Change It Up! 2026: Texas Law’s Public Interest Orientation
Friday, September 11, 2026
1:15–4:00 p.m. (Check-in begins at 12:45 p.m.)
Susman Godfrey Atrium & Frances Auditorium
Registration: Registration is open and space is limited. Register here by August 24.
Started by students in 2013, Change It Up! is Texas Law’s annual public-interest orientation. The signature event welcomes new students into Texas Law’s vibrant public interest community.
Whether you’re already committed to public interest law or just beginning to explore your options, Change It Up! is an opportunity to meet classmates, connect with mentors, and discover the many ways lawyers use their legal careers to make a difference.
The afternoon includes lunch, an alumni panel discussion, and Community Connections, small-group conversations with faculty, staff, alumni, and attorneys working across public interest law. You’ll have the opportunity to explore different career paths, ask candid questions, and begin building relationships within Texas Law’s public interest community.
Program:
| 12:45–1:15 p.m. | Check-In – Susman Godfrey Atrium
Check in, pick up your name tag, and grab lunch before the program begins. Feel free to chat with classmates while you wait. We’ll begin promptly at 1:15 p.m. |
| 1:15–2:30 p.m. | Welcome, Lunch & Alumni Panel – Frances Auditorium
Enjoy lunch while hearing from recent Texas Law graduates working in a variety of public interest careers. Through a moderated conversation, panelists will discuss how their experiences at Texas Law shaped their careers, how they navigated the transition from law school to practice, and what it’s like to build a career advancing justice. Panelists will be announced soon. The lunch program will also include:
|
| 2:35–3:25 p.m. | Community Connections – Susman Godfrey Atrium
Community Connections is the heart of the afternoon. Students remain with the same small group while attorneys, faculty, staff, and alumni rotate between tables for two informal conversation rounds over coffee and dessert. Whether you’re exploring your interests or already have a particular area of law in mind, Community Connections is an opportunity to ask questions, hear a variety of perspectives, and begin building relationships with the people who make up Texas Law’s public interest community. No preparation is required—just bring your curiosity and questions. Check back closer to the event for a list of participating attorneys, faculty, and staff. |
| 3:25–3:40 p.m. | Closing Remarks & Next Steps – Susman Godfrey Atrium
Learn about opportunities to stay involved with the Justice Center and Texas Law’s public interest community throughout the academic year. |
| 3:40–4:00 p.m. | Continue the Conversation Optional – Susman Godfrey Atrium
Take advantage of this informal time to continue conversations and meet additional members of Texas Law’s public interest community. |
Additional Information:
Contact Information:
For questions about Change It Up!, please contact:
Liza Soria
Senior Program Coordinator, William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law
liza.soria@law.utexas.edu