Amir Mamori [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

As a 2003 graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio's Institute for Law and Public Affair's Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA), I wish to inform you that the SLSPA prepared me very well for the academic rigors of law school. The classes at the SLSPA are structured to sharpen the writing and analysis skills of its students, a necessity for any law student.

Thanks to Dr. Gambitta and the professors and the staff at the SLSPA, I entered law school with the academic skills and confidence I needed to excel. It is those skills that gave me the foundation to graduate with honors from law school.

It was my privilege and honor to have been a student at the SLSPA.


Respectfully,
R. Amir Mamori

Alejandro Martinez [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

As a graduate of the ILPA and current law student it is difficult to put into words the many ways in which the institute has helped me in my quest to enter and achieve in law school.

By attending the institute I was able to increase my chances of entering law school and my ability to succeed in it. Through my experience, I was well educated in the basics of law school courses. This education allowed me to become more confident in my ability to participate in class and test-taking skills. As I just finished my first semester of law school, I can proudly say that I finished with the only A in my criminal law course and with the highest grade on the final, which by the way was the only grade due during the fall semester. If it were not for my attendance at the ILPA, I doubt I would have entered law school, let alone achieve the highest grade of my class.

The ILPA's seminars on what law schools look for in applicants were also greatly helpful. The coursework covered exactly what I have gone over so far. My familiarity with the material allowed me to get a head start above most other students. Several other UTSA students that have attended the ILPA are my classmates and are also doing very well. Among these students are Destiny Waiters, Antonio Almazan, and Janelle Martinez.

I believe the ILPA has opened many doors for students that would not have been able to attend if it were not for the ILPA and I hope it keeps on doing the same in the future. I am deeply grateful to President Romo, Dr. Gambitta, the faculty and to the UT System for making this lifetime goal to become true.

Sincerely,
Alejandro Martinez

Alberto Rodriguez [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Alberto Rodriguez, and I am currently in my second year of law at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dedman School of Law. I am writing to express my support for the Institute for Law and Public Affairs (ILPA) at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

I was involved in the Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA) of the ILPA when I was a junior at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and it really helped me prepare for the challenges that I have encountered here at SMU. The courses ILPA offered were extremely challenging when I took them, and they gave me a better understanding of what the law school experience was going to be like. In addition, the professors who taught the courses were extremely knowledgeable about the topics they were teaching, and they cared about their students.

If you have any other questions about my experiences about the ILPA, please feel free to contact me at my cell phone (830) 352-5887. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely
Alberto Rodriguez
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Class of 2008

Antonio Almazan [ Top ]

To whom it may concern:

When it comes to law schools, not every student gets into the school of their dreams; and when it comes to law students, not everyone makes it past the rigors of law school. The University of Texas at San Antonio's Institute for Law and Public Affairs not only gets students closer to attending those dream schools; but also, through their Summer Law School Preparatory Academy, ensures students will go into law school with the tools to succeed. I know this because I am a product of that program.

This program, in my judgment, is not only an important program for students, but what more, also an extremely important program to the legal field because it further increases the diversity of our nations legal topography: something that is important to me and I hope also to you.

Although officially my legal journey began last August at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law; it really began two years before that through the Institute's Socratic Method which teaches a student-how to learn. My classes through the Summer Academy began with Constitutional Law and later included, Civil Rights, Torts, Contracts, Legal Reasoning and not to forget Legal Writing.

These classes are taught by devoted and highly acclaimed professors who dearly care about the success of not only the Academy, but the success of each student. Additionally, the program periodically (at least once a week) invites law school professors from Tier One universities to teach a class.

In brief, the program through its daily-all day classes system introduces students to the rigors of law school. I specifically was introduced to reading mass quantities in short periods of time while having to retain such information. Additionally, the program introduced me to briefing cases, and writing essay exams. As for the writing class, it introduced me to legal memos (open and closed), legal research and the rigors of writing logically and concisely in a short period of time. As I'm sure you know, reading analytically and critically in order to synthesis law, and writing persuasively, yet concise, are some of the most basic and most important skills in the legal profession-these are the skills the Institute equips their students with.

These skills have served me well in law school. Recently my Properties professor, after enduring repeated complaints of students over the lack of being taught by our Contracts professor gave the following advice:

That is just how it is folks. I don't know if any of you know but I went to a little university... a very small-unknown university named Harvard. I don't remember everything about my classes; but I remember one in particular and it is because of our professor. He was so old he could barely stand. In fact, he would come into class, stand at the podium and start talking about Criminal Procedure. We, the class, repeatedly had to remind him that our class was-Civil Procedure and not Criminal Procedure. If the students at Harvard had to learn to teach themselves the law, what makes you think that it should just be handed to you?

The value of the Institute was confirmed at that point because where other students where waiting to have the law taught to them; I, due to the rigors of the Institutes program, had already been teaching contracts to myself all semester long.

So in closing, I write to say that I strongly endorse at every opportunity The University of Texas at San Antonio-Institute for Law and Public Affairs-Summer Law School Preparatory Academy. Additionally I write as a formum to express my gratitude to them because while not every student has the fortune to be accepted by their dream law school; I have no doubt that I will be one of the many students produced by the program, which because of it-will succeed the rigors of law school.

Respectfully,
Antonio Almazan

Angie Hernandez-Woodward [ Top ]

To whom it may concern,

I was very fortunate to have attended the Summer Law School Preparation Academy.

Like most of my classmates, attending law school after college was my ultimate goal. Initially, I thought attending the Academy would prepare me to succeed in law school, ultimately, it did that and much more. My time at the Academy gave me a very real idea of what law school would require.

My classmates and I met at six in the morning to meet and discuss the assigned case law for that day. Classes began promptly at eight, and thus began our day of Torts and Constitutional Law, answering questions under the gun of the Socratic Method. After class we would meet at the library, late into the night, preparing case briefs for the following day and discussing points of law. While all of our friends and family enjoyed their vacations, we studied like this for the entire summer, to prepare for the single exam that determined our grade. When our time there was done, we walked through the doors of The University of Texas School of Law and Baylor Law School, knowing, not thinking, that we had the discipline and skills to succeed in law school. It was often commented that upon joining our respective 1L classes, we were less prone to the anxiety surrounding the dreaded Socratic method of law school, or the idea of a single exam determining our grade for an entire class.

I now attend the University of Idaho College Of Law on full scholarship. I chose this school out of eleven acceptances, including Penn State, Texas Wesleyan and Michigan State. My grades had been questionable in college and my LSAT scores were fair, but it is my firm belief that my admission and success at the Academy distinguished my application from the competition.

I have done well in school, I attribute that success to Dr. Gambitta and the other professors at the Academy, who demanded complete preparation for each class and accepted no excuses. The experience there created strong bonds between my classmates, and we communicate still, to exchange class outlines, socialize, or discuss interviews and employment opportunities in the Texas area.

The Summer Law School Preparation Academy will be responsible, for some very gifted attorneys, judges, and politicians in our community. Moreover, a healthy portion of them will be members of a dramatically underrepresented minority class in their chosen field. That is both a remarkable achievement and a greatly needed contribution to our state.

While I could list many more reasons why this program deserves your full support, I once learned that it is never acceptable to attend class or court without your complete and best preparation.

Respectfully,
Angelita Hernandez- Woodward
University of Idaho College of Law Class of 2008

Barbara Leal [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a third year law student at the University of Texas at Austin and an Ex-Alum of the UTSA Summer Pre-Law Academy. I can say with complete candor that the Academy served as the best preparation for law school and ultimately, my career as a lawyer. The Academy's rigorous caseload provided me with the discipline required of law school courses and the confidence to tackle law school exams. Most law students are overwhelmed by the amount of reading they are assigned first year. Forced to learn an entirely new language, they are thrown into a complicated nonsensical maze of legal jargon that inevitably ends up causing them to fall behind in their reading. This can be tragic. Thanks to the UTSA's Pre-Law Academy, I was saved from the initial first year shock. Already familiar with many legal terms provided in casebooks, for me, reading wasn't such a chore.

In addition to being familiar with the case law terms and system, I was no stranger to arguably, the least popular aspect of law school - the Socratic Method. It is this dreaded system of teaching that sends law students running home to mommy. Being called on in class, even third year, is never a breeze. However, practice makes perfect. Because of the structure of the classes at the Pre-law Academy, by first semester of school, I had plenty of practice and legal reasoning skills to keep up decent rapport with an authoritative professor for a full class period.

Looking back, I still remember the reassuring feeling I had in my first year Tort's class when I was required to purchase the exact same casebook that I had previously read in the Institute. On the first day of class, I realized that I had already read a majority of the cases assigned. Obviously, this was a tremendous advantage. Even before our first lecture, when most first year law students were asking themselves, What on earth is a Tort? I had already formulated an entire perspective on the subject. While others shrieked at the call of their name in class, I remained calm, collected, and ready to offer insight on the day's legal lesson. Looking back I realize that this confidence, the kind that comes only with first hand experience, could not have been possible without the Pre-Law Academy.

I am forever thankful to Dr. Gambitta and the slue of talented professors at the Pre-law Academy who are forever patient with inquiring legal minds. I hope that other students may benefit from the Academy as much as I did.

Respectfully yours,
Barbara J Leal

Carla Guzman [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

I attended the Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA) during Summer 2003 and credit it with my thorough preparation for law school.

The Academy consisted of three classes for credit, various lectures by distinguished law professors, and an LSAT preparation study course. These classes and lectures provided me with the opportunity to experience a law school classroom before I was even accepted into law school.

The three courses I took for credit, Legal and Philosophical Reasoning, Torts, and Technical Writing, gave me a great foundation for the courses I took in law school. The writing course has been especially helpful with my legal writing throughout my legal education and I know it will continue to be throughout my practice.

The lectures by the law professors gave me insight to how law school classroom lectures are conducted. After all, law school classrooms are conducted very differently from the typical undergraduate lecture. Since I had had the experience in the SLSPA classes I was prepared for the structure and demand of the classes.

Furthermore, the LSAT preparation course was of great value as I was very prepared for the exam. I was accepted to South Texas School of Law, Texas Tech School of Law, Northeastern University School of Law, and City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law.

SLSPA also provided me with an additional stipend since I am a single mother. Dr. Gambitta was an integral person in my successful completion of the Academy and my acceptance to law school.

Additionally, since I was the first in my family to attend law school, I had not had a lot of contact with lawyers or the profession. The Academy not only provided me with academic preparation for law school, but it also placed me in contact with various professors and other students also interested in the study of law - some of which I am still in contact with today.

I will be graduating from the CUNY School of Law on May 18, 2007 and attribute much of my success to the Summer Law School Preparation Academy.

Sincerely,
Carla Massignani Guzmán

Crystal Villarreal [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

During my first semester at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) I met Dr. Richard A. Gambitta, Director of the Institute for Law & Public Affairs (ILPA). Since that day, only great things have happened in my life at UTSA. That same year, I became a student of the ILPA pre-law Summer Academy. I had never encountered a harder challenge in my life before that summer. I had endless hours of homework, my once great writing skills were now considered novice, and I was highly challenged by my peers and professors in all my classes. To say the least, I encountered one of the biggest shocks of my life---law school would not be easy.

Fortunately, I was an ILPA student before I participated in a D.C. Internship; Otherwise, I would have surely been eaten alive. Without the preparation of a rigorous course schedule that actually challenged my vocabulary, critical writing skills, and reasoning ability, I would not have had the same vigor to succeed that I have today. As a student of the pre-law summer academy, I learned that time was a precious gift, that should not be wasted. The ILPA changed the course of my education. Before, I was an ILPA student, I only cared about digging myself out of an academic stump. After the ILPA, I had completed a DC Internship, I received numerous scholarship awards, and I was on my way to working at the Texas Capitol, where I am today. To this date I have applied to several law schools, and I am waiting from my top choices. In addition, the preparation academy helped to raise my LSAT score up to 10 points with active study in an LSAT preparation course, and individual tutoring with my professor.

Somewhere inside of me was a confidence, and the ILPA was able to release that. I will forever be grateful to the ILPA for all it has done for me. Without the help and guidance of Dr. Gambitta and all of the staff and faculty at the ILPA, I would truly be lost. I would not know all I do today about successfully applying and being accepted into law school. Even in my daily activities on campus, I am considered somewhat of a peer guidance source for students who want to someday go to law school. The first piece of advice I give them is go to the Institute for Law & Public Affairs and ask for Dr. Gambitta. To this day, I still hear from students who have been completely enamored by their experience at the ILPA. The ILPA is not only an academic program, it is a community with a rich and giving family. My first day at UTSA, I had only one friend; today I have a network of friends and family that reach across the United States.

My only hope is that you see what the ILPA has done for me and for so many other students. I truly cannot express in words, the doors that have been opened for me, the friendships I have made, the lessons that I have learned, and the dreams I have achieved. As an ILPA alumnus, I know that I am obliged to pursue my dreams to the fullest so I may be able to represent UTSA and the ILPA to the fullest degree. Thank you for your time. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me at (210) 413-7863 or crystal.villarreal@gmail.com.

Thank you,
Crystal Villarreal, Legislative Aide
Office of Representative Jim McReynolds

Eddie Balderas [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Edward Balderas and I am a second year law student at the University of Texas School of law. Before I attended law school I was a student in the UTSA's Institute for Law and Public Affair's Summer Law School Preparation Academy. During the law school application process I was surprised to learn that I was accepted to most of the law schools I applied to. I can say with complete confidence that had I not attended the academy I would not now be enrolled at UT Law.

My experience at the academy proved invaluable. I was able to improve my writing and analytical skills through rigorous work and study. The professors that taught at the academy were simply the best I had during my undergraduate experience. By the time I entered law school I had a good sense of what I was in for.

I believe it is important for the pre-law academy's mission to continue. The state of Texas is better served if the doors to the State and Nations' top law schools are opened to Texas students, particularly students from underrepresented universities. While I am still uncertain as to what career path I will take I do plan on remaining in south Texas. Whatever I do, I hope to make a positive contribution to the legal community of the state. I am confident my experience can be replicated for the many students at UTSA who want the opportunity of a great legal education.

Sincerely,
Edward Balderas
Law Student

Elyse Druck [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Elyse Druck, and I, along with my husband, Marc Druck, participated in both phases of the Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA), one during the Summer of 2003, and one during the Summer of 2004. We both graduated in the Spring of 2005 from UTSA, and both began law school in the Fall of 2005. My husband attends the University of Texas, School of Law in Austin, and I attend St. Mary's University, School of Law in San Antonio.

The SLSPA changed my life in three different ways:

• It helped me get into law school.


• It prepared me for law school.


• It has changed my life and career.

First, the SLSPA familiarized me with the application process of law school admissions. Almost every law school in Texas visited the SLSPA both summers and discussed the school's individual admissions process. Not only did we receive application fee waivers from many schools, which helped mitigate the overall high cost of law school admissions, we also were familiarized with the admissions staff and some of the faculty of different schools. This helped us in the application process for each school; we became a recognizable name and face to the staff at the Texas schools, instead of just a number.

Now that I am an actual law student, I recognize just how much the SLSPA prepared me to do well in law school. I feel that I had a significant advantage compared to the other students right from the start. While other students were still figuring out how to read and understand the language of their first assigned case reading, I was already familiar with reading cases, briefing cases, and taking efficient class notes. I was also familiar with how to study for a law school exam (for example, forming a study group, and preparing each day for an exam that would cover over three months of material, etc.). The mock law school classes that were taught at the SLSPA were nearly identical to my real first year law school classes. I was even familiar with much of the material from difficult classes, such as Constitutional Law, and Torts - I had already read 75% of the cases from both of those classes!

Both my husband and I grew up in poor Mexican-American families. I am the youngest of six children, and the first one of those six to graduate not only from college, but from high school as well. You can imagine what an accomplishment it is for me to be in graduate school right now. I have the SLSPA to thank for that, because I can honestly say that without the training and assistance I received from Dr. Gambitta and the faculty members who taught and helped with the program, I would not be in law school right now. Both my husband and I are half way done with our law school educations, and in the near future, we will both have earned our JD's and start contributing to the legal community. We are forever grateful to Dr. Gambitta and the SLSPA for changing our lives and careers, and we strongly recommend that aid be given to this program so it can continue to impact other student's lives and careers. My husband and I look forward to the day that we ourselves can contribute to this wonderful program.

Sincerely,
Elyse D. Druck

Gretchen Milne [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

In the Summer of 2002, I was a member of the inaugural class for the Law School Preparation Academy. I had just been named a 2002 Harry S. Truman Scholar and was set to graduate in December summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. I had thought about law school as a post-graduate option, but I still had not made a firm decision. However, with the rewarding and rich experience I was provided at the Law School Preparation Academy, I had decided, a mere week into the Summer session, that I would go to law school.

The Academy had developed a partnership with Kaplan and provided, at no cost to the students, an LSAT preparation course. Thus, I not only participated in coursework that would provide a foundation for law school, I was also provided tools to prepare for the LSAT. The Kaplan course, coupled with the Legal Reasoning course provided at the Academy, were instrumental in helping me to achieve a high LSAT score. This high score, combined with my 4.0 GPA and Harry S. Truman Scholarship were factors that gained my acceptance into University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law and University of Texas at Austin School of Law—two of the nation's top law schools.

I attended University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law my first year and was amazed at how prepared I was for the workload, having been assigned, nightly, numerous cases to read and analyze during the Academy. Moreover, having taken Torts at the Academy, I possessed a tremendous amount of knowledge stepping into my Torts class at Boalt Hall. I transferred to University of Texas at Austin School of Law after my first year, with my desire to practice law in Texas. In May of 2006, I graduated law school with honors, and I took and passed the July 2006 Bar exam. I am now practicing law, with a focus on intellectual property litigation.

Without a doubt, I view my time at the Law School Preparation Academy as one of my best academic experiences. The professors Dr. Richard Gambitta assembled at the Academy, including Dr. Gambitta, himself, rivaled those who taught me at Boalt Hall School of Law and UT Law School. I was provided an experience that resembles that of law school, with the coursework, schedule, style of teaching, and lectures. Because I excelled in the Academy, I felt confident that I would achieve great things in law school. That confidence is something that cannot be purchased or taught; but, it is clearly something that Dr. Gambitta instills in his students at the Academy.

Sincerely,
Gretchen K. Milne

Hector Benavides [ Top ]

My name is Hector Benavides and I participated in the Summer Preparation Academy in the summer of 2004 and 2005. I am writing this letter in support of the Academy because it has helped me to get into law school and what I have excelled in my first semester due to what I learned at the Academy. I truly believe that if it was not for my participation in the Academy I would not have done as well as I did in my first semester.

The Academy was very helpful in my law school application process. I got helpful advice on how to prepare my personal statement and my resume. The admission personnel that gave lectures at the Academy provided very helpful advice as to what a law school admission committee looks for in a resume and a personal statement. The Academy also provided an opportunity to acquire letters of recommendation from professors that had tested my ability to learn and understand legal topics. The combination of help to prepare my resume, personal statement and availability of letters of recommendation resulted in my acceptance to four law schools from which I could choose which one was the best fit for me.

The area in which my participation in the Academy has helped me is in being above average in my first semester at St. Mary's School of Law. I am at the top two percent of the first year class with a 3.76 grade point average and I have just been selected for an internship with Judge Emilio Garza of the Firth Circuit Court of Appeals. The courses that I took at the Academy helped me to enter law school better prepared than most other first year students. I knew how to read and what to look for in a judicial opinion and how to brief a case. Other first year students needed time to adjust to the law school style of studying. The transition was easier for me because I had learned many of the skills necessary to excel in law school from the courses that I took at the Academy.

The Academy experience has influenced my life and career greatly. Thanks to the Academy I have succeed in my first semester in law school and many new doors are opening for me that would not have been open if I had not done as well as I did my first semester. I believe that other students will benefit as well from the Academy experience.

Joseph Echavarria [ Top ]

To whom it may concern:

I am a third year law student at Southern Methodist University, and I can state with certainty that I would not be where I presently am without the Institute for Law and Public Affairs and the Summer Law School Preparation Academy.

I adamantly believe that few, if any, can be successful without a helping hand along the way. While many individuals have contributed to my education significantly, I found the greatest stimulation to my professional growth at the Institute for Law and Public Affairs and, specifically, the Summer Law School Preparation Academy.

When I came to law school I found that I was better prepared than I had ever hoped to be. Although I was still intimidated, as all first-year students are, I quickly found that the Institute prepared me well for the realities of law school, including the workload, stress and anxiety of first year. Further, I found that the Institute did me an invaluable service by beginning to develop my analytical skills to a degree which placed me at an advantage to many other first year students. Overall, I found the skills and experiences I gained from the Institute to be the greatest gift any prospective law student could ever hope to receive.

In the end, the Institute for Law and Public Affairs and Summer Law School Preparation Academy are an asset to the San Antonio community. It provides the finest and most comprehensive program for students who hope to go to law school. It is my hope that many future students can gain from this incredible program and opportunity.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Joseph Echavarria
214-938-7793
jechavar@smu.edu

Joel Tabar [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

The Summer Pre-Law Preparatory Academy (SLSPA) was a life changing experience for me. Before I attended the SLSPA, college was nothing more to me than exams and research papers; I had never deeply engaged myself into my studies. I had always heard about how college was supposed to be some kind of enlightening, mind-opening experience, but I saw it as more of a mission, in which I attacked each semester in pursuit of graduating with honors. To me, retaining anything I had learned, by the end of a semester, was merely a collateral reward to my earning an A in a class.

The SLSPA changed everything. When I applied for the program, I had no idea that the classes were going to be considerably more difficult than the average, regular-semester classes I had been taking (I only applied because I thought my having a "pre-law academy" resume bullet would improve my chances of getting into law school). Once the semester started, I soon found out that the courses I was taking would challenge me academically like I had never been challenged before. After having to abandon my social life, my textbooks became my new best friends, and we rarely left each others sides.

To my surprise, I quickly discovered that I enjoyed my SLSPA courses (constitutional case law fascinated me, and I took great pleasure in fine-tuning my technical writing skills) more than any courses I had every taken, and I soon realized that I really did want to be a lawyer. In fact, I felt like I was made for the legal profession. Never hesitant to raise my hand in the Socratic-style classroom or to give up an entire Saturday to my studies, I had finally felt like I found my calling.

I also found great pleasure meeting other students with similar interests and goals. Meeting and befriending these people was a very encouraging and motivating factor, as we developed a camaraderie and bonded together to get through the summer. I have been able to maintain many of these friendships to this day and will hopefully continue to do so for a long time to come.

The every-Friday visits from law professors and admissions board members also came as great benefit, because these people provide insight to what it took to get into law school and what law school was really going to be like. If it wasn’t for these presentations, I may have never learned how to properly put my law school application together, and I may not feel as prepared for law school as I do today.

At the end of it all, the SLSPA reminded me a lot of my time in Air Force Basic Training - a short, intense period of time, in which I was challenged beyond what I thought were my limits. The Academy helped me gain a new sense of confidence and drive that I had previously lacked, and I have continued to carry that confidence and drive, ever since.

I am proud and honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of such a magnificent program, and I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure other students have experiences similar to mine in the SLSPA.

Sincerely,
Joel D. Tabar
Student,
2006 Summer Law School Preparatory Academy
Institute for Law and Public Affairs
University of Texas at San Antonio

Jessica Betts Estrada [ Top ]

Dr. Richard Gambitta
Attention: Anthony Arriaga
Dear Dr. Gambitta,

I enthusiastically and unequivocally give my continuing support to the Summer Law School Preparation Academy (the Academy) at The University of Texas at San Antonio. I was a member of the 2002 inaugural class. Although the program was newly formed, it was pivotal in my preparation for law school.

There were several resources provided to me through the Academy that enhanced my opportunities in the law school admission process. First, the Academy offered the Kaplan Law School Admission Test (LSAT) Preparation Class at no cost to me. An LSAT preparation class is crucial to being successful on the test. While the class is of the utmost importance, it is costly. I simply would not have been able to finance an LSAT preparation class on my own. As a result of that class I achieved a score that I believe is higher than it would've been had I not taken the class. Second, the Academy hosted many admission counselors from Texas law schools that were insightful and helpful in their explanations of the law school admissions process, particularly in the area of the written personal statement. The personal statement is a vital part of a student's law school application. The Academy helped me greatly in this area. I feel that I wrote an excellent personal statement that was a direct result of the Academy's guidance. Finally, the Academy organized and financed trips each semester to the Law School forums held in both Dallas and Houston. I would not have been able to attend these important and informative events without the support of the Academy.

In addition to the administrative guidance the Academy offered me, it also helped me excel academically in law school. The courses that were offered were similar in style to an actual law school class. This realistic experience helped me gain confidence in the intimidating Socratic method employed by most law schools. When I attended my first semester in law school, I found that I was more confident and successful than the other students during class recitations. I owe some of that self-assurance to the faculty of the Academy. The professors were adept at recreating the atmosphere of an authentic law school classroom.

In closing, the Summer Law School Preparation Academy was essential to my law school achievements. I will graduate from South Texas College of Law in May of this year in the top half of my class. During my law school career I clerked for one of the most prestigious criminal defense attorneys in the state of Texas. I am currently a pre-commitment intern with the Harris County District Attorney's Office. I was one of only eight candidates chosen out of 1,000 nationwide applicants for this highly coveted position. After successfully passing the Texas Bar Examination, I will be sworn in as an Assistant District Attorney. Surely, this is a testament to the immeasurable value of the Summer Law School Preparation Academy to The University of Texas at San Antonio and its students.

Sincerely,
Jessica Betts Estrada

Jeret Guiterrez [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in support for the Institute of Law and Public Affairs Summer Law School Preparation Academy. Many factors contributed to my goal of becoming a lawyer and the Summer Law School Academy directed by Dr. Gambitta was one of the strongest reasons why I was admitted into a law school. As a first generation college graduate, I did not have a legacy of lawyers to assist me in my endeavor and needed as much help as possible to achieve my goal. Looking back to my first year of law school, the courses and professors of the Academy prepared my skills in Torts and legal writing. The experience I gathered while in the Academy was challenging and at the same time demonstrated the competitiveness of the profession. This exposure gave me the drive to work at my best because I knew from that point on the best would be expected of me.

Before the institute developed, I applied to various law schools and was denied admission to each one. I could not afford a review course for the LSAT and I seemed oblivious to what a personal statement should contain and what law schools search for in a resume. When I discovered the new Summer Law School Preparation Academy, I applied and was part of the first class.

The Academy gave a scholarship to each admitted student for a free Kaplan LSAT review course that honed my testing skills. During the summer program, we visited various Texas law schools and many deans came to UTSA giving us the opportunity to interact with admission coordinators. At these meetings, personal statements and resumes were discussed. This gave me a better understanding of what law schools expect from applicants. After completing the Academy I applied again to various law schools and got accepted to a Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law. I know that the Academy strengthened my application and gave me the support I needed.

Torts and legal research and writing were the two courses I completed during the Academy. The class and professor's method of teaching in this undergraduate course were identical to the Torts class I completed in law school. Our final exam in Torts while in the Academy was an essay exam and I made an A in the course. While in my first year law school course of Torts, our mid-term exam was a group of essays and I scored the second highest in my section. I attribute this achievement to the Academy through its training in law school course work.

I am proud to be part of the first ever Summer Law School Academy at UTSA. Eventually, I aspire to become a mentor and perhaps a professor in Torts for the Academy. If you have any questions or concerns please email me at jeret_80@hotmail.com.

Sincerely,
Jeret Gutierrez, J.D.

Amanda Taylor [ Top ]

Dear Sirs:

I am writing to express my deepest support and gratitude for the University of Texas, San Antonio Summer Law School Preparation Academy. I am currently a second year law student at the University of Texas in Austin and believe many things that I learned while an undergraduate at UTSA, particularly in this summer program, have made my transition to graduate school much easier.

One of the things that I appreciated most is the high caliber of instructors who participated. We were exposed to lectures from former lawyers, extremely learned professors, guest classes from professors of law schools, and numerous discussions with local and state legal representatives. Almost every law school in Texas sent a member of their recruiting staff who gave valuable insight to their specific application and acceptance policies and campus culture. Many schools also offered an application fee waiver, allowing us to widen our application pool. I walked into the Academy without a clue about the process of applying to law school, taking the LSATs, writing personal statements, and all of the dozens of steps in applying to law school - I left prepared to take on the next phase of my life.

The Academy conducted classes using law school textbooks, the Socratic Method, and blind grading which made the transition to law school much smoother than the move from a traditional school could have been. Several of the students in my class had never performed any kind of legal research and legal terminology was foreign to them. Having taken the courses through the Academy did a great deal to put me at ease that hectic first year.

I am deeply grateful for all of the things that Dr. Gambitta and the Academy does year round to make law school an attainable goal for undergraduate students. I sincerely hope that they will be able to continue to do so for many years to come.

Yours truly,
Amanda M. Taylor

Marc Druck [ Top ]

Dear Sir or Madam:

As I prepare to enter my final year of law school, I reflect back and realize that my journey to this point has been long and trying. I also realize that I could not have reached this point in my life without the assistance of Dr. Gambitta and the SLSPA.

I was lucky to find the SLSPA. It nurtured me from a mediocre student contemplating law school to a competitive applicant and later successful law student. I completed the SLSPA program over two summers. My program consisted of a technical writing class geared for lawyers, a logic course, and two simulated law school courses, one in Constitutional Law and the other in torts. Also, the SLSPA would present lectures from accomplished lawyers, judges, and academics every week. The simulated law school courses, and my high achievement in them, gave me an edge in the law school admissions process, as my high marks in those rigorous courses suggested that I could handle the demands of law school. The included LSAT preparation classes and logic course also made me a stronger applicant by helping me score well on the LSAT. The perspective and advice from the guest speakers helped solidify my desire to enter law school. I am certain that I would not be where I am today, on the verge of a great legal career, without the SLSPA. The program molded me into a successful candidate and I was admitted to my first-choice law school: the University of Texas School of Law, a feat no doubt greatly owed to the SLSPA.

Of course, I would not have been able to attend the SLSPA without the generous financial support offered by the program.

Further, I feel that the skills I learned in the legal writing class have served me well and will continue to do so. I was offered a judicial internship with a Federal Magistrate Judge during the summer after my first year based largely on my writing sample. I was also chosen from a large pool of applicants for a competitive internship with an Austin law firm based exclusively on my writing sample. I am certain that the writing instruction given to me at the SLSPA is directly responsible for my success in legal writing. These internships have paved the way for my future career plans. Thus, I owe my future to the SLSPA and its instructors.

The SLSPA has helped me, a Hispanic, first-generation college graduate, reach a level of success not expected from a student with my background. For that, I am eternally grateful and indebted.

Mitch Kilby [ Top ]

To Whom it May Concern:

Currently I am a first-year law student at the University of Texas School of Law. I am writing in support of The University of Texas at San Antonio's (UTSA) Summer Law School Preparation Academy. The Academy is an excellent program that not only made it possible for me to get accepted into law school of my choice, but also made it possible for me to succeed there.

When I first learned of the Academy, I knew that I was interested in law school. However, I had no idea of how to prepare for law school, nor the steps it would take to get accepted. The first summer of the Academy changed that. It taught me new writing and analytical skills, introduced me to legal professionals, and challenged me. Through its extracurricular programs, I also began to learn what it would take for me to get accepted into a top law school. Most importantly, it allowed me to build both business and personal contacts that I still maintain today.

After my first summer in the Academy, I had a fresh sense of motivation. My grades, from that point forward, had a steep upward incline. Additionally, I was continually mentored by the leaders and administrators of the program, who gave me important guidance and continue to do so. By the start of my second summer in the program, the Academy had already given me the confidence to apply, and be accepted, for a full scholarship to study for a semester in China. In essence, the Academy helped align my goals, gave me the motivation and tools to succeed, and allowed me to participate in other programs that further coincided with my goals.

The Institute has also helped me do well in law school. I was intimidated at first when I learned that many of my classmates attended universities like Yale, Harvard or Rice. However, I soon discovered that the skills I learned from my two summers in the Academy enabled me to be highly competitive with my classmates.

I strongly recommended your support of UTSA's Summer Law School Preparation Academy. It added great value to my education, and I do not think I would be where I am today with out it.

Sincerely,
Mitchell E. Kilby

Roland Garcia [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

I participated in UTSA's Institute for Law and Public Affairs Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA) in 2004. I found that summer program to be invaluable in my legal education. My experiences in the SLSPA helped to prepare me for law school in a way that no other program had could.

Prior to my participation in the SLSPA, I was unsure what I would do after I graduated UTSA. I had considered law school, but was still unsure and I did not know if I would be able to handle the courses. My decision to pursue law school is a direct result of my participation in the SLSPA. The SLSPA helped me to see that law school was a realistic option when there was no other program that could have done that so effectively. In addition, the classes I took showed me what to expect and prepared me to excel at a great law school.

As a working parent, I could have never enrolled without the SLSPA's scholarship. The scholarship helped to minimize the financial impact of giving up a summer of work to participate in this valuable program.

Sincerely, Roland J. Garcia
University of Texas School of Law
J.D. Expected, May 2008
SLSPA Class of 2004

Stephanie Hendrickson [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

As a current 1L student at the University of Houston Law Center, I owe a significant part of my success to the University of Texas at San Antonio's Summer Law School Preparation Academy and to the instruction and mentoring I received by Dr. Richard Gambitta. I am confident that without my participation in the Summer Law School Preparation Academy, I would not have gained admission into law school, let alone be successful.

After the first week at the University of Houston, I felt I had a strong advantage over many of my peers, having been exposed to the Socratic Method and required to read a similar amount of cases and texts. I am very grateful for the opportunity I had participate in UTSA's Summer Law School Preparation Academy because I entered law school with a solid foundation and a general understanding of the study of the law. Primarily, Dr. Gambitta and the law academy taught me how to issue spot, brief cases and discuss court decisions from a variety of perspectives. As a result of the training and education I received, I was able to have a running start, while many of the first year students looked like deer caught in the headlights. In addition to being very well prepared and aware of the expectations for my performance, the classes at the Summer Law School Preparation Academy gave me an opportunity to read, analyze and discuss many of the same cases in my law school classes. The SLSPA not only has prepared me for the academic rigors of law school, but boosted my resume and has given me a great advantage in my summer job search. After completing Constitutional Law, Dr. Gambitta helped me obtain an internship in the federal courts in the chambers of Judge Royal Furgeson, which gave me the opportunity to enter into law school with an understanding not only the on the ground practice of the law but also the experience of being inside a court room and seeing what actual decisions and legal documents look like.

Without the Law Institute and Academy, I would not have had a solid foundation to help me be successful in law school and in my career. By taking full advantage of all that the program had to offer from a variety of classes, LSAT preparation, attending lectures and law school admission seminars, exposure to the Socratic Method, instruction on briefing and writing law school exam essays, participating in multiple internships and creating a lifetime network, I am forever indebted to the Institute for Law and Public Affairs, the Summer Law School Preparation Academy and Dr. Gambitta. I hope that throughout my career I am able to help the law academy as much as they help me.

Respectfully,
Stephanie Hendrickson

Santiago Alaniz [ Top ]

Dear Dr. Gambitta:

I am writing to you in an effort to assist you with the grant proposal that will be submitted to the Texas Bar foundation. The Institute of Law & Public Affairs (ILPA) has truly changed my life in so many ways. I can only hope that this letter will serve as an indication on how grateful and how fortunate I feel that I was given the opportunity to be a part of such a great program.

I graduated from the small town of Karnes City in 1999. Coming from an immigrant family who was not financially stable, I decided to attend a local community college with hopes of accomplishing my dream of becoming a college graduate. Since I was a child, I always knew that I wanted to be an attorney. However, I never felt that I was encouraged and never felt that my dreams were shared by anybody else. I was a student with no direction. My dreams faded and my desire was lost.

All my emotions came to a quick halt one morning in San Antonio. I was in a criminal justice class and my professor informed us that UTSA would launch its inaugural Summer Law School Preparation Academy. I decided to apply. This is where I met Dr. Richard Gambitta and the other students who shared a unified dream. The dream of an education.

While at the ILPA, I encountered some of the toughest classes that I had ever taken. I was challenged. I felt like a lawyer, but knew that I still had a look of work in front of me. Unlike my previous experiences, I was encouraged to move forward and I knew my dream could possibly become a reality. I studied torts, logic, legal writing and constitutional law. I became the victim of the Socratic Method.

The ILPA prepared me for law school by opening my mind and helping me welcome challenges. The ILPA opened my mind and heart. My desire to become an attorney was revived and with the help of the ILPA, I commenced my preparation for the LSAT examination. After spending more time with my study materials than with my family, I felt comfortable and took the examination.

Months later, I was accepted into the University of Texas School of Law. My life had just taken a 180 degree turnaround. I had just been accepted into one of the best law schools in the country. This was one of the best feelings that I have ever had in my life. I can honestly say that this was one of the best feelings that my parents and family had ever felt themselves.

My law school experience was far from easy. My first year was torture. However, I was prepared. While at the Summer Law School Preparation Academy, I had been subject to identical pressure. Rather than complain or think about dropping out, I accepted the challenge. I graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in May 2006. I passed the Texas Bar Examination in November 2006. I am now a labor and employment attorney in Houston, Texas and serve some of the wealthiest companies in the World.

Without the ILPA, I would not be where I am today. The ILPA offered me a scholarship to attend the program in the amount of $500 and paid for my KAPLAN LSAT course. That $500 changed my life. The KAPLAN course changed my life. Financially and emotionally, I would not have had the opportunity to attend such a great program without the assistance of all the professors and staff of the ILPA.

I understand that the ILPA is seeking a grant to further improve its impact. This program is extremely beneficial to minorities in the area who would not have the opportunity to ever prepare or apply to law school. I can only speak for myself, but I would do it all over again if I had to. I can only hope that others are afforded the opportunity to experience the same educational experience that I did.

Thank you.
Santiago T. Alaniz

Tiffany Colunga [ Top ]

To whom it may concern:

The Institute for Law and Public Affairs is a wonderful program that is helping South Texas students, who have a dream of going to law school, but may not have the resources and guidance to accomplish this goal. I was one of these students five years ago when the Summer Law School Preparation Academy began. I have no doubt that the reason I was accepted to Texas Tech University School of Law on a Regents Scholarship was because I had dedicated two summers to the SLSPA.

The SLSPA gave me the know-how regarding writing a personal statement, creating a resume, and applying to law school. The training I gained from the SLSPA gave me a solid foundation to apply throughout law school. During the two summers that I participated in the program, I heard from numerous attorneys, law school recruiters, law students and politicians. The SLSPA educated me on writing techniques, case briefing and logical analysis.

The Academy also created a network for students, wanting to attend law school. During undergraduate, I had my peers from whom I could ask questions and get feedback. The SLSPA introduced me to other students with similar goals in life. I have kept in touch with many of these students since we graduated from UTSA. These students are at various law schools throughout Texas, and we have the unique opportunity to compare and to converse about our law school experiences.

My first year of law school I was prepared when I walked into my classes. I was used to reading hundreds of pages and to taking written essay exams. The logical analysis and legal writing techniques I learned during the SLSPA benefited me in every stage of law school.

I am proud to say that I graduated from the Texas Tech University School of Law in two and a half years at the top third of my class. I am currently studying for the February Texas Bar Exam. I feel forever indebted to this program for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to achieve my dream of becoming an attorney.

Sincerely, Tiffany N. Colunga

Victor Gonzalez [ Top ]

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm writing this letter in support of the Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA), which I completed in 2003. The SLSPA played an important role in my law school application process. I received assistance on my letters of recommendation, my LSAT preparation, and most importantly, my personal statement. The academy showed me how to use my personal statement to distinguish myself from other applicants. In fact, a law school professor on the admissions committee has praised my personal statement, stating that he has read thousands of personal statements throughout the years, of which he only remembers a handful, including mine.

The academy has also prepared me for law school. I can best sum it up with the phrase I wish I knew then what I know now! Last semester, during an executive board meeting at the Latin American Law School Association, we discussed our first-year law student mentoring program. Reflecting on our first-year law student experience, each of us shared what we wish we had known when we first started law school. The consensus was clear - the first year of law school was confusing, stressful, and overwhelming. I was prepared, however, because I already knew many of the things that my colleagues wish they had known.

I knew these things because I had experienced the law school environment prior to law school by participating in the SLSPA. The academy helped me earn a competitive advantage over other first year law students. While at the academy, I participated in my first Socratic class discussion, read my first court opinion, briefed my first case, prepared my first outline, and took my first law exam. Not only was I introduced to these law school essentials, but I continuously experienced them for the duration of the program. I painfully kept up with the reading load, each day getting better at spotting the issue, distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant facts, and critically analyzing the court's holding and the rationale. As the summer went on, I learned to synthesize the various cases into a comprehensive outline, which I then used to prepare for the final exam. At the completion of the SLSPA, I had a long list of things that I wished I had known prior to starting the program. Today, however, I realize that most of the things that I wished I had known are things that are best learned through experience. Therefore, I attribute my success in law school to what I learned, through experience, at the SLSPA.

It is important for me to emphasize how much the SLSPA contributed to my preparation and success in law school. My first year of law school was one of the most academically challenging times of my life, and yet I was blessed with a competitive advantage and a boost in confidence solely due to my experience in the Academy. I'm eager to be in a position where I can contribute to the SLSPA so that other students may receive the solid preparation that I received.

Sincerely,
Victor Gonzalez