By Ronique Bastine Robinson, AAML

It was June 1, 2024, when three law students who had just completed their first year of law school walked through our doors. What made the moment particularly memorable was that each of them believed they were the only AAML Scholar I had hired for the summer.

The truth was much simpler: each possessed qualities I could not ignore, and I found myself unable to say no.

The first was Jediah Holman. During the fall semester of her 1L year, she took the initiative to send me an email introducing herself and expressing an interest in family law. I am always impressed by students who are willing to make that first connection. Initiative matters. It demonstrates confidence, professionalism and genuine interest. I told Jediah that when summer arrived, she would be first in line for consideration.

As spring approached and interviews began, I received a call from one of our former scholars who had recently graduated from law school. She encouraged me to meet Taylor Hancock. From the moment we spoke, Taylor’s enthusiasm was contagious. She was energetic, optimistic and sincerely interested in learning the practice of family law. Her passion made a lasting impression.

At the same time, the placement office at the University of Houston Law Center provided an exceptionally strong group of candidates. Narrowing the field became increasingly difficult. Ultimately, Sandra Johnson rose to the top of the list, aided by one of the most compelling recommendations I have ever received. Another student I interviewed looked at me and said, “You should hire Sandra. She’s the smartest student in our class.” It is difficult to ignore that kind of endorsement.

And so, what was intended to be one scholar became three.

People often ask me how I interview law students. My process is not particularly traditional, but it has served me well.

My first question is always: “Why family law?”

Family law is one of the most emotionally demanding areas of legal practice. Technical competence is essential, but it is not enough. I want to understand what draws a student to a field where people are often experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

My second question surprises many candidates: “Are you a morning person or a night person?”

The answer has very little to do with sleep habits. I ask because people perform at their best under different conditions. I have worked nontraditional hours throughout my career, and I want to understand how a candidate naturally operates. It also provides insight into discipline, time management and whether punctuality may become an issue.

From there, our conversation turns to long-term career goals, litigation aptitude, patience, empathy, communication skills and research abilities. We conclude by discussing the experiences reflected on their resumes and the lessons they learned from them.

Over the years, this approach has helped us build relationships with five classes of scholars. More importantly, it has allowed us to stay connected and celebrate their successes long after their summer experience ended.

Not every talented lawyer is destined to become a family lawyer, and that’s perfectly okay.

Two of our former scholars, Oiya Ali Neely and Kiara Chatman, joined us as associates for a period before determining that civil litigation was a better fit for their professional aspirations. I am proud that the skills they developed here helped position them for successful careers elsewhere.

Today, each member of the 2024 scholar class is pursuing a path uniquely their own.

Sandra Johnson plans to enter criminal defense after passing the bar exam, with the long-term goal of owning her own law firm.

Jediah Holman has married, passed the bar exam and chosen to devote this season of her life to being a stay-at-home mother.

Taylor Hancock will join Bastine Law Group as our newest associate after completing the bar exam, and we are excited to welcome her to the team.

The AAML Scholars Program is about far more than summer employment. It provides law students with access to experienced practitioners and Fellows they might not otherwise encounter. At the same time, it gives seasoned lawyers the opportunity to mentor, teach and learn from the next generation of our profession.

Too often, mentorship is viewed as a one-way street. My experience has been the opposite. Every scholar who has come through our doors has left us better than they found us. They bring fresh perspectives, new ideas and renewed enthusiasm for the law.

When we open doors for others, we create opportunities for growth on both sides of the threshold.

That may be the greatest lesson the Scholars Program has taught me.