© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
The Dallas Bar Association announced that it has made Scott McElhaney its new president-elect. McElhaney will serve as the DBA’s 105th president in 2014. He will succeed Sally Crawford of Jones Day, who will serve as president in 2013.
McElhaney is a partner at Jackson Walker, where he focuses his practice on complex commercial disputes and employment matters in trial and appellate courts. He was elected on the DBA Board in 2006, and has served numerous positions since. He currently is the first vice president.
In addition to his practice as a lawyer, McElhaney has lectured at SMU’s Dedman School of Law in the areas of employment law and legal research and writing. He is active in a number of political and community groups and is a member of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2004.
McElhaney received his law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was the managing editor for Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.
After law school, McElhaney clerked for Judge Irving Goldberg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Judge Barefoot Sanders of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
The Texas Lawbook conducted a Q&A with Mr. McElhaney to learn more about his background and the DBA election process.
TLB: Why did you decide to run for DBA president/president-elect?
McElhaney: I have served in several offices in the Bar, including vice president, chair of the Board of Directors, and chair of the DBA’s Equal Access to Justice Campaign (which raises money to fund the DBA’s Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (which supports Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and recruits volunteer attorneys who provide free civil legal assistance to the poor in Dallas County)). Becoming president is a kind of natural progression through the ranks.
TLB: What was your first reaction when you found out that you had won?
McElhaney: Actually, I was the only nominee for the office. At the annual meeting of the Bar where I was elected, two colleagues gave very complimentary nominating speeches. It was flattering to be praised by other attorneys who I respect greatly. Their speeches also had enough gentle teasing to keep me humble.
TLB: Describe what you do currently as first vice president. How did it differ from your job as second vice president?
McElhaney: The duties are quite similar. Both vice presidents assist the current year’s DBA president with a variety of functions and special projects as assigned. Also, the first vice president traditionally serves as the president of the Community Service Fund Board, which is a joint effort of the DBA, the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, and Legal Services of NorthWest Texas primarily focusing on promoting and funding pro bono services to the community through the annual Equal Access to Justice Campaign.
TLB: How do you think the two roles above and your new role as president-elect will help prepare you for your future role as president?
McElhaney: The DBA sponsors a tremendous amount of legal and civic programming and supports a large number of other activities each year. It takes a few years to fully understand how all of the moving parts work and go together and to think about what kinds of new programs or events a president will want to focus upon during his or her presidential year.
TLB: What are the big issues or obstacles facing the DBA and how do you plan to address them?
McElhaney: The DBA has enjoyed many years of success in its programming for lawyers and its civic activities, so for the most part, things are in great shape. Much of the work of the DBA is devoted to supporting the DVAP program financially. Funding for legal aid from government and other traditional sources has been shrinking, so maintaining the DBA’s support for that program is a key priority.
TLB: What achievements in general do you hope for the leaders of the DBA to accomplish in the year ahead?
McElhaney: That is easy – to maintain the DBA’s reputation as one of the preeminent bar associations in the country.
© 2012 The Texas Lawbook. Content of The Texas Lawbook is controlled and protected by specific licensing agreements with our subscribers and under federal copyright laws. Any distribution of this content without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.