Christina Beeler

Hosted by Juvenile and Children’s Advocacy Project
Sponsored by Latham & Watkins LLP
Service location Houston, Texas
Law school University of Houston Law Center
Issue area Education/Special Education
Fellowship class year 2018
Program Design Your Own Fellowship

The Project

Christina provided direct legal representation and community outreach to juveniles in school disciplinary proceedings in Houston and surrounding communities in Texas.

Sixty percent of Texas students will be suspended or expelled at least once before graduation. There are nearly 1,000,000 students in Houston-area public schools. Christina’s project focused on providing direct representation to K–12 students in school disciplinary proceedings and juvenile court.

Fellowship Highlights

Christina created and taught a clinic at the University of Houston Law Center, the Education Rights Clinic, which allows law students to represent K–12 students in school discipline cases. Christina provided brief services or full representation to over 150 juveniles in school discipline cases or in juvenile court. Christina worked on several high-profile cases, including a case with the ACLU of Texas and the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational Fund involving hair discrimination in schools. Christina also conducted over 50 know-your-rights presentations for parents, teachers, and other community members to learn about their rights in schools.

Next Steps

Christina began a federal clerkship in the Southern District of Texas with Judge Gray Miller in August 2020. In August 2021, she will join the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in their Education Advocacy Program, where she will continue providing representation to juveniles in school cases.