Audrey Sivasothy (J.D. ’25)
The Joan Garfinkel Glantz Scholarship is awarded to the student who writes the best paper on civil liberties. The scholarship honors the memory of Glantz, a passionate advocate for civil rights who was the former executive director of the Houston Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The scholarship was created in the 1980s by friends and family after Glantz lost her battle with breast cancer.
Sivasothy’s paper for the scholarship was titled “Beyond Jacobson: Reconceptualizing the Constitutionality of Post-Jacobson-Era Compulsory HPV Mandates in the United States.” She had guidance from Brian Abramson, a UH Law Center adjunct professor of vaccine law, who later offered to include her paper in an upcoming publication covering the 2023 National Vaccine Law Conference.
“Vaccine law is a very niche area of legal practice, and we were so fortunate to have a
preeminent legal scholar with a deep command of this area teaching us,” said Sivasothy. “Professor Abramson is incredibly accessible to students and regularly stays after class to entertain our questions or commentary.”
Writing the paper allowed Sivasothy to revisit legal and ethical questions from the COVID era with a new perspective. “While my paper focused specifically on mandatory HPV vaccinations for school-aged children rather than COVID-related mandates, the exercise still allowed me to reflect on broader themes of public health, autonomy, and constitutional boundaries.”
The Yale Rosenberg Memorial Prize is awarded for the best student paper in civil procedure or habeas corpus. It is given in memory of Yale L. Rosenberg, a now-deceased UH Law Center professor who was an expert in the decline of federal habeas corpus and often referred to as “America’s Prophet.”
The title for her winning paper was “Beyond ByteDance: National Security and the Rise of the Modern Bill of Attainder.” For this paper, she received mentorship from Law Foundation Professor Seth Chandler, who teaches constitutional law at UHLC.
“His class pushed me to think more creatively and rigorously, and it made me a stronger researcher, writer, and future lawyer,” she said. “Even after the course ended, Professor Chandler and I stayed in touch. It was clear that he cared—not just about the paper, but about my growth as a student and future lawyer.”
The paper covers the complexity of the recent TikTok ban and how that is shaped by constitutional law. “It was the first time I had written about a live, unresolved topic, and that immediacy made the research and writing process both challenging and exciting,” stated Sivasothy. “What made the experience even more rewarding was the opportunity to share my paper with members of TikTok’s legal team and receiving positive feedback.”
Sivasothy’s dual recognition marks her as a rising legal scholar, and she credits UH Law for it. “I am incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received from my professors and the UHLC community throughout my time here,” she said. “I truly believe I’m leaving the Law Center with a strong foundation and an arsenal of tools that will serve me well as I begin my legal career.”
How will these scholarships impact your legal education?
AS: These scholarships were a tremendous encouragement during my final semester of law school. They provided much-needed financial relief, which is something every law student can appreciate. Beyond that, the award also affirmed my identity as a legal writer and academic. It’s both humbling and deeply motivating to have my scholarly work acknowledged in this way, especially as I prepare to venture into the profession as a new lawyer.
What are your career goals?
AS: Currently, I work in compliance at a global semiconductor distribution company and test laboratory. I have always enjoyed drafting, structuring, negotiating, and ensuring compliance in regulated industries (e.g., aerospace/defense, medical, etc.) and contributing to the planning or strategic side of business operations. I hope to leverage my law degree to continue in this transactional role to help the business manage legal risks and stay aligned with regulatory and industry expectations.
When and why did you want to be a lawyer?
AS: I came to the law later in my professional life. Prior to law school, I worked in various compliance roles and regularly collaborated with attorneys. Over time, I realized I wanted to deepen my understanding of the legal tools and frameworks they used—not necessarily to become a litigator, but to enhance my ability to contribute meaningfully in complex business and regulatory environments. Law school was a deliberate choice to grow into that role, and I’ve found that the legal mindset—thinking critically, spotting issues, and communicating clearly—has only sharpened the skills I’ve always valued in my work.
Why did you choose UHLC?
AS: UHLC was my first-choice law school because it would allow me to continue my legal education in Houston, where I’ve already established family and professional roots. I believed that UHLC would give me the best opportunity to develop my skills as a legal
practitioner, and it has. I thrive in small, intense learning environments, so the Law Center’s low student-to-faculty ratio and course offerings with fewer than 25 students were key benefits to me. Finally, the top 10 national ranking of UHLC’s part-time program added to my already positive impression of the Law Center and made sense for me as a future part-time student.
What is your favorite part about UHLC?
AS: My favorite thing about UHLC is how accessible and accommodating the part-time program is for students with work and family obligations. After COVID, the Law Center expanded its remote course offerings, making it possible for part-time students to enroll in classes that were previously limited to daytime, in-person formats. These progressive changes significantly broadened the range of courses available to me and made it much more manageable to balance school with my commute from Brazoria/Fort Bend County.
