The nature of the law, in its purest form, is to seek justice. To ascertain what is right or wrong in a given situation and administer a judgment that ensures, as much as possible, that balance is restored. It is a noble field in which to work, despite the many cultural commonplaces that depict lawyers as greedy or deceptive, or both. Earlier this year, the Office of the Provost and UHD Career Center hosted the inaugural UHD Law Summit at UHD@1801 Main, a landmark event designed to empower those noble Gator students who wish to enter the legal field. It also served as a vital meeting place for alumni, local law schools, and law firms seeking fresh talent across various legal sectors.
The summit proved to be pivotal for one such student, aspiring attorney Shvangi Pathak, Criminal Justice, a junior and native Houstonian who transferred from Lone Star College with a 3.89 GPA in Criminal Justice and now proudly boasts a perfect 4.0 at UHD while also serving as Treasurer of the Pre-Law Association at UHD.
The event was instrumental, Pathak said, in helping her network with other Gator students and introducing them to the benefits of the pre-law association. Crucially, the summit provided her with “valuable insights into her future professional life,” as well as clarifying the intricacies of the law school exam and application processes.
Specifically, Pathak highlighted the direct interaction with admissions officers from institutions like South Texas College of Law Houston. The summit also connected her with practicing attorneys and members of the Houston Bar Association. As much as anything though, the summit helped Pathak further explore her deepest intellectual curiosities: the legal system, its machinations, and how those can be changed, navigated, or leveraged to help not just her community, but the one we all share.