A Note from the Office of
Dean Leonard M. Baynes

The University of Houston Law Center is a world-class law school in a world-class city, and we also have a global reputation of considerable prominence. Much of this is attributable to the stalwart efforts of my decanal predecessors-Stephen Zamora and Raymond T. Nimmer. They both built an excellent infrastructure for global engagement. Much credit also goes to Professor Jordan Paust through his scholarship and leadership in international the ABA and other service organizations. Together, they set the table for the Law Center to become a global powerhouse. Building on this legacy, over the past ten years, we have worked tirelessly to continue to position the Law Center as a leader in legal education on a global scale.

In today’s globally interconnected world, it is imperative to have a focus on international law. These connections allow faculty and students to gain a broader perspective on different legal systems and enhance students’ ability to practice law in a global context. By partnering with institutions worldwide, we provide faculty and students with opportunities to enjoy a broader and more comprehensive curriculum. This includes opportunities for students to study abroad, participate in international moot court and ADR competitions, and engage with leading legal scholars from around the world.

International connections also open doors for our graduates, providing them with access to internships, clerkships, and job opportunities in the U.S. as well as around the globe. This network is invaluable for those looking to practice law on the international stage. Our faculty and students also benefit from collaborative projects with international peers. This fosters innovation and contributes to the development of legal scholarship that addresses global challenges.

Specialized Initiatives & Program

• The Center for U.S. and Mexican Law, established in 2012, is the first independent research center in the United States dedicated to the study of Mexican law and legal aspects of relations between Mexico and the U.S. Founded by the late UH Law Center Professor Stephen Zamora and today directed by Assistant Research Professor Julian Cardenas.
• The Global Law and Policy for the Americas(GLPA) initiative established in 2020, which focuses on the role of the Americas in shaping global law and policy and on the ways that domestic law and policy in the different regions of the Americas connect with the global. Founded by Professor Elizabeth Trujillo.
• Global and Graduate Programs(G&GP) encourages its participants to make a positive impact on the world. It offers collaborations with foreign universities in a wide range of international and global fields. The program administers broadly focused LL.M. degrees, training opportunities, classes, seminars, and continuing legal education sessions to foreign lawyers led by Executive Director Karen Jones.
• The Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Center annually hosts the North American Environment, Energy and National Resources Conference which focuses on complex energy and environmental legal issues in Canada, United States, and Mexico. The conference is generously underwritten by Blank Rome.
• LL.M. in International Law allows concentration in public or private aspects of international law, and it provides an opportunity for lawyers to structure their LL.M. curriculum to meet individual interests and needs. 
• LL.M in U.S. Law prepares foreign lawyers for a global practice. An LL.M. degree is recognized worldwide and has included lawyers from all corners of the world, including Europe, Latin America, Africa, Australia, and Asia.
• Learning Abroad Opportunitiesare available for students after they earn 30 semester credits. 
• Houston Journal of International Law is a scholarly law journal edited, managed, and published by students. The journal publishes articles authored by academics, professionals, and students discussing a broad range of topics in public and private international law. In a recent ranking of law journals based on citations, it ranked in the top 25 percent of all law journals published worldwide.
• Visiting Scholars Program each year hosts visiting foreign scholars at the Law Center to assist in continuing their legal research in Houston. Since 2008, the Law Center has welcomed more than 56 scholars from 19 countries – with interest and applications increasing each year.  

Partnerships & Affiliations 

Outside of our city and campus, the Law Center has worked diligently to establish strong affiliations with multiple academic institutions around the world. Some of them include:

• In North America, the Law Center has a long-running partnership with the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law. Calgary is one of Houston’s sister cities based on the strong presence of the oil and gas industry. The International Energy Lawyers Program (IELP) is a dual program sponsored by the Law Center and the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. The program allows participating law students to earn both U.S. and Canadian law degrees in 4 years. Students will spend two years at each school and take courses making them eligible to apply for admission to bars in the United States and Canada.
•  In Mexico, we have ties to Universidad Anáhuac  with a 5 +1 program, the Universidad de LaSalle, Mexico, as well as National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH). 
• In Europe, we have a partnership with the University of Bologna Department for Political and Social Sciences 
• In the Middle East, we have a partnership with Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia.

Faculty

We have outstanding international law faculty who teach and write in the international law area and have foreign law degrees. Several members of the Law Center faculty have also been competitively selected to participate in the Fulbright Scholars Program, spending semesters abroad, conducting research, writing, and lecturing in their areas of expertise. 

• Faculty Teaching International Law Courses: Anna Cabot (Immigration Law), Julian Cardenas (Transnational Energy Law), Elizabeth Trujillo (International Economic Law and Sustainability), Daniel Morales (Immigration Law), Denney Wright (International Tax Law and International Energy Transactions), Chris Mirasola (International Law) and Bret Wells (International Tax Law), Tasha Willis (European Union Law) 
• Faculty holding Foreign Law Degrees: Chinonso Anozie (University of Nigeria), Aman Gebru (Haramaya University -Eithiopia), Nikolas Guggenberger (Frieberg University -Germany), and Tasha Willis (Lazarski University - Poland)
• Fulbright Recipients: Anna Cabot (Fulbright Scholarship to study in India), Renee Knake Jefferson (Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Australia), Karen Jones (Fulbright International Education Administrator, visiting France), Thomas Oldham (Fulbright Senior Specialist, visiting Australia), and Kellen Zale (Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Comparative Canada-U.S. Studies).

Many current legal issues of importance take place on the global stage. Our international connections enable us to contribute meaningfully to these critical areas, and our location near the border with Mexico provides us with a unique perspective that we can share with the world. I look forward to the Law Center expanding its international alliances in the years to come. 

Sincerely,

Leonard M. Baynes
Dean, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Chair, and Professor of Law
University of Houston Law Center

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