CHLSA Chicano/Hispanic Law Students’ Association

Informe Fall 2013

The University of Texas School of Law|Chicano/Hispanic Law Students’ Association|727 East Dean Keeton St. Austin, TX|chlsa.org ADVANCING DIVERSITY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT & PROMOTION OF HISPANIC LAW STUDENTS

2013 CHLSA Cultural Celebration and Awards Banquet

The new CHLSA Board for 2013-2014 pose after a night of revelry at the CHLSA Banquet.

CHLSA’s 2013 Cultural Celebration and Awards Banquet, Movers & Shakers- Honor-ing Hispanic Policymakers, was held on April 5th

2013 at the UT Alumni Center. The yearly banquet brings together current and former CHLSA members, as well as members throughout the legal community of Texas. This celebration also included the presentation of the CHLSA Spirit Awards, honors given to individuals who exemplify the spirit of the or-

ganization’s goals of recruitment, promotion, and community service.

The theme of the banquet, Movers and Shakers, was meant to recognize the policy makers who have made a significant differ-ence in the lives of Latinos across the nation. The keynote speaker featured the Honorable José R. Rodríguez, Texas State Senator for the 29th District, and an attorney who has devot-ed his life to public service. Continued Page 2

Meet the CHLSA Board…….Page 4

CHLSA with National Reps ……….......Page 8

Fajita Fiesta ……..….. Page 10

Continued from Page 1 He and his family have made their home in El Paso, where they have been deeply involved in civic organizations, economic devel-opment, and human rights activities. Rodríguez spoke about his 38-year le-gal career as a staff attorney with the U.S. Department of Housing and Ur-ban Development and the difficulties of later branching out into private practice. Rodríguez also served as a staff attorney and director of the farm worker program of Texas Rural Legal Aid, and this experience continues to inform his opinions regarding the pas-sage of Senate bills related to educa-tion, health care, economic develop-ment, renewable energy, public safety and the courts, ethics and government transparency, and the military. His hard work and tenacity on the Senate floor have not gone unnoticed and it was an honor to have Rodríguez par-ticipate in the CHLSA Banquet.

A cocktail reception and silent auction were held prior to the Ban-quet. During the Banquet, former CHLSA President Natalie Salvaggio

made a speech introducing incoming CHLSA President Adrianne Waddell. The HBAA Foundation awarded the Irma Rangel Scholarship to Linda Peña (‘13) and Sam Garcia (‘13). The schol-arship is presented annually at the CHLSA banquet to Hispanic 3Ls to help defray the expenses for a Texas Bar Review course. CHLSA also pre-sented awards to its own members for outstanding dedication to the organiza-tion and public service.

With the support of banquet sponsors, CHLSA awards scholarships for textbooks, bar exams, public inter-est work, and summer school to CHLSA members. Thank you for all you do!

CHLSA Cultural Celebration Award Recipients Spirit of Culture Award – Henry R. Muñoz III, entre-

preneur, design, cultural activist and philanthropist

Spirit of Education Award – David G. Hinojosa, Southwest Regional Counsel for the Mexican Amer-ican Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Spirit of Leadership Award – Representative Ana Her-nandez Luna, Texas State Representative for 143rd District

Spirit of CHLSA Award – Andrew Casillas, Associ-ate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP & CHLSA Alum

Spirit of Community Award – Lulu Flores, Partner at Hendler-Law, PC and political activist

Best 3L Award – Natalie Salvaggio

Best 2L Award – Rebeca Ojeda

Best 1L Award – Andres Contreras

Best LLM Award - Diego Molina

Pro Bono Award – Brian Quillen

2013 CHLSA Cultural Celebration and Awards Banquet

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Meet Your CHLSA 2013 - 2014 Board! Officers Realize CHLSA’s Mission in Expanding Diversity in the Legal Profession through Promotion of Hispanic Law Students

Adrianne Waddell President Hometown: Austin, Texas Undergraduate University: Rice University

Bianca Scott Fundraising Director Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota Undergraduate University: The University of Chicago

Marsha Perez Internal Vice President Hometown: Alice, Texas Undergraduate University: Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Alexine Zacarias Fajita Fiesta Co-Chair Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Undergraduate University: George Washington University

Andrea Meza External Vice President Hometown: Grand Prairie, Texas Undergraduate University: Arizona State University

Andres Contreras Treasurer Hometown: El Paso, Texas Undergraduate University: University of Texas Austin

Samantha Jarvis Secretary Hometown: Edinburg, Texas Undergraduate University: University of Texas Pan American

Olga Medina Alumni Relations Director Hometown: Pasadena, Texas Undergraduate University: Stanford University

Jessica Rodriguez Education Chair Hometown: Houston, Texas Undergraduate University: Trinity University

Brian Quillen Latina Law Caucus Chair Hometown: Dallas, Texas Undergraduate University: Georgetown University

Paige Armstrong Scholarship Chair Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Undergraduate University: University of Texas Austin

Alejandra Avila National Representative Hometown: Mexico City, D.F. Undergraduate University: Texas A&M International

Natalie Salvaggio Fajita Fiesta Co-Chair Hometown: Miami, Florida Undergraduate University: University of Florida

Leonel Ruiz 1L Representative Hometown: El Paso, Texas Undergraduate University: University of Texas El Paso

Officers Continued Page 4

Rebeca Ojeda Newsletter Editor Hometown: Waverly, TN Undergraduate University: Vanderbilt University

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Law Students Host Pre-Law Workshop

In the Spring, CHLSA set out to foster a rela-tionship with undergraduate students interested in pursuing legal careers. A CHLSA committee com-piled a presentation with general information about the legal field, LSAT study tips, and secrets to law school applications. On February 13th, Natalie Salvag-gio (‘14), Adrianne Waddell (‘15), Sarah Valenzuela (‘15), and Rebeca Ojeda (‘14) presented to the under-graduate group Minority Women Pursuing Law and other University of Texas students. The presentation was well attended and the participants were eager to discuss legal education and practice. The event’s suc-cess has set a concrete precedent for CHLSA to con-tinue hosting pre-law workshops to UT and other undergraduate schools.

CHLSA-HIS CLE Conference CHLSA and the Hispanic Issues Section

(HIS) of the State Bar of Texas teamed up to host a continuing legal education program at the end of February. Natalie Salvaggio (‘14), immediate past CHLSA president, and Dahlia Gutierrez, immedi-ate past Chair of HIS, spearheaded the event. Many attorneys, judicial candidates, and law stu-dents attended the day of training, which included a presentation about securing firms against forces majeures, ADR panels, and a quick demonstration about apps that make legal work easier, not harder. The event incorporated the presentation of colors by the ROTC and concluded with a well-attended cocktail hour. This program enabled CHLSA to foster its relationship with the Austin legal com-munity and the organization hopes to continue involvement in such events.

Attorneys throughout Austin eating during the CHLSA-HIS CLE conference lunch-panel session

Mark Your Calendars, 2014 Banquet!

On Friday, April 4th 2014, CHLSA invites community leaders, CHLSA alumni, and attorneys throughout the state to join the organization for the 44th CHLSA Banquet. The event theme will focus on the Advocacy of Human & Civil Rights and will occur in the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Bianca Scott (‘15), the CHLSA Fund-raising Chair, will be sending out save-the-dates and sponsorship information soon, but if you have any questions in the meantime feel free to reach out to her via email at bvicscott@utexas.edu.

Melissa Marrero LLM Representative Hometown: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Undergraduate University: Northwestern University

Alex Rodriguez Athletic Director Hometown: Garland, Texas Undergraduate University: University of Texas Austin

Daniella Martinez 1L Representative Hometown: Laredo, Texas Undergraduate University: University of Texas Austin

Officers Continued from Page 2

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CHLSA Participates with DACA Clinics During the summer of 2012, the Department of Homeland Security implemented the Deferred Action

for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy initiative that allowed low-priority persons who are undocumented to ob-tain employment authorization for a period of two years. The UT Law William Wayne Justice Center’s Pro Bono Program and the UT Law Immigration Clinic has hosted numerous clinics to assist undocumented individuals complete their applications for DACA. UT Law students both managed and participated in these clinics, and CHLSA encouraged Spanish and non-Spanish speakers to partake in the process. Several CHLSA members par-took in a clinic during the spring of 2012 as part of the pro bono initiative of the organization. Current External Vice President Andrea Meza (‘15) drove the program during the fall semester and engaged CHLSA members to work on intake, application compilation, as well as the DACA clinic itself. CHLSA takes pride and pleasure in providing legal assistance to the Hispanic community, and continues to do so throughout the academic year.

MABA Conference Four CHLSA members, Gabriela Gonzalez (‘13), James Magown (‘13), Rebeca Ojeda (‘14), and Natalie Salvaggio (‘14), set out to Lubbock for a weekend of networking and conferencing at the annual Mexican American Bar Association (MABA) Conference hosted by the Hispanic Law Student Association of Texas Tech University School of Law. The weekend started with a cocktail reception attended by Texas law students from across the state as well as practioners in the local area. The program itself was varied, including panel ses-sions geared towards those interested in a judicial career and those with an affinity for governmental or private practice. Representatives from the Hispanic National Bar Association also presented and encouraged law stu-dents to start their journey as leaders in the Hispanic community as members of the association. The MABA banquet featured a speech by Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman as well as the bestowing of scholar-ships to graduating students, including CHLSA’s own Gabriela Gonzalez. CHLSA looks forward to sending more members to the next MABA conference scheduled for spring 2013.

Justice Eva Guzman speaking at MABA

CHLSA members representing UT Law at the MABA Conference hosted by Texas Tech University

On LinkedIn? Join the CHLSA group!

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Chicano-Hispanic-Law-Students-Asssociation-6523230

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Hispanics & Academia – a Talk with Professor Chesney

Very few Hispanics appear in the ranks of faculty teaching at the University of Texas School of Law, a fact of which CHLSA members are well aware. Thirty-two percent of minorities were admitted last year into UT Law, but on-ly ten faculty members identi-fy as minorities in the School. Data from www.utexas.edu and www.admissionsdean.com. CHLSA raised concerns with-in the UT Law and Hispanic legal communities about this gap in representation. Re-sponses from UT Law empha-sized the small pool of His-panic legal scholars available for hire. Professor Robert Chesney, an instructor of Constitutional Law and Na-tional Security as well as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, independently reached

out to CHLSA to make a change. Professor Chesney sat down with approximately twelve CHLSA students to have an informal lunch discus-sion on the how-to of becom-ing an academic. Students, especially 1L members, found the talk extremely informative and appreciated being given another perspective on legal careers outside of the normal firm and public service infor-mation that is usually provided by the School. CHLSA in-tends to invite Professor Chesney to again talk to stu-dents about the career path of academics.

Photo courtesy of University of Texas

School of Law

CHLSA awarded a Summer 2013 Scholarship of $500 to 2L Julia Gonzales. Each year, the organization awards schol-arships to CHLSA members who either attend summer school or work summer public interest jobs. The recipient is typi-cally chosen by the Scholarship Chair, and the proceeds from the bi-annual Fajita Fiestas fund the summer scholarships. Julia is a native of Oakland, California and attended Columbia University as an un-dergraduate. This past summer, Julia served as an extern to Justice Sandra Margulies at the First District California Court of Appeal in San Francisco for the first half of the summer and in New York City for election compliance and opposi-tion research for the second half.

CHLSA Awards 2013 Summer Scholarship

¡Bienvenidos! 1L & Transfer Students In late August, CHLSA hosted its annual welcome event for incoming students.

Several 1Ls and transfer students met CHLSA members at the law student magnet known as Crown & Anchor for some brews and burgers. It was a mad success and many of the new students continue to be active partici-pants in the CHLSA family!

1Ls and Transfer Students partake in their first CHLSA event

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¡Celebrando a Selena! by Natalie Salvaggio

The Latina Law Caucus gathered for snacks and a showing of the movie Selena as a tribute to the life of Tejano singer, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was an inspiration to women around the world, and especially in her native Texas. This event was a great opportunity to eat good food, listen to good music, and bond with other Latina CHLSA members. These casual Latina-centered events are held throughout the year for CHLSA ladies to bond, support one another through law school, and build lasting friendships.

MALDEF Awards Gala Contributions by Natalie Salvaggio & Adrianne Waddell The annual Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) Awards Gala occurred in San Antonio this past fall and the Office of the Dean of UT Law invited CHLSA members to attend. Paige Arm-strong-Gutierrez (‘15), Olga Medina (‘14), Andrea Meza (‘15), Andres Contreras (‘15), Adrianne Waddell (‘15), and Alejandra Avila (‘14) took ad-vantage of the opportunity to hear keynote speaker Julian Castro address the gathering and Sebastian de la Cruz serenade the attendees with the national an-them. Adrianne stated “overall it was a wonderful event honoring truly inspirational Latinos.” She not-ed that the event gave “students the chance to meet the incredible trailblazers who are paving the way for us to tackle the challenges the Latino community fac-es today.”

CHLSA Members with Julian Castro, keynote speaker of MALDEF Awards Gala Photo courtesy of Alejandra Avila

Diversity Education Weekend by Natalie Salvaggio

Diversity Education Weekend (DEW) is a CHLSA tradition to welcome diverse 1Ls to UT Law. CHLSA partners with the other diversity organ-izations, including the Asian Law Student Associa-tion, the Thurgood Marshall Law Society, and OUT-Law the LGBT law student organization, to host panels on issues important to diverse law students specifically, and 1Ls generally. Of course, no law school event is successful without some good food! The weekend included a reception on Friday night

hosted by Bracewell Giulianni where law students were able to mingle with attorneys over drinks and food at Bobs Steak and Chop House. The following day included a breakfast in the Jamail Pavilion with inspiring com-ments by a CHLSA alumni, followed by panels. This year, the event included panels on "How to Get the Most out of Law School" that focused on student organizations and journals, "Diversity in the Scope of the Legal Field" and "Mentoring 101 and Smart Networking". As in previous years, many CHLSA members and alumni volunteered for these panels to speak with the 1Ls and about how to succeed in law school, and how to leverage being a diverse lawyer after graduation.

Panel Session in Eidman Courtroom for DEW Weekend Photo courtesy of Natalie Salvaggio

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Santa Fe welcomed Latino law students hailing from as far as Hawaii to New York for a weekend con-ference in late September. CHLSA sent three representatives—Maritza Sanchez (’14), Aimee Vidaurri (’14), and Rebeca Ojeda (’13)—to the National Latina/o Law Student Association (NLLSA) Conference. This program is NLLSA’s biggest event, and is intended to mobilize and empower Latino law students throughout the nation. NLLSA also hosts a moot court competition during the conference, and the final round saw attendees squeez-

ing into every corner of the courthouse to watch competitors argue in front of the New Mexico Supreme Court.

The Mexican American Law Student Association of the University of New Mexi-co School of Law hosted the conference and integrated the theme of “Vozes Latina/os” throughout the programming. The panel discussions addressed vari-ous topics affecting the Latino community, including tribal law, same-sex mar-riage in New Mexico, human rights along the Mexican border, and small firm practice. The hosts interspersed the programming with cultural activities as well. Students ate spicy New Mexican cuisine while watching classic flamenco dancing and singing, and were later entertained by a mariachi band. Tribal leaders from the surrounding pueblos spoke to the law students, providing an interesting per-spective to those unfamiliar with Indian law and culture. Maritza reported that the NLLSA conference overflowed with “great topics, interesting discussions, and opportunities to network.”

The keynote speaker was Mary Torres, the first Hispanic female to hold an ABA Officer position and an inspiring speaker who spoke of overcoming adversity and of the importance of being a leader in the Lati-no community. Ms. Torres danced salsa and merengue alongside the law students follow-

ing the conference’s farewell banquet, where the new NLLSA officers for the 2013–2014 year were announced. Every attending UT Law student se-cured a board position—Maritza Sanchez, Director of Policy Initiatives, Aimee Vidaurri, Director of Community Service, and Rebeca Ojeda, Co-Director of the Mountain Region. CHLSA is excited to have such a strong national representation!

2013 National Latina/o Law Student Association Conference

Diversity & Dell/Fulbright Dell/Fulbright hosts an annual diversity event open to minority students at the University of Texas School of Law. This past fall, members of the Asian Law Student Association and the Thurgood Marshall Law Society also attended the event along with CHLSA members. The programming served as the kickoff meeting for the Dell/Fulbright mentorship program. “This mentor program is unique because each mentee receives a Dell and a Ful-bright mentor, which gives students the chance to learn about a big firm and an in-house position,” stated Adri-anne Waddell (‘15). The event provided students and attorneys the opportunity to meet and interact. Adrianne went on to say: “Overall, I had a really great time at the event!” We look forward to continuing the mentorship program well into the future.

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Ahoy! Boat Cruise, ho! One cool October evening, law stu-dents dressed to the nines gathered at Lake Travis to attend the annual CHLSA Boat Cruise. The yearly tradition is the biggest CHLSA so-cial event meant for new members to meet each other and interact with older members. This year’s Boat Cruise included food from

Rudy’s BBQ, vegan options, endless spirits, and lots of pop and Spanish tunes. Marsha Perez, CHLSA Internal Vice President, expertly coordinated the event, which ran promptly and smooth-ly. CHLSA members displayed their sal-sa and bachata routines on the top deck of the boat, rendering this year’s cruise a great success. Most attendees took the festivities from the water onto land for an unforgettable night of fun!

Study, study, study Jessica Rodriguez (‘15) serves as the CHLSA Ed-ucation Chair and hosts bi-weekly study halls on campus. Jessica explained that the study halls have been “bringing CHLSA members together and allowing older members to pass knowledge to younger members” while encourag-ing law students to study as well as gain valuable infor-mation about classes and outlines from more seasoned veterans of the Law School (while drinking coffee and munching on snacks of course). CHLSA members also share their outlines on an online database and Jessica manages the organization’s library of textbooks and horn-books available for members to peruse.

Along the same lines, Andrew Casillas of Akin Gump and Cassandra Cuellar of Andrews Kurth teamed up to present a writing workshop geared towards 1L stu-dents. These two CHLSA alums informed new law stu-dents about the expectations of a firm and how to write for a boss versus an LRW professor. The 1Ls always ex-press their appreciation for the workshop and CHLSA is honored to have such dedicated alums giving back.

Bake Sales Bring in the Dough CHLSA members contribute their time and baking savvy to seasonal bake sales managed by CHLSA volunteers. From Valentine’s Day arroz con leche to Halloween-themed tomb-stone cupcakes, the gourmet handiwork of CHLSA members is rapidly consumed by law school students and faculty eager to satis-fy their sweet tooth. Proceeds fund the sum-mer scholarships CHLSA distributes every year.

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On the 18th of October, several CHLSA members volunteered their time to help with the annual Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA) Hispanic Heritage Luncheon occurring at the W Hotel. After helping with registration, law students sat with attorneys for the lunch program, which included musical entertainment by singer-songwriter Tish Hinojosa and a keynote speech by United States Congressman Henry Cuellar, from the 28th District of Texas. The programming also involved the distribution of HBAA scholarships to undergraduate students interested in pursuing law, as well as prizes of Dell laptops to two middle school winners of an essay contest. Adrianne Waddell (‘15), the CHLSA President, was honored for her participation in the HNBA Microsoft Intel-lectual Property Institute and Paige Armstrong-

Gutierrez (‘15), CHLSA Scholar-ship Chair, was also honored as one of the first recipients of the HNBA Legal Edu-cation Fund of the 2012-2013 National Scholarship Program.

CHLSA Helps with HBAA Luncheon

¿Fiesta? Only with Fajitas! CHLSA fired up the grills—and christened its

very own—for its traditional Fajita Fiesta! Carlos Casteñada (‘13), immediate past Fajita Fiesta Chair, en-sured the success of the event this past spring. Alexine Zacarias (‘14) and Natalie Salvaggio (’14) worked to-gether to bring the event to its height during the fall. Fajita Fiesta has been a long standing tradition for CHLSA, dating back over 25 years. Twice a year, CHLSA members serve fresh-grilled fajitas to fellow law students and faculty members at the Law School. Patrons have a choice of beef, chicken, or vegetable fajitas and, of course, tortillas, rice, and beans are also served. Proceeds from Fajita

Fiesta go to CHLSA’s Endowed Scholarship Fund which supports scholarships for students taking classes or doing public interest work during the summer.

This year, CHLSA not only served its regular customers, but also catered a tasty luncheon hosted by the William Wayne Justice Center in celebration of Na-tional Pro Bono Week. CHLSA would like to thank all its members for helping in the preparation, grilling and serving process, especially Natalie Salvaggio for lending her kitchen for hours of culinary prep. This last Fajita Fiesta was the most profitable in the last three years, and many compliments were given on the quality of the fajitas.

CHLSA Members working from dusk till dawn to ensure the success of Fajita Fiesta

Partnering Up for Pro Bono The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin

(HBAA) and Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) are partnering up with CHLSA to provide a unique approach to pro bono work in the local commu-nity. HBAA attorney-volunteers are paired with CHLSA student-volunteers to take on pro bono projects organized by VLS. Tina Fernandez, Clinical Professor and Pro Bono Program Direc-tor for UT Law, spoke to the CHLSA general body about the new partnership and emphasized this program as an opportunity for students to obtain hands-on legal experience while network-ing with an attorney practicing in the Austin ar-ea. CHLSA is thrilled about the project, and a few attorney-student pairs have already received assignments. Natalie Salvaggio (‘14), for exam-ple, is paired with Manuel Escobar, a partner at McGinnis Lochridge, to work on divorce cases. Natalie explained that she would be attending a VLS family law seminar to help her tackle the new cases.

CHLSA is excited to see what its members can and will do in the name of public service. The kickoff event for the partnership was incorpo-rated into the programming of the annual HBAA Mentorship Event. “This is a popular program with our students that pairs CHLSA members with HBAA attorneys” stated Natalie. The mixer was hosted by Baker Botts, and an-other mixer will occur in the spring semester.

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The 2013 CHLSA Chihuahuas intramural volley-ball team made playoffs in the all student league after finishing 2-2-0 in the regular season this fall. CHLSA Sports Director, Coach Alex Rodriguez (‘15), prepared Edwin Garcia (‘15), Andrea Meza (‘15), Leonel Ruiz (‘16), Ruy Mireles (LLM), Leslie Montalvo (‘15), Bianca Scott (‘15), Alejan-dra Avila (‘14), and Rebeca Ojeda (‘14) to show up ready for blood, guts, and glory. “The expend-ables!” cheered Edwin when the going got tough. Unfortunately, after valiant efforts and incredible volleys, the CHLSA team lost the first game of the playoffs. Congratulations to all members who participated and supported. We’ll bring it next year!

CHLSA Chihuahuas Play their Way into Volleyball Playoffs

CHLSA Thanksgiving On November 19th, the scents emanating from the Jamail Pavilion enticed many CHLSA members to

make their way to CHLSA’s final social event of the year. Trays of turkey, stuffing, green beans, and warm rolls were eaten by studious members who snuck out of the library for a few minutes of succor from the Palace of Tears known as the library. A few members managed to dart off with entire pecan pies too! What a way to top off the year!

Alumni Giving Back by Olga Medina We had two Practice Area Luncheons (PAL) during the Fall semester. The first featured Raul

Garcia (‘13), a first-year associate at Vinson & Elkins in Houston. The event was catered by Franklin BBQ. Raul spoke with 1Ls about his experience in law school and offered advice on how to tackle 1L classes and final exams.

The second PAL featured Carlos Romo (‘07) of Baker Botts' Austin office. During his talk, Car-los spoke to CHLSA members about his principal practice area, environmental litigation and compli-ance. He also offered insights into the clerkship application process and provided his perspective on practicing law in a law firm context.

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CHLSA Members Expand Access to Justice…Yet Again!

Photos courtesy of UT Law The University of Texas School of Law’s Pro Bono Program an-

nounced the law school’s four Pro Bono Scholars for the 2013–14 aca-demic year, two of which are active CHLSA members: Andrea Meza (‘15) and Rebeca Ojeda (‘14). According to the UT Law website, “The Pro Bono Scholars Program provides scholarships to second- and third-year students who make a 300-hour commitment during the academic year to the UT Law Pro Bono Program. The scholars plan and implement pro bono projects and conduct research and outreach that furthers the mission of the program.”

The William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law also select-ed seven students to serve as Public Service Scholars for the 2013-14 year, and among them was CHLSA’s own Stephanie Brosig (‘15). The recipients of the award and accompanying scholarship must be “outstanding students who demonstrate a commitment to studying, promoting and working in public service,” according to the UT Law online posting. The scholars work closely with the Justice Center on public service initiatives throughout the year.

Three CHLSA members also serve on the Student Advisory Board for the William Wayne Justice Center. Brian Quillen (‘14), Samantha Jarvis

(‘14), and Stephanie Brosig (‘15) work with the Justice Center to not only provide advice regarding stu-dent awards, pro bono projects, and public interest programming, but also to assist with conferences and outreach with student organizations throughout the academic year.

The UT Law Magazine also gave a shout out to the accomplishments of Alexandra Gutierrez, (‘15) a CHLSA member who volunteers at Catholic Charities of Central Texas where she helps immi-grant survivors of crime complete applications for legal status in the United States. Ally’s supervisor stated to UT Law Magazine, “Without the help of volunteers like Ally, many clients with urgent legal issues, including those who are victims of crime or violence, would be left without access to the legal representation they need to keep themselves and their families together and free from violence in the United States.”

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Dinner with Dean Alemán Dean Susana Alemán again hosted CHLSA students to a dinner during the fall semester. Latina Law Caucus Chair Brian Quillen (‘14) coordinated the intimate dinner at Amaya’s Taco Village, where the Dean and CHLSA mem-bers discussed various topics—from law school administration to Stanley Jo-hansen’s curriculum modifications in the last few decades. The group thor-oughly enjoyed the Dean’s company and are extremely appreciative to have her so actively invested in CHLSA’s continued growth and success. Brian Quillen explained that “the dinner with Dean Alemán is turning into a great tradition.” “She’s a comforting presence during finals,” he continued, “and a source of advice and knowledge for our members.” Dean Alemán served as the Law School’s Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for 21 years before retir-ing, and remains an advocate for Latinas (and Latinos!) everywhere!

HBAA Scholarship Awards to CHLSA Members This Hispanic Bar Association, as part of the Hispanic Bar Consortium, funds the State Representative Irma Rangel Memorial Scholarship. This year, four CHLSA members received the award:

James Haecker, UT-Austin – School of Law, 1st Year Law Student

Amanda Mendiola, UT-Austin – School of Law, 3rd Year Law Student

Pedro Villalobos, UT-Austin – School of Law, 1st Year Law Student

Adrianne Waddell, UT-Austin – School of Law, 2nd Year Law Student

Miscellaneous

More boat cruise fun!

CHLSA members partici-pate in Texas Southwestern Recruitment with Dean Farnsworth

Photo courtesy of University

of Texas School of Law

CHLSA members participate in Immigration Rally

Mexican Grito at Texas State Capitol attended by CHLSA members

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By Mail Alumni donations are instrumental to CHLSA’s suc-cess as an organization. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please complete this form and mail your support to:

The Chicano/Hispanic Law Students’ Association c/o The University of Texas School of Law

727 E Dean Keeton Street Austin, TX 78705-3224

Online Making one-time donations online is fast and easy!! Just follow these steps: 1. Go to: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/nlogon/lopay/

ccta.WBX; 2. Select “Annual Fund” from the drop-down menu,

enter your donation, and click “continue;” 3. In the “Notes for staff” box, specify that you

would like to donate to CHLSA; 4. Complete donor and credit card information, and

submit. T-Shirts This year’s t-shirt design and production was made possible by a charitable contribution from Andrews Kurth, LLP. If interested in purchasing a t-shirt for $10/shirt please fill out the form and mail the funds to the address above.

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