Events Calendar

“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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/2026/02/11/85261/

ACS hosts Professor Erik Encarnacion for a talk on antidiscrimination in contract law.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/12/86678/

Texas Federalist Society is hosting a debate on whether it is proper for law enforcement authorities to use ethnicity when making immigration stops. We will host James Rogers from America First Legal and Professor Maria Ponomarenko 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/2026/02/12/86720/

UCLA Law Professor Sharon Dolovich will present new research on sleep deprivation inside American prisons, drawing from nationwide interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals and correctional officers. Her work examines how chronic sleep loss is built into daily prison life, the physical and psychological harms it causes, and what these conditions reveal about punishment, policy, and constitutional law.

The event will feature a presentation followed by a moderated discussion and is co-sponsored by the Capital Punishment Center and the William Wayne Justice Center.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/16/86576/

Join the Justice Center’s Student Advisory Board for our monthly Public Interest Office Hours! These sessions are aimed at providing peer support for students who want to learn more about public interest lawyering. This month, members of the Student Advisory Board will be available to answer any questions students have about internships, classes, and more. If you’re a 1L who is not sure where to begin on your public interest journey, this is also for you! Your Student Advisory Board is here to support you in forging that path. Stop by the pavilion for conversation, coffee, and kolaches!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/17/85279/

Join Dean Bobby Chesney and fellow Dallas-area alumni for an evening of conversation, community, and updates from Texas Law.

Hear the inside scoop on the residence hall project, Texas Law’s newest faculty, and the future of your alma mater — plus reconnect with alumni in your city.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/17/85161/

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/2026/02/18/85262/

The Center for Women in Law is hosting the Institute for Law and Leadership on Friday, February 20th, from 1 to 6 PM and Saturday, February 21st, from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. We are so excited to partner with the Women's Law Caucus for this event. All Texas Law students are invited to attend. Business casual dress is encouraged.

Agenda includes - Welcome keynote “Confidence in the Courtroom and Beyond” with Justice Chari Kelly - Navigating Crucial Conversations in the Legal Profession - A Seat at the Table: Presence & Professional Etiquette - Smart Money, Strong Career - Free Professional Headshots for attendees!

And more!

Conversations will be led by dynamic Texas lawyers from law practices in government, law firms and corporations.

NOTE - Early registration is encouraged. Please help us get numbers for food and merchandise as soon as possible.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/20/85677/

The Center for Women in Law is hosting the Institute for Law and Leadership on Friday, February 20th, from 1 to 6 PM and Saturday, February 21st, from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. We are so excited to partner with the Women's Law Caucus for this event. All Texas Law students are invited to attend. Business casual dress is encouraged.

Agenda includes - Welcome keynote “Confidence in the Courtroom and Beyond” with Justice Chari Kelly - Navigating Crucial Conversations in the Legal Profession - A Seat at the Table: Presence & Professional Etiquette - Smart Money, Strong Career - Free Professional Headshots for attendees!

And more!

Conversations will be led by dynamic Texas lawyers from law practices in government, law firms and corporations.

NOTE - Early registration is encouraged. Please help us get numbers for food and merchandise as soon as possible.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/21/85678/

Texas Federalist Society is hosting a panel discussing judicial nominations and confirmations. We will host Professor Robert Luther III from Antonin Scalia Law School (George Mason University) and Judge Andrew Oldham of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to discuss their experiences with judicial nominations, and the panel will be moderated by Claire Nevill, a 3L at the University of Texas School of Law. The event takes place in TNH 2.138 from 11:50 am - 12:50 pm. Chick-fil-A will be provided!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/23/86917/

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/2026/02/25/85263/

This virtual global presentation celebrates the publication of the book Enforced Disappearances: On Universal Responses to a Worldwide Phenomenon, co-edited by Grażyna Baranowska and Milica Kolaković-Bojović. The book brings together academics and practitioners, including TexasLaw Professor Ariel Dulitzky, and examines global challenges related to enforced disappearances and responses through international law and United Nations mechanisms. The presentation will include remarks by the co-editors, along with contributions from chapter author Lene Guercke on enforced disappearances in Mexico and chapter author Eva Nudd on disappearances in the context of migration. Hosted by the TexasLaw Latin America Initiative with the cosponsorship of the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) and the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice. Please RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/r/N9PUZmNEjS Join the presentation here: https://utexas.zoom.us/j/81924653969

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/25/86696/

It's been claimed by the current administration that ICE officers have "absolute immunity." Do they? Join Professors Ponomarenko and Kovarsky for a discussion on what happens when ICE violates constitutional rights.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/26/87118/

For directors and c-suite executives.

Co-hosted by the University of Texas School of Law and the McCombs School of Business, the Director–Executive Summit brings together corporate directors, senior executives, investors, and thought leaders for two days of high-level dialogue on governance, strategy, and leadership.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/26/85277/

For directors and c-suite executives.

Co-hosted by the University of Texas School of Law and the McCombs School of Business, the Director–Executive Summit brings together corporate directors, senior executives, investors, and thought leaders for two days of high-level dialogue on governance, strategy, and leadership.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/27/85276/

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.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/27/85881/

The Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal is excited to present the 25th Annual Symposium, The Next Generation of IP: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Legal Practice. This year, we will explore AI's evolving role in intellectual property law. Discussions will explore evolving patent and copyright practices, AI's impact on legal practice, and AI’s role in redefining IP rights in music and sports. We will also examine ethical issues, regulatory challenges, and strategies for adapting to an AI-driven IP landscape. CLE credit will be provided for several topics.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/27/84080/

This event will feature three panels each exploring an aspect of the intersection between AI and other relevant global discourse.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/28/84300/