Four students have been selected to serve as Public Service Scholars with the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law for the 2017-18 academic year.
The University of Texas School of Law awards scholarships each year to a group of outstanding students who demonstrate a commitment to studying, promoting, and working in public service. The scholars receive a scholarship and work closely with the Justice Center on public service initiatives.
“We are impressed by the achievements and dedication of these student leaders and we look forward to collaborating with them on projects during the coming year,” said Eden Harrington, director of the Justice Center.
Meet the scholars:
Sarah Mae Jennings, ’18, is a member of the Public Interest Law Association; has volunteered for numerous pro bono projects, including PB&J, the Mithoff Pro Bono Program’s winter break trip to south Texas; and has served as a Mithoff Pro Bono Scholar, leading pro se expunction clinics. She has participated in the Capital Punishment Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, and Civil Rights Clinic. She spent the summer after her first year with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Last summer she worked for the Orleans Public Defenders in New Orleans.
Marcus Martinez, ’19, is a co-director of GRITS (Getting Radical in the South Conference), an executive board member of the Chicano/Hispanic Law Students Association, and an editor of the Texas Hispanic Journal of Law and Policy. He has volunteered for numerous pro bono projects, including PB&J, and is a member of the leadership team for the January 2018 PB&J trip. Last summer he interned with the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
Leah Rodriguez, ’19, participates in Grassroots Leadership, particularly Texans United for Families and the Hutto Visitation Program, and has volunteered for numerous pro bono projects, including the January PB&J 2017 trip. She is currently participating in the Immigration Clinic. Last summer she interned with Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), where she helped provide immigration legal services.
Alex Shahrestani, ’18, is president of Texas Law Fellowships and founder of the Journal of Law and Technology at Texas. He has volunteered for numerous pro bono projects, including PB&J, and has served as a Mithoff Pro Bono Scholar, focusing on educational equity and initiatives to assist the homeless. He participated in the Legislative Lawyering Clinic and was a legislative intern to Senator Royce West. He has interned with South by Southwest, the Electronic Frontier Foundation of Austin, and the Wikipedia Foundation in San Francisco.