THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
wo law professors receive
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sta e recog
I magazine
By Katherine Amerson!
The University Daily
A super lawyer is not someone
who flies around town with a cape
flapping behind him in the wind,
but rather an honorable title given
by "Texas Monthly" magazine.
In its October 2004 issue, "Texas
Monthly" named Texas Tech law
professors Don Hunt and Marilyn
Phelan as Super Lawyers in the
magazine's second annual survey.
Walter Huffman, law school
dean, said this honor is prestigious
because the lawyers cannot vote for
themselves; their peers nominate
them.
"You have to be in the top 5
percent of vote getters to make
the cut," he said. "Then the "Texas
Monthly" puts together a screening
board."
The screening board makes sure
the nominees are in good standing,
whether the people are experts in
their field and if they are members
of profeSSional organizations, Huffman said.
"Phelan is in the American Law
Institute, limited to the top onethird of lawyers in the nation," he
said. "It's kudos times two for professor
Phelan."
Phelan is not a law practitioner; she
strictly is a law professor, Huffman said.
Getting as much positive recognition
for the school as possible always is
important, he said.
"It's an indication that two of the
folks teaching our students are recognized by their peers," he said. "Last year
there was only one other full time law
professor named a Super Lawyer in the
state other than Phelan."
Hunt is the coach for the appellate
advocacy team, he said. The Tech
John Marshall Court Team won the
national championship in Chicago
last year under Hunt's coaching, Huffman said.
"Don Hunt is a practitioner," Huffman said. "He's an adjunct professor
for us."
Phelan , who was appointed as a
Texas Commissioner to the National
Conference on Uniform State Laws
by Gov. Rick Perry, said she is vety
honored to be named a Super Lawyer
two years in a row.
The governor of each state appoints 11 lawyers to the committee,
Phelan said.
"I serve on a drafting committee,"
she said. "The National Conference
came up with the Uniform Commercial Code."
Hunt, also a second-time honoree,
said the award is nice since so many
lawyers decide whom to nominate.
"It's a little like selecting an NFL
all-star team," he said. "It's a pleasure
always to be honored by one's peers.
It's humbling too, brcause you wonder
why you were seledted."
Most of the people selected are
between ages 40 and 60, Hunt said,
and Phelan is in her younger 30s.
"We went to law school together,"
he said . "She's one of the smartest
people you'll ever want to meet."
Hunt said some lawyers decided not
to participate in the process, but some
people who did not take part last year
decided to get involved this year.
"You nominate somebody you
know to be a superior lawyer with the
knowledge and capacity in a certain
type of case," he said. "My specialty is
appellate practice."
Tech is a good and well-respected
un iversity, he said, and that other
lawyers realize the talented faculty it
has is nice.
"I'm very proud of them," Huffman said.