Page 32 - Briefcase - University of Houston Law Center

HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION HONORS UH LAW CENTER ALUMNA

SUSAN BICKLEY ’84 WITH JUSTICE RUBY KLESS SONDOCK AWARD

usan Bickley, a 1984 graduate of the judge in Harris County. Appointed to the 234th District Court in
SUniversity of Houston Law Center, 1977, she was the first female state district judge in Harris County. In
was named the 2021 recipient of the 1982 she was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court, the first woman
Houston Bar Association’s Justice Ruby to serve in a regular session of the court. In 2015, the litigation
Kless Sondock Award. The award section of the State Bar of Texas named her a “Texas Legal Legend.”
recognizes a woman lawyer or judge Bickley is a Partner at Blank Rome in the firm’s Labor & Employment
for a record of exceptional achievement section, and an enthusiastic supporter of the Law Center.
and leadership in the law.
“I am overwhelmingly honored and “I sincerely appreciate all the work that the HBA does, and will
continue to support the HBA in its good work for the community,”
surprised to have been selected to Bickley said. “I’m thrilled and delighted, even if feeling a little
receive the Justice Ruby Kless Sondock overwhelmed by this honor.”
Award,” Bickley said. “It is especially
humbling to receive an award named Dean Leonard M. Baynes was one of several members of the local
Susan Bickley ’84 for Justice Sondock, given her stature legal community to nominate Bickley for the accolade.
and trailblazing career as a woman “I am very pleased that the Houston Bar Association established the
lawyer and Justice in Texas. I only hope Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award,” Baynes said. “Like Justice Sondock,
to be worthy of the award as I continue in my career.” Susan is a trailblazer who personifies Sondock’s qualities of leadership,
Justice Ruby Kless Sondock graduated from the Law Center in 1962. perseverance, achievement, excellence, and serving as a role model.
She is a pioneer in the law who graduated as valedictorian and one of Given her career achievement, her commitment to the legal community,
only five women in her law school class. After practicing law for 12 the greater Houston community, and her alma mater, Susan is a most
years, Sondock was appointed a judge on the Harris County Domestic deserving awardee of The Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award, and it was
Relations Court in 1973 becoming the first woman district court my honor to nominate her for this special recognition.” ^

LATHAM & WATKINS INVESTS IN LIFE-CHANGING SCHOLARSHIPS

AT THE LAW CENTER

atham & Watkins, a leading Latham’s gift also includes
Lglobal law firm, has external programming, with
committed to making available a Latham & Watkins Student
multi-year scholarships and Diversity Leadership Forum
diversity student leadership programming to UH Law Center event that aims to connect students directly with the firm and help
students — a significant investment over three years. students learn more about transactional law.
“Gifts like this are truly transformative and inspirational,” said Dean Latham’s commitment to the Law Center comes out of its mission to
Leonard M. Baynes. “When a law firm commits to investing in law expand learning opportunities for law students early in their careers,
students and potential future employees, it shows where their heart facilitating a more inclusive recruiting process. The firm also recently
and dedication lies.” expanded its long-running Pathways Program, which helps students
Bill Finnegan, a Latham partner and 1981 UH Law Center alum, was through law school while relieving some of the financial pressure as
instrumental in connecting the firm with his alma mater they begin to practice.
“The stats we heard about how hard it is to compete for the best “Texas, in all its diversity, represents the future, and we are thrilled
students and how hard it is to retain the best students are real,” to support the UH Law students who will shape it,” said Abid R.
Finnegan said. “Anything we can do to help let those students attend Qureshi, Global Chair of Latham’s Recruiting Committee. “We want
UH and focus on their education without worrying about a second law students of every background to get to know Latham, and to learn
job or how are they are going to pay for this is really meaningful, so about the work we do in transformative industries, from technology to
we’re excited about that.” renewable energy. We look forward to welcoming more and more UH
Law students into Latham’s Texas offices over the coming years.” ^

32 Briefcase 2021