Lori Elaine Laird
Texas Trial Attorney | Family Law | Civil Litigation | Criminal Defense | Appeals
Experienced Trial Advocacy. Personal Commitment.
Lori Elaine Laird is an experienced Texas trial attorney who has spent decades representing individuals, families, and businesses in complex legal matters. Based in Pasadena, Texas, she represents clients throughout the Houston-Galveston region and across the state, with a practice encompassing family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, appeals, and probate and estate disputes.
A former police officer, patrol sergeant, and SWAT hostage negotiator, Lori brings an unusually broad background to the practice of law. Her experience in criminal investigations, crisis negotiation, and law enforcement provides a valuable perspective on evaluating evidence, examining witnesses, developing trial strategy, and advocating for clients in difficult circumstances.
Lori believes that effective representation requires more than an understanding of the law. It demands careful preparation, sound judgment, a willingness to challenge improper conduct, and the ability to tell a client's story persuasively in the courtroom.
Significant Litigation & Trial Experience
Throughout her career, Lori has represented clients in high-profile, complex, and emotionally charged litigation in Texas state and federal courts.
Her work includes representing the parents of the accused shooter in civil litigation arising from the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting. Following a multi-week jury trial in 2024, a Galveston County jury found her clients not financially responsible for the shooting.
Her representation and personal experiences were featured in The New York Times article, "In Santa Fe School Shooting Trial, a Texas Lawyer's Own Grief."
Lori was also extensively involved in the legal controversy surrounding former Galveston County Judge Christopher Dupuy. While representing multiple clients in proceedings before Dupuy, including his former wife, she challenged judicial actions that threatened her clients' rights. The broader controversy involved retaliatory contempt proceedings, successful mandamus challenges to Dupuy's orders involving Schwab-Radcliffe, and formal judicial discipline.
Lori is currently writing Power Unchecked, a nonfiction account of her firsthand experiences in the Dupuy controversy and the broader issues of judicial accountability and abuse of authority.
Her litigation experience encompasses complex civil disputes, contested family law proceedings, criminal defense matters, appeals, and cases requiring extensive courtroom preparation and strategic advocacy.
Education & Professional Credentials
Lori earned her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in 2004, where she distinguished herself in legal research, writing, and courtroom advocacy.
Her law school accomplishments include winning the Spurgeon Bell Moot Court Competition, becoming a regional finalist in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, serving as Managing Editor of Corporate Counsel Review, and serving as Editor-in-Chief of Annotations--the law school newspaper. She also completed an internship with the First Court of Appeals.
She previously graduated with honors from the University of Houston–Clear Lake with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Lori is licensed to practice in Texas state courts and has been admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
She is also a mediator with advanced family mediation training.
Professional Recognition
Lori has been selected to Texas Super Lawyers in multiple years, including 2026. She was also recognized as a Texas Rising Star in 2014.
Her professional honors have included recognition by the National Trial Lawyers, Houstonia magazine, and the Galveston County Bar Association, which presented her with a Pro Bono Award in 2005.
Legal Education, Speaking & Publications
In addition to representing clients, Lori has shared her experience with attorneys, law students, and professional organizations through continuing legal education programs, conference presentations, and university speaking engagements.
Selected presentations include:
2026 — State Bar of Texas: "When Tragedy Comes to Trial: Legal Lessons from the Santa Fe Shooting."
2025 — University of Illinois College of Law: Distinguished speaker and keynote presenter discussing the Santa Fe shooting civil trial.
2018 — Lawyer Forward Conference: "Fearless Voir Dire."
2017 — Lawyer Forward Conference: "Attorney Engagement Agreements & 'Non-Refundable' Retainers."
2016 — SSET/ Texas Neurodiagnostic Society: "IONM Legal encounters: tips for depositions"
2016 — Lawyer Forward Conference: "Navigating the Complexities of Judicial Recusals."
2011 — Galveston County Juvenile Justice: search and seizure
2008 — Galveston County Juvenile Justice: juvenile law
2007 — Galveston County Juvenile Justice: juvenile law
2006 — Law Office Management: Starting your own firm on a shoestring budget
2005 — Law Office Management: Starting your own firm with absolutely no experience!
Police Academy Instruction: various years in the 1990's: United States Constitution, Texas Constitution and Police Professionalism and Ethics
Additional presentations: .
Earlier in her career, Lori taught constitutional law, police professionalism, and ethics to law enforcement officers. She has also coached varsity moot court students at South Texas College of Law.
Publications: Her writing and editorial background includes contributions to legal journals and professional publications, including Currents: International Trade Law Journal and Corporate Counsel Review.
"Locked Up or Locked Out? Minority Stock Holders May Hold the Key!": Corporate Counsel / State Bar Section Report- Spring 2004
"Space Resuscitation: Capitalism to the Rescue? When International Cooperation Becomes International Complication": Currents International Trade Journal ; 2003
Corporate Counsel Review: contributing writer; various pieces
Annotations, South Texas College of Law: Editor-in-Chief & Contributing Writer: 2003-2004
Broadcast Media: Former host of "Ask the Experts," a radio program discussing Texas family law issues.
Community Leadership & Volunteer Service
Lori's commitment to public service extends well beyond the courtroom.
She has served as President of the Pasadena Philharmonic Orchestra since 2022 and as a member of its Board of Directors since 2018. An accomplished orchestral violinist, she combines her passion for music with nonprofit leadership, fundraising, arts education, and community engagement.
She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Galveston Symphony Orchestra, with a president-elect term designated for 2026–2027.
Her previous board and volunteer service includes The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, an organization assisting individuals and families affected by domestic violence; the Texas Neurodiagnostic Society; Micah's Prader-Willi Syndrome Foundation; and other community organizations.
Earlier volunteer activities included service as an emergency medical technician, supporting youth law enforcement education, and volunteering as an attorney for National Adoption Day.
Beyond the Courtroom
Outside her legal practice, Lori is an orchestral violinist, an avid reader, and an enthusiastic supporter of the performing arts.
She believes that a full life, varied professional experience, and genuine engagement with her community bring perspective and compassion to her work as an attorney.
Whether representing a client in a difficult divorce, preparing complex civil litigation, defending criminal charges, or challenging improper conduct in court, Lori approaches each case with the same objective: to understand what matters most to her client and provide experienced, strategic, and determined representation.
