In part, the draw of returning to Houston for law school and, eventually law practice, led Maria Chammas to choose South Texas College of Law Houston. Also, “the community seemed like a good fit for me,” she said.
“The community here is really special,” Chammas said. “I have made amazing friends and I have had wonderful professors who push us to be the best future lawyers and who foster a learning environment that’s welcoming and comfortable.”
Several professors at South Texas Law have been particularly helpful to Chammas, including her Legal Research and Writing professors Amanda Peters and Katherine Vukadin. “They have shown me that I want to incorporate legal writing in my career,” Chammas said. “They are both passionate about writing and very good at it. I look up to them.”
During her first year in law school, Chammas joined the First-Generation Law Society, and this past summer, she wrote for the South Texas Law Review. After participating in South Texas Law’s strong on-campus interview program, coordinated by the Career Resource Center, Chammas was hired as a 2025 summer associate at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr.
The process was seamless for Chammas, with assistance from the CRC. “I applied through the online portal and had my interviews on campus. When I went through the call-back process, the CRC team helped me through the decision-making and prep processes, calmed my nerves, and helped me find the right fit.”
Chammas’ initial career goal is to find somewhere she belongs — “a firm where I fit as a person and a place where I can grow.”
Students come to South Texas Law with interesting backgrounds, hobbies, and experiences that enrich the community. In Chammas’ case, she was involved in ballet from the age of 3 to 18. The discipline required to be a serious dancer is similar to the focus and discipline required for law school — and for getting those first jobs as a law student.
“It’s a tough process at times, and maybe even scary and intimidating, but just keep working hard,” she said. “Also, recognize that while firms are interviewing you, you’re also interviewing them. They want to find someone that will be the right fit at their firm — and you want to find the firm that will be the right fit for you.”