Student Spotlight

UH Law Students Share Experiences in Juvenile Advocacy on Houston Bar Association Podcast

UH Law students featured on the Houston Bar Association podcast

April 27, 2026 - Three University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) students recently reflected on their work in juvenile law during an appearance on the Houston Bar Association’s podcast, "Behind the Lines: The Houston Lawyer." In a conversation with Chandria Jackson, the Law Center’s Director of Employer Relations and Development, students Amy Abbott, Raisha Williams, and Claire Wills discussed how their hands-on legal work has shaped their perspective on the justice system.

For 3L Amy Abbott, the path to juvenile law involved a wide range of settings, including the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project and the UHLC Appellate Civil Rights Clinic. Her work has covered everything from Section 1983 civil rights cases to human trafficking and family law.

Abbott noted that her role often began with simply being a witness to a client's story.

“In many cases, I was the first person to truly listen to their story and explain that they had rights and options,” she said. “I came to law school to use the law not just as a tool for advocacy, but as a means of restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope,” she shared.

Raisha Williams, a 4L, brought a unique background to the discussion, having worked at the New York City Department of Education before law school. Her experience with special education cases gave her a firsthand look at the "school-to-prison pipeline," which fueled her desire to pursue juvenile defense.

While at the Law Center, Williams has interned with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia in its Juvenile Services Program. During her time at the Youth Service Center in D.C., she represented youth in more than 10 disciplinary hearings before administrative law judges.

For Williams, the work is deeply personal.

“For me, this is my ministry,” she said. “I do this work because I know that one intervention, one advocate, one moment of genuine representation can change the entire trajectory of a young person's life.”

She views her upcoming graduation not as a beginning, but as a formal transition into the full-time advocacy she has been practicing throughout her law school career.

Claire Wills, a 2L, highlighted the importance of advocacy outside the courtroom. For Wills, a former high school English teacher combining her teaching background with her legal education has reinforced that juvenile law is as much about education as it is about litigation.

“It’s about helping young people see themselves as capable decision-makers and leaders,” she explained.

Abbott, Williams and Wills all emphasized that their work in juvenile law has been a defining part of their time at the Law Center. By working side-by-side with young people in detention centers, classrooms, and courtrooms, these students are gaining practical experience while providing a necessary service to the Houston community.

The full episode of Behind the Lines: The Houston Lawyer is available on Buzzsprout and major podcasting platforms.