For this edition of Texas Law’s Student Spotlight series, meet 3L Colin Hancock!
Hometown: Buda, Texas
Degrees: B.S., Urban and Regional Studies, Cornell University; M.S., Urban Planning, Columbia University
Last year you attended the Grammy Awards where a project you were involved in was recognized. What was that like?
It was an unbelievable experience getting to go to the 2024 Grammys. I was nominated as a producer along with Rich Martin and Meagan Hennesey for a project on the legendary Kansas City saxophonist Loren McMurray in the Best Historical Album category. It was crazy being around that many famous people in real life! I never thought I’d be in the same room as Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Miley Cyrus!
Why did you choose Texas Law?
Hook ’em! But seriously, my mom is a Texas Law graduate and my dad taught at UT in the Linguistics Department, so I practically grew up here. It’s nice to bring it all home. And I want to use the skills that I got up north (college) here in Texas.
How do you plan to merge your academic background in urban planning with your legal education?
I am interested in land use law, environmental, and water law, all of which have foundations in urban planning. I’d like to use my planning background to have an edge in those areas of law.
What’s your favorite class you have taken at Texas Law and why?
The Environmental Law Clinic was fantastic. I got to be directly involved in environmental law issues here in Texas and work with some amazing people. And the field trips were pretty great!
Choose up to three dream dinner party guests — real or fictional, famous or personal, alive or not. Who are they, and why them?
Bix Beiderbecke, my favorite musician and one of the most important jazz musicians of all time. Buddy Bolden, for same reasons as Bix. And Teddy Roosevelt, to ask about how he dealt with America coming out of the Gilded Age and into the Progressive Era–things we could learn from today.