Elizabeth Fraley, the Gerald Reading Powell Chair in Advocacy, will serve as the Director of Practice Court beginning in February of 2025. Fraley will succeed Jim Wren, the Leon Jaworski Chair of Practice and Procedure, when Wren steps away from full-time teaching next year after nearly two decades of outstanding service on the Practice Court faculty. This appointment reflects Baylor Law School’s continued commitment to providing students with exceptional preparation for the practice of law. In her new role, Fraley will oversee the distinguished Practice Court program, a more than 100-year-old intensive two-quarter, four-course classroom and courtroom training ground in procedure, evidence, advocacy, and ethics.
Dean Jeremy Counseller expressed confidence in Fraley’s leadership, stating, “Liz has consistently demonstrated outstanding service both in the classroom and the courtroom, showing a deep commitment to our students’ success in the legal profession. Her dedication to upholding the rigor and student-centered focus of our Practice Court program ensures that it remains an invaluable training ground. Liz will maintain the program’s excellence and the Law School’s focus on preparing students to excel in the modern legal practice.”
Fraley, a distinguished Baylor Law School graduate, brings a wealth of experience to this pivotal role. She has served on the Practice Court faculty since 2015, serves as Co-Director of the Executive LL.M. in Litigation Management, and leads Baylor Law School’s School of the Trial as part of the Academy of the Advocate in St. Andrews.
In accepting her new position, Fraley remarked, “I am deeply honored to be appointed Director of Practice Court. This program has been instrumental in shaping the careers of outstanding Baylor Lawyers, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to ensure it continues to provide students with the hands-on, practical training they need to excel in the legal field.”
Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas, Fraley specializes in litigating and mediating medical malpractice, professional licensing, and business disputes. With nearly 100 civil jury trials to verdict, her qualifications extend beyond courtroom experience. She has earned numerous accolades, including the prestigious Louise B. Raggio Award from the Dallas Women Lawyers Association in 2023, recognizing her outstanding achievements as a trial lawyer, a legal educator, and an advocate for women in the profession. She has been named a Super Lawyer annually by Texas Monthly since 2004 and a Best Lawyer in Dallas by D Magazine from 2011-2022.
Fraley is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), has served as president of the Waco ABOTA Chapter, and currently serves on the National ABOTA Board of Directors. She chairs the ABOTA National Committee on AI and is on the editorial board of Voir Dire, the national magazine, as well as other national committees. She is a frequent speaker, including teaching judges evidence, procedure, collegiality, and civil discourse. She is the author of the updated version of Texas Courtroom Evidence and co-author of Fundamentals of Lawyer Leadership, Texas Commercial Causes of Action, as well as various law review articles.
Fraley’s appointment as Director of Practice Court is a historic milestone, marking the first time a woman has held this role at Baylor Law School.
Fraley’s leadership will ensure the continued excellence of Baylor Law School’s Practice Court program, preserving its reputation as the premier training ground for practical lawyering. As she steps into this pivotal role, Baylor Law School looks forward to the program’s ongoing success under her guidance.
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