For this edition of Texas Law’s 2025-26 Student Spotlight series, meet 1L Cade Killin!
Hometown: Holyoke, Colorado
Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and entrepreneurship, Baylor University
In high school you organized blood drives for the Red Cross. How was that rewarding for you?
I first became involved with the Red Cross through a friend who coordinated blood drives. I volunteered and saw how many people could be helped by something that takes just 20 minutes out of a person’s day. I was able to help coordinate hundreds of donations and see the program continue to succeed after I left my hometown. I felt a sense of accomplishment being able to rally the community to contribute to such an important nationwide cause.
What made you want to become a lawyer?
I spent a lot of time before elementary school in my mother’s law office, so it must have been fate. She now serves as a district judge for the 13th Judicial District of Colorado, which covers many of the rural counties in the northeastern corner of the state. I’m a lot like my mother, and I’ve been able to see the great work she has done as an attorney and now as a judge, so it’s been a natural career path for me.
What do you wish you knew before becoming a law student?
I wish I knew how grueling finals period would be and that without proper planning, the acceleration from class to finals can feel very rapid.
What has made you feel part of the Texas Law community?
Being part of the greater UT community and the camaraderie of my society has been a big part of my experience at Texas Law. The burnt orange and Longhorn brand are recognized and shared across the country, and I am proud to be part of that legacy. I have made great friends in my society, and it’s rewarding to share both academic and social experiences with them.
How did growing up on your family farm in Colorado shape you and your values?
We raised cattle and farmed irrigated field corn in the far northeastern corner of Colorado, near the town of Holyoke, across about 3,400 acres. I began helping on the farm as soon as I could hold tools for my father, then worked full time during my high school summers. Working the land taught me lifelong lessons about hard work and perseverance that continue to carry me through my 1L year.
What is your favorite law-related movie – and why?
My favorite law-related movie is “My Cousin Vinny.” It’s one of the first movies about the law and court I can remember watching. I was fascinated from a young age by the scene where Lisa dismantles the prosecution’s evidence about the tire tracks. I also enjoyed the dynamic of the Italian from the northeast in a stuffy courtroom in the Deep South.