UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
LAW CENTER
DEAN’S AWARDS
2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
5:00 PM
Krost Auditorium
Ron Bass Scholarship
The Ron Bass scholarship is given in
memory of Ron Bass, a solo practitioner
who had a strong belief in civil liberties and
a sincere interest in making a positive difference in his clients’ lives. This scholarship
will be awarded to a continuing student
who shows a sincere interest in civil liberties
and/or making a difference in others’ lives
as demonstrated through volunteer activities, coursework, and other relevant factors,
and is in need of scholarship support for the
continuation of his/her education.
Donor:
Meyer Levy Charitable
Foundation
Recipient: Kirsty L. Davis
Marvin Nathan ’66 Fellowship
Awarded to students to work as fellows with
the Anti-Defamation League.
Donor:
Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation & Marvin Nathan
Recipients: LaDelle D. Davenport
Rebecca M. Rosen-Sheff
Robert C. Sohns ‘72 Fellowship
Awarded to a student who has shown interest in public service. This student will serve
as a summer intern at Lone Star Legal Aid.
Donor:
Robert C. Sohns
Recipient: Karla V. Garcia
AT&T Pro Bono Fellowship
This fellowship is awarded to a student who
has a commitment to public service and will
be working full-time for a public interest or
government agency during the summer.
Donor:
AT&T Services, Inc.
Recipient: Theresa E. Langley
Jackson Lewis Scholarship
Awarded to a student from a group underrepresented in the legal profession and who
has demonstrated an interest in the study
and practice of labor and employment law.
Donor:
Jackson Lewis, LLP
Recipient: Cristian Rosas-Grillet
UH Law Center AIPLEF Jan Jancin
Award 2013 Nominee
Awarded to the Law Center’s sole nominee
to a national scholarship competition conducted by the American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation (AIPLEF),
an organization formed by the nation’s
preeminent IP bar organization, the American Intellectual Property Law Association
(AIPLA). The scholarship is in honor of
the late Jan Jancin, who served not only as
President of AIPLA, but served with distinction in several other leadership roles within
the intellectual property bar.
Donor: Institute for Intellectual
Property and Information Law
Recipient: Dino Arslanagic
UH Law Center 2013 IPIL Award for
Distinguished Accomplishment
Awarded to a student who has exemplified
excellence in intellectual property academic
studies and is interested in pursuing a career
in intellectual property or information law.
Donor: Institute for Intellectual
Property and Information Law
Recipient: Priya G. Prasad
IPIL Co-Directors Award
Awarded for the best student-authored
paper in the field of intellectual property
and information law from a seminar course
taught by IPIL core faculty.
Donor: Institute for Intellectual
Property and Information Law
Recipient: Jeffrey S. Adams
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IPSO Service Award
Awarded to a member of IPSO, the organization for students of intellectual property
and information law, for outstanding contributions to the community of students
studying intellectual property and information law at the Law Center.
Donor: Institute for Intellectual
Property and Information Law
Recipient: Jeffrey S. Adams
Houston Intellectual Property Law Association (HIPLA) Scholarship
Awarded to students who demonstrate interest in intellectual property through coursework, prior internships, prior employment
and participation in student organizations.
Donor:HIPLA
Recipients: Modinat “Abby” Kotun
Michael D. Pham
Brandon S. Bludau
James E. Crowther Scholarship
Awarded to students committed to public
interest work.
Donor:
The Hobby Foundation
Recipients: Preston Scott Ehlers
Zachary C. Ewing
Ingrida M. Norbergs
Gus A. Schill, Jr. Maritime Law and Professionalism Scholarship
Awarded to a third year student in recognition of his dedication to the study of maritime law and professionalism.
Donor:
Friends of Gus A. Schill
Recipient: J. Tanner Honea
Hutcheson & Grundy Scholarship
Awarded to assist a second year student to
fulfill professional aspirations. Based on
demonstrated leadership, extracurricular
involvement and potential for successful
study in law school.
Donor: Hutcheson & Grundy LLP
Recipient: Karolina E. Murguia
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John Ventura Scholar
To honor the memory of John Ventura, the
founding Director of the Texas Consumer
Complaint Center, the Center for Consumer Law has established the position of
“Ventura Scholar.” This position is awarded
to a second or third year student interested
in furthering the rights of consumers.
Donor:
Texas Consumer Complaint Center
Recipient: Lale Korkmaz
DeAnna Mack ’08 Memorial
Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded in memory of
DeAnna Mack who died at young age shortly after graduating from the Law Center.
Donor:
Jones McClure Publishing, Inc. and Friends and Family
of DeAnna Mack
Recipient: Jordan Sanders Latham
Black Law Student Association (BLSA)
Alumni Scholarship
This award was established by the BLSA
Alumni to assist a student member of the
organization in her quest for professional
success.
Donor:
Alumni of the Black Law
Students Association
Recipient: Denise L. Alex
BLSA’s 1L Andrews Kurth Scholarship
Awarded to a 1L who has excelled academically and who has exhibited a strong commitment to BLSA and the Law Center.
Donor:
Andrews Kurth, LLP
Recipient: Judith Zoe Cadore
BLSA’s 2L Porter Hedges Scholarship
Awarded to a 2L who has excelled academically and who has exhibited a strong commitment to BLSA and the Law Center.
Donor:
Porter Hedges, LLP
Recipient: Mia D. Breaux
Judge Mary Bacon ‘72 Scholarship
Awarded to a current law student exemplifying professionalism while maintaining a
two generation household living at the same
residence.
Donor:
Friends and Family of Judge Mary Bacon
Recipient: Rissel C. Durand
Andy B. Thigpen ‘93 Scholarship
Andrew “Andy” Byron Thigpen ‘93 believed
in obtaining justice for “the little guy”
through practicing law with honor. He was
inspired by both literature and attorneys
around him who practiced with integrity.
This scholarship is awarded to the students
who wrote the best essays describing their
extracurricular activities and how they balance their “life in the law” with personal life.
Donor:
Friends of Andy Thigpen
Recipients: Sushant Mohan
James L. Silliman
Dean A. A. White Student Scholarship
Awarded to students who will be a credit to
the legal profession.
Donor:
A.A. White, Dean Emeritus & Ersie Kern Ator White
Recipients: Nicholas Brown
Jillian M. Rae
Marcus L. Rabinowitz
Celia Figueroa ‘94 Memorial
Scholarship
The Celia Figueroa Scholarship was established in honor of the late Celia Figueroa
by her family, friends, and employer, BBVA
Bancomer USA, for whom she served as
General Counsel. The scholarship is to be
awarded annually to a UHLC student who
has displayed excellence in her studies and
service to the Law Center community. Preference is given to a student who has family
obligations and/or whose career involves
international business experience.
Donor:
Recipient:
Bancomer Transfer Services, Inc. and Friends and Family of Celia Figueroa Eglantine M. Pauvarel Moss
Nancy Snyder-Nepo ‘00 Scholarship
In memory of Nancy Snyder-Nepo, a lawyer
and mother, who lost her life to cancer at
a young age. This scholarship is awarded
to provide financial assistance for a Law
Center student who is balancing the role of
parent and student.
Donor:
Family and Friends of Nancy Snyder-Nepo
Recipient: Megan L. Davis
Murray M. Nusynowitz Memorial
Fund
Awarded to a law student who is active in
the recruitment and admissions process.
Donor:
Friends and Family of Murray M. Nusynowitz
Recipient: Koby L. Wilbanks
Buck J. Wynne Memorial Scholarship
The State Bar of Texas Environmental and
Natural Resources Law Section established
this scholarship in memory of Buck J.
Wynne, a prominent environmental attorney who died in 1996. It is awarded to the
top students in introductory environmental
law classes.
Donor:
State Bar of Texas Environmen-
tal and Natural Resources Law Section
Recipients: David J. Hrncir
Lee Nichalis Green
Texas State Bar Oil and Gas Section
Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated
outstanding academic achievement and an
interest in oil and gas.
Donor:
Texas State Bar Oil and Gas Section
Recipients: Melissa R. Morris
Tiago A. Martins Da Cruz
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ConocoPhilips Energy Studies Award
Awarded to a third year law student in the
Energy Studies Program on the basis of
scholarship and interest in the field.
Donor:
ConocoPhilips, Inc.
Recipient: Colin M. Mayhood
Jacqueline Lang Weaver Excellence Award
in Oil & Gas
Awarded to the student who has demonstrated the highest degree of excellence in studies
relating to the field of oil and gas law.
Donor:
James L. Connor, III
Recipient: Modinat “Abby” Kotun
Houston Bar Association, Oil, Gas &
Mineral Law Scholarship
Awarded to students who have demonstrated
outstanding academic achievement and an
interest in oil and gas.
Donor:
Houston Bar Association, Oil, Gas & Mineral Section
Recipients: Robert D. Ward
Davis A. Zapffe
Gulf Coast Power Association (GCPA)
David Olver Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to students who have excelled in
coursework or written papers that have a
significant electricity component.
Donor:
Gulf Coast Power
Association
Recipients: Anneka J. Burdell
Robert J. Downing
John O. Riggs
Prudential Life Insurance Scholarship
Awarded to students in the Health Law
Program who have exhibited academic
excellence.
Donor:
Prudential Life Insurance
Company
Recipients: Chelsea E. Averill
Ghazal S. Asrar
Ryan R. Ingraham
Nour I. Shatleh
Kristy L. Williams
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Ewer-Oren J.D. Health Law Writing
Award
Awarded to J.D. students who produced the
best Health Law-related research papers.
Donor:
Professor Laura Oren
Recipients: Glenn M. Sanford, “Terminating Life–Sustaining Care: The Texas Advance Directives Act as a Partial Solution to
an Ill–Defined Problem”
Kristen M. Balch, “Hey Buddy,
Got a Light Battery? Evolving Electronic
Cigarette Regulations to Protect the Public
Health”
John B. Neibel Scholarship
To an outstanding student demonstrating
academic excellence in Health Law
Donor:
Friends and Family of
John B. Neibel
Recipient: Stephanie M. Eberhardt
Irene Merker Rosenberg Child Advocacy
Scholarship
In memory of Irene Merker Rosenberg, a
scholar and advocate of children’s rights,
this scholarship is designed for law students
who are interested in working in the area of
children and the law. In addition to providing a financial scholarship the program
also provides advanced educational opportunities, career counseling and year-round
employment opportunities to students
committed to advancing the legal interests
of children.
Donor:
University of Houston Law Center
Recipients: Allison M. Arterberry
Shiloh Carter
Alexander C. Hunt
Cara H. Johnson
Ashley M. Pierce
Lisa M. Steffek
Yale Rosenberg Memorial Prize
Awarded for the best student paper in Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, Federal
Jusirdiction or Jewish Law.
Donor:
Friends of Yale Rosenberg
Recipient: Paige A. Cantrell, “Assessing
Assessment in Legal Education: Why Law
Schools Fail”
Liskow & Lewis Best Brief Award
Awarded to the first year student who wrote
the best appellate brief. Briefs were judged
by practicing attorneys in the Houston area.
Donor:
Liskow & Lewis
Recipient: Brandon S. Bludau
James Edmund Kemp Scholarship
In memory of James Edmund Kemp, this
scholarship was created to provide financial
assistance to a UH Law Center student who
is balancing financing her legal education
long with other financial obligations.
Donor:
Judy Amonett (‘03)
Recipient: Deena K. Herndon-Remy
Frank G. Evans 2012-2013 Inaugural
Scholarship
In commemoration of Honorable Frank
G. Evans, this scholarship is awarded to
students for outstanding performance in
the Mediation Clinic. Honorable Frank G.
Evans is referred to as the “Father of ADR
in Texas,” because he was responsible for
drafting the Texas ADR statutes now part of
section 154 of the Texas Civil Practice and
Remedies Code. He was also the original
donor to fund UH Law Center’s A.A. White
Dispute Resolution Center.
Donor:
US Bank and Friends of
Frank Evans
Recipients: Jeffrey S. Adams
Salma F. Hasan
Clinical Legal Education Association
The Clinical Legal Education Association
(CLEA) recognizes law students who have
excelled in a clinical course in law school.
The award is based on excellence in case
work, in the seminar component of the
course, and the nature and extent of the
student’s contribution to the clinical community at his law school.
Donor:
Clinical Legal Education
Association (CLEA)
Recipient: Joseph R. Struble
Irving J. Weiner Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to a student working in the Legal
Aid Clinic.
Donor:
Mrs. Irving J. Weiner and friends of Irving J. Weiner
Recipient: Alexander C. Hunt
Joseph Vail Memorial Scholarship
To honor the memory of Joseph Vail, Director of the Immigration Clinic, this award
is given to a student who has demonstrated
interest in immigration law and also great
advocacy on behalf of immigrants through
course work and involvement with the clinic.
Donor:
Friends and Family of Joseph Vail
Recipient: Sofia Morales
Claire V. Smith Scholarship
Awarded to assist law students in fulfilling
their professional aspirations.
Donor:
Claire V. Smith Charitable Foundation
Recipients: Samantha L. Soliz
Jordan Sanders Latham
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Alicia Jewel/Mehaffey & Weber
Scholarship
In memory of Alicia Jewell a 1990 graduate
who lost her life in an automobile accident.
This scholarship was created to assist an
outstanding student who shows not only
scholarship but also leadership abilities and
who is in need of scholarship support for
the continuation of her education.
Donor:
Mehaffey & Weber and Friends of Alicia Jewell
Recipient: L. Ariell Hardy
Samson Memorial Animal Law
Scholarship
This scholarship is in memory of Moe and
Louis Nasr’s beloved German Shepherd
dog, Samson. Awarded to a student who has
demonstrated a passion for and commitment to animal advocacy.
Donor:
Mr. & Mrs. Moe Nasr
Recipient: Andrea L. Barr
Robert Allen Memorial Student
Excellence Fund
In memory of Robert Allen, this scholarship was established to provide assistance to
a part-time student who has a passion for
the law.
Donor:
Elizabeth Allen
Recipient: Lauren J. Masullo
Ann Dinsmore Forman Memorial Child
Advocacy Award
Ann Forman spent nearly her entire professional life in the Travis County District
Attorney’s Office in its unit devoted to
the protection of abused and neglected
children. She was a tireless advocate for
her charges, and an inspiration to all who
knew her. This scholarship is awarded to
the students whose careers demonstrate a
high level of commitment to the welfare of
abused or neglected children, or other children with special needs.
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Donor:
Friends of Ann Dinsmore
Forman
Recipients: Lauren A. Fisher
Alexander C. Hunt
Cara H. Johnson
Ann Dinsmore Forman AWIL Award
In memory of the co-founder and founding
president of the Association of Women in
Law, Ann Dinsmore Forman, this award is
presented to the students who best exemplify advocacy of matters of particular concern
to the Association of Women in Law.
Donor:
Friends of Ann Dinsmore
Forman
Recipient: Megan L. Davis
J. Huey O’Toole Award
Awarded to a student of outstanding character who has exhibited academic excellence
in family law courses.
Donor:
Friends and family of J. Huey O’Toole
Recipient: Melissa R. Morris
Houston Bar Association, Real Estate
Law Section Award
Awarded to the top students in advanced
Real Estate courses.
Donor:
HBA Real Estate Law
Section
Recipients: Darren A. Braun
Saman Y. Saghian
Houston Bar Association, Probate, Trusts
and Estates Award
Awarded to a law student who has shown
exemplary success in coursework related to
probate.
Donor:
HBA Probate, Trusts & Estates Section
Recipient: Lindsey N. Roskopf
Houston Bar Association, Corporate
Counsel Section Award
Awarded to a current law student who demonstrates academic merit and an interest in
corporate law through course work.
Donor:
HBA Corporate Counsel
Section
Recipient: Mohamed O. Shariff
Barbara H. Fritz Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has shown academic execellence, financial need and a
non-traditional educational path, in fulfilling professional aspirations.
Donor:
The Family and Friends of
Barbara H. Fritz
Recipient: Ping Lei
Gil Epstein ‘94 Scholarship
Awarded to a student who plans to be a
criminal lawyer and has shown the greatest
promise in that regard.
Donor:
Friends and Family of
Gil Epstein
Recipient: Ryan C. Myers
International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Award
Awarded to a student explemifying outstanding ability in courtroom advocacy.
Donor:
Mr. Donald F. O’Brien
Recipient: Avery N. Sheppard
John O’Quinn ‘67 Memorial Scholarship
In memory of John O’Quinn, one the nations leading attorneys, this scholarship
is awarded to a deserving student who is
involved in the Houston Law Review and
The Advocates.
Donor:
The John O’Quinn Memorial Fund
Recipients: Rebekah D. Reneau
Zachary A. Schneider
The Order of the Barristers
The Order of Barristers is a national honorary organization whose purpose is the
encouragement of oral advocacy and brief
writing skills through effective law school
oral advocacy programs. The Order also
provides national recognition for individuals who have excelled in advocacy and
service at their respective schools. In 1973,
Martindale-Hubbell, Inc. acknowledged the
distinction of being selected to membership
in the Order by agreeing to list it among the
scholastic distinctions included in a lawyer’s
biographical sketch.
Recipients: Justen S. Barks
Leah M. Fiedler
Jennifer H. Frank
J. Tanner Honea
Blair J. Leake
Mary L. Lehman
Angela S. Odensky
Katherine L. Petroski
Rebecca D. Reneau
Avery N. Sheppard
Mark Vela Scholarship Fund
Awarded for the best papers in criminal law.
Donor:
Mr. Terry G. Collins
Recipients: Jason E. Beesinger,
“Bad Medicine: The Use of Forced Medition to Feed America’s Execution Addiction”
Shaun A. Cassin, “Best Offense
is a Good Defense”
Judge Shearn Smith Scholarship
Awarded to second- and third- year law
students who have demonstrated the greatest improvement in the study of law.
Donor:
Friends of Judge Shearn Smith
Recipients: Logan B. Campbell
Lance S. Collett
Tracie M. Hall
Anuj Kapur
Ballari Mukherjee
Brandon T. Pittard
Anthony R. Smith
Jennifer W. Taveras
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Lillian Kaiser Lewis Scholarship
Awarded to assist a law student in fulfilling
professional aspirations.
Donor:
Lillian Kaiser Lewis
Foundation
Recipient: Kelly R. Ferrell
Alumni Association Scholarship
Awarded to students exhibiting leadership,
character and involvement in extracurricular
activities. Preference is given to students
who have volunteered with the Law Gala
and Auction.
Donor:
Annual Law Gala and
Auction
Recipients: Lindsey F. Blankenau
Kieone H. Cochran
Ashley D. Foret
Cara H. Johnson
Lale Korkmaz
Alyssa J. Ladd
Katherine L. Petroski
Temitope O. Siyanbade
Barksdale Stevens Award
Awarded to a deserving third- year law student who is active and shows interest in the
Law Center.
Donor:
BakerBotts LLP
Recipient: Katherine A. Barnhill
Caroline Hirsch (Vanik) Beers ‘97
Award
Awarded to a law student who is a single
parent and have a love of the law and a committment to social service.
Donor:
Lauren and Lindsay Vanik
and Caroline Vanik Beers
Recipient: Mary C. Prejean
Joan Garfinkel Glantz Civil Liberties
Scholarship
Awarded for the best paper on Civil
Liberties.
Donor: Friends of Joan Garfinkel Glanztz
Recipient: Katherine A. Barnhill
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Joan Garfinkel Glantz Award
Awarded to a graduating student who has
worked extensively in the area of civil liberties.
Donor:
Friends of Joan Garfinkel Glanztz
Recipient: Maryann Zaki
Class of ‘89 Service Award
Awarded to a 2L student for outstanding service to the Law Center.
Donor:
Class of ‘89
Recipient: Megan A. Daic
ALI-CLE Scholarship and Leadership
Award
Awarded to the law student in the graduating
class who best represents a combination of
scholarship and leadership.
Donor:
American Law Institute-ABA Committee on Continuing
Professional Education
Recipient: Rochelle M. Garza
National Order of Scribes
Awarded to graduating law students who
demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism and are outstanding legal writers.
Donor:
Order of Scribes
Recipients: Sireesha V. Chirala
David J. Hrncir
Sofia Morales
Michael D. Stewart
Joseph R. Struble
American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of
Excellence
Awarded to a student who has shown exemplary success in coursework and activities
related to Bankruptcy.
Donor:
Thatcher Proffitt & Wood LLP
Recipient: Zachary A. Schneider
Student Bar Association
Professor of the Year
Sapna Kumar
Order of the Barons
Professor of the Year
Bret Wells
LEX AWARDS
Awarded to students receiving the highest grade in a first year course.
Recipients:
Constitutional Law
Nicholas Brown
Manuel A. Gardberg
Edward B. Goolsby
Jessica O. Ireton
Matthew M. McClellan
Luisa E. Muskus
Matthew N. Savage
Contracts
Criminal Law
Jason E. Beesinger
Jason E. Beesinger
Theresa E. Langley
Nicholas Brown
Andrea Memovic
Megan A. Ceder
Sarah H. Mohle
Kelly R. Ferrell
Marcus L. Rabinowitz
David J. Rusk
Destinee K. Roman
Procedure I Property
Gordon J. Martens
Nicholas Brown
Sarah H. Mohle
Rebecca M. Cutri-Kohart
William R. Schultz
Edward B. Goolsby
Matthew M. McClellan
Torts
Jason E. Beesinger
Kevin T. Dyer Zachary C. Ewing
Allison C. Mills
Daniel S. Rakes
Lawyering Skills and Strategies
Eman P. Arabi-Katbi
Jason E. Beesinger
Yanet M. Benitez
Brandon S. Bludau
Nicholas Brown
Benjamin Cohen-Kurzrock
Laura W. Duncan
Preston S. Ehlers
Kate C. Ferrell
Brooke N. Granger
Administrative Law
Srimath S. Subasinghe
Lisa Hasenberg
Arie Roeland
Stephanie K. Kunz
Destinee K. Roman
Phillip J. Macfarlane
Jason P. Rudloff
Lauren J. Masullo
Jessica E. Schaffner
Patrick N. McMillin
Bodine T. Schwerin
Mark V. Mitchell
Edward B. Seeger
Sarah H. Mohle
Brian A. Srubar
Janna M. Mouret
Ian A. Wright
Marcus L. Rabinowitz
Monica J. Raspino
Intro to American Law
Law Practice Strategies
Kristy L. Williams
Edward B. Goolsby
Practice Skills
Tracie M. Hall
Statutory Interpretation & Reasoning
Sanjay Bapat
Texas Consumer Law
Nicholas Brown
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2013 SUMMER PUBLIC
INTEREST FELLOWS
Awarded for public interest work with an agency that has limited financial support.
Eman Arabi-Katbi
Allison Arterberry
Ahmed Davut Atik
Kaitlyn Bailey
Daniel Bradley
Alexis Braun
Nimra Chowdhry
Lauren Fisher
Andrew Geppert
Ariell Hardy
Salma Hasan
Kevin Hooker
Brian Hutchison
Mark Jessup
Nandini Kavuri
Drew Kwartler
Theresa Langley
Kim Lewinski
Olivia Mathias
Andrea Memovic
Clay Nelson
Ingrid Norsberg
Mary Prejean
Leah Robbins
Mycah Robinson
Aimee Rodriguez
Amir Roohi
Jason Schultz
Josephine Sorgwe
Jon-Ross Trevino
Rebekah Wendt
University of Houston General Counsel
EEOC
Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston
Fe y Jusiticia Workers’ Center
Texas Attorney General, Antitrust, Austin
YMCA
Harris County Attorney’s Office
Mexican Foreign Ministry
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
DOJ, Environment & Natural Resources
Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston
Harris County Attorney’s Office
Texas Innocence Network
Lone Star Legal Aid, Bryan
EEOC
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Children At Risk
Montgomery County Women’s Shelter
Mexican Foreign Ministry
YMCA
Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston
Harris County Attorney’s Office
Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston
Texas Children’s Hospital
Harris County Attorney’s Office
Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston
Texas Attorney General, Houston and Austin
Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston
Harris County Attorney’s Office
Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston
Harris County Attorney’s Office