The University of Texas at Arlington has hired a North Texas attorney to serve as the new director of its Pre-Law and Legal Studies Center.

Amber White has served at law firms with the U.S. government and as a sole practitioner. Most recently, she served as an account executive at Robert Half Legal, a company that specializes in the placement of highly skilled attorneys, paralegals, litigation support and legal support professionals. She is also a former student attorney for Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, a nonprofit organization that provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in 114 counties throughout Texas.

In her new position, she will work closely with academic advisers from every college and academic unit at UT Arlington as well as law school admissions directors and attorneys.

White is a graduate of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and an honors graduate of Texas Tech University, where she majored in communication. While in law school, she was a regional champion and then national champion in the American Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Trial Competition. She also excelled in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, where she was a national quarter-finalist and received the Best Brief Award.

White begins her new duties at UT Arlington in January.

The Pre-Law and Legal Studies Center launched in 2012, with support from AT&T's Legal Department. During the past few years, the Center has helped students who are considering law school gain information about law study and legal professionalism. Students, prospective students and alumni consult the Center to learn about law schools' admissions process. They also engage in a mentoring program, internships, volunteer opportunities, UT Arlington's active moot court and mock trial programs, visits to law schools and presentations by experts in various fields of law.

"UTA students have hearts for service through the legal system. They bring many talents to law school and the practice of law," said Elisabeth Cawthon, associate dean of the UT Arlington College of Liberal Arts, associate professor of history and interim director of the Center. "Amber is an energetic and experienced advocate for inclusion within the legal profession. She will guide UTA students to make productive choices about their legal careers."

Visit www.uta.edu/prelaw/ for more information about the UT Arlington Pre-Law and Legal Studies Center.