Four TAMIU Graduates Accepted into Law School

Pursuing higher education has led four Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) graduates closer to the pinnacle of their professional preparation as they start law school this Fall.

TAMIU graduates accepted to law school this Fall and their respective schools are Raquel Muñiz, Penn State University Dickinson School of Law; Carla Solís, Denver University Sturm College of Law; Leslie Ann Cortez, St. Mary’s University School of Law; and Triana González, Texas Tech University School of Law.

Kimber Palmer, TAMIU instructor and Pre-Law advisor, said she is proud of the graduates’ accomplishments.

“I am so very proud of our four TAMIU grads who have now been accepted into law school for the 2014 school year,” Palmer said, “They all worked very hard during their undergraduate careers and deserve this success.”

She said she is confident they will achieve their dreams of graduating from law school.

“They have a great deal of work ahead of them, but I know they will complete their goals,” she said, “TAMIU is a great place to prepare for law school.”

For Muñiz, one of the graduates, law school acceptance came as a surprise.

“I understand the difficulty of being accepted into law school overall because it’s competitive, so I was excited,” she said.

Originally from San Luis Potosí, México, Muñiz has worked as an intern for the Altgelt Law Office locally since 2012, drafting legal documents, attending hearings with attorneys and conducting office duties. She said she wants to become a child advocacy attorney upon graduation from law school.

“You don’t necessarily need a law degree to become a child advocate, but I feel that if I study the laws that govern the institution of family, I can better assist children,” she said.

Another graduate, Solís, said she plans to combine her undergraduate degree in business administration with her law degree to become a corporate attorney.

“My dream job is to work for a transnational company where I can specialize in international contracts and different types of international litigation,” she said.

Cortez said she plans to study international law with the hopes of applying for work at the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service officer.

“TAMIU helped me get to this point by providing me with several opportunities to develop many skills,” she said, “Such opportunities included participation in the Model United Nations Society of South Texas, Forensic Forum, Student Government Association, and the Pre-law Chapter of the Laredo-Webb County Bar Association.”

Each allowed her to develop and refine her skills of communication, writing, public speaking, critical thinking, logical reasoning, teamwork, leadership and discipline, Cortez said.

Another graduate, González, said she is eager to start the path of pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney.

“I also feel very blessed to have been accepted into Texas Tech University School of Law, a law school that I feel suits my interests very well and at the same time, will prepare me for the rigors of practicing in the legal field,” she said.

She said TAMIU provided her with a strong foundation for law school.

“TAMIU and my professors throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies always expected me to do my best in class, and this high standard set by my professors motivated me to continue my interest in investing further in my education,” she said, “Each professor’s class has challenged me intellectually, propelled me to write confidently, research further and contribute to class discussions, which altogether have given me the skills needed to be successful in law school.”

González said she plans to return to Laredo upon graduation from law school.

“I plan to come back to my beloved border town of Laredo to be an advocate for the underserved populations and work to improve legislation, influence public policy, perform pro-bono work and dedicate myself to practicing public law,” she said, “I am hopeful that with every case I encounter, I can break down existing barriers for these groups.”

Registration for the Fall semester at TAMIU is now underway.  Classes begin Aug. 27.

For more information, please contact Palmer at 326.2492, e-mail kpalmer@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 215.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu