Thursday, October 12, 2023 — MCLE Luncheon — Claude E. Ducloux

We are pleased to have as our October speaker, Civil Trial Attorney CLAUDE E. DUCLOUX presenting “Conflict Contracts, and Costs: Running the Ethical Office in the 21st Century,” in which he will address ethical rules related to practice and client relations, as well as best practices for communication, billing, civility and resolution of contract disputes.

We are very fortunate to have Mr. Ducloux visiting us from Austin, Texas to share his extensive experience and expertise with our members.  In addition to his more than 45 years experience as a Civil Trial Attorney, our speaker is a dedicated and active proponent of continuing legal education, which he has advanced through his extensive writings of more than 100 Continuing Education articles; and in presenting well over 500 CLE presentations nationwide since 2016.   A recognized authority on ethics, Mr. Ducloux recently served as an expert ethics witness in the impeachment trial of the Attorney General for the State of Texas, Ken Paxton.

It is anticipated that the MCLE Credit for this program will provide 1.0 hr for credit Ethics (or participants can use it as a general credit).  

Some Information about our Speaker:

Claude E. Ducloux
3700 Capital of Texas Highway North, Suite 300
Austin, Texas  78746
Telephone: (512) 716-8580
E-Mail:   [email protected]

Claude E. Ducloux holds bar admissions in the States of Texas (1977); California (1978); and Colorado 2003, in addition to various  United States District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal.

He has practiced Civil Trial Law since 1978 as Assistant General Counsel, State Bar of Texas (1978-1980);  as a Civil Trial Attorney at Robinson, Felts, Starnes, Angenend & Mashburn (1980-1987); and Wood, Lucksinger & Epstein (1987-1989); and with his firm of Hill, Ducloux, Carnes & de la Garza (1989-2016). 

In 2016, he established a sole private practice, and became National Director of Education, Ethics and Compliance, Affinipay-LawPay, through which he pursues his passion and goal of educating lawyers at all career stages to become more knowledgeable and accomplished legal practitioners.  Toward this goal, he has written more than 100 continuing legal education articles, and he has presented more than 500 continuing legal education programs to legal practitioners in that time frame.

A listing of some of Mr. Ducloux’s professional activities and professional honors follows:

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• President, Travis County Bar Association (now, Austin Bar Association); 1997-1998; every officer position 92-97;
• Chair, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1997-1998, Trustee, 1994-1998
• Board Certified: Civil Trial Law, 1984; Civil Appellate Law, l987
• Chair, Texas Bar Foundation 2005-2006; Secretary-Treasurer (04-05); Trustee 2004-2008   
• Chair, Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism:  2004-06, Trustee 2003-07 
• Chair, College of the State Bar of Texas; 1992-94; Vice-Chair 1990-92; Director, 1988-98,
• Chair, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting (Texas Bar Convention), 2001
• Chair, United States Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference, Austin 2004
• President, St. Mary’s Law School Alumni Association, 2006-07, Trustee, 2001-2008.
• President, Calvert Inn, American Inns of Court, 2021-2022
• Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates, 1999- pres.
•  CLE Award, ABOTA, 2022
• Director, State Bar of Texas; District 9, 1998-2001; Executive Committee 1999-2001
• (“Outstanding 3rd Year Director Award” – 2001) 
• Director, Austin Lawyers Care (now: Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas), 86-89
• Director, Austin Young Lawyers Association, 1984-1986
• Editor, Travis County Practice Handbook, 1984, 1986
• Trustee; St Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas 2007-08
• Member and Founder Bar & Grill Singers, Lawyer Group performing musical parody across the country, and raising (through Jan 2008) $300,000 for pro bono causes.
• Member, Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court-Annexed Mediation, 1996-1998
• Distinguished Mediator, Texas Mediator Credentialing Association, 2010
• Texas Supreme Court Appointee to Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda (2x 3-year terms-Dec 2017-2023) 

PROFESSIONAL HONORS

•  Pat Nester Award for Innovation in Continuing Legal Educations- March 2022 (Statewide Award by SBOT CLE Committee)
• State Bar of Texas Presidential Citation for “Outstanding Service to Legal Profession” via Contributions to Disciplinary Rules Committee- 2021
• ABOTA CLE Recognition for 11- year Course Direction of “Advanced Trial Strategies”  2012-March 2022, 
• St Thomas More Award- St Mary’s University School of Law- 2020 for Exceptional Contributions to Legal Education
• “Distinguished Lawyer” Honoree – Austin Bar Association – Austin Bar Foundation 2019
• State Bar College – Pat Nester Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in CLE 2019 (Statewide Award – this is a different Award from Innovation Award above)
• Luke Soules Award – Litigation Council Award for Outstanding Service to Practice of  Law 2019 (Statewide Award)
• Lola Wright Foundation Award for Promotion of Legal Ethics, 2013 (Statewide Award)
• Gene Cavin Award for Lifetime Excellence in CLE, State Bar of Texas, 2011 (Statewide Award)
• Professionalism Award, Austin Bar Association, 2007
• Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award, Austin Young Lawyers Association, 2007
• Presidential Citations; State Bar of Texas, 2001, 2006 and 2021
• SBOT- “Stars of the Bar” Award for Best Article Series “Entre Nous”, 2003
• Annual Professionalism Award, College of the State Bar of Texas, 2002  (Statewide Award) 
• W. Frank Newton Award (Annual Pro Bono Award given by State Bar of Texas), 2000 (Statewide Award)
• Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 1987 (Awarded by Austin Young Lawyers Association)
• Pro Bono Award, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999

LEGAL PUBLICATIONS

• “Entre Nous” Bar Journal commentary columns,  (123 columns published Apr 1992- Sept 2022)
• CLE Publications,- more than 100 Continuing Education  articles presented.
• CLE Speeches and Presentations – Approximately 508 CLE presentations nationwide from 01-01-2016  to 12-31-2021 (6 years)
• Outstanding Program Award (National Award) — American Inns of Court –“What? Me? Biased?” – 2018