James Patrick Smith Houston, Texas
| Member | |
| phone | 713-574-5424 866-491-4511 |
| fax | 713-654-2166 |
| Email Me | |
James Patrick Smith has practiced law in Houston, Texas for over 40 years and has tried many jury and non-jury cases in criminal and civil cases in both federal and state courts in over 20 Texas counties and in several other states.
He is one of the first lawyers to become Board Certified in Family Law by the State of Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1975.
Mr. Smith provides high quality legal services in the areas of family law, probate, and general civil litigation. His clients can expect to have their case handled efficiently and competently while knowing their personal and confidential information given to their attorney will be honored and respected. James Patrick Smith follows the professional directive that he owes undivided loyalty and fidelity to his client and their case once a case is accepted for handling.
- Areas of Practice:
- Divorce and Divorce Planning
- High Asset Divorce
- Complex Divorce
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Separate Property Claims in Divorce
- Post Divorce Modifications
- Guardianships
- Probate Litigation and Contested Wills
- Certification/Specialties:
- Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1975
- Education:
- University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas,
1967
J.D.
Honors: Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity
Honors: University of Houston Law Center Volunteer of the Year, 1996 - Centenary College, Shreveport, Louisiana,
1963
B.S.
Honors: Kappa Sigma Fraternity
- Published Works:
- "The Subsequent Treating Physician: Whose Witness?" (Co-Author with Steven P. Lindamood), Vol. 23, No, 2, Trial Lawyers Forum, P. 11, 1989
- Psychiatric and Legal Aspects of Automobile Fatalities, (Co-Author with John R. Finch, M.D., Charles C. Thomas), Springfield, Ill, 1970
- "Not Unlike a Felon", Baylor Medicine, January, 1968
- Current Problems in Labor Law, Chapter Seven, "The Union Power to Discipline Under the Taft-Hartley and Landrum-Griffin Acts: Two Gaps", University of Houston, PP 58-73, 1966
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Faculty Member, Texas College of Trial Advocacy, 1993 - 1998
- Adjunct Law Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, 1970 - 2001
- Clinical Professor of Law, University of Houston College of Law, 1973 - 1976
- Assistant Professor of Medical Law, Baylor College of Medicine, 1967 - 1970
- "Pros and Cons of Alternative Dispute Resolution", Comparative Law Seminar, Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, Ireland, November 9, 2004
- "Alternative Dispute Resolution in Texas", Irish/American Comparative Law Seminar, Dublin, Ireland, July 30, 1996
- "Effective Techniques in the Use of Evidence", South Texas College of Law CLE Program, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, April 28, 1995
- "Post-Daubert: The Current Status of Opinion Evidence Under Tex. R. Civ. E. 702," Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 1994
- "Doctors and Nurses on Trial", The Texas Medical Legal Association, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, April 23, 1994
- "The Barrister - Solicitor Distinction - A U. S. View," Aspects of Commercial Litigation, Conference of Irish and American Lawyers, Kings Inn, Dublin, Ireland, June 8, 1993 - June 10, 1993
- "Over View of Recent Developments in Texas Evidence Law," Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 1990
- "Preparing the Expert Witness for Deposition and Trial," Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence, South Texas College of Law, Houston/Dallas, Texas, 1989
- "The Current Status of Psychiatric Malpractice in the United States", Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 1989
- "How Clergy can try to avoid a Law Suit", Galveston Convocation, Friendswood, Texas, 1989
- "Preparing Witnesses For Deposition: Plaintiff's Perspective," Pretrial Tactics and Techniques for the Experienced Litigator: A Performance Enhancement Course, State Bar of Texas, Houston, Texas, 1987
- "Psychological Evidence In Probate Cases", National College of Probate Judges, Naples, Florida, 1987
- "Insurance and the Texas Tort System: Where will the Crash Occur?", Texas Bar Foundation, Austin, Texas, 1986
- Effective Utilization of Legal Assistants, Houston Bar Association, Houston, Texas, 1985
- Lectures in Law, University of Houston College of Law, 1967 - 1970
- Honors and Awards:
- Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation, 1992
- Charter Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow, Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
- Member
- State Bar Texas
- Member
- American Bar Association
- Member
- Houston Bar Association
- Member
- State Bar College
- Member
- Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, 1998
- Life Member
- Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, 1993 - 1994
- Past Chairman
- University of Houston Law Alumni Association, 1993 - Present
- Director
- Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, 1992 - 1993
- Chairman
- State Bar of Texas, Presidential Selection
- Member, Policy Committee
- Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, 1991 - 1992
- Vice Chairman
- Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, 1990 - 1991
- Secretary
- Texas Bar Foundation, 1985 - 1988
- Trustee
- State Bar of Texas, 1987
- Nominee, President-Elect
- Texas Bar Foundation Conference On Tort Liability, Austin, 1986
- Chairman
- State Bar of Texas, 1985
- State Bar Journal Committee on Legal Articles
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1985
- Chairman, Family Law Committee
- State Bar of Texas, 1984 - 1985
- Chairman, Fact Finding Committee
- State Bar of Texas, 1983
- General Counsel Advisory Committee
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1983
- Chairman, Nominating Committee
- State Bar Board of Directors, 1983
- Policy Manual Committee
- State Bar of Texas, 1982 - 1985
- Director
- American Board of Trial, Advocates (ABOTA), 2000
- Member
- State Bar of Texas, 1982
- Board Advisor, Professional Efficiency & Economic Research Committee
- State Bar of Texas, 1982
- Member, Committee on Selection, Compensation and Tenure of State Judge
- State Bar of Texas, 1981 - 1982
- Vice-Chairman, Coordination With Medical Profession Committee
- State Bar of Texas, 1981
- Vice-Chairman, Coordination With Other Professions
- Texas Association of Bank Counsel, 1980 - Present
- Charter Member
- Houston Trial Lawyers Association, 1979 - 1980
- Chairman, Judiciary Committee
- District 4 Grievance Committee, 1977 - 1981
- Member
- Houston Trial Lawyers Association, 1977 - 1979
- President
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1976 - 1986
- Director
- American Association for Justice
- Sustaining Member
- American Inns of Court
- Member
- United States Supreme Court Historical Society
- Sustaining Member
- Texas Supreme Court Historical Society
- Member
- Law Science Academy of America
- Member
- American Judicature Society
- Member
