Kate Girvin 2L is already making a name for herself as a legal philosophy scholar.
In her first year at University of Wisconsin Law School, the El Paso, Texas, native was one of two law students invited to participate in a panel discussion and present an original legal philosophy paper at the 2025 Society for Advancement of American Philosophy (SAAP) conference, which took place March 13-15 in Washington, D.C.
“I was drawn to this conference because it welcomed projects that intersected with public policy issues and provided me with an opportunity to practice public speaking,” Girvin said. “This conference/SAAP gave me a platform to demonstratewhat I’ve learned during my 1L year to a diverse audience.”
Girvin, who earned her bachelor of arts in philosophy from Texas A&M University, knew from the beginning she wanted to pursue law school; her interest only deepened throughout her time there. She undertook directed research under Dr. Omar Rivera and wrote her undergraduate thesis in feminist philosophy, examining the nature of gender and its influence on the family unit and labor systems.
“That experience not only sharpened my critical thinking; it also sparked my interest in labor law and the broader social structures that influence the American legal system,” she said.
At the SAAP conference, Girvin networked with renowned pragmatist philosophers, including two of her mentors at Texas A&M, Dr. Gregory Pappas and Dr. Kim Diaz.
“I felt grateful to have both mentors attend my panel discussions,” she said.
The paper Girvin presented at the conference argued that court-sponsored rehabilitation initiatives enhance education, financial, interpersonal, mental and physical wellness for people who have felony convictions.
“My paper drew upon my experience as a mindfulness instructor and legal intern with federal diversion and re-entry programs in my hometown of El Paso,” she explained.
Specifically, Girvin worked with Dr. Juan Ferret at Shadows to Light (S2L), a humanities-based treatment program that offered a space for transformation for returning citizens from incarceration through philosophy and mindfulness training. She said it was an honor to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team in service to participants because she learned from all involved.
And it continues to shape how she thinks about justice, education and community.
“I carry the lessons from Shadows to Light with me as a constant reminder of my ‘why’ for coming to law school,” she said.
Upon graduation from UW Law, Girvin hopes to use her legal career as an opportunity to serve her community and expand grassroots advocacy. She plans to practice in Wisconsin and pursue a career in public interest law or labor and employment law. Her long-term aspiration is to become a dean at a research institution where she can help shape legal education and create more opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
“I am excited by the opportunity to be a part of the growing cohort of Latina attorneys,” she said. “I have been fortunate to have learned from so many great mentors in the legal field, and I hope to pay that mentorship forward one day and help young women navigate the legal field.”
-- Kate Shucha
What Else Kate Girvin Has Been Up To …
Girvin is a UW Law Admissions student ambassador; legal liaison for La Alianza; peer mentor for 1Ls for the Women's Law Student Association (WLSA); member of the Wisconsin Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF); and technology committee member for the Jackie Macaulay Auction.
Last summer, she worked at the Madison City Attorney’s Office.
This fall, Girvin is participating in the Criminal Defense & Youth Advocacy Clinic. And she began an externship with the Universities of Wisconsin System General Counsel.
Her hobbies include running, yoga, fishing and kayaking.
Submitted by Law School News on October 12, 2025
This article appears in the categories: Features, Students
