At Baylor Law School We Are Expecting Another Great Year After a Stellar 2012

From The Dean’s Desk

Welcome to 2013!

At Baylor Law School we are expecting another great year after a stellar 2012. Last year, our trial advocacy students took home first and second place at the National Trial Competition and first place at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy Tournament of Champions. In the triple crown of law school advocacy competi- tions, Baylor Law took home two of the crowns! Later this month, our National Moot Court regional champs will head to New York City to compete for the national title.

Nearly 30 interscholastic advocacy teams are guided by our faculty and adjunct faculty members who lead as coaches, as well as by many Baylor Lawyers who give their time and experience to critique students during their practice rounds.

As always, we are so proud of our alumni and we love to hear about the exciting career and personal paths Baylor Lawyers have taken. In this month’s Rocket Docket we catch up with Lance Harvey (JD ‘95), who has moved away from his legal career to take over and re-launch his family’s educational tours company. Student Tours of America works with educators to provide youngsters from around the country with an opportunity to see the cities and landmarks that played a major role in developing our nation.

Sadly, sometimes we have to say goodbye to some of our Baylor Lawyers. Last month we lost a longtime friend and supporter when Joe Allbritton (LLB ‘49) passed away on Dec. 12. Allbritton and his family faithfully supported Baylor Law School, establishing the Abner V. McCall Chair in Evidence. In this issue of Rocket Docket we offer a look at Allbritton’s life and legacy.

Remembering Joe Allbritton

Joe Allbritton (LLB ‘49), a longtime friend and supporter of Baylor Law School, passed away on Dec. 12. A former Regent of Baylor University, Allbritton and his family faithfully supported Baylor Law School, establishing the Abner V. McCall Chair in Evidence currently held by Professor Gerald Powell.

“His generosity and his leadership in the many venues of business and commerce were singular in scope and import, and were an example for all of us to emulate,” said Baylor Law School Dean Brad Toben. “Joe will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through the lives of those he touched.”

On The Road: Baylor Lawyer Builds Student Tour Company Not all roads out of law school lead to a lifetime career in the legal field. Just ask Lance Harvey (JD ‘95), president and founder of School Tours of America (STA), which takes youngsters on tours of cities and landmarks that have shaped the nation’s history.

Harvey in a way is carrying on with American Student Travel, the business his father, Frank, a former middle school teacher, started out of the family’s spare bedroom.

“Beginning in middle school I spent my vacations in Washington, D.C., selling T-shirts and working on the luggage truck,” Harvey said. “In high school, I participated in nearly every facet of the tour operations business, including airports, hotels, leading groups on the subway system, and even the underground rail system at the U.S. Capitol.”

While he loved working in the family business, Harvey’s debate skills soon caught the attention of his teach- ers, eventually leading him to Baylor Law School, where he received the Leon Jaworski Scholarship for Out- standing Undergraduate Advocates.

After law school, Harvey joined the litigation section at Andrews & Kurth in Houston, where he specialized in tort and corporate litigation defense handling thousands of claims on behalf of clients such as BP Amoco, Owens Corning, and Rapid American. While he relished the competitive challenges of the law practice, he missed having the sense of contributing to something greater. For Harvey, preparing for and even winning jury trials could not match the transformative work he witnessed in the educational tour field.

Along with his love of the educational tour industry, Harvey also was concerned about the direction Ameri- can Student Travel was taking. The successful company, along with its biggest competitors, was acquired by Wachovia and merged into a new tour company. As part of the acquisition, a new seat was created on the company’s board of directors, and in 2001 Lance took the seat over from his father.

However, Harvey soon discovered that the company his father had so lovingly built had been transformed in ways that took a different direction from the one envisioned by his father.

“While my father’s business was financially rewarding, it had always maintained the mission of empowering youth and introducing them to the rights and duties of their citizenship,” Harvey said. “Pricing was always fair and transparent, and my father liked to include students who couldn’t normally afford the experience. The tour experience was also the highest priority, providing true historians trained to connect with their audience.”

In 2002, Harvey assembled a team of 10 industry veterans and founded STA, which is based in Houston. “In giving up my legal career, I was committed to taking what my father had built and making it better,” he said. “I’m not interested in becoming a travel agent. I want to offer a life-changing experience for both teach- ers and students. The 21st century student faces challenges the traditional classroom can’t meet. While educators are debating how to use certain technologies in the classroom, every educator concedes we must educate global citizens.”

Harvey, like his father before him, is determined to make sure that every student has the opportunity to experience educational travel, regardless of family income.

To that end, Harvey and his company developed My Tour Fund, a personal website for students to earn their tour spot by performing community service projects and seeking sponsors through social media.

“If you have ever complained about having to buy candy or wrapping paper to help a kid who is only going to receive 50 cents on the dollar, how about donating $20 to a seventh grader who is willing to give up their weekends to plant gardens at a nursing home in order to go to Washington, D.C., to learn about their govern- ment and to pay respect to the same veterans for whom they had just planted gardens,” Harvey asked.

Thanks to STA’s success, the company has spun off two additional endeavors: Group Tours of America is for adult groups and travel clubs, and Christian Tours of America is dedicated to the community of pastors, paro- chial and home school markets seeking a tour experience based on America’s Christian heritage.

While he is no longer in a courtroom, Harvey said his Baylor Law School education prepared him well for his second career.

“Trial advocacy lends itself to every facet of leading a business — HR, marketing strategies and messaging, sales calls, dealing with administrators,” he said. “There’s not a day that I don’t use some facet of my legal education and training.”

First Victory: From Green to Gold

There’s nothing like the rush of that first courtroom win or that difficult (but successful) negotiation. It comes soon for Baylor Lawyers; they hit the ground running and their first professional achievements are never far behind.

Baylor Law School has established First Victory in recognition that Practice Court was worth it — regardless of your practice area — and winning feels great. But we can’t revel in your triumphs if we don’t know about them. If you, a classmate or a Baylor Law colleague has recently garnered their first professional victory, send in a nomination for a First Victory commendation.

Docket Call Preview

Baylor Law School alumni will begin receiving their copies of our new Docket Call magazine soon. Docket Call’s look has been updated and the magazine will now be published quarterly in order to provide more fre- quent and timely information and stories to our alumni.

The spring 2013 Docket Call focuses on Baylor Law School’s commitment to community service, particularly our work with iCivics, a revolutionary Internet-based, interactive method of teaching civics through games that was developed under the leadership of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Baylor Law School has worked to refine and execute iCivics in classrooms in the Waco and Midway school districts thanks to the efforts of iCivics Texas State Coordinator Wendy May (JD ‘96) and Baylor Law’s Director of Alumni Relations Berkley Knas, (JD ‘10), as well as Baylor Law students.

The issue also includes feature stories on community legal clinics conducted by Baylor Law faculty and students aimed at helping young, undocumented immigrants and military veterans. Alumni also will find the latest news on fellow alumni, faculty, and student achievements.

In the coming weeks, the spring 2013 issue of Docket Call will be posted on Baylor Law’s website.

Meet The Faculty & Staff

Every month we will be featuring some of the faculty and staff members here at Baylor Law School.

Elizabeth Miller Professor of Law Professor Elizabeth Miller is a nationally recognized expert on the law of limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships, two very popular, but relatively new forms of unincorporated business entities. Law- yers nationwide rely on the updates she prepares for American Bar Association publications and programs, and she frequently speaks on topics involving corporate, partnership, and limited liability company law at continuing legal education programs. Miller was in private practice for six years before she returned to Baylor Law School to join the faculty in 1991. While in practice, she represented banks and bank holding companies, as well as other privately and publicly held companies, in a variety of matters including formations, reorga- nizations, and acquisitions. She received her JD from Baylor Law School with highest honors and was first in her graduating class. Upon graduation, she received the highest score in the state of Texas on the July 1985 bar examination. Angela Cruseturner Assistant Dean of Career Development Angela Cruseturner is the assistant dean of Career Development at Baylor Law School. She joined the Career Development Office in 2011 after serving four years as the director of Admissions and Student Recruitment. Cruseturner assists students with their job searches by providing counseling on career choices and opportuni- ties. She also coordinates recruiting efforts with potential employers, and conducts a variety of career information and education programs for students. Cruseturner received a B.A. in history from Baylor University. She attended Baylor Law School and received her JD in 2002. After law school, Cruseturner worked for two years as a staff attorney at Pakis, Giotes, Page and Burleson P.C., and then worked as a staff attorney for Judge Bill Vance at the Tenth Court of Appeals.

Jenny Branson Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Jenny Branson joined the Baylor Law School family in November 2012. She received her B.A. from Harvard University in 2007, and her M.B.A. and her JD, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University in 2011. She worked for several small bankruptcy, construction and real estate law firms, and served as a judicial intern for the Hon. Harlin D. Hale in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. In 2011, she moved to Illinois, where she worked as assistant director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Northern Illinois Uni- versity College of Law.

News & Notes

Upcoming Alumni Networking Events

Dallas Baylor Lawyer Network Reception Hosted by Leane Capps Medford (JD ‘96) Wednesday, Jan. 30 Reception will be held at the firm of: Polsinelli Shugart PC 2501 N. Harwood Suite 1900 Dallas, TX 75201

Houston Baylor Lawyer Network Reception Hosted by Don Jackson (JD ‘83), Libby King (JD ‘01), and Jason Walker (JD ‘97) Thursday, Feb. 7 5:30-7 p.m. River Oaks Country Club 1600 River Oaks Blvd. Houston, Texas 77019

Austin Baylor Lawyer Network Reception Hosted by Monte James (JD ‘92) and Marilyn Montano (JD ‘04) of Jackson Walker L.L.P. Wednesday, Feb. 13 5:30-7 p.m. Reception held at the office of Jackson Walker L.L.P. 100 Congress Ave. Suite 1100 Austin, Texas 78701

Position Open Are you ready for a change or new professional challenge? Would you enjoy raising money for scholarships at Baylor Law School? Learn more about our opening for a Director of Development - Law School position. Direct all inquiries to Heidi Boyd, Human Resources, at Heidi [email protected].

Alumni Notes

1960s George Chandler (LLB ‘62) was inducted as an American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow for 2012. Fellow- ship status is extended by invitation only, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years trial experience before they may be considered for a fellowship. Chandler is a partner in the law firm of Chandler, Mathis & Zivley PC in Lufkin.

1980s Kathryn Snapka (JD ‘80) was inducted as an American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow for 2012. Fellowship status is extended by invitation only, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years trial experience before they may be considered for a fellowship. Snapka has her own law firm, The Snapka Law Firm, in Corpus Christi.

2000s William E. Hammel (JD ‘02) in the Dallas office of Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLP, a national labor and employment law firm, has been honored with inclusion in the 2012 Texas Super Lawyers for Employment Liti- gation: Defense. Hammel is an experienced employment law litigator and also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to drafting and litigating employment agreements, non-compete agreements, and other restrictive covenants.

Baylor Wortham (JD ‘05) has been hired as a federal prosecutor assigned to the Beaumont office of the Unit- ed States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. Wortham was born and raised in Beaumont and is a grad- uate of Kelly High School. He is the son of Bob Wortham, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas (1981-1993). Wortham is married to Lindsay Wortham and is the father of Baylor Wortham II. While in law school, Wortham was a member of the Baylor Law Review. He started his career in 2006 as an assistant district attorney with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. In 2009, Wortham was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District, primarily prosecuting violent crime in Port Arthur under Operation Time Machine, a Project Safe Neighborhood initiative.

Laci Myers (JD ‘08) has been promoted to senior attorney in the Texas trial and appellate firm of Godwin Lewis PC. Myers is a family law attorney.

In Memoriam

Frank William Allen (JD ‘50), age 95, of Conroe passed away on Jan. 3, after an illness. Allen was born in Galveston on Dec. 31, 1917, the son of James Watts Allen and Ida Elizabeth Tebbs. His great uncles were John Kirby Allen and Augustus C. Allen, the founders of Houston. Allen is survived by his sister, Patsy Haley of North Carolina; son, Frank W. (Bill) Allen Jr., and wife, Vicky, of Conroe; daughter, Allison Allen of Montgom- ery; special friends Raphael and Sandra Cole; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, and his beloved wife and sweetheart of 67 years, Gerry. Allen attended Milby High School in Houston and Baylor University in Waco, where he played baseball. At Bay- lor, Allen met the love of his life, Gerry, and they were married in February 1941. They were named Baylor University’s Valentine King and Queen. Allen, a World War II veteran, entered the Army Air Corps in 1942, where he was a pilot and the base physical fitness instructor at Drew Air Field in Tampa, Fla., and the base physical education commander at the air base in DeRidder, La. Allen was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant in 1946. He loved Tampa and Clearwater, Fla., because of the fishing. Allen and his wife returned to Waco, where he graduated from Baylor Law School in the top one-third of his class and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1950. Allen formed many lifelong friendships during his years at Baylor. He had a private practice in general civil law from 1950-1954 with Rex Clawson and Joe L. Albritton. Allen went to work at Schlum- berger Well Surveying Corporation in 1954, where he remained until 1966, when he partnered with Kent M. Prichard and H. Lingo Platter to form the law firm of Prichard, Platter and Allen. He moved his general civil law practice to Conroe several years ago and actively practiced until his death. Allen was an avid college foot- ball and baseball fan and he loved the Astros. He rarely missed any televised Baylor sports event. Allen loved to travel, play golf, hunt and fish, and just recently sold his boat. He also was a fabulous cook, always choosing a recipe with the most ingredients. Allen had a keen mind -- sharp as a tack to the very end -- a testament to his love of learning, reading, and teaching others through his example. He thrived on convoluted legal quag- mires, but was known to forget where he left his wallet. Allen and his wife quarreled at times about his refusal to charge a client a full fee or to even charge a fee at all if the client could not afford it. He always desired to help others and treated everyone he met with courtesy and respect.

Charles Wesley Beck II (JD ‘86) was born in Fort Worth on June 26, 1933, and passed away on Dec. 19. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Ann Beck; daughter, Julia Kenner, and her husband, Don; step-daughter, Peg- gy Ann Thomas, and her husband, Michael; and granddaughters, Catherine, Isabella, and Crista. He is also survived by his “best bud” and dearest friend, Tom Morey. Beck and Morey spent many happy hours and hard work restoring classic cars, telling war stories, talking about flying, and their Navy experiences, as well as politics and life. Beck graduated from UT Austin in 1954 with a B.S. in aeronautical engineering and was commissioned as a Navy lieutenant. He completed four years of active duty at sea, and at NACS and NASA as a research engineer from 1957-1958. In 1960, he returned to UT Austin, where he graduated with a B.S. and M.S in electrical engineering. In 1975, he became the founding president of International Avionics, a position he held until his death. The company is a supplier of annunciator systems and control electronics to the general aviation industry, both original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket completion centers. Beck was dedicated to the design and manufacture of products that improved the safety and operation of aircraft. He received a JD from Baylor Law School in 1986. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas, and he was a registered professional engineer. The family extends thanks and recognition to dear friends Sandra and Kenneth for their support during Beck’s final years. His final act of generosity was participation in the Willed Body Program of UT Southwestern Medical School.