Houston Area Networking Events

There are so many opportunities for UHLC students to become more active in the Houston legal community and start building their networks and support systems. The more active you are, the easier the job search! The best way we've heard this described is in the book Building Career Connections: Networking Tools for Law Students and New Lawyers by Donna Gerson:

Networking is the means by which most law students will find employment, particularly full-time employment following graduation.  On-campus interviews, which reward top grades and high academic achievement, account for a minuscule percentage of jobs.  Most law students find jobs either through networking or self-initiated contact with prospective employers, often a combination of the two.


Networking will help you discover the hidden job market and learn about work opportunities that may never be published.  A large percentage of available jobs are not advertised; instead they are filled by word-of-mouth.  Even those jobs that are advertised are often filled with a candidate who somehow made a personal connection with the employer.  As a result, those who are “in the know” and are connected to a network of contacts who know about their skills and interests will be in a position to benefit when their contacts learn about an opening through the informational grapevine.

We've put together a list, by no means exhaustive, of several networking events and CLEs hosted in the upcoming weeks. If you have any questions about the mechanics of networking and how follow up and maintain relationships, don't hesitate to contact your counselor in the CDO. 

Houston Bar Association – Litigation Section  

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 | 12:00pm-1:00pm
Where: The Houston Club, One Shell Plaza, 49th floor
What: “Objection!” Presented by the Honorable Dan Hinde.  
Additional Information: RSVP by March 24, 2015

Houston Trial Lawyers Association

When: Thursday, April 2, 2015 | 11:00am-5:00pm

Where: Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, TX 77004

What: 2015 Rising Tide Four Part Series - The Mechanics of Trial From Voir Dire To Judgment. This program will take you from start to finish of a trial, it is geared for the lawyer that has never tried a case, as well as those of us that just like to pick up a few new ideas.  You will want to attend all four sessions and we promises you will leave each session with more knowledge of the courtroom process.  The first session will cover Opening and Voir Dire from different techniques.  We will be in a courtroom setting with a judge and jury present. The second session is on Evidence, the third Experts and the final session will be Closing Argument and Charge Conference.  You will complete this program with a full Trial Notebook, which you can use in your next trial.

Additional Information: This is a Members Only CLE, so join HTLA today and come to this great program for FREE, if are a member bring a new member and it is FREE to you as well as the new member.

Association of International Petroleum Negotiators

When: Thursday, April 2, 2015 | 7:00am-9:00am

Where: IHS Offices, Rio Grande/Red Room, 5333 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056 (Parking available in the IHS parking garage)

What: The Impact of the Oil Price on Oil & Gas Careers: How to Weather the Storm. Current price trends have many new graduates and young professionals in the oil & gas industry worried about their prospects for building a successful career in the business. In this talk, David Vaucher, a Director in the Energy practice of management consultancy Alvarez & Marsal, will make the case that while the short term outlook is for more turbulence, the long-term picture should be much better.

Additional Information: Registration is complimentary for members and students. Non-member registration is $10.

Energy Bar Association

When: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 |  11:30am-1:30pm

Where: JP Morgan Chase Auditorium, 601 Travis, Houston, TX 77002 (entrance at corner of Texas and Travis)

What: Join the Houston Chapter for a luncheon program titled, FERC Audits & Enforcement: The What, When & How. This panel, featuring Suzanne Clevenger (Vinson & Elkins), Jerald Hess (DLA Piper), Sabrina Dugal Walia (Vinson & Elkins) and Deanna Reitman (DLA Piper) as the moderator will provide insight into the FERC Audit process and practical tips for managing a FERC Audit.  

Additional Information: Register by April 3, 2015

Houston Bar Association – Labor and Employment Law Section

When: Monday, April 13, 2015 | 12:00pm-1:00pm

Where: Magnolia Hotel, 1100 Texas Ave.

What: Civil rights and discrimination under Texas Law presented by Thomas M. Anderson, Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission's Civil Rights Division.

Additional Information: RSVP by April 7, 2015

Houston Bar Association – Real Estate Section

When: Wednesday April 15, 2015 | 12:00pm-1:00pm

Where: Locke Lord LLP, JP Morgan Chase Tower, 600 Travis

What: "Oil and Gas Conveyances" presented by Ted Borrego

Houston Bar Association – Solos Supporting Solos

When: Thursday, April 16, 2015 | 7:30am-8:30am

Where: Wortham Tower Cafeteria, 2727 Allen Pkwy at Waugh

What: "History of Buffalo Bayou from Memorial Park to Allens Landing" presented by Louis Aulbach.

Houston Young Lawyers Association CLE

When: Friday, April 17, 2015 | 8:00am-9:00am

Where: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, 711 Louisiana, 23rd Floor

What: My other hometown. A panel of Dallas lawyers will present on the differences of practicing in Dallas County and Harris County

Houston Bar Association – Social Security Section

When: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 11:30am-1:00pm

Where: Tony's Restaurant, 3755 Richmond Ave.

What: How the Process Works Inside the Social Security Hearing Office.

Houston Bar Association – Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section

When: Thursday, April 28, 2015 | 12:00pm-1:00pm

What: Utica oil and gas developments and legal issues presented by John K. Keller of Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP.

Additional Information: RSVP by April 23, 2015

Houston Bar Association St. Arnold’s CLE

When: Thursday, April 28, 2015 | 6:00pm-7:30pm

Where: St. Arnold's Brewery, 2000 Lyons Avenue

What: Background checks and social media

Additional Information: Pre-registration required online at www.hba.org

Alumni Spotlight: Sireesha Chirala '13

Meet Assistant Attorney General, Sireesha Chirala '13. Sireesha works in the Environmental Protection Division at the Office of the Attorney General in Austin, Texas and was kind enough to answer a few questions about her job search and career path. She practices civil litigation and environmental law and represents the State of Texas in environmental enforcement matters involving violations of State waste, air, and water laws.

How did you obtain your first job out of law school?

At the end of my 3L year, I secured a law clerk position in the Environmental Protection Division at the AG’s office and applied for the UHLC’s Graduate Fellowship program. After graduating and taking the bar, I moved to Austin and completed my fellowship. I tried to develop a relationship with as many lawyers in the division as I could, found some amazing mentors, and worked hard to impress the attorneys who gave me assignments. About a month after I passed the bar, a position opened up in my division. Since I had already been there for three months (I stayed past the official time period for the fellowship) and made a positive impression on the attorneys, I was interviewed with the endorsements and support of almost everyone in the division. I was in the right place at the right time.

Describe what led you to pursue your current position/practice area:

I was drawn to environmental law in law school. I took several classes in this area, wrote my journal comment on this topic, and tried to intern at places where I could develop the skills and experience necessary to start my legal career as an environmental lawyer. Through my internships, I also realized that I wanted to work in the public sector.

I knew that the practice area I wanted to specialize in was smaller and very competitive and that typically a law license is required to be hired in the public sector. But I decided I would give it a shot. Because of the successes that my friends who graduated the years before me had in obtaining positions through their UHLC Graduate Fellowships, I decided that a fellowship would be the best option. The fellowship allowed me to work at the place I wanted to work without the employer (or me) having to worry about pay.

What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far?

Definitely my judicial internships. Potential employers always asked me about my judicial internships. Working for judges is an incredible experience and really links together what we study in law school with the practice of law. I was able to see how judges view cases and pleadings; interact with judges on a day-to-day basis; observe a lot of different practice styles, hearings, trials, and courtroom procedures; and hone my legal research and writing skills. My judicial internships have proven invaluable as a new lawyer.

Another thing that was helpful in my job search was the variety in my internship experiences. After 1L year, I interned or did research for a professor every semester and summer. As a result, I worked in the public and private sector and in criminal and civil law. This made choosing a practice area to specialize in, and basically my career path, a lot easier.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students?

Try hard not to compare yourself to other people. It is almost impossible not to do it because of the nature of law school, but you will find the job/career path that is right for you if you pay attention to yourself instead of measuring yourself against others. Most of my friends went into the private sector, but I knew that I wanted to work for the government. Instead of following suit, I followed my interests and luckily, found my dream job.

I also think that varied internships are incredibly important because of the relationships you build with other lawyers from a broad spectrum of practice areas, the work experience you can discuss in interviews, and the exposure to the practice of law that comes with it. So intern or research with different professors while you are in school and if your schedule allows it.
And remember, it’s not a matter of if you’ll find a job; it’s a matter of when.

If you'd like to connect with Sireesha to learn more about her career path, talk to your counselor in the Career Development Office.

Resource Roundtable: Practice Area Overviews

Still unsure of which practice areas might be a good fit for you? The Career Development Office has Practice Area Overviews – quick, one-pagers with descriptions of various practice areas, the type of work involved, and recommended classes. You can find these in the Career Resource Library, under the “resources” tab in Symplicity. 

If you’re looking for more detailed information about the various practice areas, ask your counselor if you can borrow The Official Guide to Legal Specialties by Lisa Abrams. You’ll get a more in-depth look at what it's like to practice law in 30 major specialty areas, including appellate practice, entertainment, immigration, international, tax, and telecommunications. This book gives you the insights and expertise of top practitioners – the issues they tackle every day, the people and clients they work with, what they find rewarding about their work, and what classes or work experience you need to follow in their footsteps. Over 120 government, public interest, corporate, and private attorneys are featured.