Two Texas A&M School of Law graduates recently secured clerkships with Justice Evan Young of the Supreme Court of Texas. C. Cole Stenholm '18, '21 and Spencer Lockwood '18, '22 will each serve a one-year term.
Stenholm will serve during the Supreme Court’s 2023-2024 term, while Lockwood will serve in 2024-2025. When considered together, these prestigious opportunities reflect the striking progress of Texas A&M Law in recent years. Prior to Justice Young’s new hires, only one student who applied to and graduated from Texas A&M Law has served as a law clerk on the Supreme Court of Texas.
“It is always a point of pride when our graduates take positions in which they will help shape the legal landscape – especially through work as essential as that of the Texas Supreme Court,” said Dean Robert B. Ahdieh, Dean of Texas A&M Law and Vice President for Professional Schools & Programs for the University. “Alongside our recent rankings outcomes, the heightened credentials of our incoming students, and the striking success of our graduates, placements such as these with Justice Young should serve as an inspiration for future Aggie lawyers.”
“I’m really proud of our graduates and the tremendous success we have had in our clerkship program. This is a testament to our talented students and their continuing success,” added Professor Meg Penrose, who helps lead the law school’s clerkship program. “Having two of our former students join Justice Young’s chambers is wonderful. He will be a great teacher and mentor to both, and I am thrilled to have Aggie lawyers working at the Texas Supreme Court.”
Justice Young, who visited Texas A&M Law in September 2022 to speak on a judicial panel, spoke about his experience meeting students.
“I was very impressed with the students I met,” Justice Young said. “I told Dean Ahdieh that I hoped to see some good clerkship applicants from the law school. Cole and Spencer were standout candidates and I’m delighted to have them in my clerkship family.”
Justice Young has hired law clerks for past and future terms from the University of Texas, Harvard, Duke, Chicago, Virginia, Pepperdine, and South Texas.
“I am excited to see what my new Texas A&M Law clerks will add to the Court,” he said. “Both Cole and Spencer love the law, are eager to work hard, and are dedicated to serving the people of Texas.”
With a placement rate above 98%, Texas A&M Law’s Class of 2022 ranked #1 in the nation for “gold standard” jobs. This marks the third consecutive year the law school has ranked in the top 10 nationally for gold-standard employment outcomes. Over the past two years alone, meanwhile, Texas A&M Law has placed 20 graduates in federal judicial clerkships.
Stenholm is a Fort Worth native and served as an attorney for Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. before starting his clerkship. He earned his bachelor of arts in communication at Texas A&M. During his time at Texas A&M Law, he served as Associate managing editor for the Texas A&M Law Review.
Lockwood is a Houston- native, who currently serves as an associate at Duane Morris LLP in Dallas. Prior to starting his clerkship with Justice Young, he will serve as a law clerk to Judge Jonathan Kobes, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He earned his bachelor of science in economics at Texas A&M. While at the law school, he served as Managing Editor for the Texas A&M Law Review and was a student liaison for the Texas Aggie Bar Association Board of Directors.