Four students have been selected as Public Service Scholars to work with the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law for the 2024-25 academic year. Texas Law awards these scholarships annually to a group of outstanding students who demonstrate a commitment to studying, promoting, and working in public service. The scholars work closely with the Justice Center on public service initiatives.
“We are delighted to welcome the new Public Service Scholars,” said Nicole Simmons, director of the Justice Center. “Their dedication to public service and diverse experiences will greatly contribute to our efforts to support the public interest community and promote a culture of service at Texas Law.”
Meet the 2024-25 Public Service Scholars:
Sophie Hess ‘25 is the Head Society Coordinator for the Society Program, Of Counsel for the Student Bar Association, and a Student Ambassador for Texas Law Admissions. She has volunteered with the Mithoff Pro Bono Program in various projects, including SPEAK, the Driver’s License Recovery Project, and the Gender Affirmation Project. Focusing on education and disability law, she worked for the Center for Law and Education after her 1L year and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel last summer. Sophie is currently an intern with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid’s Education Team.
Grant Shellhouse ‘26 is an Environmental Law Society board member, a Public Interest Law Association member, and an Academic Success Fellow for the Society Program. As a 1L, Grant volunteered with the Mithoff Pro Bono Program on citizenship and election protection projects. He interned at the United States Department of Agriculture in the Office of the General Counsel last summer. This semester, Grant is participating in the Environmental Clinic.
Noor Saleh ‘26 is the Co-President of the Muslim Legal Society and a student in the Disability Rights Clinic. During her 1L year, Noor volunteered with the Mithoff Pro Bono Program on projects such as SPEAK, Family Expedited Removal Management (FERM), and expunction. Noor also helped prepare humanitarian parole applications and conducted research at the Gaza Family Project and the An-Nisa Hope Center. Focusing on civil rights law, Noor was a summer legal clerk for the Texas Civil Rights Project last summer.
Shelby Alexander ‘26 is an executive board member for the Public Interest Law Association, a Pro Bono Scholar for the Parole Project, and a student in the Criminal Defense Clinic. As a 1L, Shelby volunteered with the Mithoff Pro Bono Program on projects such as parole, expunction, driver’s license recovery, and the immigration service trip. Last summer, Shelby worked for the El Paso County Public Defender’s Office and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid’s Opioid Use Disorder Legal Support Project.