Events Calendar

In partnership with the School of Law, Civitas Institute, and Center for Law and Democracy, the next event in the School of Civic Leadership's "Disputed Question" series will put Wall Street Journal columnist William Galston in conversation with the eminent legal scholar John Yoo to examine a provocative constitutional issue: whether the modern American presidency is a form of constitutional dictatorship. Moderated by distinguished Texas Law Professor Sanford Levinson, the discussion will revisit long-standing debates about the scope of executive power in the United States. Drawing on the arguments of Clinton Rossiter’s classic 1948 study, Constitutional Dictatorship, the discussion will explore how war powers, foreign policy authority, and decades of expansive congressional delegation have shaped the modern presidency. Together, the speakers will assess whether describing the contemporary American president as a “constitutional dictator” is merely rhetorical—or a descriptively accurate account of an office that may have been designed, from the beginning, to wield extraordinary authority.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/07/87878/

Details coming soon!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/07/86076/

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/2026/04/08/85269/

Join the Strauss Center for International Security and Law as we host Travis Wussow, who will cover the complex and evolving regulatory questions raised by AI's infrastructure development. Data centers, power plants, and transmission lines have become essential to the nation's AI ambitions. Yet, these are highly regulated and contest projects. Travis will provide insights into how these issues are playing out in legal practice today and across state legislatures. Come ready with questions for Travis (a UT alum). Lunch will be provided. RSVP to ali.prince@austin.utexas.edu to be included in lunch ordering.

Travis Wussow is a regulatory and government affairs lawyer with extensive experience solving complex regulatory and public policy problems. As an advisor and advocate, Travis assists clients in navigating and shaping their regulatory landscape, helping them maintain compliance while advancing their broader strategic goals. While Travis primarily serves clients in the energy industry, his extensive public policy experience spans healthcare, technology, education, constitutional law, and international human rights. Travis is a leader in applied AI and legal tech within Jackson Walker and works with clients to utilize AI-powered tools to reduce fees and deliver superior results. Travis earned a BBA in finance with honors from The University of Texas at Austin and a JD with high honors from The University of Texas School of Law. He and his wife have two teenage daughters.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/08/88037/

Join ACS for a conversation with Senator Sarah Eckhardt on turning a legal career into a life in public service. From the Travis County Attorney’s Office to the Texas Senate, she’ll discuss career paths, challenges, and how lawyers can drive policy change.

ACS is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Views expressed by the speaker and attendees reflect their individual opinions and should not be attributed to ACS.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/08/88077/

Texas Federalist Society is hosting a presentation on the continued significance of the Declaration of Independence, 250 years after its signing. We will host Judge Don Willett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for this event. Chick-fil-a will be provided to attendees!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/09/88097/

The Thad T. Hutcheson First-Year Moot Court Competition is a 64-person, single elimination tournament for first-year law students at the University of Texas.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/10/83804/

Jewish Legal Society will host alumni, students, faculty and staff for a Shabbat Dinner

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/10/87597/

The Thad T. Hutcheson First-Year Moot Court Competition is a 64-person, single elimination tournament for first-year law students at the University of Texas.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/11/83805/

The Thad T. Hutcheson First-Year Moot Court Competition is a 64-person, single elimination tournament for first-year law students at the University of Texas.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/12/83806/

The Thad T. Hutcheson First-Year Moot Court Competition is a 64-person, single elimination tournament for first-year law students at the University of Texas.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/13/83807/

Texas Federalist Society is hosting a panel with two new federal judges to discuss their transition to their new jobs and life as a new federal judge. We will host Judge Nick Ganjei of the Southern District of Texas and Judge Lindsey Freeman of the Middle District of North Carolina for this event. The panel will be moderated by Professor Aaron Nielson of the University of Texas School of Law. Chick-fil-a will be provided to attendees!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/13/88257/

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/2026/04/15/85270/

End-of-year lunch recognizing excellence in pro bono and celebrating the law school’s culture of using the law to serve others, with pizza and Amy’s Ice Cream for all.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/16/85157/

Join the Animal Legal Defense Fund for a timely discussion on the Endangered Species Act (ESA)—one of the nation’s most powerful environmental laws, and one that continues to shape major legal and policy debates. From the construction of new immigration detention facilities to the expansion of energy infrastructure, the ESA frequently arises at the center of conflicts between development and conservation.

We are excited to welcome Melinda E. Taylor, Distinguished Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas School of Law. Professor Taylor is an expert in environmental law, with extensive experience working on endangered species and natural resource protection through roles at the Environmental Defense Fund and the National Audubon Society.

Vegan lunch will be provided.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/16/88177/

On Thursday, April 16, the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, Clements Center for National Security, and Strauss-Clements Intelligence Studies Project will host Mariam Wahba, Research Analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, for a hot spot briefing on “Egypt’s Balancing Act: Regional Influence and Domestic Realities.”

In this briefing, Wahba will describe how Egypt projects influence abroad while managing complex dynamics at home. This discussion will explore Cairo’s evolving role in regional security, its emerging hedging strategy between competing powers, and the internal factors that shape, and often constrain, its foreign policy.

This event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Garage parking is available for a fee at Manor Garage and San Jacinto Garage, and will not be validated.

Biography: Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Egypt, the Horn of Africa, and minorities in the Middle East. Previously, she was Associate Director of Communications at FDD. Wahba holds a B.A. in Middle East Studies, Arabic, and Jewish Studies from Fordham University. She is a Coptic Christian and an advocated for the persecuted church. Her work has appeared in Foreign Policy, The Free Press, NewsWeek, Breaking Defense, Fox News, and more.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/16/88058/

Join the Board of Advocates for our annual awards gala and celebration!

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/16/86456/

Texas Law Alumni Reunion 2026 honors classes whose graduation years end in “1” and “6” from 1961-2021.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/17/86618/

​Join us for a special Book Talk with Allen Hertzke on his new release, Why Religious Freedom Matters: Human Rights and Human Flourishing (Notre Dame Press, 2026). ​Drawing on decades of global scholarship, Hertzke explores how religious freedom shapes democracy, promotes peace, and contributes to human flourishing around the world.

​Enjoy breakfast along with complimentary copies of Professor Hertzke’s book (available in limited quantity). Reserve your spot at the link. We hope you join us.

Co-sponsored with the UT School of Civic Leadership.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/17/87737/

Texas Law Alumni Reunion 2026 honors classes whose graduation years end in “1” and “6” from 1961-2021.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/04/18/86617/