As 2024 winter break drew to a close in Austin, nearly 30 dedicated law students participated in the inaugural Accelerated Business Fundamentals Bootcamp. This intensive three-day program, part of the new Texas Law and Business Program, aimed to provide aspiring attorneys with foundational business knowledge, reflecting their commitment to becoming well-rounded legal professionals.
The bootcamp focused on three key areas: strategic management, accounting, and finance. Faculty from the McCombs School of Business delivered condensed graduate-level instruction tailored to help law students bridge the gap between their legal education and the business acumen necessary to serve future clients effectively.
2L Rostin Turley praised the program, “The professors did a great job simplifying broad concepts and laying a solid foundation for understanding complex ideas,” Turley said. “I studied finance in undergrad, and I found this information useful to anyone regardless of prior knowledge and experience.”
Preparing Law Students for Business
The bootcamp is part of a broader initiative led by Professor Eliot Cotton ’10, who directs the Law and Business Program. Cotton aims to prepare students for the realities of legal practice in a business context.
“Having spent a collective 14 years in Big Law and as a general counsel of a major private equity fund, I’ve seen firsthand how business and law are inextricably intertwined,” Cotton said. “Our Law and Business Program—beginning with this bootcamp—prepares students to thrive in business focused legal roles from day one of their careers.”
The program employed a dynamic combination of lectures, case study discussions, and interactive simulations, offering students a practical and engaging educational experience. McCombs Professors Mike Peterson, Brian Lendecky, and Kelly Kamm led the sessions, integrating legal applications with business strategies and addressing common challenges clients may present to their attorneys.
The bootcamp also included a “fireside chat” with Sam Zabaneh ’99, who currently manages the Austin office of Latham and Watkins LLP. This informal discussion provided students with the opportunity to explore how understanding basic business principles can enhance their ability to meet client needs. Zabaneh shared personal anecdotes and practical advice, emphasizing the real-world relevance of the concepts introduced in the bootcamp.
Future Impact
2L Meredith Dickson highlighted the value of the bootcamp. “The bootcamp was a perfect extension of the Financial Methods class. I was able to review accounting principles and extend my knowledge to business strategy,” Dickson said. “I would absolutely recommend this course to students with little to no business background! I can’t wait to apply my new knowledge this summer at my firm summer associateship.”
The success of the Accelerated Business Fundamentals Bootcamp underscores the importance of interdisciplinary education in legal training. Programs like it reflect Texas Law’s commitment to equipping its students with the skills and insights necessary to navigate the increasingly complex intersection of law and business.
Looking ahead, Texas Law and the McCombs School of Business plan to expand their collaborative efforts, offering additional opportunities to integrate business-focused learning into the law school curriculum. These initiatives will prepare students not only to meet client needs but also to excel in a competitive and interconnected professional landscape.
A version of this article originally appeared on the Law and Business Program website.