For this edition of Texas Law’s 2025-26 Student Spotlight series, meet 2L Ken Langley!
Hometown: Denver
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, Brigham Young University; Master of Science in mechanical engineering, Brigham University; Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
How has being a first-generation college student impacted you as a student and person? 
Being a first-generation college student allowed me to blaze my own trail without feeling constrained by my parents’ career paths or expectations. While the journey has included a few missteps, I have felt empowered to make unconventional choices—such as earning a Ph.D. in Saudi Arabia and later pivoting to patent law—which, so far, has worked out well.
Tell us how you came to be one of the named inventors in a patent for a drill.
As part of my undergraduate senior capstone project, my teammates and I traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, where we designed and built a human-powered water well drill known as the Village Drill. The goal was to improve access to clean water in developing communities. Since its inception 15 years ago, the drill has been replicated and used in more than 40 countries to drill over 14,000 water wells. Although modifications have been made over the years, the core design remains the same and is still in use today. The project was originally sponsored by WHOlives.org, a non-profit organization that continued to run the program.
You have extensive education in the field of mechanical engineering. How did you get from there to Texas Law?
During my first postdoctoral research fellowship, I had a patent attorney friend who shared a similar educational background and introduced me to the possibility of a career in patent law.  After returning to the United States, I sat for and passed the patent bar and began working at Fish & Richardson P.C. in the Austin office in late 2022, helping inventors to protect their innovations. I’m able to use my technical expertise to understand inventions, draft patent applications, and then advocate for patentability of the inventions during the patent prosecution process at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. After I graduate from Texas Law, I plan to continue working in patent law.
What has been the best surprise about your law school experience?
The camaraderie among students. I had heard stories about law school being highly competitive and cutthroat, but that has not been my experience at Texas Law. As a non-traditional student who began law school at 38, I have been grateful for the friendships I’ve formed, even though my classmates and I are at different stages of life.
What student organizations or activities have you been involved with at Texas Law?
I am a staff editor for the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal. I am the current president of the Space Law and Policy Society and a member of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. 
What are some ways that you manage stress and maintain a healthy balance between school and life?
My wife and kids keep me grounded. I have two daughters, Saylor (12) and Kordelia (5 months), and a 10-year-old son, Tiberius. If I start spending too much time at school or work, my kids let me know, and I make a point to step away and be present with them. Outside of attending my kids’ swim meets, I enjoy building LEGO sets—especially space- and Formula 1–themed ones—reading thrillers and fantasy novels, and watching movies of almost any genre except horror.
What’s your motto?
“I can do hard things.” A lot of things in life can be daunting and may seem insurmountable. This motto reminds me that I have done hard things in my life, and can do the next hard thing, too.