Seven graduating students at The University of Texas School of Law have been honored by the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law.
This annual award honors graduating students for their extraordinary commitment during law school to using the law to serve others. The faculty selection committee considered the applicants’ work in the public interest, pro bono, government, legislative, and other nonprofit sectors, as well as participation in law school clinical courses, pro bono projects, and student groups. At least one award specifically recognizes commitment to pro bono activities and at least one award specifically recognizes commitment to government service, in addition to other service.
The class of 2016 Graduating Student Award winners are:
Hannah Alexander was editor-in-chief of the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights; president of the Public Interest Law Association; and lead planner for the 2015 Change it Up!. She participated in the Mithoff Pro Bono Program’s winter break trip to the Texas RioGrande Valley all 3 years and served on the planning committee for 2 years. She participated in the Immigration Clinic and the Transnational Worker Rights Clinic; worked at MALDEF and the Texas Civil Rights Project; and served as a policy analyst at the Texas Legislature. Next year she has an Equal Justice Works Fellowship to work with the Equal Justice Center in its Dallas office.
Camila Cossío was co-president of the Environmental Law Society; co-president of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund; and staff editor of the Texas Hispanic Journal for Law & Policy. She worked for the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense in Costa Rica; Compassion Over Killing; the Animal Legal Defense Fund; and The Animal Welfare Institute. Next year she will work for Compassion Over Killing on litigation projects.
Hensleigh Crowell was a co-founder and co-director of the first GRITS (Getting Radical in the South) conference, and was pro bono associate editor of the Texas Law Review. She worked for Gideon’s Promise Summer Institute; the Southern Center for Human Rights; the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition; the Public Defender Service in Washington, D.C.; and the Texas Defender Service. She participated in the Capital Punishment Clinic and the Criminal Defense Clinic. She is Vice Chancellor of the class of 2016 (2nd in Class). Next year she will clerk for Judge Keith Ellison of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
Rhiannon Hamam (Special Recognition for Pro Bono Service) served as a Pro Bono Scholar with the Mithoff Pro Bono Program and was a student leader for the Expunction Project. She worked for the Capital Area Private Defender Service; Texas Fair Defense Project; Orleans Public Defenders; and the Texas Defender Service. She participated in the Capital Punishment Clinic and the Criminal Defense Clinic. Next year she will work as a public defender with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
Daniel Hatoum participated on the Law School’s National Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Team and National Bankruptcy Moot Court Team, and was associate editor of the Texas Law Review. He worked for the ACLU National Prison Project and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and he participated in the Civil Rights Clinic, Immigration Clinic, and Criminal Defense Clinic. Next year he will clerk for Chief Judge Brian A. Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.
Katherine Leuschel (Special Recognition for Government Service) was editor-in-chief of the Texas Environmental Law Journal and treasurer for Law Students for Reproductive Justice. She worked for the Texas Water Development Board; the Lower Colorado River Authority; and the Texas Association of School Boards. She participated in the Environmental Law Clinic; volunteered for Jane’s Due Process; and interned with Judge Michael McShane of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Next year she will work for the Office of the Attorney General of Wyoming in the Education Division.
Brian Zubay served as a Pro Bono Scholar and founded and directed the Trans Name & Gender Marker Pro Bono Project. He was fundraising co-director of GRITS, participated in the Immigration Clinic and Civil Rights Clinic, and was a research assistant to Professor Charles Silver. He worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, the Texas Fair Defense Project, and King & Spalding. Next year he will be an associate in King & Spalding’s Houston office.