April 23, 2024 — University of Houston Law Center student Hannah Grayem was featured in Texas Lawyer for an article on the severability of wind rights. Such rights were recently recognized for the first time under Texas law. Grayem co-authored the piece titled “Are Wind Rights A New Stick in the Bundle?” during her summer associate placement at King & Spalding.
Was getting this article published in the Texas Lawyer challenging or simple?
Writing the article was the most difficult part of the process, but I had the privilege of working with and learning from two very knowledgeable partners at the firm who provided a lot of support. After we finalized the article, King & Spalding handled the entire publication process for us. Their resources made that process simple.
Can you explain what the article you wrote for the Texas Lawyer was about?
The article is about uncertainty resulting from a recent Texas case where a district court judge recognized the right to sever wind rights for the first time under state law. The case is significant because Texas has more wind power capacity than any other state, and allowing wind rights to be severed from the surface, without clear guidance as to how this will work in practice, could create conflicts between investors, landowners, and developers, who all have different priorities.
How will the publication of your article in the Texas Lawyer help you in your career?
The publication of this article has given me exposure to the firm's current clients, prospective clients and other attorneys in the industry. It also introduced me to the business development aspect of law, which I think is a unique opportunity for a summer associate. Writing articles is one way that lawyers and law firms originate new business, so getting that experience early on will certainly be beneficial in the long run.
What led you to pursue a legal education at UHLC?
I have wanted to become a lawyer for as long as I can remember. As someone who likes to solve problems and who is an analytical thinker, I think it really fits my personality. When it came time to decide on a law school, the Houston legal market was a big deciding factor for me. UHLC students have access to so many employment opportunities and an extensive alumni network which has proved to be extremely helpful while I have been here.
What were some of your favorite professors/memories here?
One of my favorite professors during my time at UHLC was Professor Warren. She was my professor for Property during 1L and again for my upper-level writing course, Energy and the Environment, last semester. She is so enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge, she is dedicated to supporting her students, and she has also contributed to my interest in energy and environmental law. Last semester in her class, I worked closely with her on a different energy article about environmental justice, which is being published by the American Bar Association in a forthcoming edition of The Urban Lawyer Journal.
What led to your interest in and pursuit of legal writing?
I have always enjoyed writing and the process of crafting a good argument, but in law school, I gained a new appreciation for that. Law is a very writing-intensive profession, so without that skill, it’s hard to be effective at your job. With that in mind, I’ve tried to seek out opportunities that would help me further develop this skill, such as Law Review and this article process.
What is one valuable lesson you learned at UHLC?
There have been several, but one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that most growth happens when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone. I found in law school it can sometimes be difficult to push yourself past what is already expected of you. Preparing for class alone can be a lot, but when I’ve decided to take that extra step, those experiences have been the most rewarding. My advice to students would be to go to the networking event, apply for the job, and join the journal; those are the things that’ll be worth it.
