There was a point in Jeffrey Price’s litigation career when he got a bad case of burnout.
Then a partner in the Dallas office of Hedrick Kring, Price was navigating a convergence of personal challenges and found himself searching for greater meaning in his work.
He left both his job and Dallas, ultimately turning to volunteer work with The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, where he represented former military service members before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. After more than a year of volunteering, Price joined the National Veterans Legal Services Program as an appellate attorney.
It was through pro bono work on behalf of veterans that Price found the sense of purpose he had sought.
Now, Price is returning to his business practice. He joined Stinson’s business litigation practice as of counsel in Dallas in November, bringing with him a renewed perspective on the profession and a continued commitment to veterans pro bono work. He also hopes to encourage fellow lawyers to seek out pro bono opportunities that genuinely resonate — something he believes might have helped prevent his own burnout had he done so earlier.
“Doing the veterans work found meaning in my career being a lawyer,” Price said. “I think finding something that clicks, something that’s meaningful that you really believe in, and then getting proficient in it and making it sort of a long-term practice tends to guard against burnout.”
Price was working in Dallas when his wife became seriously ill with a rare autoimmune disorder. At the same time, he was experiencing what he calls a “faith transition” from the Mormon religion he grew up with, along with the cumulative strain of litigation work.
“Litigation can be a beatdown,” Price said, adding that he didn’t always feel his work was bettering the world.
With his youngest of three children about to start high school and his middle child recently graduated, the time felt right for a move that would minimize disruption. The family moved to scenic Wyoming, where Price’s late father used to take his family. Being there allowed Price to feel closer to his father, come to terms with his faith transition and search for renewed meaning in his career.
At first, Price volunteered with The Veterans Consortium, relying on savings he and his wife had accumulated while living in Texas. Price had a heart for veterans — he had been in the Army National Guard and his father, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, served in Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War. Price’s oldest son serves in the U.S. Army and is currently stationed in Poland.
With the Consortium, Price represented veterans appealing denials of benefits claims — work he quickly found deeply fulfilling.
One case especially confirmed that sentiment. The Department of Veterans Affairs agreed that Price’s client had a service-connected condition but was assigned a low disability rating. Price identified evidence the agency had overlooked and argued for a higher rating. On remand, the board granted the increase — a decision the client described as life-changing.
“It was one of the most rewarding, gratifying moments of being an attorney that I’ve experienced,” Price said.
From there, Price joined the appellate practice at the National Veterans Legal Services Program, where he worked on more than 100 appeals.
This year, as his youngest son graduated from high school and went to college, Price and his wife found themselves at another natural transition point. His time in Wyoming, Price said, helped him become his “best self” and clarified that he didn’t need to represent veterans full time to maintain that sense of purpose. Instead, he realized he could integrate pro bono work into his litigation practice. Over the summer, he began considering a return to business litigation.
Price was encouraged to apply to Stinson by partner Deborah Deitsch-Perez, a former colleague from boutique firm Lackey Hershman, where Price had been a partner. Lackey Hershman merged with Stinson in 2018, bringing the firm to Texas. Price had also worked with Paul Lackey, now Stinson’s managing partner in Dallas.
“I have known Jeff for years, and his strategic mindset and experience in high-stakes commercial litigation make him a valuable addition to our Dallas office,” Lackey said in an announcement of Price’s hire. “Over the years, Jeff and I have worked together on all types of complex cases, and his work in both trial and appellate matters reflects his dedication to successful advocacy.”
Some of the more interesting work of his career, Price said, had been alongside Lackey and Deitsch-Perez.
Now, Stinson is without a doubt a “destination law firm,” he said.
Price plans to continue his pro bono work with The Veterans Consortium and hopes to collaborate with colleagues interested in similar efforts — several of whom have already expressed interest.
“Looking back, I wish I had known about pro bono veterans opportunities [before moving to Wyoming]. That might have helped balance some of the challenging litigation practice with meaningful pro bono work that really clicks with me,” Price said. “I truly want my colleagues to know if it’s something that could help them, that I’m happy to share.”