For this edition of Texas Law’s 2025-26 Student Spotlight series, meet 3L Wasiq Javed!
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in leadership studies from the Honors College at the University of Houston
What has been the best surprise about your law school experience?
The best surprise of my law school experience has been how fast I have grown into an advocate and future attorney. I am amazed by the wealth of knowledge I have acquired and fascinated by how the legal training I am receiving is preparing me to think like a lawyer and apply my skills in any area of the law throughout my career.
How has the unique situation of attending law school with your spouse impacted your experience here?
My wife, Sumaya, and I met at the University of Houston during undergrad and got married in 2020 before being both admitted into the Class of 2026 at Texas Law. It has been an incredible experience doing this journey together. With our own unique pathways and interests, I get to learn from my wife’s different clinics and internships while also enjoying taking classes and attending law school events together!
You spent the fall semester studying abroad in Spain. Tell us about the experience and what you gained from it that you think will benefit you as a law student and beyond.
Studying abroad in Spain was a phenomenal experience. It broadened my horizons in areas of law I had not previously explored such as comparative constitutional law, self-determination, and international protection of refugees. This experience has instilled in me the importance of having a global mindset and working with people of different backgrounds, both as a law student and throughout my career.
Can you describe your favorite Texas Law moment?
My favorite Texas Law moment is the Muslim Legal Society’s Annual Community Iftar Dinner. I truly enjoy the opportunity to break fast during the holy month of Ramadan with my fellow friends, classmates, faculty, and staff. The event is a special occasion to bring people together of different backgrounds for meaningful conversations and reflection.
What’s your best advice for incoming 1Ls?
My best advice for incoming 1Ls is to have faith in the process and never give up. It takes courage, grit, and resilience to overcome the challenges of law school, and it will all get easier and pay off in the long run!
What activities/organizations/internships have you been involved with here?
During law school, I served as the director of finance for the Muslim Legal Society, participated in the Lloyd Lochridge Inn of Court, and mentored prospective law students through the Texas Law Pipeline Program. I also was a staff editor for the Review of Litigation Journal and a staff member for the Texas International Law Journal. Lastly, I had the opportunity to serve as a judicial intern to the Honorable Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra and to participate in the Law and Religion Clinic and the Juvenile Justice Clinic.
You were selected as a finalist in the Empower Your Research Pitch, a campus-wide research communication competition for graduate students. How did you get interested in this and tell us about your topic.
I became interested in participating in the Empower Your Research Pitch to strengthen my public speaking skills for a diverse audience of predominantly non-lawyers. As a future lawyer, I will have to break down legal concepts in easy-to-understand language when advocating before judges, juries, and the general public, and this competition significantly helped me improve those skills. My topic focused on the impact of binding arbitration on consumers and how federal legislation could serve as a solution to protect consumers’ rights to litigate in court.