For this edition of Texas Law’s Student Spotlight series, meet 3L Sophie Hess! Hess was chosen by her peers as the permanent class president for the Texas Law class of 2025 and will speak at the Sunflower Ceremony on May 20, 2025.
Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts
Degrees: B.A. in Political Science, with a Concentration in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights, Haverford College
What was your reaction to being selected as “permanent class president” for the class of 2025?
It was such an honor to be elected the permanent class resident for the class of 2025. I’ve spent a lot of my time in law school organizing events and trying to build community at the law school, so to be able to continue doing that as an alum will be so fun (Class of 2025—you’ll be hearing from me for the 2030 reunion)! I’m also excited to be the student speaker at graduation, though that is significantly more outside of my comfort zone than ordering frozen margarita machines for reunions. I’ve met with some professors to get tips and tricks on public speaking and dealing with nerves. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly!
Tell us about your work as a case manager for a law firm in Massachusetts. Is that what got you interested in pursuing law school or did you know that’s where you were headed and wanted to acquire relevant experience first?
After undergrad, I thought I might be interested in law school but wasn’t sure. I had spent all of my summers in college as a camp counselor, so I figured I should get some legal experience to see if I liked the practice of law before taking the leap and going to law school. Working at an immigration law firm through the pandemic was interesting to say the least. I saw the ways the law can be used to provide opportunities to and protect vulnerable individuals, but also the ways it can be used to harm and punish marginalized communities. Realizing that I liked the work and could use it to help people gave me the clarity and confidence I needed to pursue a career in law.
What organizations or activities have you been involved with here at Texas Law?
At Texas Law I’ve spent two years in the society program and was the head society coordinator this year, spent two years on the Student Bar Association (our student government), got to be a public service scholar and a Student Advisory Board member for the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law, worked as a student ambassador for the Admissions Office, and spent two semesters with the Disability Rights Clinic. I’ve been busy but it’s all been wonderful!
What’s your best advice for 1Ls as they start law school?
Law school is hard and can take over your life if you let it. You were a person before law school, so continue to do the things that bring you joy and fill your cup once in law school. You will be a better student, friend, and human if you find balance and are intentional about taking care of yourself through it all.
What is your favorite thing about the culture of Texas Law?
This sounds cliché, but it’s the community. You often hear that law school is a brutal and competitive three years that is just a means to an end … you get a J.D. upon graduation and that justifies being miserable during school. I was not willing to cede three years of my life to misery (no one should!). Law school has been hard, but I have not at all been miserable. I’ve been surrounded by many of the brightest, kindest, and most generous people I’ve ever met, along with making the best friends I’ve ever had.
How have the faculty and staff impacted your overall law school experience?
The faculty and staff at Texas Law have been wonderful. Coming from a small liberal arts college, I was worried that I would feel anonymous with my professors and miss having close personal relationships with them. That couldn’t be further from the truth! I’ve been to professors’ houses, out to meals with them, and even cheered on Green Society at flag football and society games with them. The faculty cares so much about students—not only about the development of our legal minds, but also about us as humans and people.
The staff is similarly amazing. Special shoutout to the Admissions Team, Justice Center staff, and folks staffing the Docket and George’s. Everyone is really rooting for student success and well-being. And I’m biased, but I think the society program is the single most important group on campus for fostering a supportive and collegial environment, and none of it would be possible without the Student Affairs Office!
How do you envision your life after Texas Law?
I’m excited to get to work representing kids with disabilities in their school proceedings. I envision a life where I work to safeguard and defend the rights of students and young people—I hope this goal remains my north star. I might be interested in policy work long term, but who knows! Personally, I’ve been putting off getting a dog until I get through the bar. My family has two maltipoos, so I’m thinking about getting a dog this fall!