Wallace Chen is a J.D. candidate at one of the country's top law schools. He has years of experience as a debate and ethics bowl coach, leading his clients to multiple national and state championships. As a former top 10 nationally ranked debater, top 3 Texas speaker, and two-time East Texas debate champion, he offers valuable insight into effective teaching strategies for educators and consultants.
Chen completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, majoring in government and minoring in sociology. He graduated with the highest honors as a Distinguished College Scholar, making the dean's list every semester. As an O'Quinn Foundation Scholar, he leveraged this educational groundwork to enrich his comprehensive understanding of legal and governmental structures. As a law student, he has been distinguished with the Chancellor's Law Scholarship and the Dean's Leadership Award, merit-based scholarships awarded for exceptional leadership and scholarly achievements.
Before coming to law school, Chen was the Director of Debate for SpiderSmart's debate team. Under his guidance, the center's debate program evolved from a local educational project to a nationally recognized team. Since 2018, Chen has developed innovative training programs that have led his students to the 2019 National Debate Championship, the 2022 Texas Debate Championship, and the 2022 Connecticut Ethics Bowl Championship. His innovative techniques propelled his debate teams to unbeaten records in state and national competitions, affirming his status as an influential debate coach.
Born to Taiwanese parents, Chen has also worked extensively in legal data analytics, policy research, and corporate governance. In 2023, his year-long internship at DLA Piper Law offered valuable insight into environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. His team effectively advised multiple Fortune 500 clients and guided them through the relatively new and emerging field of corporate social responsibility. His work sharpened the firm's approach to risk management and enhanced its advisory capabilities. Aspiring to delve deeper into corporate litigation, he is focused on expanding his legal acumen post-graduation.
Currently, in law school, Chen is committed to assisting his peers through professional note-taking and supporting law and LL.M. students who face difficulties due to language barriers or inability to attend lectures. He was selected to be his section's primary notetaker due to his excellent writing and communication skills. Chen is very passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and he serves as a 1L Representative for his school's Asian Pacific American Law Student Association and Opening Statement: First Generation Lawyers clubs.
