EXPERIENCE MATTERS
MEET JAPAULA
I am an 18 yr resident of Fort Bend County, Texas and 24 year resident of Texas. I am married and have one adult child and 3 grandchildren.
I remain continuously active in the Fort Bend community volunteering with several organizations to include Fort Bend Junior Service League and getting out the vote with the Fort Bend Democratic Party. Additionally, I have served as a past HOA vice president, Precinct Chair, Missouri City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone board member and as a commissioner for the Missouri City Charter Commission. I love serving as a community advocate, volunteer and mentor. Over the past 10 years I have served as a mentor to students in the criminal law clinic at Thurgood Marshall School of Law and youths within the juvenile justice system. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, biking, skating, crafting, volunteering and spending time with family and close friends.
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EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
I obtained my Juris Doctorate Degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and Bachelor of Arts, undergraduate degree, from the University of Michigan. I became licensed to practice law in the State of Texas in 2003. I have been a practicing attorney for over 20 years; primarily in the areas of Criminal Law, Child Welfare Law, and Civil Litigation. During my career, I have handled well over 4000 cases to include trials, hearings, settlement negotiation and dispute resolution. I have also served as an Independent Hearing Examiner for the TEA hearings/appeals process; been appointed as a special commissioner in condemnation actions; and appointed as an attorney ad litem for children and missing litigants in civil or tax matters. I have dedicated countless hours effectively and zealously representing indigent persons to include adults and juveniles involved in criminal litigation and parents and children involved in child protective services litigation. I am a long standing member of the Texas Bar College which is a professional society for legal scholars. I strongly believe that continued education is the key to competence, effective representation and effective decision making.
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I am both client and peer rated.
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