Events Calendar

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. If in doubt, verify with the web-based events calendar.

Join us for a book talk with Lina-Maria Murillo, Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, on "Fighting for Control: Power, Reproductive Care, and Race in the US–Mexico Borderlands" (University of North Carolina Press, 2025). The book explores nearly a century of reproductive care and control in the border cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, revealing how Mexican-origin women navigated and resisted powerful institutions seeking to govern their reproductive lives. Rachel Rebouché, G. Rollie White Chair in Law and Professor of Law, will join Professor Murillo as a respondent for the conversation.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/26/85676/

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. If in doubt, verify with the web-based events calendar.

Please RSVP by Sunday, January 25, on TEX.

Public defenders will share about their work and answer questions about the path to this career.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/26/85716/

Present-day jurisprudence primarily limits state power by recognizing rights. Whereas the federal government is considered one of limited, enumerated powers, state governments are understood to have a general and broad “police power,” and thus fewer internal limitations on what they can do. But as the Supreme Court’s recent jurisprudence on rights evolves, it’s worth rethinking not just how rights protect individuals, but how internal limits on arbitrary exercises of government power can protect them too.

Professor Christina Mulligan (Brooklyn Law) joins us to explore the nature, evolution, and internal limits of the state police power.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/27/85642/

BOA hosted intramural moot court competition for Texas Law students.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/27/85219/

Fierro Film Screening and Panel Discussion (Part I) Los Años de Fierro

This screening features the first of two documentaries about César Fierro and focuses on his legal case prior to winning relief from a Texas death sentence. Los Años de Fierro tells the story of Fierro, the longest-held Mexican national on death row in the United States, who spent more than thirty years awaiting execution while maintaining his innocence. The film reflects on justice, confinement, and fraternal bonds through the perspectives of César and his brother Sergio.

A panel discussion will follow with filmmaker Santiago Esteinou, Carol Steiker, and Charlie Baird. Moderated by Jordan Steiker. Pizza will be served.

Open to all, RSVP preferred. RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/r/DpDDab5AL8

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/27/86177/

Join The Law Veterans Association for coffee and conversation every Wednesday from January 14 to April 22 in the Tom Clark Lounge. A great way to connect with fellow veterans, build community, and start your day with good company and caffeine. All Texas Law veteran students, alumni, and friends welcome.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/28/85259/

GRITS is a student-run, public interest law conference that focuses on the difficulties and constraints inherent to social justice work in the South, and the unique strategies that legal practitioners and other public interest workers have developed to meet those needs. The conference emphasizes innovative, progressive, and even radical approaches to building community among students, practitioners, and community activists in the South to bring about social change. The conference is an opportunity for law students, lawyers, and activists to build coalitions, share strategies for progressive lawyering, and develop new approaches for the future. Please join us for a brainstorming and planning session! Come with ideas or just to hear others—all that's required is a desire to move the law forward in a progressive manner. This meeting will take place in TNH 3.125 from 11:50 to 12:50.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/28/85907/

Join the Public Interest Law Association (PILA) for lunch and a career panel with alumni, professors, and practitioners to hear about working in immigration. Lunch will be first come first serve.

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/TdqMMGDhbDmRJjeB

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/28/86117/

Join us for an Alternative Curriculum conversation with Professor Sellers that explores constitutional law beyond the casebook. This session will examine how constitutional doctrine operates in practice and the unresolved questions shaping modern constitutional interpretation. Students will have the opportunity to engage critically with foundational assumptions in constitutional law and reflect on how the Constitution functions in moments of political, social, and institutional stress.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/28/86223/

This gathering is a welcome-back space for the new semester and an opportunity to reconnect, reflect on the past semester, and set intentions and goals for the months ahead. Together, we will engage in conversation, share experiences, and build community rooted in mutual support and encouragement.

EPI is designed for students whose lived experiences intersect with the legal systems they aspire to challenge in their careers. For instance, students who have themselves or had family members become entangled in the criminal legal system and are interested in public defense work; immigrant students or students who are the children or family members of immigrants seeking to challenge the immigration system; and low-income students seeking to challenge intersecting laws and policies that further marginalize poor people, such as predatory lending, cash bail, and other structural barriers.

These lunches offer a supportive, confidential space for dialogue, reflection, mentorship, and resource-sharing. Whether you are looking to process the last semester, clarify your goals, or simply be in community with others who share similar commitments, you are welcome here.

We look forward to starting the semester together and lifting one another up.

Please RSVP by noon on Monday, January 27, 2026.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/28/86118/

Weekly meeting for the Catholic Law Student Society (CLSS). Events include prayer, discussions, Bible studies, and social gatherings.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/28/86120/

Reuven Avi-Yonah presenting an original paper in the Business Law Seminar.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/28/85316/

Join Sidley and SBA for Creature Coffee to start your day!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/29/86397/

Interested in an internship or career in reproductive justice? Join If/When/How to hear from attorneys and students about internships, career paths, and what it’s really like to work in the reproductive justice space. All Texas Law students welcome! Lunch will be served.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/29/85883/

Join us for a conversation with Michael Levy (Texas Law alum), founder of Texas Monthly, as he shares his journey from law school to the journalism and business world. Levy will discuss his experience in building one of the most influential publications in Texas and how his time at Texas Law contributed to his success. This is a unique chance to learn from a Texas Law graduate who has built an iconic Texan magazine with more than 2 million readers per month. Please RSVP here: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7OgesYfIU0JTDIW

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/29/85517/

BOA hosted intramural moot court competition for Texas Law students.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/29/85220/

Please join us for Texas Law Review: Volume 104 Symposium. Please see the event flyer for the various locations of the panel presentations.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/30/85937/

Join the Strauss Center for a national security law career discussion on Friday, January 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring Brad Brooker and Brett Freedman, two distinguished national security law practitioners with experience across government and the private sector.

Brad Brooker is a partner at Holland & Knight in Washington, D.C., where he works on national security, data privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging technology issues. He previously served as General Counsel of the FBI and as Principal Deputy and Acting General Counsel at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Brett Freedman most recently served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. He has also held senior roles with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security.

The discussion will be moderated by Carter Burwell, adjunct professor at Texas Law and a litigation partner at Debevoise & Plimpton in Washington, D.C., focusing on national security and white collar defense. The discussion will highlight career pathways in national security law, including opportunities in government service, congressional oversight, and private practice. Lunch will be provided. RSVP by Monday, January 26th to Susan Crane at scrane@austin.utexas.edu and include any food allergies.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/30/86203/

By this point in law school you’ve learned the foundations of black letter law. You’ve learned the foundations of legal research. You’ve learned the foundations of legal writing.

Maybe you came to law school after years of participating in speech and debate. Maybe you were active in student government or community organizing. Or maybe you’ve never done any public speaking at all. Whether you end up spending every day in the courtroom arguing to a judge or group of jurors, or in a boardroom advocating to a group of venture capitalists, a necessary part of our profession is public speaking.

You advocate every day already. You are advocating for yourself when you write cover letters. You advocate when you interview for summer clerkships. You are using advocacy when you present at your upcoming LRW oral argument and even when you write exams or answer questions in class. Advocacy matters.

If you didn’t already experience success as an advocate, you wouldn’t be in law school. The art of advocacy as a lawyer is an important part of your legal education, no matter where your career in law takes you. The upcoming Workshop will offer you a chance to add more skills to your repertoire.

Professors from the Advocacy Department at the University of Texas School of Law will offer the Spring 2026 1L Public Speaking Workshop on Friday, January 30th from, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (with lunch provided beginning at 12:30). You will be taught by successful trial lawyers and talented National Mock Trial Champions; you will be taught by lawyers who are hired to teach experienced lawyers how to be even better.

You will be on your feet. You will be practicing voice and gestures. You will work on fluidity and rhythm and pace and cadence and tone. No matter what your skill level when you walked in the door, in two hours, you will be a better advocate than before. And if you show up at 12:30, we’ll even feed you lunch.

The registration form will be available at the beginning of the spring semester. If you have any questions, please contact Marla Massin, mmassin@law.utexas.edu.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/30/85581/

Note: This event’s full details are restricted to Texas Law faculty and staff members only.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/30/86199/

The Strauss Center at The University of Texas at Austin is excited to partner with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative to host another regional round of the Atlantic Council’s renowned cybersecurity policy competition, the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge.

This stand-alone event will take place at The University of Texas School of Law on Saturday, January 31 – Sunday February 1, 2026, with teams vying for a title that includes, not just bragging rights, but also a cash prize for the top three teams. Included in the two-day event will be opportunities for professional development with cybersecurity experts in the public and private sector. The weekend will also feature a keynote speech that dissects the intersection of cybersecurity, intelligence, and the legal and governmental processes that impact and are impacted by both cybersecurity and intelligence.

This is a simulation-based, judge-graded competition in which teams consisting of three to four students (who can be either graduate students or undergraduate students, from any disciplinary background) collaborate to provide policy analysis and recommendations in response to an evolving, fictional fact-pattern relating to cyber crisis and conflict. The competition is designed to reward substantive knowledge across a range of areas, including any number of policy domains as well as insights from technology, business, and law. The competition also rewards both written and spoken communication skills. The event is on the record and proceedings may be photographed and recorded for public use.

Applications will be open from November 3rd, 2025 – December 8th, 2025. Learn more about the registration process and other Cyber 9/12 challenges with the Atlantic Council. The application process is competitive. For more questions about the Austin Regional Cyber 9/12, please proceed to the event URL or contact Susan Crane at scrane@austin.utexas.edu.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/31/85476/

Please join us for Texas Law Review: Volume 104 Symposium. Please see the event flyer for the various locations of the panel presentations.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/01/31/85957/

The Strauss Center at The University of Texas at Austin is excited to partner with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative to host another regional round of the Atlantic Council’s renowned cybersecurity policy competition, the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge.

This stand-alone event will take place at The University of Texas School of Law on Saturday, January 31 – Sunday February 1, 2026, with teams vying for a title that includes, not just bragging rights, but also a cash prize for the top three teams. Included in the two-day event will be opportunities for professional development with cybersecurity experts in the public and private sector. The weekend will also feature a keynote speech that dissects the intersection of cybersecurity, intelligence, and the legal and governmental processes that impact and are impacted by both cybersecurity and intelligence.

This is a simulation-based, judge-graded competition in which teams consisting of three to four students (who can be either graduate students or undergraduate students, from any disciplinary background) collaborate to provide policy analysis and recommendations in response to an evolving, fictional fact-pattern relating to cyber crisis and conflict. The competition is designed to reward substantive knowledge across a range of areas, including any number of policy domains as well as insights from technology, business, and law. The competition also rewards both written and spoken communication skills. The event is on the record and proceedings may be photographed and recorded for public use.

Applications will be open from November 3rd, 2025 – December 8th, 2025. Learn more about the registration process and other Cyber 9/12 challenges with the Atlantic Council. The application process is competitive. For more questions about the Austin Regional Cyber 9/12, please proceed to the event URL or contact Susan Crane at scrane@austin.utexas.edu.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/01/85477/

Hosted by Law Students for Life, this breakfast recognizes the 2026 recipients of the Growing Together Scholarship and honors all parenting and expecting law students. The event will feature a catered breakfast and remarks highlighting the importance of supporting students balancing family and law school. All parenting law students are invited to attend!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/02/86119/

Drawing Board Luncheon: Richard S. Markovits

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/02/85882/

Sean Seymore - Centennial Professor of Law, Vanderbilt Law School. This colloquium begins at 3:55pm.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/02/85576/

Law & Economics Workshop: Omri Ben Shahar, The University of Chicago Law School

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/02/85818/

“Meeting the Moment: The State of Public Interest Lawyering”

Chief Draper will discuss the significant strides made in expanding access to justice for all Texans, and why current students should be hopeful about the state of public interest lawyering. She will highlight the career decisions that defied traditional paths and advanced her vision for systemic change, including stepping away from the Harris County Criminal Court to lead the Harris County Public Defender’s Office and moving from federal to state public defense. Finally, she will offer her perspective on the sea change in the public interest landscape over the course of her career and offer guidance for navigating its ongoing ebbs and flows.

After the talk, Chief Draper will be available to meet informally with students over lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in the Jury Room (CCJ 2.310).

About the speaker:

Genesis E. Draper is the Chief Public Defender for the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, where she leads one of the largest public defense systems in the country, ensuring high-quality, client-centered representation for people facing criminal charges who cannot afford counsel. A deeply respected legal advocate and judicial leader, Draper brings over 18 years of experience as a public defender, trial lawyer, professor, and judge to her role.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Public Defender, Draper served with distinction as the elected Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 12. During her tenure, she helped revise Harris County’s indigent defense plan, advocated for greater fairness in misdemeanor courts, and served a term as Administrative Judge, guiding countywide policy and operations for the criminal courts.

Before becoming a judge, Draper worked as an Assistant Public Defender in both state and federal systems, including the Harris County Public Defender’s Office and the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Texas.

In addition to her public defense work, Draper has shaped the next generation of trial lawyers as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center since 2018, teaching Advanced Trial Advocacy and mentoring students in trial strategy and courtroom skills.

Draper holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Spelman College. She is licensed to practice law in both Texas and Tennessee. A proud Spelman alumna and committed community leader, Draper lives in Houston with her family and remains passionately dedicated to equity, justice, and the power of zealous advocacy.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/03/85076/

Please RSVP by Friday, January 30, on TEX.

The State Bar of Texas Tax Section will present a panel discussion on the many career opportunities available within the area of tax law. Learn about federal and state tax, transactional and litigation tax practices, and public and private sector work. Lunch will be provided.

Panelists:

Abbey Garber (Holland & Knight)

Brian Giovannini (Haynes & Boone)

Charlie Lincoln (IRS Office of Chief Counsel

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/03/85376/

BOA hosted intramural moot court competition for Texas Law students.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/03/85198/

Join The Law Veterans Association for coffee and conversation every Wednesday from January 14 to April 22 in the Tom Clark Lounge. A great way to connect with fellow veterans, build community, and start your day with good company and caffeine. All Texas Law veteran students, alumni, and friends welcome.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/85260/

Details coming soon.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/86556/

GRITS is a student-run, public interest law conference that focuses on the difficulties and constraints inherent to social justice work in the South, and the unique strategies that legal practitioners and other public interest workers have developed to meet those needs. The conference emphasizes innovative, progressive, and even radical approaches to building community among students, practitioners, and community activists in the South to bring about social change. The conference is an opportunity for law students, lawyers, and activists to build coalitions, share strategies for progressive lawyering, and develop new approaches for the future. Please join us for a brainstorming and planning session! Come with ideas or just to hear others—all that's required is a desire to move the law forward in a progressive manner. This meeting will take place in TNH 3.125 from 11:50 to 12:50.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/85908/

Texas Federalist Society is hosting a debate on whether we should repeal the 17th Amendment to the US Constitution. We will host Professor Todd Zywicki from Antonin Scalia Law School (George Mason University) and Professor Hugh Brady from the University of Texas School of Law to discuss this issue. Chick-fil-a will be provided!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/86419/

Sam will speak about the experience of working at a boutique sports law firm in Austin. Food will be served.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/86421/

AI in Legal Practice: Demo with Luminance

Join the AiClub and the AI and Innovation Fellowship for an inside look at how Luminance is transforming the way law is practiced globally.

Developed by AI experts from the University of Cambridge, Luminance’s multi-agent platform is redefining the contract lifecycle—automating everything from creation and negotiation to risk review and compliance. This is a unique opportunity to see how a tool trusted by over 1,000 of the world’s largest enterprises actually functions in a professional legal workflow.

Why Attend? See the Tech in Action: Move beyond the hype and watch a live demonstration of a platform that understands clauses and evaluates legal and commercial impact in real-time.

Career Preparation: Familiarize yourself with the strategic intelligence tools being adopted by top-tier firms and corporations across 70+ countries.

Networking and Q&A: Connect with fellow students interested in legal technology and get your questions answered by AI innovation fellows.

Lunch Provided: We know your schedule is tight; lunch will be provided for all registered attendees.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/86477/

Weekly meeting for the Catholic Law Student Society (CLSS). Events include prayer, discussions, Bible studies, and social gatherings.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/86121/

Hillary Sale presenting an original paper in the Business Law Seminar.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/04/85317/

Stop by the Atrium to talk with Sidley attorneys and grab Creature Coffee.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/86420/

This year's symposium will be in a "hybrid" format, with the Symposium being held in person at the Austin Public Library and streamed simultaneously on Zoom. That said, we encourage all participants to join us in person!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/85620/

Note: This event’s full details are restricted to Texas Law faculty and staff members only.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/85637/

The Summer Public Service Program provides stipends to rising 2Ls and 3Ls working in low-paying or unpaid summer internships in nonprofit, government, and legislative offices. Justice Center staff will provide information about the SPSP for summer 2026, including eligibility, funding, and how to apply, and answer students’ questions. Lunch will be provided.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/83483/

All Texas Hispanic Journal of Law and Policy members interested in joining the 2026-2027 executive board are invited to this information session to learn more about the publishing process, the roles of each THJ executive board position, and elections!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/86116/

AJCL Staff Editors will be instructed on proper Bluebook usage.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/86619/

BOA hosted intramural moot court competition for Texas Law students.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/85199/

This is the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law's annual Symposium Banquet Dinner following the first day of our Symposium on Thursday, February 5.

Attendance for the banquet dinner is by invitation only. For information on attending the banquet dinner, please contact TJOGEL's Symposium Director, Caleb Hough, at symposiumdirector@tjogel.org

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/05/85644/

This year's symposium will be in a "hybrid" format, with the Symposium being held in person at the Austin Public Library and streamed simultaneously on Zoom. That said, we encourage all participants to join us in person!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/06/85643/

BOA hosted intramural moot court competition for Texas Law students.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/06/85200/