By Dale Whitaker, Originally published June 27, 2025
Sixteen members of Texas Law’s Class of 2025 are starting their careers in prestigious public interest fellowships, where they will work to provide access to justice for vulnerable members of society, in Texas and across the nation.
“Public interest fellowships allow these new lawyers to address critical issues and make a tangible difference in the lives of so many,” says Nicole Simmons ’07, the director of the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law, which administers Texas Law’s postgraduate fellowship program. “It’s rewarding to see so many graduates excited to do this important work.”
It’s rewarding to see so many graduates excited to do this important work.
Nicole Simmons ’07, director of the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law
Postgraduate fellowships, which typically require a one- or two-year commitment, place the fellow at a nonprofit legal organization or a public defender’s office that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to hire a first-year lawyer. The fellow’s salary is covered by a sponsoring individual or group.
It is considered one of the best ways to launch a public interest career.
This year, 12 graduates have earned fellowships sponsored through Texas Law’s own postgraduate fellowship program, with recipients selected by a faculty committee and based on the potential impact of their proposed work and the demonstrated capacity of the applicant and the legal organization to succeed in meeting the project goals.
In addition, five graduates have won fellowships through national, external organizations.
This is also the first year that graduates securing fellowships through the law school are guaranteed the newly raised annual salary of $75,000. This is the highest reported salary by an American law school for a postgraduate fellowship.
“Public service is on our DNA as a public law school,” says Dean Bobby Chesney. “It’s a priority that we ensure our graduates can realize their dreams of taking on these jobs.”
The fellowships and awardees are listed below, beginning with those awarded by the law school, along with brief descriptions of the planned work.
G. Rollie White Trust Fellowship in Public Interest Law
The G. Rollie White Trust Fellowship funds an outstanding graduating student to work with a public interest legal organization.
The year, the fellowships has been awarded to Sophie Hess, who will work with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid in Austin, assisting students with disabilities.
Manne Family Fellowships
Neal Manne ’80, a partner at Susman Godfrey, and Nancy McGregor, an attorney and board member of the global human rights organization the Center for Reproductive Rights, have established three fellowship awards for graduates planning to work in civil rights, civil justice, or reproductive rights.
Alana Park will work in Austin with the Texas Civil Rights Project, advocating for improvements to conditions in detention facilities administered by the Customs and Border Protection Agency.
Allen Sellers will be in Victoria, Texas, with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, working on behalf of low-income service industry workers.
And Leslie Villacorta, will join the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project, representing clients from vulnerable communities on a range of legal issues, including immigration, employment, and housing.
Mike A. Myers Fellowship in Public Interest Law
Mike A. Myers ’63 created a fellowship to support a graduate working at a nonprofit legal services organization serving victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.
The Myers fellow for 2025-26 is Kiara Staton, who heads to the Texas Advocacy Project and will help survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence with parole packets and reentry.
Public Service Endowment Fellowship
Two Class of 1973 graduates—Julia Penny Clark and William C. Bryson—have made this fellowship possible, and it is being awarded this year for the first time.
The inaugural recipient is Layton Sussman, who will be researching youth transfers from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department into adult prisons with the Lone Star Justice Alliance in Austin.
Texas Law Postgraduate Public Interest Fellowships
Chesney established funding in 2023 to support fellowships with public interest legal organizations and select international organizations. Six exceptional graduates have earned these positions:
Katherine Bartos will advocate for torture survivors through strategic international litigation as a fellow at REDRESS Trust in London.
Katherine Daffin is joining the Children’s Law Center of California in Los Angeles, where she will work on behalf of young people and non-minor dependents in the child welfare system.
Mackenzie Rhine is taking a role at the Wikimedia Foundation, supporting digital First Amendment rights through litigation and legal support.
Tionna Ryan will represent students and families experiencing discriminatory bullying, harassment, and hate crimes through the Intercultural Development Research Association.
Meg Solley will be with Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors, representing detained individuals in bond proceedings.
Maiya Werba, will be at the National Center for Youth Law in Washington, D.C., ensuring protections and engaging in national advocacy for marginalized students.
External Fellowships
The following fellowships are awarded by national organizations and funds.
Manne Family Foundation
Gwynn Marotta is also joining the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin, where she will work on issues related to reproductive rights.
Samuels Family Legal Fellowship
Carolina Rivera Nelson will work with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, developing litigation and advocating to protect immigrants and border communities.
Skadden Fellowship
Alice Min is headed to the Legal Aid Society of New York’s Brooklyn office, where she will work on issues relating to policing, surveillance, and expungements.
Equal Justice Works
Two graduates have been selected for fellowships by the prominent national organization EJW.
Nina Colombotos will take a position with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
Apurva Gunturu will join American Gateways, where she will work on access to legal services for immigrant populations in Central Texas.
More information on opportunities for graduating students is available on the Texas Law fellowships webpage.