Young Gunners

William Hagans, a second-generation trial lawyer in Houston, discusses the background and history behind the Texas Lawyers Creed, and how the creed was developed and how his father helped write the creed, encouraging professionalism and civility in the practice of law.

Jonathan Smaby, Executive Director at the Texas Center for Legal Ethics, discusses both the Texas Lawyers Creed and the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and how both help promote professionalism and ethics in the practice of law.

2023-2024 State Bar of Texas President Cindy Tisdale, Texas Young Lawyers Association President Laura Pratt, and State Bar of Texas Professionalism Committee Chair Kathy Mills  open our Young Gunners Podcast mini-season on the Texas Lawyers Creed with wisdom and insight on practicing law with civility and professionalism through the lens of the motivational quotes of Ted Lasso.

Tamsin Woolley, law student at Thurgood Marshall Law School, closes out our mini-season of war stories with knowing when you’re struggling, and knowing when and how to reach out for help. 

Jeff Weatherford, of the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office, provides tips about the practice of criminal law from the perspective of a criminal prosecutor, touching upon the stories prosecutors will tell each other about their interactions with other prosecutors and defense attorneys. Jeff also tells stories from his criminal trials. 

Ted Biggers, of the Biggers Law Firm in Dallas, discusses practicing law with family members, as well as his stories about preparing witnesses, keeping it simple for juries, and clearly conveying expectations to others. 

Ray Panneton, former Managing Partner at Ted Smith Law Group in Harker Heights, discusses lessons learned from war stories in trial practice in the area of medical malpractice, including always getting a record, knowing when to "shut up," and knowing your audience.

Judge Lauren Sepulveda, Presiding Municipal Judge for the City of McAllen, discusses her experiences as an Assistant District Attorney from misdemeanor to murder cases, and shares tips, such as not being afraid of the hard case, doing the best we can do and not being hard on ourselves, being aware of impacts of vicarious trauma and stress, and knowing when to get help.