Jason Beesinger ‘14
Oct. 15, 2019 — Jason Beesinger, a 2014 graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, recently completed his term as co-chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Campaign for the Homeless. His passion for the campaign’s mission is palpable.
“The co-chairs manage the committee and provide strategic leadership,” Beesinger said. “Which is just a fancy way of saying we pick a direction for the committee and start walking. For example, when my co-chair, Colleen Migl, and I wanted to put together a spring event for the committee, we put our heads together on what might be impactful to the community and rewarding to our members, and then we reached out to the Beacon Center to set up a volunteer day.”
The committee hosts a number of events, each aimed at mitigating the struggles vulnerable populations in the Houston area face. “Our largest event is the clothing and diaper drive,” Beesinger said. “We collect thousands of diapers and thousands of items of clothing, including dress clothing that the committee donates to Dress for Success, a charity that helps women by providing them with interview-appropriate attire.” The committee also works with veterans’ shelters around Houston to provide holiday gift bags, which include small gifts and a book for each person.
Beesinger is passionate about changing the way policy regarding homeless people is created, advocating for that compassion must be at the core of any legislation impacting that population. “Homeless individuals are still human beings; they are not an annoyance as you walk down Main Street. They are not trying to get one over on anyone,” he said. “Houston’s homeless population includes people from all educational, racial, ethnic, religious, and career backgrounds, all trying to make the best of a really, really difficult situation.”
Since 2017, Beesinger has worked at Joyce + McFarland LLP, a business litigation firm that specializes in complex commercial issues and business disputes.
“I thoroughly enjoy my practice here because, even as a relatively young lawyer, I enjoy autonomy, a good docket of cases, and a collaborative work relationship with my partner,” he said.
Looking back on his time as a law student, Beesinger believes the lesson he learned best at the Law Center was that connections are invaluable.
“I sometimes look at my friends from 1L year and think, ‘I cannot believe we have been friends for eight years already!’” Beesinger said. “The most important thing you can do with your time, in or out of the office, professional or personal, is to nurture your relationships with the humans and dogs in your life.”
Beesinger looks back fondly at his participation in moot court and the Student Bar Association, and he has great memories of a number of his professors.
“I had the immense privilege of taking Federal Courts during the time that Judge Lee H. Rosenthal was co-teaching that course,” he said. “That was a real treat. I would be remiss if I did not mention Professor Barbara Evans, who, like Judge Rosenthal, is far too kind, generous, and patient for as brilliant and accomplished as she is.”
Beesinger keeps up with Law Center faculty and is eager to witness the university rise in the ranks under their stewardship.
“I also thoroughly enjoyed learning from Professor Lonny Hoffman, who has been an invaluable mentor and advisor to me in the five years since I graduated,” he said. “Professors David Dow, Douglas Moll, Bret Wells, and Sandra Thompson are each — obviously — on the cutting edge of their field and help elevate the Law Center as one of the premier law schools in Texas.”
Editor’s note – The thoughts expressed on this page are Jason Beesinger’s alone and do not reflect those of the Houston Bar Association.
