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Chase led off with comments about Texas’s ability to host major sporting Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts and
events. Social Sciences and treasurer for the American Academy of Law School’s
“From an economic perspective, sports play a major role in our region,” he Section on Professional Responsibility.
said. “It’s no mistake, for example, that there have been so many Final Fours She joined the faculty in 2016, after serving as the Foster Swift Professor of
in Texas over the last 10 years.” Legal Ethics and co-director of the Kelley Institute of Ethics and the Legal
Kibbe agreed with Chase and shared how the Astros’ season meant much Profession at Michigan State University College of Law, where she taught
more for Houston than just team pride. for a decade.
“Sports are extremely important to our city,” Kibbe said. “The numbers that Knake’s research primarily focuses on innovation in the regulation of legal
came in after the World Series showed that we had $95 million of economic services, proposing access to justice reforms. She is an internationally
impact from our playoffs. It was an average of about $6 to $8 million a game, recognized expert on the future of legal services, and has been invited to
and the World Series was a little bit higher at $10 million. speak about the topic throughout the United States and internationally in
countries such as Canada, England, Guatemala, Mexico, and the United
“The Super Bowl brought in $300 million. Ninety percent of the World Arab Emirates.
Series attendance was Houstonians, and the Super Bowl was basically the
opposite. Only about 10 percent of Houstonians were at the Super Bowl, UHLC AWARDED GRANT TO SUPPORT SUMMER
and it was a lot of hotel and restaurant revenue.” PRE-LAW PIPELINE PROGRAM
Arnold, who has represented the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority The University of Houston Law Center received a $300,000 grant to
in connection with the development of Minute Maid Park, NRG Stadium, support its successful, award-winning Pre-Law Pipeline Program which is
Toyota Center and BBVA Compass Stadium, reflected on the growth in the designed to increase the number of lawyers from underrepresented groups
area that surrounds the Astros’ home field. by introducing undergraduates to the demands of law school and the
“Back in 1997, there was an unused train station and a bunch of train opportunities of a career in the law.
tracks coming into Union Station,” Arnold said. “There is now significant The grant from the Law School Admission Council will allow the school
development around Minute Maid Park like restaurants, apartments and to host 20 or 30 participants each summer for the next three years, paying
high-rises going up. Some of that is a result of the Astros having 81 games, each student a stipend of $1,000. The funds will be used to cover the cost of
plus other events. I think Jim Crane is doing a better job at promoting housing, meals, and course materials for our students as well as stipends for
additional events at Minute Maid Park than the previous ownership did.” teaching faculty and assistants.
For the second panel, Kibbe was joined by Walter Champion, an adjunct “The UHLC Pre-Law Pipeline Program is exceptional,” Dean Leonard
professor at the Law Center and the George Foreman Professor of Sports M. Baynes said. “In just three years, it has made a difference in the lives of
and Entertainment Law at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall many students, including 10 who are enrolled in law schools across the
School of Law, and Karen Jones, a sports management professor at Rice country. The Law School Admission Council grant provides the “Good
University. Housekeeping seal of approval” on what we all know to be a terrific
A portion of the discussion centered on the rise of counterfeit merchandise program.
that followed the Astros’ championship win. “The Law Center is honored to receive the $300,000 grant, which will help
“Not only does it have a great impact on business around the city, it also us expand the pool of qualified law student applicants from all backgrounds
has a big impact on possible business for attorneys,” Jones said. “Once you enrolling and graduating from law school. By working together, we can
get all of this excitement around selling Astros paraphernalia, you also diversify the legal profession.”
have an opportunity for lawsuits because a lot of people will start trying to During its first three years, 86 students participated in the Law Center’s
misappropriate the team’s logo.” program. The 2017 session consisted of 46 students: 74 percent female, 39
Kibbe pointed to a number of local businesses that make reference to the percent black, 35 percent Hispanic, 13 percent Caucasian, 11 percent Asian/
Astros’ logo in their branding. He said the franchise is more concerned with Pacific Islander, and 2 percent Caribbean.
people profiting on unsanctioned memorabilia. LSAC is a nonprofit corporation that provides products and services to ease
“I don’t mind seeing businesses that have an Astros sign that they’re not the admission process for 221 member law schools and their applicants
authorized to put up that congratulates us for winning the World Series,” he worldwide. The council is best known for administering the Law School
said. “I think it’s great for us and great for the city. I have a problem when Admission Test. It also processes academic credentials for an average of
people start selling unauthorized Astros merchandise. We have to stop that 60,000 law school applicants annually, provides software and information
and protect our brand.” for admission offices and applicants, conducts educational conferences, and
publishes LSAT preparation books and law school guides
UHLC PROF. KNAKE JOINS PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN “We consider LSAC PLUS programs to be an investment in the future of the
LAW INSTITUTE diversity of the legal profession,” Kellye Testy, LSAC president and CEO, said
Professor Renee Knake is the latest member of the University of Houston in announcing the award to UHLC and four other law schools.
Law Center faculty to be elected to the American Law Institute. Knake Upon completing the program, participants also receive an LSAC fee waiver
was one of 44 new members elected to the Institute, which comprises that can be used to cover the cost of taking the LSAT, all of their law school
exceptional judges, lawyers and legal academics from all states and the application fees, and registering for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service.
District of Columbia, along with international members. “We are honored to have been awarded this prestigious and competitive
“It is an incredible honor to be elected to the ALI, and I look forward to grant,” said Meredith J. Duncan, director of Metropolitan Programs and
contributing to the organization’s efforts in improving the law,” Knake said. George Butler Research Professor of Law. “The $300,000 will move us
Knake is the Larry and Joanne Doherty Chair in Legal Ethics and director closer to our goal of increasing diversity within the legal profession.”
of Outcomes and Assessments. She also is a faculty affiliate of the Women’s,

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