Though Elizabeth Peck was accepted at multiple law schools, she chose to attend South Texas College of Law Houston.
“I loved its location in Houston — the energy capital of the world,” Peck said. “There’s no better city to be in to practice energy law. I have always wanted to be an attorney and to go into the energy sector.”
At Texas A&M, Peck fell in love with nuclear energy, taking every class she could about it and writing all her research papers about its domestic and international impacts. In the process, she also learned about oil and gas as well as alternate forms of energy.
Peck appreciates South Texas Law’s unique Harry L. Reed Oil and Gas Institute for the ways it has introduced her to the practical application of oil and gas law.
“I am thrilled to learn highly sought-after legal skills for the oil and gas industry,” Peck said. “Choosing South Texas Law was easy because it provides a plethora of opportunities to learn to be an asset to any energy company, oil and gas law firm, or other type of company.”
In law school, Peck is involved in the Oil and Gas Law Society and Aggie Law Students Association. She has gained practical skills from Prof. Amanda Peters’ Legal Research and Writing class. “She instilled in me the importance of having pride in my work, and she is tough to make me better. I would not be half the legal writer I am without her guidance.”
Peck said the community at South Texas Law is unmatched. “Everyone is willing to help, to listen to you, and to support you in whatever endeavor you take on. The people here are steadfast. I cannot imagine being in law school without having such a strong support system. Every student, professor, and staff member wants to see you succeed.”
Next summer, Peck will work at Oliva Gibbs, LLP. She’s grateful to Marie Garcia in the law school’s Career Resource Center (CRC) for putting the opening on her radar. “I was interested in working there but didn’t realize they were already hiring for summer,” Peck said. “At 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning, Marie sent me the summer job posting and told me she thought it would be an amazing opportunity. I immediately applied directly from their website.”
She gives high praise to the CRC for their “unwavering guidance. They helped alleviate my stress during the recruitment process and helped me stop disqualifying myself. I learned from them the importance of knowing the firm and your interviewers like the back of your hand. Research allows you to relate your experience and strengths to their values. I am so grateful to the entire CRC team!”
Peck’s advises law students to “never be the one to tell yourself no! Even if you don’t perfectly match the job description or are missing something required by the firm, apply! Put the ball in their court and let them to be the one to make that decision. Apply for every job you want, even if you think there is no way you’ll be interviewed. You never know what they’re looking for or what they want. Go for it! The results may surprise you.”
After graduation, Peck wants to be a transactional oil and gas attorney. In the long run — after establishing herself as a diligent, trustworthy oil and gas attorney — she would like to branch out her skillset to practice alternative energy law.
“I love nuclear energy, but there is more to it,” Peck said. “The energy industry is expanding and developing every day. To keep up with clients’ needs, it is important to be well rounded in the industry. I want to do oil and gas law for the rest of my career, but I also want to advise on and practice alternative energy law at some point.”
When Peck can carve out time for hobbies, she loves painting. “It’s my favorite thing to do,” she said. “I normally spend every summer working on one large piece to decorate my room. It is extremely relaxing. My favorite piece was a large, mixed-media, pop-art style fish painting. I took me more than four months to pain more than a dozen different freshwater and saltwater fish. It’s my favorite thing to see when I come home.”
