The Landlord/Tenant Clinic at South Texas College of Law Houston received a Marcia Johnson Change Agent Award during a recent reception at the University Museum at Texas Southern University. Accepting the award on behalf of South Texas Law was Aimara Flores ’20, staff attorney with the Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics.
“I am incredibly honored to receive this award on behalf of the South Texas College of Law’s Landlord/Tenant Clinic,” Flores said at the reception. “I am humbled and grateful, not just for this recognition, but for the opportunity to do work that truly matters. I want to thank my supervisors, my fellow attorneys, and the support staff Jasmin Mata and Ramses Dominguez. This award belongs to all of us. Together, we showed up to court, even when it was challenging — and that made all the difference.”
The Marcia Johnson Change Agent Awards celebrate legal innovators and recognize individuals and organizations that have made a difference in the community through public service. This year’s theme was “Out of One, Change for Many.”
“The theme this year speaks to what I experienced every day in the courtroom,” Flores said. “Each time we stood beside someone facing eviction — someone who walked in alone and afraid — we were not just defending one person; we were protecting their homes, their family, and their stability.”
South Texas Law was recognized as a key partner in the Harris County Eviction Defense Coalition. That coalition also included Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Lone Star Legal Aid, and the University of Houston Law Center Civil Justice Clinic.
In the summer of 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Texas Law’s Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics launched the Eviction Defense Project as part of the broader Eviction Defense Coalition. The law school offered free legal services, including landlord/tenant assistance, to underserved populations.
Recognizing the urgent need for legal assistance as evictions surged, the law school’s staff attorneys and students in the Landlord/Tenant Clinic provided counsel and representation to indigent clients facing housing instability. Through this effort, students helped tenants navigate the legal process with dignity, enduring their rights were upheld during a time of crisis.
“This award is a tremendous honor for the team that engaged in the necessary work to assist vulnerable members of our community,” said Carlos A. V. Calderón, JD, senior director, legal services, for South Texas Law’s Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics. “The eviction defense work impacted literally thousands of people and afforded them dignity throughout the process. Also, the award is a strong commentary about the clinic’s commitment to the pursuit of justice for our community members.”
Flores said, “Receiving this award reminds me why I do this work: because everyone deserves to be heard and deserves a fair shot.”
BACKGROUND ON CLINICS: The Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics at South Texas College of Law Houston provide students with opportunities to interview, counsel, and advise clients who are part of the Houston area’s underserved population. Students gain valuable experience working alongside seasoned attorneys across more than 20 practice areas. In a typical year, students in these clinics provide more than 35,000 hours of direct client services valued at roughly $2 million, mediate more than 150 disputes, and file more than 40 trademark applications.
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