Pathfinders are role models and trailblazers — local women with law degrees who are using, and have used, their degrees in a variety of ways. Every year, TCWLA makes an effort to select and honor a panel of Pathfinders who represent a diversity of life and work experiences and this results in a highly thought-provoking and often inspirational program.
2020 TCWLA Pathfinder Nomination Form
2020 PATHFINDERS
Tina Amberboy
Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children
Molly Cagle
Partner at Baker Botts
Martha Smiley
Counsel at Enoch Kever
2019 PATHFINDERS
Partner at Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP and former professor at the University of Texas School of Law
Presiding Judge of Travis County Court at Law #7 and DWI Court
District 49 Representative in Texas House of Representatives
2018 PATHFINDERS
Former Judge on City of Austin Municipal Court and first African-American woman appointed to a regular judgeship in Texas
Broker, Owner, and Attorney at Floyd Real Estate
Owner at CHA Law
2017 PATHFINDERS
Brook Brown
Retired Partner of McGinnis Lochridge
Carla Cox
Retired Partner of Jackson Walker
Anne Morgan
City Attorney for the City of Austin
Anne Wynne
Co-Founder of Ikard Wynne
2016 PATHFINDERS
Judge Sarah Eckhardt
Travis County’s first female County Judge
LaRu Woody
Former Travis County Assistant District Attorney and Director of the Family Justice, Trial and Grand Jury Divisions
Sedora Jefferson
General Counsel for the Texas Association of School Boards
Lisa Tsai
Named partner at Reid Collins & Tsai LLP
2015 PATHFINDERS
Monica D. Cunningham
Of Counsel, Kemp Smith
Jo Ann Merica
Special Counsel, McGinnis Lochridge
Denise Hyde
Founder, Law Office of Denise Hyde
Hon. Amy Clark Meachum
Judge of the 201st District Court of Travis County, Texas
2014 PATHFINDERS
Beverly G. Reeves
Co-founder, Reeves & Brightwell LLP
Ranelle Meroney
Of Counsel, Chamberlain McHaney
Barbara Hines
Founding Member and Of Counsel, Hines & Leigh PC
D’Ann Johnson
Branch Manager, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
2013 PATHFINDERS
Honorable Darlene Byrne
Judge of the 126th District Court of Travis County, Texas
Cameron Vann
Senior Staff Attorney at Texas Lawyers Assistance Program, State Bar of Texas
Michelle Cheng
Partner at Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, PC
Karen Langsley
Sole Practitioner at Law Office of Karen J. Langsley
2012 PATHFINDERS
Gina Shishima
Partner at Fulbright and Jaworski
Linda Mullenix
Professor at the University of Texas School of Law
Honorable Susan Sheppard
Lulu Flores
President of the National Women’s Political Caucus and Partner at HendlerLaw
2011 PATHFINDERS
Laura Fowler
Founder of the Fowler Law Firm, PC
Becky Miller
Oil and Gas Litigator
Honorable Lora Livingston
261st District Civil Court
Harriet O’Neil
Former Texas Supreme Court Justice
2010 PATHFINDERS
Justice Eva Guzman
Texas Supreme Court
Judge Suzanne Covington
201st District Court, Travis County
Jeana Lungwitz
Director of the UT Domestic Violence Clinic
Dr. Lynda Frost
Director of Planning and Programs for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at UT
2009 PATHFINDERS
Rosemary Lehmberg
Travis County District Attorney
Judge Brenda Kennedy
403rd Criminal District Court
Melissa Goodwin
Potts & Reilly, L.L.P.
Betty Blackwell
Law Office of Betty Blackwell
2008 PATHFINDERS
Holly Gilman
Gilman & Clarke, P.C.
Susan Morrison
Morrison & Associates, P.C.
Janet Stockard
Janet Stockard, Attorney at Law
Cicily Simms
Cicily Simms, Attorney at Law
2007 PATHFINDERS
M’Lou Patton Bell
Shareholder, Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Barr, P.C.
Sheryl Cole
Cole & Powell, P.C., Austin City Council, Place 6
Karin Crump
Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom, L.L.P., President of TYLA
Martha Dickie
Akin and Almanza, L.L.P., President of the State Bar of Texas
2006 PATHFINDERS
Susana Aleman
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
Karen Kennard
City of Austin
Justice Jan Patterson
Texas Third Court of Appeals
Regina Rogoff
People’s Community Clinic
2005 PATHFINDERS
Nancy Hohengarten
County Court at Law 5
Toni Hunter
Gray & Becker, P.C.
Beth Ozmun
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
2004 PATHFINDERS
Kathryn Tullos
St. Mary’s University School of Law
Cindy Olson Bourland
Merica & Bourland, P.C.
Tracy Walters McCormack
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
2003 PATHFINDERS
Justice Bea Ann Smith
Third Court of Appeals
Janet Hamilton
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
Susan Morrison
Morrison & Associaties, P.C.
2002 PATHFINDERS
Jo Christy Brown
Brown & Carls, L.L.P.
Bree Buchanan
Public Policy Director, Texas Council on Family Violence
Myra McDaniel
Bickerstaff, Heath, Smiley, Pollan, Kever and McDaniel
2001 PATHFINDERS
Judge Orlinda Naranjo
Travis County Court-at-Law No. 2
Catherine Ghiglieri
President and CEO of Rategenius
Michelle Dunkerley
VP and Deputy General Cousel for Dell Computer Corporation
Velva Price
Associate Counsel, Don W. Kothman & Associates
Ann Kitchen
Texas Representative for District 48
Susan P. Burton
Shareholder with Clark, Thomas & Winters, L.L.P.