Happy Father’s Day,
Class of 2025!
- CJ Burton
- Aaron Calder
- Jesse DiLaura
- Jacob Dustin
- Oni Enkhbat
- Timothy Painter
- Brendan Waller
As Father’s Day rolls around, Texas Law recognizes and honors dads everywhere, including many who dedicate their time and attention to studying the law while parenting children.
“Fathering makes a man, whatever his standing in the eyes of the world, feel strong and good and important, just as he makes his child feel loved and valued,” said the late psychologist and author Frank Pittman. As law school dads model for their kids what it takes to meet a challenge head on, they do so with positivity and determination.
Meet four members of the Texas Law family who have learned to navigate these dual roles: recent graduate Jacob Dustin ’25, rising 2Ls Daniel Green and Nico Lewine, and rising 3L Grant Shellhouse.
Jacob Dustin ’25
Family: Wife Ashley and daughter Emmaline Claire (7 months)
How has being a father inspired you in law school?
Becoming a father during law school reminded me of the importance of fighting for the good in the world, especially on behalf of children and others who cannot advocate for themselves. The birth of my daughter has reinvigorated me to continue fighting for this good unapologetically, both in the law and in my personal life.
What life lessons do you believe you are modeling for your child?
While my 7-month-old can’t form true memories yet, I am confident that my insistence on being present while she is young will have a positive impact on her. She won’t be meaningfully impacted by the grades that I earned, but she will be better off for me being present to help take care of her during these critical developmental periods.
What advice would you provide to other parents who are attending or considering law school?
First, it’s important to be involved at the law school to the extent possible. Try to make strong friendships, especially through student organization involvement, and allow yourself to lean on them when they offer to help—which will probably happen a lot, because the students at Texas Law are so excellent! Ashley, Emmaline, and I had several Texas Law students who offered us help, whether by bringing us meals, offering class notes, or running errands for us when our whole family got sick. All those students who offered their help to us were people who I became friends with through my involvement in the Texas Review of Law & Politics and the Texas Federalist Society.
How did Texas Law faculty and staff support you as a student and parent?
Without exception, every professor I had was completely understanding about the demands placed upon parenting students. All my professors were willing to work with me when I needed to take time off during the birth of my daughter. The administration was also very helpful in arranging for assistance and in checking in to ensure that my family and I were doing well during the semester.
Where are you headed next?
Starting this fall, I will be an honors fellow in the special litigation division at the office of the attorney general of Texas.
Daniel Green ’27
Family: Wife Lindsey and children Gabrielle (7), Everett (5), Alexandria (3), Theodore (1)
What led to your decision to pursue a degree at Texas Law?
I come from a business background and spent years in sales—most recently as an account executive at Trigon Imaging Solutions—but I was looking for something more meaningful and intellectually challenging. Law felt like the perfect fit. Texas Law stood out as a top-tier school, and since my wife and I knew we wanted to build our careers and raise our family in Texas, it was the natural choice.
How has being a father inspired you in law school?
Being a dad gives everything I do more purpose. I’m not just doing this for me; I’m showing my kids what it looks like to work hard and chase big goals, even when it’s tough.
What life lessons do you believe you are modeling for your children?
I want my kids to see what it looks like to put in the work and make sacrifices to build a better future. I hope they learn that growth often comes from discomfort and it’s okay to start over or change direction when you’re working toward something that matters.
What advice would you provide to other parents who are attending or considering law school?
It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely doable. Having a family helps keep you grounded when things get tough, and you don’t need perfect balance every day. Stay focused on the big picture; the months will go by faster than you’d think.
Nico Lewine ’27
Family: Wife Pallavi Shankar and daughters Jaya (3) and Isabelle (2)
What led to your decision to pursue a degree at Texas Law?
I left a career in health care to come to law school because I was troubled by antidemocratic forces in our state and country, and I thought I could be helpful in advocating for the type of just, inclusive society that I want my daughters to grow up in. I chose Texas Law because my wife is an Austinite, and I feel lucky to go to such a great law school in the city that we already called home.
How has being a father inspired you in law school?
Law school can be all-encompassing, but going home each day to be a dad washes all the law school worries away. Sure, being a dad means I have fewer hours per week to spend on law school. But that’s a small price to pay for the daily joy, wonder, and perspective that comes from spending time with my girls.
What life lessons do you believe you are modeling for your child?
My own father passed away in April of my 1L year. He taught me and my siblings two lessons that I hope to pass on. First: “You can do anything you set your mind to.” That lesson gave me the confidence to start over in my thirties, going to law school with two kids in diapers. Second: “If you’re facing the right direction, all you need to do is keep on walking.” When things got overwhelming, I knew I just needed to put one foot in front of the other, and everything would be okay.
What advice would you provide to other parents who are attending or considering law school?
You can do it! Determine upfront what you want your work/life balance to be, and I promise you can fit law school into the “work” part. Family always comes first!
Grant Shellhouse ’26
Family: Wife Wylie and son (4)
What led to your decision to pursue a degree at Texas Law?
A lot of things led me here, but I think most essentially, I was drawn to the ways that practicing law would allow me to use words to seek actual, meaningful good in the world. I was drawn to Texas Law for the quality of the education as well as the public interest community and opportunities for experiential learning—here’s to the William Wayne Justice Center and the Environmental Clinic!
How has being a father inspired you in law school?
I’m pursuing a path in environmental work, and I think a lot about the sort of world my son will live in decades from now. It inspires me to consider how what I do might contribute to communities and places that are just, wholesome, and beautiful.
What life lessons do you believe you are modeling for your child?
I hope that I’m modeling curiosity, compassion, and whimsy for him; how paying attention to people and things can be a way of caring for them; and that we don’t outgrow lightheartedness and silliness.
What advice would you provide to other parents who are attending or considering law school?
I’m a big advocate for keeping boundaries between schoolwork and home life. If I’m home and my son is awake, I don’t do anything related to law school. That can be challenging sometimes and takes planning, but I’ve found that keeping that sort of boundary enriches my time both at school and at home. Also, lean on your community and ask for help when you need it.
Please see our earlier story honoring law school moms.