Page 23 - Briefcase Volume 37 Number 2

EMBRACE VERSATILITY, EXXON The Law Center also received high marks from three other publications.
preLaw magazine cited the school 14 times over the past year, more
MOBIL GENERAL COUNSEL awards than any other law school. The national publication, which
serves as a guide to undergraduates considering a career in the law,
ADVISES recognized the Law Center in a wide range of categories from “Best” in
Criminal Law, Health Law and Practical Training to “Most Diverse” and
Randall M. Ebner, general counsel of Exxon Mobil Corp., encouraged “Best Value.”
students to be flexible and open to change while providing a roadmap The Law Center placed 29th on Law.com’s 2019 “Go-To” law school list,
to success. Ebner served as the inaugural speaker of the 2019 Dean’s a jump of 14 spots from its ranking of 43 in 2018. Law.com reported
Distinguished Speaker Series. that 16.37 percent of the Law Center’s 2018 graduating class secured
“There is no one direct pathway in any career,” Ebner said. “It’s always associate jobs in “Big Law” — the top 100 law firms that are considered
important to be flexible. No matter what you do, have a passion. Don’t to be among the largest and most prestigious in the country.
think of being a lawyer as a job, but as your profession.” Corporate Counsel magazine ranked the Law Center’s LL.M. Tax
When asked what inspired him to become an attorney, Ebner referenced program 3rd in the nation.
his time as a member of his high school debate team. “I always liked
politics and to debate,” Ebner said. “I always loved the whole process of “While rankings are important and serve as a useful scorecard, they
standing up on my feet speaking to people and being an advocate.” are just part of what goes into defining the educational quality and
Ebner also talked to students about ExxonMobil’s commitment to reputation of a law school,” said Dean Leonard M. Baynes. “We are an
diversity, and how the corporation is working to meet growing energy excellent law school with an outstanding faculty, high caliber students,
demand, while also and thousands of successful alumni.”
addressing the risks of
climate change. He also gave UH LAW CENTER 3L JOHN FIELDS
advice to pre-law students,
including some enrolled in SERVING ON UH BOARD OF
the Law Center’s Pre-Law
Pipeline Program. REGENTS
Ebner joined the
ExxonMobil law In addition to his responsibilities as a 3L at the University of Houston
department after graduating Law Center, John Fields will also be working as a student regent.
from Tulane Law School in Fields was selected to the University of Houston System Board of
1980. He became general Regents by Gov. Greg Abbott on May 23 and started his position in
Randall M. Ebner, Vice President
and General Counsel of Exxon Mobil counsel in 2016 after June. During his one-year term, Fields said he is eager to achieve a better
Corp. holding numerous positions understanding of UH System students and to represent their thoughts
in the law department. and feelings earnestly to the board.
“I was interested in bringing my experiences as a former UH
THREE UH LAW CENTER undergraduate student and a current graduate student together in order
to have the opportunity
PROGRAMS MAINTAIN TOP to serve students across
the University of
10 STANDING IN U.S. NEWS Houston System,” Fields
said.
RANKINGS; HIGH MARKS IN “My main goal is to

OTHER PUBLICATIONS learn the perspectives
of students across the
The University of Houston Law Center saw three of its specialty four universities within
the system and bring
programs retain their longstanding Top 10 rankings in the U.S. News & those perspectives to the
World Report 2019 survey of the country’s law schools. Board of Regents. The
The Law Center’s Health Law program tied for 6th, Intellectual Property UH System has a vast
and Information Law, 7th, and the Part-time program, 9th. array of students from
Other rankings included the Law Center’s Trial Advocacy program, all walks of life and I John Fields, a 3L at the UH Law Center, serves as
student regent.
15th, Environmental Law, 21st, Tax Law, 37th, and Dispute Resolution, want to advocate well on
44th. Overall, the Law Center ranked 59th among the nation’s 199 law behalf of those students.”
schools accredited by the American Bar Association.

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