Judge Martin Hoffman presides over the 68th District Court of Texas, a civil court with jurisdiction in Dallas County. Judge Hoffman was first elected to this bench in 2006 as part of the historic Dallas County sweep by Democrats that year. Judge Hoffman was a critical leader during that season, campaigning tirelessly. Judge Hoffman has since been re elected three times and will seek another term in the 2022 election cycle.
Judge Hoffman has more than 14 years on the bench, and more than 28 years of combined legal and judicial experience. He has presided over hundreds of jury trials and thousands of hearings in cases encompassing a wide array of civil matters.
bench. He developed a unique "Foreclosure Fairness" program to address home equity foreclosures and give homeowners a voice in the process and a chance to keep their homes. He has been a volunteer for a range of organizations including Habitat for Humanity.
He enjoys presiding over mock trials and was a mentor for the Skyline High School Mock Trial Team.
Judge Hoffman is a strong recognizes the importance of bringing new perspectives and diversity into the legal field, and his internship program has given more than 250 law students access to the court and real word experience on the workings of our civil justice system. He has worked to find opportunities to help the community both on and off the bench.
supporter of diversity, from his court internship program to work he does within legal organizations. He has been an avid advocate for granting sister bar status for the Dallas Women Lawyers Association and the Dallas LGBT Bar Association.
Judge Hoffman takes pride in running a fair, objective and highly efficient court. He has consistently received among the highest approval ratings for the fifteen civil district and associate judges in the Dallas Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Polls. Judge Hoffman was named Trial Judge of the Year in 2018 by the American Board of Trial Advocates Dallas Chapter. In 2017, the Dallas Women Lawyers Association recognized me as the Outstanding Jurist of the Year. Also, in 2016, he was deeply honored to be awarded the Hon. Cleo R. Steele Committed Mentor Award by the J.L. Turner Legal Association.
Additional past awards include the Texas Attorney Mediators Coalition Outstanding Trial Judge Award, the Texas Tech Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award, the Texas Young Lawyer Association Outstanding Mentor Award and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Outstanding Mentor Award. Judge Hoffman has been elected four times by the 11,000 members of the Dallas Bar to the Dallas Board of Directors. He was also selected by his peers at the George Allen Courthouse to serve at the Presiding Judge of the Central Jury Room for 2009, and as the Presiding Judge of the Civil District Judges for 2014.
Dallas Lawyers Magazine,
Believes being a Judge starts with knowing the community your judging
beyond the law. Judge Martin Hoffman has shown that he knows the community in his invitation and actions.
Al Green, President & CEO
Lookingbackoveryourlife,whatwould Judge Hoffman’s unique Foreclosure Mediation Program gives homeowners a voice in the foreclosure process. Part of the process is giving homeowners a chance to learn about how to save their homes. The program has resulted in dozens of Dallas County families saving their homes from bank foreclosure.
Judge Hoffman is a lifelong Democrat. He was President of the Texas Young Democrats and served as Ann Richards State Youth Coordinator.
Attorneys can easily demand thousands of dollars and charge $200 or $300 per hour to take your case. Some charge up to 40% off the top of any settlement or verdict you get. So if you are injured in an accident, your lawyer may get almost half of everythingyouareentitledto.
However, if you ask any lawyer, they may tell you that their costs are fair.
In fact, many will lament that they are underpaid. Here's a look at some reasons lawyers charge what theydo:
Research and writing takes time.
If you only receive a one page document or a brief response to a legal question, you may wonder what you just paid for. However, the seemingly simple response that you get may be the result of hours of work researching every aspect of your legal issue. Lawyers use their expertise to explore every avenue and weigh every risk involved in a decision. As a result, the end product you see may not reflect all the behind the scenes considerations the attorney made in coming to a conclusion. Also, if all you wanted was a simple answer to your legal question, you were likely spared the expense of a more detailed answer (which would have required more time and would cost evenmoremoney).
Access to legal research tools.
Mostlawyersaccesscases,opinions, andstatutesthroughtheuseofsome online legal research tool like Westlaw (which, like FindLaw, is owned by Thomson Reuters). These tools are much more expensive than you might imagine and lawyers set their rates in order to be able to cover these costs and more, and earn a living.
Staffing and overhead costs.
Someone needs to pay the secretary, the receptionist, the paralegal, and the rent/utilities/other office expenses. Law firms only make money from the work attorneys do, so everyone else in the office, and the office itself, reliesonanattorneybillings. So how can you avoid these high hourly rates? You can try to take advantage of some lawyers' free consultations, but there's typically only so much you can discuss before your free time is up. Also, keep in mind that free consults are usually used by attorneys as a way to get clients in the door for the purpose of signing up new clients, so don't expect to walk away with a lawyerletter,ormuchmorethan information on what you can do next (which will usually involve hiring that lawyer, if they want yourcase).
If you're searching for a more affordable lawyer, often solo practitioners (lawyers thatpractice withoutlawyerpartners, and often with minimal staff) can offer the best, most competitive (lowest) hourly and contingency rates. This is due to the fact that solo attorneys tend to have the lowest overhead.
If you've already retained a lawyer, the best way to cut back on costs is to stay on top of things: Bring all necessary documents to your meetings and hearings, promptly reply to your lawyer's requests, and make a list of questions to ask all at once. Also, don't be afraid to ask your attorney what you can do to reduce the costs. Time is money, especially when it comes to lawyers, so make sureyou spend it wisely.
By Andrew LuIf you've ever hired a lawyer, you may have been staggered by the costs involved. Why do lawyers cost so much?
Lawyers will often provide a free or very low-cost consultation to discuss the details of your situation and give you an opportunity to ask some basic questions about the attorney. This meeting should not only help you decide whether to go forward with a lawyer in general, but also whether you should proceed with this lawyer. If you later decide to hire the lawyer, you will go into a more detailed discussion of your case and ask more specific questions along the way.
Generally speaking, you'll want to have a list of questions in mind to ask during the meeting. Also, you should feel comfortable enough asking questions that relate to the lawyer's expertise, experience, fees, special knowledge, and management of the case.
Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.
How long have you practiced law? At a minimum, you'll want to know about the lawyer's expertise and whether the lawyer is a veteran or beginner attorney, for instance. Your legal issue may
very well be handled by someone who is fresh out of law school, (or not). It all depends.
What type of cases do you generally handle? What percentage of your practice is devoted to (the practice area in question)? You'll also want to know about a lawyer's expertise and how much of the attorney's practice is devoted to topic area your legal issue falls within. For example, if you need help with an adoption case, you may wish to seek a family law lawyer who has worked on, well, adoption cases.
Who is your typical client? This is an important, but often overlooked question. For example, if you are an individual with a particular legal problem, but the attorney your meeting with represents only corporations, this may not be the best lawyer for you. Likewise, you may wish to know the financial background of some of the lawyer's clients. This is because there may be different issues a lawyer is used to factoring when working with high net worth individuals vs college students.
How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine? Now is not the time to act shy.
Feel free to ask about the attorney's track record, such as the number of cases won or settled, for example.
Other than a law degree, what kind of special training or knowledge do you have that might apply in my situation?
Some cases, like DUI and patent cases, require specialized training and knowledge for effective representation. Be sure to inquire whether your case fits into that category.
What are your attorney fees and costs, and how are they billed?
Will a portion or all of my case be handled by paralegals or legal assistants? If so, ask about reduced costs. This step is obviously an important one. You'll want to know whether you can afford the lawyer's services and how you will be required to pay. This is also the time to ask about payment options and how often, and under what circumstances, you will be billed.
What is your approach or philosophy to winning or representing a case? This can be important in two ways. First, if you are seeking an amicable divorce, for example, but the attorney is known to "go for the kill" in divorce cases, the attorney may not be the right one for you. Similarly, if you're looking for an aggressive attorney to handle an upcoming corporate merger, for example, you'll want someone who isn't afraid to push the envelope, so to speak.
Are there others ways for solving my legal problem? Go ahead.
Ask the professional whether there are any alternatives for solving your legal problem, such as through arbitration or some other out of court arrangement. A good attorney will generally inform you if your case can be handled through other less expensive and time consuming means.
Jeffrey M. Tillotson Founder, Partner Tillotson Johnson & Patton
"I have been privileged to try cases across the table from many talented trial lawyers, but if I had to single one out it would be Jeff Tillotson. We tried a complex and tough case and I was amazed at what a naturally gifted trial lawyer he was throughout the trial. His instinct before a jury and his quiet confidence no arrogance or condescension that might offend jurors were truly impressive. On top of this, he was a pleasure to work with and a consummate professional throughout a relatively intense trial. I have since used a couple of things I saw him do in subsequent trials with success. No matter how many trials or appeals we might have, we can always learn from our colleagues." Law 360
Few trial lawyers in the country have as much complex litigation experience as Jeff Tillotson. Even fewer have as much trial experience in complex multi party cases. Over the past decade, Jeff has acted as lead lawyer in over a dozen major multi party cases, brought in courts in nine different states, for clients such as: the nation’s largest consumer finance company; its third largest bank; its second largest credit card issuer; and forty of the nation’s leading industrial concerns. These cases involved all possible aspects of complex litigation involving multiple parties, competing venues, extensive discovery, complex strategy and intense media scrutiny. The cases were profiled everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to Nightline to CBS Evening News and People magazine.
Charmaine Voorhees Becken is a Share holder in the Dallas office of Godwin Bowman PC, focusing her practice on commercial and business litigation matters. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in business and commercial disputes involving banking, employment, and other business litigation issues. Charmaine has also worked extensively in the areas of real estate, family law, and estate planning/probate in addition to having first and second chair trial experience representing individuals and businesses. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Texas A&M University School of Law in 2014. During law school, Charmaine served as a judicial extern for the Hon. Judge Martin Hoffman of the 68th District Court, participated in mock trial, and worked as a law clerk for litigation firms. She received a dual undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy with a minor in Business from Texas Christian University.
Stefanie Major McGregor is a Shareholder in the Dallas office of Godwin Bowman PC, focusing her practice on commercial litigation matters. She represents clients in both the prosecution and defense of a wide range of cases before state and federal courts around the country. Stefanie's practice covers a broad range of areas, with an emphasis on complex litigation, environmental and oil and gas litigation, major family law disputes (custody, property division, etc.), property disputes, and disputes involving trusts and estates. Notably, she was an important member of the Firm's trial team in the successful defense of Halliburton in connection with all civil litigation and investigations concerning BP's Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, the largest environmental lawsuit in the history of the United States. Stefanie clerked for the Louisiana Supreme Court for one year and later became a Senior Research Attorney. Reflecting the excellence of her practice, Stefanie has been honored six times with selection to Thomson Reuters' Texas Rising Stars, which recognizes the top young attorneys in the State of Texas. She received a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2002 and a B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University in 1999.
Attorney Russell Wilson, II, began his legal career in Dallas after graduating with honors from the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law. He formed his own practice, with a focus on both civil and criminal matters. His early professional goals were to meet the needs of the average member of the community and provide top notch legal representation to an underserved clientele. While he began as a generalist, his success in criminal cases soon became apparent. Russell was most serious about his mission to help people. He knew that clients facing criminal matters could suffer dire consequences without savvy and knowledgeable representation. Investigative aspects of his legal representation intrigue to him. Often, infractions and procedural mistakes are made by the prosecution: without a thorough and aggressive defense, defendants can easily become another statistic.
George Milner, III developed a prolific repn as a trial lawyer at a very young age He began his career under District Attorney John Vance and proved his courtroom ability from the beginning. Milner tried his first jury trial the first day he was licensed to practice law. Milner faced the legendary Randy Taylor in that trial, which lasted more than a week. In the end, Milner won. He continued this hard hitting approach and had no fear of trying the hard cases.
In early 1994, Milner left the District Attorney’s Office to join his father, George Milner, Jr., and began defending those accused of the same offenses he’d prosecuted. Ironically, Milner was hired to represent some of the same people he’d proset take me long [in the first trial when you prosecuted me] to realize I needed you as my lawyer.” During his tenure as a prosecutor, Milner developed close friendships with many law enforcement agents. They liked his aggressive courtroom style. And, as has been the case, many officers themselves came under criminal accusation. A saying became well known in the law enforcement community, “If you’re in trouble, call Milner.” Now, over eight years later, Milner has represented approximately two dozen state and federal law enforcement officers. And, with one exception, every single case resulted in either acquittal, dismissal or a No Bill by the Grand Jury.
Maria “Marifer” Aceves is a civil litigation attorney focusing on personal injury, civil guardian ad litem work, and mediations. She has successfully litigated and resolved numerous cases for her cliPrior to starting her own firm, Ms. Aceves did defense work for several years at a prominent defense firm, worked at an excellent boutique catastrophic injury firm and interned for a well known civil judge in Dallas County. Ms. Aceves’ results range from successful trial verdicts to a six figure settlement of a slip and fall case against a corporate Defendant in federal court.
Ms. Aceves’ areas of practice include traumatic brain injuries, motor vehicle accidents, trucking and 18 wheeler accidents, pedestrian accidents, premises liability, products liability, dog bite injuries, and wrongful death cases. Ms. Aceves also recently completed 40 Hours of Basic Mediation Training and received a Mediation Certificate from Manousso Mediations. Her mediation practice focuses on Spanish speaking personal injury, premises liability, commercial, real estate, and employment cases. What sets Ms. Aceves’ firm apart is that she is truly dedicated to helping her clients. Her dedication to her clients has been recognized time and time again.
Sean Chalaki, is the founder of Chalaki Law, P.C. I founded this firm on one simple principle; I love to help!
We know that you have many options when seeking representation for your personal injury case, but we believe that Chalaki Law, P.C. is the firm for you because of commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for our clients.
Every case we sign up goes through an extensive investigation process in which we gather all the evidence necessary for trial. Ninety percent of the personal injury cases we take on never actually make it to trial, but we are prepared and committed to fight for you. After all, you are trusting us with your life, and we appreciate the opportunity.
George E. Ashford III graduated from Texas A&M Commerce in 1981 and immediately enrolled in law school at the University of Houston Three years later in 1984 he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Houston. While in law school Mr. Ashford worked for a law firm where he gained experience handling all types of cases including criminal,family ,civil, and bankruptcy. In 1985 he moved back to Dallas and realized that criminal defense was his true passion. Since 1985 Mr. Ashford has gradually stopped handling other types of cases and concentrated on defending individuals charged with crimes in Dallas and it’s surrounding counties. This representation begins with young people between the ages of ten and sixteen who are charged in Juvenile Court. It also includes adults who are charged in County Courts of misdemeanor offenses such as theft, DWI, marijuana possession, and theft. Finally, this representation also involves individuals charged with serious felony cases in District Courts such as capital murder,murder,drug possession,etc. Serious felony cases are dealt with in both State and Federal Courts. No case is too big and rarely is a case too small for the law office of George E. Ashford III.
Alexandria Risinger is a trial attorney with diverse civil litigation experience. She has been recognized for her work with such honors as the Million Dollar Advocate and the Multimillion Dollar Advocate. Her verdicts have placed in Texas’ Top 100 Verdicts in 2016 and 2018. She is a Power Attorney (’17) and Rue Ratings’ National Outstanding Young Lawyer She is a member of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Trial Skills Committee, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association and Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
Elizabeth “BB”
Sanford, Born and raised in Dallas graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, a Masters in Divinity from Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and a Juris Doctor from Baylor University School of Law. BB was the first person at Baylor to graduate with a joint Divinity and Law de-
Before attending law school BB served as a music and youth minister. Her heart has always been on the side of justice and individual civil rights. She is proud and feels called to represent workers who are wrongfully terminated.
BB has tried numerous jury trials and arbitrations to verdict. In her free time, she enjoys playing fetch with her dog, traveling, and cheering on the Baylor Bears.
Chad Ruback success can be attributed to the fact that he has limited his practice to handling appeals and trial court motions likely to be at issue on appeal. After receiving degrees from U.T. and S.M.U., Chad served as a briefing attorney to the Fort Worth Court of Appeals. Since the time that Chad completed his service as a briefing attorney at the Court of Appeals, he has been amassing experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants on appeal, regardless of whether they won or lost at trial. He has also dedicated himself to drafting trial court motions with an eye to winning at trial . . . and having those wins be upheld on appeal. Before opening his own appellate law firm in 2005, Chad practiced appellate law at a medium sized law firm and at a large law firm.
Chad has written articles that have been published in the Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, the Dallas Business Journal, the Texas Lawyer, The Appellate Advocate (the journal of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section), The Dicta, and The Texas Lawbook.
Ramez F. Shamieh is recognized as one of the premier trial lawyers in Texas and Louisiana. He specializes in catastrophic injury, 18 wheeler collisions, wrongful death cases, and breach of contract disputes. He has built a trial practice that consistently wins in the courtroom. For nearly a decade, Ramez Shamieh has tirelessly devoted his life to helping clients obtain the results they deserve. Ramez has helped hundreds of clients obtain millions in settlements and ver-
As a result of his work ethic, aggressiveness, and success in the courtroom, several organizations have recognized Ramez as a leader in the legal community. Mr. Shamieh has been invited to join two prestigious attorney networks: the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Clay Jenkins is a Dallas County resident. He attended public schools in Waxahachie and is a 1982 graduate of Waxahachie High School. He continued his education at Baylor University and obtained a legal degree from Baylor school of Law in 1987. He served as briefing attorney to the late Hon. Oscar H. Mauzy, Associate Justice, Texas Supreme Court, from 1988 to 1989. In 1989, he returned home to work with his father, Warwick H. Jenkins who founded the firm in 1948 and practiced until his death in 2001. Clay began his practice as a general practice attorney handling all types of trial matters. For the last ten years, his practice has been limited to plaintiff’s personal injury and commercial litigation.
Leon Carter, founding partner of Dallas trial boutique Carter Arnett, PLLC, has been honored as the 2019 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Dallas Bar AssociaHe is profiled on the first page of the July 2019 issue of the Dallas Bar Association’s Headnotes in the article, Leon Carter Honored as 2019 Trial Lawyer of the Year.”
Carter, who was raised as one of five children in Carthage in East Texas, is well known not only for his extremely effective courtroom advocacy but also for his generosity and community
Carter’s more than 30 years of trial experience spans the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the Dallas District Attorney’s office, a partnership in the litigation section of Jackson Walker, and ultimately the founding of his own firm. He has tried more than 100 jury trials in both state and federal court, and his diverse client base includes corporate giants, mid sized and smaller businesses, governmental entities, and individuals. Additional information about E. Leon Carter and Carter Arnett PLLC is available at www.CarterArnett.com.
Larry Taylor, oversees our Mass Torts, Criminal, Employment and Civil Rights practice areas as well as leads our community involvement efforts. While Larry is active daily in Mass Tort litigation he continues to play a role in client communications, and those cases that involve everyday folks. He is an active coach in youth sports and sits on a number of diverse community stakeholder entities. Between growing up in Duval County Florida and Harris County Texas (3rd Ward, Acers Homes, Greenspoint) and raising his kids in rural Texas, Larry has gained an appreciation for those who struggle for a sense of fairness. From the client in urban America seeking to be heard, to the small town rural American wanting fairness, it all resonates with Larry's need and desire to fight for them. Having once needed a lawyer to represent him against a goliath of a corporation, he understands the complexities and care needed to make sure his clients are informed and made comfortable during the most vulnerable time of their lives.
Nicole Taylor, oversees our transaction and governmental entities practice. She also particin our litigation group. Nicole is an industry expert in Texas real estate law and public housing
Nicole believes that everyone should have equal access to quality legal representation. Her father died in a horrible traffic accident when she was only two years old. He was struck by a commercial trucking company’s driver. Her grandparents were poor and unsophisticated in legal matters. The system should have protected them from the corruptible coercion of the trucking company’s insurance company and legal counsel. A healthy, strong 26 year old’s life was only worth $5,000 in 1971.
Nicole's 'why' is for him and her family. Her mission is to use her knowledge and will to fight and make sure this atrocity never happens again.
Bryan Pope, handles cases where someone is hurt because someone else did something careless or unsafe. He is an expert on injuries that cause Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. He also handles car, truck and motorcycle wrecks and injucaused by some type of unsafe or defective condition on someone’s property. Bryan's dad is a southern preacher. Bryan watched him help people through tough times and wanted to find his own way to do the same.
He also loves history and politics. This gave him a strong belief that everyone should have the same right to justice. This includes having the right to trial by jury and giving a voice to those in need.
To Bryan, lawyers are counselors in every sense of the word. They defend the rights of their clients. They also counsel them through life changing events and grief. Bryan firmly believes that empathy is one of the most important characteristics of a compassionate trial lawyer.
