For this edition of Texas Law’s Student Spotlight series, meet 3L Ryan Faulkner!
Hometown: Wichita Falls, Texas
Degree: B.A. in Journalism, Texas A&M University
Were there any skills that your experience as sports editor of your college newspaper helped you develop that proved beneficial to you in law school?
Absolutely! Every single skill in a journalist’s tool belt positions them to succeed as a lawyer. The writing and editing skills are the most obvious—lawyers need to convey the most important information in the most concise way possible, and with the newspaper (where the printer charged us by the character), every letter and word mattered. Beyond that, interviewing athletes helped me develop my deposition-taking skills; recording podcasts and captaining play-by-play radio broadcasts laid the foundation for my oral advocacy; and working in sports more broadly cultivated my competitive drive that will help me better advocate for my clients moving forward. I used these same skills interning for ESPN’s legal department in the summer between undergrad and law school, and they immediately transferred well in my 1L fall.
Any activities or organizations that you have been involved in here at Texas Law that have enriched your law school experience?
The most enriching experience has been serving on the editorial board for Vol. 103 of the Texas Law Review (probably because it reminds me of my time as a newspaper editor). I’ve loved working in legal academia, and I’m really proud to be publishing two scholarly notes of my own in the next month—one at TLR and one at the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. I’m also very proud of my role as president of OUTLaw, where I can serve our law school’s queer community, and of my time with the Supreme Court Clinic.
What is a misconception you had about law school?
As a 1L, I started with the assumption that my entire life over the next three years would consist of prepping for cold calls and studying in the library … and nothing else. That was absolutely not the case. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how easy Texas Law makes it to maintain a good work-life balance, and I’m thankful to have the support of both my classmates and school administration.
What’s your favorite lunch spot — and why?
I am a three-year frequenter of George’s Café at the law school. I have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew, and my schedule is usually pretty full as a result, so it’s nice to have something so convenient less than 30 seconds from our classrooms.
How do you envision your life after Texas Law?
My plan is to pursue a career in sports litigation. Currently, I am a salary arbitration consultant for the Major League Baseball Players Association (the labor union representing professional baseball players in the U.S.), and I will be joining Winston & Strawn’s Sports Law practice group after graduation. I also will be clerking on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 2026, which I am really looking forward to. Wherever I end up one day, I hope to combine my passion for researching/writing and my love of sports.