Larry P. McDougal Sr. is certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the founder of a namesake law office where he practices with his son. McDougal has previously served as a police officer, firefighter, and an assistant district attorney.

He served on the State Bar Board of Directors from 2012 to 2015 and continues to serve on the State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee. He is the District 5 Grievance Committee chair for the State Bar and District 5 nominating chair for the Texas Bar Foundation. McDougal also serves on the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Ethics Committee, Ethics Hotline, and Strike Force. He teaches legal ethics to lawyers around the state and is a member of several professional associations.

McDougal won the President’s Award from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 2009, TexasBarCLE Standing Ovation Award in 2014, and the Outstanding Third-Year Director Award from the State Bar of Texas in 2015, among other accolades.

He earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 1990.

Immediate Past President McDougal's Initiatives

Courthouse Access Badge Workgroup

In 2018, the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors created a Courthouse Access Badge Task Force to study the implementation of courthouse access badges in Texas. The 14-member Courthouse Access Badge Workgroup, created in September 2020, will continue those efforts.

View the task force roster and fiscal impact analysis here.

Presidential Task Force on Criminal Court Proceedings

The 17-member Presidential Task Force on Criminal Court Proceedings advises the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals regarding the resumption of criminal jury trials and other criminal law issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The task force was designed to supplement the work of the Jury Trial Advisory Group, which was formed in May 2020 at the request of the Supreme Court and with the support of the State Bar to assist the Office of Court Administration in resuming court operations.

View the task force’s interim recommendations as of August 26, 2020, here.

View the task force roster and fiscal impact analysis here.

Task Force on Public Protection, Grievance Review, and the Client Security Fund

The 21-member Task Force on Public Protection, Grievance Review, and the Client Security Fund is studying the attorney grievance process to ensure it remains fair to Texas lawyers while also protecting the public. The task force is also studying the Client Security Fund to determine ways it can better serve the public while considering the limited resources available to it.

View the task force roster and fiscal impact analysis here.

Together We Dine

Together We Dine, a networking event being held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, brings together people of diverse backgrounds for non-confrontational discussions about racism and race relations. Led by trained facilitators at each virtual table, these events are designed to cultivate relationships through healthy and structured dialogue. President McDougal has announced plans to invite every Texas lawyer to participate in a Together We Dine discussion before the end of his term in June 2021.

Together We Dine is an initiative of Dallas-based Project Unity. Learn more by watching this short video.

President's Page

• June 2021 - What We Accomplished Together

• May 2021 - State Bar Responds to Texas Lawyers’ Needs

• April 2021 - Order Paves Way for Reopening of Texas Courts

• March 2021 - Task Force Is Ensuring Grievance Process Is Fair to All

• February 2021 - What to Know Before You Vote, Part 2

• January 2021 - What to Know Before You Vote, Part 1

• December 2020 - Handling the Holidays

• November 2020 - Promises Kept

• October 2020 - Reopening Courts Means Carefully Balancing Priorities

• September 2020 - Continuing the Conversation

• July/August 2020 - Plans for a New Bar Year

President's Email Messages

• Eviction Moratorium, CLE, and Resources