This Mother’s Day, South Texas College of Law Houston celebrates a legacy of leadership that spans classrooms, courtrooms, and generations.
When Sharon McCally ’90 first walked into South Texas Law, she intended to pursue a legal career outside of the courtroom spotlight due to a paralyzing fear of public speaking. But a brash challenge from the legendary Dean Gerald Treece — then director of the increasingly successful Advocacy Program — would change the trajectory of her entire life.
“He told us if you’re not a courtroom lawyer, you’re not a lawyer at all,” McCally recalled. Motivated by that moment, she entered a moot court competition — and won — igniting a passion for advocacy that would define her career.
Dean Treece quickly became a mentor to McCally, teaching her that great lawyers don’t just know the law, they understand the why behind it. “He taught us to bring color to an argument,” McCally said. “It wasn’t enough to just know the facts. You had to make them matter.”
That advocacy spirit propelled McCally into a successful career in trial and appellate courts, including service on both the district court and court of appeals. Along the way, she navigated challenges familiar to many women, particularly being underestimated.
However, McCally’s aim was never to be the best woman lawyer in the room, but instead the best lawyer in the room. “Don’t self-segregate after generations of women lawyers have worked so hard to desegregate us,” said McCally, who now serves on South Texas Law’s board of directors. “The women whose shoulders we stand on fought to give us a seat at the table — so let’s not turn around and have the women sit over here and the men sit over there.”
Fast forward two and half decades: McCally’s daughter, Caroline Lubel, also found her way to South Texas Law, albeit by a different route. After earning a finance degree and working in San Antonio during the pandemic, Lubel felt drawn to advocacy — and home. “I wanted to come back to Houston,” said Lubel, now a third-year law student. “And if you want to be an advocate, South Texas Law is the place to be.”
Following in her mother’s footsteps and competing in South Texas Law’s elite advocacy program, Lubel faced the daunting task of living up to a name well known in the advocacy halls. “It’s hard to beat the record of Sharon McCally,” Lubel said, laughing. But she’s certainly making her own mark.
This past March, Lubel and her partner Tevin Long emerged victorious as national champions at the University of California Law San Francisco National Constitutional Law Competition.
But what Lubel treasures most is bigger than trophies or titles — it’s her mother’s mentorship. “It’s hard to say what the most important lessons are that I’ve gained from my mom,” Lubel said. “I’ve learned how to be a better advocate, a better partner, and a better supporter because of her.”
As for McCally, no courtroom victory compares to watching her daughter’s growth and own law journey. “I’m so very proud of Caroline,” McCally said. “She lifts up her peers. She’s always answering questions, making time to help others.”
Together, they represent what makes South Texas Law so exceptional — a community of advocates who champion and inspire each other, generation to generation.
