Generations of students have worn their Texas Law pride for all to see, through dozens of whimsical T-shirts designed to delight.
Photos by Drew Anthony Smith
Quick-witted law students — are there any other kind? — capture the essence of law school in quips, quotes, memes, and cartoons featured on these student-designed t-shirts. The t-shirts are part of a special collection of Tarlton Law Library housing law school history.
Sign of the Times
Two-dimensional, stick figure animation surged in popularity with the early spread of the home computer in the early 90s. The aesthetic was all over popular culture and inspired this darkly comic Student Bar Association shirt from 1994.
“Students today, like earlier generations, know they’ll work hard in law school,” says Admissions Dean Mathiew Le. “But they also want to come to a place where they will find friends, fun, and encouragement. Our culture in that regard is the best in the country.” Though there are lots of ways that vibrant student culture gets created, student organizations, and the events they host, are top of the list.
Texas Law students over the years have punned, parodied, and printed t-shirts to share — and wear — life together at Texas Law.
T-Shirts featured clockwise, starting at top left: Outlaw, 2014; Student Bar Association, 1994; A ode to Heamann Sweatt, Date unknown; CHLSA, date unknown; and Race Judicata, 1987.
