On March 3–4, 2026, the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law at the University of Texas School of Law welcomed Sarah Rich, senior attorney at Democracy Forward, as the G. Rollie White Public Interest Scholar in Residence. Rich, whose work focuses on immigration litigation and challenges to government overreach, leads national efforts addressing immigration and militarization issues.
During her visit, Rich delivered a talk in the Eidman Courtroom titled “Defending Immigrants and the Rule of Law: A Career in Public Interest in Exceptional Times.” She also met with students, alumni, and staff, offering insight into her work defending clients against executive overreach and navigating complex, high-stakes litigation.
Rich spoke candidly about the demands and rewards of public interest law. “It’s a particularly rewarding time to be a public interest attorney,” she said. “Obviously, it’s hard—it’s a stress test for our society, our democracy, and every aspect of our legal system.”
She also discussed her involvement with Democracy 2025, a coalition of more than 700 organizations formed to prepare for and respond to potential threats to democratic institutions. The coalition monitors policy developments, coordinates legal strategies, and challenges government actions in court, especially those affecting immigration and the militarization of cities.
Throughout her remarks, Rich emphasized the critical role lawyers play in protecting vulnerable communities and upholding the rule of law. She explained that when governments create spaces where legal protections no longer apply, democratic systems themselves are at risk. Public interest law, she noted, is not only about serving marginalized populations—it is also about ensuring fairness, due process, and accountability across the legal system.
“Sarah’s reflections gave students a sense of how they can contribute as future lawyers to strengthening democratic institutions,” said Elissa Steglich, Clinical Professor and Co-Director of the Immigration Clinic at Texas Law.
Students found Rich’s visit both inspiring and practical. Shelby Alexander ’26 noted that she valued “hearing how Sarah’s past experience in direct services in immigration law informs her current work to fight the broad, sweeping attacks against immigrants through impact litigation and other collaborative efforts.” She also appreciated Rich’s perspective on sustaining a long-term career in public interest law.
Rich underscored the ongoing need for committed advocates. “A career in public interest law can offer the chance to see a problem that won’t get addressed by the government or by people who can pay for attorneys, and try to do something about it,” she said.
On the second day of her visit, Rich joined students for an informal lunch, where she discussed her career path and answered questions about entering the field. Noor Saleh ’26 reflected on the experience: “Having the opportunity to hear from a leader in the public interest world and learn about her career progression was incredibly motivating. In conversation with Sarah Rich, we had the opportunity to learn about how we, as students, can craft our public interest career to maximize our maintaining our identity and personality.”
Rich’s visit was made possible by a generous gift from the G. Rollie White Trust, which supports the Public Interest Scholar in Residence Program. Now in its sixteenth year, the program brings distinguished scholars, practitioners, and advocates to Texas Law to foster dialogue, elevate public service careers, and inspire students to pursue meaningful work in the legal profession. “Sarah’s visit was a meaningful investment in our students and our broader public interest community. We are deeply grateful to the G. Rollie White Trust for its longstanding support of public interest at Texas Law,” said Nicole Simmons, director of the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law.