonition that “a fool’s voice is known by a multitude of words,” they answered questions directly, demonstrating their knowledge of the cases and applying that knowledge judiciously and to the point. “They were,” noted Wilson, “more polished than they’ve been the entire Moot Court season.”

In the end, however, it wasn’t quite enough. Rust and Khansa edged out Droll and Cawthon on two ballots (one was decided by three points out of 1,600) and solidly on a third. Despite the loss, the team members’ outlook remained undimmed, happy with their portion, and equipped with a focus on a new season and a renewed sense of purpose.

Two Shall Withstand…

The finals pitted Anna Barker and Steven Abraham (University of Central Florida) and Christy Banker and Gaege Gobezie (Liberty University)–the latter of whom had taken the tournament’s first and second-place individual orator honors.

Facing a hot panel–which included the Dean of the Law School (Olympia Duhart), the Director of Advocacy Programs for the Shepard Broad College of Law (Joe Lester), and an animated Criminal Law Professor (Megan Chaney)–

…the four competitors showed impressive knowledge of the cases, verbal agility, and the enviable skill of anticipating the judges’ line of questioning and redirecting it. It was, LEAP students noted, a lesson to learn.

The contest was close, perhaps the closest of the tournament…

…with Anna Barker and Steve Abraham of the University of Central Florida edging Christy Banker and Gaege Gobezie of Liberty University. The match was decided by two points.

Every Man Should Eat and Drink…

With competitions behind us and much before us, we decided on a meal at Rocco’s Tacos, which was recommended by Orlando Magazine and Eater. The recommendation was well founded.

We began with guacamole (excellent), which had just the right mix of tomato, salt, and garlic; chips and a salsa sampler, with the salsa verde and the smoked salsa being the favorites; and sauteed shrimp, which were impressively tender and bursting with flavor. It was a good way to begin the meal.

Our entrees were equally impressive. Half of our group ordered salads, while Ashton sampled the cheese enchiladas (featuring creamy Chihuahuan cheese); Professor Yawn tried the veggie and pork tacos; and Cawthon explored the Chorizo tacos, featuring Cotija cheese.

The food was excellent and filling, and the time at the table offered a respite from a competition and an opportunity for reflection.

Patient in Spirit…

With the tournament receding into a remembrance of former things, we contemplated the transitional and cyclical nature of things.

Each of us has enjoyed a new experience on the trip, whether it be a new food experience, learning photography with a mirrorless camera, or simply our first travel without family in tow. For all of us, this was our first Moot Court competition.

And while it is natural to see a cohort go and a cohort come, four of our five competitors will still be at Sam Houston State University next year and–at least following the high of competition–are interested in participating again in Moot Court, renewing a cycle of education, experience, and exploration.

And with these reflections on the good of our labor, we returned to the hotel, where we looked forward to the sweet sleep of the hard working and to the start of a new day.

LEAP Center Offers Mock LSAT, Other Pre-Law Programs

Sam Houston State University’s Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics offers numerous programs for those interested in legal careers. One of the most popular is our Mock LSAT, which is offered every fall (open to all) and spring (open to Pre-Law Society members).

This fall’s practice test occurred yesterday, with Olivia Discon and Michelle Moya coming up early on a Saturday to volunteer, student worker Gabila Flores working, Mike Yawn helping, and Jean Loveall leading the event. To accommodate the record-setting 125 people signed up, the bustling band set up the test in each of the room’s chairs while also providing flyers for a pre-law class in the spring (“Negotiation,” by Professor Chris Thompson).

As people began rolling in around 9am, guests were checked in, pencils and scantrons issued, and soon rules were covered.

Like the real test, the Mock LSAT is given in four sections, each 35 minutes. There are two Logical Reasoning sections, one Reading section, and one experimental section. Over the course of the morning, you could see the students’ energy fade a bit, as the test took its toll.

But the test is crucial in providing students with a baseline score so that they can work with LEAP Advisors to create a study plan for the real LSAT. This test– combined with Pre-Law Society activities, SHSU’s Legal Studies Minor, law-related guest speakers, workshops, field trips, Moot Court team, and study support in the form of scholarships–has helped SHSU become one of the top “Law School Feeders,” according to the Law School Admissions Council.

For those hoping to attend law school, there are many ways to get involved or learn more:

Schedule an appointment in Campus Connect, looking for the LEAP Center and Jean Loveall;
Follow the LEAP Center on Instagram (samhoustonleap), Facebook (SHSULEAP), or Linkedin (center-for-law-engagement-and-politics);
Sign up for the Mock LSAT or one of the many LEAP Center events;
Join the Pre-Law Society (prelawsocietyshsu on Instagram);
Create a law school admissions council account.

Getting to law school requires more work than the average post-graduate career or program of study, but with the right mindset and the willingness to take advantages of the resources that the LEAP Center offers–such as the Mock LSAT–law school is within your reach.

So You Want To Go To Law School…

At the beginning of each semester, the Pre-Law Society hosts an informational for those who are considering a future involving law school. For the past year and a half, the person leading this informational has been President Olivia Discon, and she again welcomed returning and prospective members.

She also did her usual effective job at describing the organization, highlighting upcoming events, and providing an overview of how to prepare for law school. Highlighting the organization, Discon stressed that the commitment is purposefully light: one official meeting per month. For those with more time and ambition, however, there are at least as many unofficial meetings–socials, mock LSATs, simulated law classes, live hearings, and guest speakers. The goal is to allow students to obtain the information they need but have the time necessary to study for the LSAT.

Indeed, this semester is likely to bring the usual share of events. These include:

September 17: “How to Get Into Law School,” with Admissions Deans from Texas Tech Law, University of Houston Law, and South Texas College of Law;
October 15: “Law at the Local Level”
November 19: Litigation in Action

Moreover, students will have the opportunity to try out for Moot Court (September 8), and if they make it, they will have a scrimmage (October 11-12) and a live tournament at Texas A&M Law. The organization and its parent department, LEAP, will also host a Mock LSAT (October 4), and will likely participate with the Student Legal & Mediation Services for conflict resolution seminars.

Perhaps the most useful information provided by the Pre-Law Society, however, is information pertaining to the law-school path. Throughout a student’s college career, the Pre-Law Society and the LEAP Center offers services that help students achieve their goals. This includes a lending library, scholarships for prep courses, law-school advising, and workshops.

To join PLS, new members pay $55 and returning members $25. Hard-working co-treasurers Jacob Wessels and Olivia McCaughan are available:

Tuesdays: 12:30-4:15
Wednesdays: 12-4
Thursdays: 2:00-4:15

They will also take dues from 5-6pm on September 17, the date of the first official meeting–and, importantly, the last date to pay dues.

After the informational meeting, students had the ability to chat one-on-one with Pre-Law Society Officers and members. Many students who joined us gained a hopeful view on their future from like-minded individuals.

To stay up to date and involved with upcoming events and information, you can follow our Instagram @prelawsocietyshsu. For more information and questions, please contact President, Ms. Olivia Discon, at Oliviadiscon@shsu.edu.

The Civic Leadership Role of the LEAP Center

In previous posts, we’ve discussed the philosophy of the LEAP Center, as well as some of the foundational programs we offer. The Center also actively identifies students with the potential for leadership and provides additional opportunities for the development of those leadership skills.

As noted previously, our programs bring us into contact with more than 2,500 students annually. Moreover, we generally eschew “bribing” students with extra credit or compelling them to participate as a class requirement. Rather, we encourage students to participate in extra-curricular activities by highlighting their value, illuminating their relevance, and by offering programs that are inherently rewarding—and then allowing them to choose whether to participate.

This approach to civic engagement has several positive outcomes.

Because these activities are related to—and in addition to—the regular class curriculum, there is no curricular displacement. That is, the students engaged in civic activities are not losing out on the traditional reading, writing, classroom discussions, and assessments to make “room” for additional mandatory requirements.
Our events are voluntary; thus, the students who participate are, on average, more motivated and skilled in planning than the students who would participate only when compelled.
Because we are involved extensively in planning the programs the students participate in, we can ensure they are high quality. The students, then, are rewarded for their initiative, their planning, and their participation.
We participate in or oversee all the events we facilitate, allowing us a unique perspective to assess the potential of the students.

Fortunately, we also offer myriad programs for emerging leaders. These include:

Community Programs: Although aimed at community members, students may also apply to programs we offer such as City U, County U, heART of Huntsville, Citizenship Preparatory Course, and Beyond Bars. Such programs not only teach students key facts, processes, and skills related to civics, it also allows them to mix with community leaders, and therefore expand their professional networks;

City Fellows Internship Program: The LEAP Center offers paid internships each semester, and these internships differ in important ways from traditional internships. First, our internships are project based. Students are not just asked to help staff complete office tasks. Rather, staff develop projects they need assistance with, and these projects become the selected interns’ primary duties.
Sam Houston Austin Internship Program: Every legislative session, the LEAP Center oversees selection of 6-12 Austin Interns, who work in legislative offices of professional associations. These students work full-time, and they are treated as staff or legislative assistants in the offices.

Moot Court & College Bowl Teams: The LEAP Center supervises the Moot Court team and the College Bowl team. In the former, students learn the fine arts of oral arguments, traveling to law schools and engaging in tournaments in front of lawyers and law-school personnel. In the latter, students learn about city government and public administration, and they travel to conferences, where they compete in front of city personnel and graduate faculty.

Many students are interested in specific areas. Thus, students who excel in city internships might take leadership roles on the College Bowl Team. Students who excel in Moot Court might take leadership roles in the Pre-Law Society.

Some students will show more diverse interests and exceptional promise, and these students are invited to be Ambassadors for the Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics. In addition to often taking leadership positions with the Pre-Law Society or the College Bowl teams, these students often help the LEAP Center carry out its basic functions (the LEAP Center only has two staff members).

Thus, Ambassadors assist with all volunteer activities; they lead the planning and execution of all events; they oversee and implement the LEAP Center’s social media; they meet with, advise, and sometimes tutor students in criminal justice, political science, and pre-law. They guest lecture for classes, serve as liaisons for many community non-profits and government agencies, and they help host the programs run by the LEAP Center.

The amount of work done by the LEAP Ambassadors is extensive, and it involves rigorous work and the development of professional skills. Accordingly, only the highest-level students become LEAP Ambassadors. Over the past year, for example, the LEAP Ambassadors worked, on average, 21 hours per week at part-time jobs or internships, participated in more than 100 events, and carried a GPA of 3.76.

Collectively, this approach and these activities lead to far-reaching and positive outcomes. Sam Houston State University, for example, is one of the 170 most successful four-year, higher-education institutions in North America at placing students in law schools—putting it firmly in the top three percent. In addition, many of these students have gone on to very successful legal careers, especially in Texas.

Many of the students who have obtained internships through the LEAP Center have become governmental leaders, holding down management and director-level positions in city, county, and state government. The creation of the Sam Houston Austin Internship Program, for example, increased the number of full-time, SHSU-affiliated staff four-fold since its inception in 2013.

The LEAP Ambassadors, the most successful of the bunch, have gone beyond career success by also becoming avid supporters of SHSU. Although seventy-five percent of the Ambassadors were first-generation students, they have enthusiastically supported the University by speaking to campus groups, serving on Alumni boards, and donating to the University.

In short, the programs offered by the LEAP Center go beyond curriculum enhancement. They are designed organically to meet real needs of our students—while being geared to the abilities of our students. Moreover, the rigor of the programs prepare students for real-world occupations, graduate programs, and the demands of civic life. And by offering opportunities, training, and a picture of what is possible, the LEAP Center serves as an incubator for leaders.

Foundational Activities of the LEAP Center

The LEAP Center offers a number of foundational activities that allow us to reach students, guide them in their educational and career goals, and facilitate their participation in additional activities. All of these activities reflect the philosophy and approach of the LEAP Center, as described in our “Philosophy of the LEAP Center” and “LEAPing into Action” blogs.

Teaching

LEAP Center faculty teach several classes, including:

Texas Government
Local Politics
Film & Law
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
How to Win in the Courtroom
Univ 1101 (Pre-Law Cohort)

“Democracy Coach” Nancy Bocskor Speaks in
Professor Yawn’s Local Government Class

These classes require much reading, often using original texts, while also requiring writing and critical thinking. Community engagement is incorporated into the classes–but always on an optional basis.

In addition to satisfying academic degree requirements for Political Science and Legal Studies degrees, also provide avenues into many LEAP Center programs. The Local Politics and Texas Government classes, for example, help provide foundational information for the City Fellows program and the Sam Houston Austin Internship Program (SHAIP). The legal classes help guide students on their pre-law path, while also providing a portal to the Moot Court Team.

Advising

Supplementing these courses is a year-round advising schedule for students. While LEAP Center advisors specialize in pre-law, they also do academic advising in political science, criminal justice, and other law-related fields.

Student often ask, “What is the best major for law school?” There is no specific answer to this question, but in general, the best major will be one that requires writing, reading, and critical thinking. If most of your classes feature extensive “lecturing” off of, and “studying” from, PowerPoints, you probably aren’t getting the reading, critical thinking, and writing you need for law school. In general, social sciences such as economics, psychology, political science, philosophy, English, and history have provided solid foundations for law school.

During these advising sessions, advisors also address the unique timeline for pre-law students, which looks something like this:

Freshman Year

Establish major and minor, or at least explore minors;
Take Practice LSAT (offered by LEAP each semester);
- Make Good Grades;
- Join Pre-Law Society;

Sophomore Year:

Establish Minor;
Take Practice LSAT;
Attend Mock Law Class (offered by LEAP annually)
Consider Officer Position in PLS;
Consider Applying for Pipeline Programs;
Consider Which Professors You Will Request to Write Letters of Recommendation (LOR);
Create LSAC Account

Junior Year:

Take Practice LSAT;
Consider Applying to PLS’s LSAT Prep Course Scholarship, if LSAT Score is Competitive;
Begin More Aggressive Activity on LSAT Study Plan;
Consider LSAT Prep Course (summer of Junior/Senior Year)
Consider Moot Court Participation
Consider PLS Officer Position

August of Senior Year: Take LSAT

Fall of Senior Year: Apply to Law School

Programs & Speakers

The LEAP Center’s teaching and advising offerings are supplemented by the many on-campus programs offered by the LEAP Center, which include:

Graduate School Exploration;
Law-School Exploration;
Career Exploration;
Pre-Law Society;
10^th Court of Appeals, which hears three cases annually;
Simulated Law class, featuring STCL Professor Val Ricks;
Mock LSAT, offered each semester;
Speakers from Diverse Disciplines. Past speakers have included:
- Artist Ed Wilson;
- Artist David Adickes;
- Artist Lee Jamison;
- Author Jeff Guinn;
- Author Stephen Harrigan;
- Author Glenn Frankel;
- Author James Reston;
- Author Carl Rollyson;
- Former State Department Official John Nixon;
- Former CIA Official Jim Olson;
- Former FBI Official Frank Figliuzzi;
- Former Ambassador Chase Untermeyer;
- Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales;
- Former Presidential Chief of Staff Jean Becker.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, John Nixon, CIA, Saddam Hussein

LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, SHSU, James Reston, A Rift in the Earth

By availing themselves of the classes, advising, and programs offered by the LEAP Center, students have the opportunity to explore numerous academic paths, career options, test their progress toward graduate or law school, and hear from some of the country’s leading public intellectuals.

For many, such opportunities are sufficient to satisfy their intellectual and vocational interests. Others, however, find that such endeavors whets their appetite for additional opportunities, and to these we turn in our next LEAP blog installment.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer — LEAP Ambassadors and SHSU Students with Ambassador Chase Untermeyer

Judge Moorman Shares Career Insights with LEAP Center Interns

LEAP Center interns work in various capacities, from businesses, to government offices, to non-profits, but they also learn from each other and outside the workplace. Approximately twice a month, LEAP interns–“City Fellows”–meet outside the office to enhance their internship experience. This month their outside-the-workplace experience involved a “guest lecturer” of sorts: Judge David Moorman led a tour of the District Court in the Walker County Courthouse.

The tour and discussion involved an overview of the (1) County Judge (Floor 2), (2) the County Court at Law Judge (Floor 1), (3) the Grand Jury room (Floor 3), and (4) the District Court courtroom (Floor 3). Combined with their prior tours, which included among other places/venues, the Municipal Courtroom…

…the Fellows reviewed the judicial system, going over which kinds of cases make it to a JP or Municipal Court, County Court at Law, or the District Court–the latter consisting almost exclusively of felony cases.

For some of the interns, this was just one of several meetings with Judge Moorman. The Judge has generously spoken at the Pre-Law Society meetings…

…invited LEAP Ambassadors to some of his trials, joined the students at various events they have hosted…

…and is a regular attendee at the Ambassadors’ annual 10th Court of Appeals hearings.

Victoria McClendon, who was also on hand, worked for Moorman while she was at SHSU, and after her graduation from law school, he swore her into the Texas Bar.

Indeed, when Moorman walked into the courtroom, he saw McClendon and asked, “Are you returning to school?”

More seriously, Judge Moorman discussed some of those felonies that make it to his court, while also discussing other aspects of his career: his work in a law firm; his decision to run for a judicial position; how judicial proceedings can differ in smaller and larger towns; and his time prosecuting for the Municipal Court.

This discussion also ventured into advice for young attorneys. Oddly, even as Huntsville has grown over the years, the number of attorneys in the community has declined. For those attorneys who do wish to make their mark in a community, they often take their cues from more established attorneys. But in communities with fewer attorneys, such models may be lacking. But Moorman stressed the importance of gaining respect, which is earned by being prepared, taking a work-horse rather than a show-horse approach, and looking out for the best interests of your clients.

Of course, this is good advice for almost all occupations–a fitting discussion for interns with different backgrounds, working for different agencies, all of whom are contemplating their future.

With many thanks to Judge Moorman, it was a rewarding outside-of-class / outside-of-work learning experience in which the LEAP Center specializes.

Lessons from the Bench: A Day at Huntsville Municipal Court

While the LEAP Center’s project-based internships are robust by themselves, they are supplemented with opportunities for professional development. One such opportunity occurred last week at the Huntsville Municipal Court, with guidance from Court Clerk Flor Borbor, Officer Eric Scott, Prosecutor Cody Corcoran, and Judge Devan Dawson.

To learn more about our Court system, the City Fellows–along with former LEAP President and current SHSU attorney Victoria McClendon-Leggett–journeyed to the Municipal Court building in Huntsville. With Flor Borbor facilitating the tour and Judge Dawson leading the discussion, we began by covering the basics:

The Municipal Court Judge is hired/appointed by Council, not elected;
The Municipal Court hears Class C Misdemeanors;
The Municipal Court hears Jury and Bench Trials;
Bench Trials involve six jurors.

Cody Corcoran was also on hand to discuss his approach to prosecutions, which mostly involved finding ways to work with the accused. He and Judge Dawson appeared to agree that while justice should be served, they both sought ways to achieve justice without major setbacks for the alleged wrongdoer. There was even more agreement, however–among the Judge, Clerk, Prosecutor, and Officer–that lying or being rude would lead to a harsher sentence.

The students were impressively engaged, bringing up good points, asking interesting questions, and remaining involved even when the men began arguing about who had caught the bigger fish.

Officer Scott also discussed his career in law-enforcement in general, while particularizing on his duties as a bailiff. With good humor and a disarming self-deprecation, he described his job as “secretary with a gun,” highlighting his tendency–and, in fact, all the officials in the Municipal Court–to pitch in where needed.

It was a good lesson for young people, especially this group of mostly Criminal Justice majors, many of whom are deciding between careers in law-enforcement and the legal field. The lessons of courtesy, professionalism, and pitching in are valuable across all disciplines and occupations.

Following views of the jury room, the business office, and a formal group photo, the tour came to a close. And while the tour only lasted a little more than an hour and a half, the perspectives they gained may last a lifetime.

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