Welcome!
Welcome past, current, and interested members!
Founded in 2003, the purpose of UT's Minority Women Pursuing Law (MWPL) is to unite and motivate minority women who are interested in law, justice, and obtaining a law degree. Our organization aims to help prepare members not only for admissions, but also the types of experiences to expect during and after law school. We aspire to create long-lasting networks of minority women that will benefit everybody at each step of the way.
ENGAGEMENTS
As a dedicated pre-law organization, we provide our members with valuable information and networking opportunities at each Engagement. Our Engagements are what we consider our general meetings. We begin with announcements related to MWPL, including updates & upcoming events. We then host a variety of speakers at every Engagement where members get to hear the stories and advice of admissions representatives, attorneys, and various other respected individuals in the field of law. Past speakers have included:
LAW SCHOOL TOURS
Minority Women Pursuing Law provides members with opportunities to tour different law schools. Law school students conduct these tours so that our members will get to see each school from a student’s perspective. MWPL members get to hear wisdom from law student panels and law school admission panels to receive insight into the application process at each law school. Members also sit in on various law classes to gain a firsthand experience of law school and envision themselves in a law school setting. MWPL members have toured:
LAW FIRM TOURS
MWPL provides law firm tours throughout the semester to give students an understanding of what life as a lawyer is like. Members explore the behind-the-scenes work, what each firm does under their specializations, and the differences between small, mid-range, and large law firms. We often enjoy a delicious spread, a tour of the law firm’s layout, and a panel of the firm’s most experienced attorneys. MWPL has had the privilege of touring:
COURTHOUSE TOURS
MWPL tours courthouses to give members a peek into the inner workings of several courts in Austin. We have toured courthouses such as the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center and Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse. We have sat in on cases, and met the presiding judges who then share their powerful, personal stories with our members. Past presiding judges include:
LSAT PREP
By working with a variety of LSAT (Law School Admission Test) Prep companies, MWPL also hosts events that cover different topics relevant to pre-law students such as the law school application process, tips on creating strong applications, taking the LSAT, career skills, and more. Members get to hear from LSAT experts firsthand on the importance of an LSAT score to the overall application, how to best prepare for the exam, and when the best time to start studying is. MWPL offers Mock LSAT Exams, workshops focusing on each section of the LSAT, and Q&A events to answer all your questions.
MWPL also helps members study by offering discounts on preparation courses through several LSAT Prep Partners. For members who know that a course is for them, these are great deals to take advantage of. Additionally, MWPL offers scholarships that cover the full or partial costs of LSAT preparation courses, as well as vouchers that cover any costs in the law school application process as a whole, including but not limited to application fees, CAS report fees, transcript fees, LSAT registration fees, etc. MWPL hopes to alleviate the financial burdens on members in their LSAT journey. All details on available discounts and scholarships can be found here.
SOCIALS & VOLUNTEERING
MWPL offers members the chance to network and have fun with other talented minority women through socials and volunteer work. MWPL hosts various social events like movie nights, hiking trips, bowling, Galentine's Day celebrations, study night socials, end-of-semester banquets, and more. While we are a pre-law organization, we think it is important to take a break from our studies and enjoy our time as college students. Volunteering events are also an important outlet that allows our members to become involved in the local community with organizations like Clean Up Austin, Inside Books Project, and Letters Against Isolation. MWPL also strives to support other cultural and minority organizations on and off-campus by collaborating on projects like our Blood and Menstrual Products Drive in partnership with We Are Blood, Texas Women of Excellence, and the Austin Diaper Bank.
MERCH & FUNDRAISERS
MWPL creates new merchandise to make sure our members can represent our organization with pride. Each semester, a new complementary shirt is designed for all official members to enjoy. Additionally, we provide several fundraising opportunities where people can purchase MWPL shirts from previous years and order unique merchandise designed each semester, including but not limited to sweatshirts, water bottles, tote bags, masks, and caps. MWPL also hosts fun fundraising events, such as our plant potting fundraiser where we potted several plants to sell on campus, or profit shares where we enjoy some food and relax. All profits go back to the organization to make the MWPL experience brighter and better.
MENTORSHIP
As of 2018, MWPL has offered a free mentorship program that connects members with each other through a professional and social setting. This gives members a better chance to get to know others with the same interests, while also giving the opportunity to learn from, grow with, and encourage one another. We aim to develop greater relationships with each other that we can take with us through our careers and beyond. Mentors are able to grow their leadership skills and commitment to our community while mentees are able to learn more about the pre-law path and seek wisdom from experienced MWPL members. We host exciting events exclusive for Mentorship Program members to attend together. MWPL also allows pairs to compete for an end-of-the-semester prize, which has included luxurious gift baskets, spa days, and sit-down lunches with prominent legal professionals.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MWPL provides members with opportunities to develop themselves professionally. Not only do our speakers share advice on how to navigate the professional world, but we offer more opportunities to network with legal professionals around Austin. For instance, we have hosted events where members can interact one-on-one with experienced legal professionals like at our Lunch With A Lawyer Event in partnership with the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association as well as our Networking Event with the Women's Law Caucus at Texas Law. This has led to some wonderful community connections and MWPL is proud to say that all types of people in the legal community have reached out to MWPL looking for motivated members to work in their law firms, courthouses, law organizations, nonprofits, etc. Additionally, MWPL hosts professional clothing drives where our generous network of attorneys donate new or gently used pieces of professional clothing for anyone in need. We take great efforts to support our members through any interviews, applications, and networking events in hopes of setting the next generation of empowered attorneys up for success.
Founded in 2003, the purpose of UT's Minority Women Pursuing Law (MWPL) is to unite and motivate minority women who are interested in law, justice, and obtaining a law degree. Our organization aims to help prepare members not only for admissions, but also the types of experiences to expect during and after law school. We aspire to create long-lasting networks of minority women that will benefit everybody at each step of the way.
ENGAGEMENTS
As a dedicated pre-law organization, we provide our members with valuable information and networking opportunities at each Engagement. Our Engagements are what we consider our general meetings. We begin with announcements related to MWPL, including updates & upcoming events. We then host a variety of speakers at every Engagement where members get to hear the stories and advice of admissions representatives, attorneys, and various other respected individuals in the field of law. Past speakers have included:
- Nicole Simmons - Director of Pipeline Outreach and Development & UT Law
- Maria Amelia Calaf - Senior Partner at Wittliff | Cutter PLLC
- Jackie Borcherding - Assistant District Attorney for Williamson County
- Rhonda Evans - Former Assistant Prosecutor for the State of Ohio and current UT Professor
- Heather Creed - Student Relations Director, Baylor School of Law
- The Honorable Aurora Martinez Jones - Travis County Civil Courts Judge and founder of MWPL
- Diana Medina - Travis County Assistant District Attorney
- The Honorable Darlene Byrne - Travis County Civil Courts Judge
- Maria Rivera - Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
- Shavonne Henderson - Assistant Director of Policy Research at the Institute of Urban Policy Research & Analysis
- Jamila Frone - Vice President of Litigation Practice at EarthJustice
- Karintha Fenley- UT Austin Pre-law Advisor
LAW SCHOOL TOURS
Minority Women Pursuing Law provides members with opportunities to tour different law schools. Law school students conduct these tours so that our members will get to see each school from a student’s perspective. MWPL members get to hear wisdom from law student panels and law school admission panels to receive insight into the application process at each law school. Members also sit in on various law classes to gain a firsthand experience of law school and envision themselves in a law school setting. MWPL members have toured:
- The University of Texas School of Law
- The University of Houston Law Center
- Cornell Law School
- University of Michigan Law School
- The University of California, Irvine School of Law
- South Texas College of Law
- St. Mary’s University School of Law
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
- Baylor Law School
- Thurgood Marshall School of Law
- The University of Tulsa College of Law
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
LAW FIRM TOURS
MWPL provides law firm tours throughout the semester to give students an understanding of what life as a lawyer is like. Members explore the behind-the-scenes work, what each firm does under their specializations, and the differences between small, mid-range, and large law firms. We often enjoy a delicious spread, a tour of the law firm’s layout, and a panel of the firm’s most experienced attorneys. MWPL has had the privilege of touring:
- Jackson Walker LLP
- Bracewell LLP
- Husch Blackwell LLP
- Wittliff Cutter PLLC
- Perkins Coie LLP
COURTHOUSE TOURS
MWPL tours courthouses to give members a peek into the inner workings of several courts in Austin. We have toured courthouses such as the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center and Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse. We have sat in on cases, and met the presiding judges who then share their powerful, personal stories with our members. Past presiding judges include:
- The Honorable Judge Orlinda Naranjo
- The Honorable Judge Brenda Kennedy
- The Honorable Judge Eric Shepperd
LSAT PREP
By working with a variety of LSAT (Law School Admission Test) Prep companies, MWPL also hosts events that cover different topics relevant to pre-law students such as the law school application process, tips on creating strong applications, taking the LSAT, career skills, and more. Members get to hear from LSAT experts firsthand on the importance of an LSAT score to the overall application, how to best prepare for the exam, and when the best time to start studying is. MWPL offers Mock LSAT Exams, workshops focusing on each section of the LSAT, and Q&A events to answer all your questions.
MWPL also helps members study by offering discounts on preparation courses through several LSAT Prep Partners. For members who know that a course is for them, these are great deals to take advantage of. Additionally, MWPL offers scholarships that cover the full or partial costs of LSAT preparation courses, as well as vouchers that cover any costs in the law school application process as a whole, including but not limited to application fees, CAS report fees, transcript fees, LSAT registration fees, etc. MWPL hopes to alleviate the financial burdens on members in their LSAT journey. All details on available discounts and scholarships can be found here.
SOCIALS & VOLUNTEERING
MWPL offers members the chance to network and have fun with other talented minority women through socials and volunteer work. MWPL hosts various social events like movie nights, hiking trips, bowling, Galentine's Day celebrations, study night socials, end-of-semester banquets, and more. While we are a pre-law organization, we think it is important to take a break from our studies and enjoy our time as college students. Volunteering events are also an important outlet that allows our members to become involved in the local community with organizations like Clean Up Austin, Inside Books Project, and Letters Against Isolation. MWPL also strives to support other cultural and minority organizations on and off-campus by collaborating on projects like our Blood and Menstrual Products Drive in partnership with We Are Blood, Texas Women of Excellence, and the Austin Diaper Bank.
MERCH & FUNDRAISERS
MWPL creates new merchandise to make sure our members can represent our organization with pride. Each semester, a new complementary shirt is designed for all official members to enjoy. Additionally, we provide several fundraising opportunities where people can purchase MWPL shirts from previous years and order unique merchandise designed each semester, including but not limited to sweatshirts, water bottles, tote bags, masks, and caps. MWPL also hosts fun fundraising events, such as our plant potting fundraiser where we potted several plants to sell on campus, or profit shares where we enjoy some food and relax. All profits go back to the organization to make the MWPL experience brighter and better.
MENTORSHIP
As of 2018, MWPL has offered a free mentorship program that connects members with each other through a professional and social setting. This gives members a better chance to get to know others with the same interests, while also giving the opportunity to learn from, grow with, and encourage one another. We aim to develop greater relationships with each other that we can take with us through our careers and beyond. Mentors are able to grow their leadership skills and commitment to our community while mentees are able to learn more about the pre-law path and seek wisdom from experienced MWPL members. We host exciting events exclusive for Mentorship Program members to attend together. MWPL also allows pairs to compete for an end-of-the-semester prize, which has included luxurious gift baskets, spa days, and sit-down lunches with prominent legal professionals.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MWPL provides members with opportunities to develop themselves professionally. Not only do our speakers share advice on how to navigate the professional world, but we offer more opportunities to network with legal professionals around Austin. For instance, we have hosted events where members can interact one-on-one with experienced legal professionals like at our Lunch With A Lawyer Event in partnership with the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association as well as our Networking Event with the Women's Law Caucus at Texas Law. This has led to some wonderful community connections and MWPL is proud to say that all types of people in the legal community have reached out to MWPL looking for motivated members to work in their law firms, courthouses, law organizations, nonprofits, etc. Additionally, MWPL hosts professional clothing drives where our generous network of attorneys donate new or gently used pieces of professional clothing for anyone in need. We take great efforts to support our members through any interviews, applications, and networking events in hopes of setting the next generation of empowered attorneys up for success.
