James M. Douglas
Professor of Law

 

Phone: (713) 313-1122
Email: jdouglas@tmslaw.tsu.edu
Joined the faculty in 1971.

Education:

• Texas Southern University
  1971-72 began work on Masters in Sociology
• Stanford University
  J.S.M., Computer Law, June, 1971
• Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School Of Law
  J.D., June, 1970
  Graduated Number One in Law School Class, Most Outstanding Third Year Student, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, Winner of 10 American Jurisprudence Awards, Member of Moot Court Team, Parliamentarian of Student Bar Association, and Advisor for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
• Texas Southern University
  B.A., Mathematics, August, 1966
  President of Student Body, President of Sophomore Class and President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
• Total Quality Management
  Certificate, February, 1993
  

Courses Taught: Courses Taught: Computer Law, Contracts, Commercial Paper, Sales, Secured Transactions, Black Jurisprudence Legal Skills and Analysis, Legal Research and Writing Wills, The Law and Social Sciences, and Professional Responsibility.

Biographical Information

• Distinguished Professor of Law
  Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (September 2013-Present)
  Vice President for Governmental Affairs and Community Relations

• Texas Southern University (March 2012-August 2013)
  Executive Vice President/Interim General Counsel
  Texas Southern University (June 2009-March2012)
  

• Executive Vice President
  Texas Southern University (October 2008-June 2009)
  
• Interim Provost
  Texas Southern University (February 2008-October 2008)

• Interim Dean
  Florida A & M University (June 2005 –January 2007)
  Consultant

• Florida A&M University (June, 2000-March, 2001)
  Developed plans for the new law school at Florida A&M University. This included all curriculum, human resource, facilities, and budget preparation. In other words this included all plans necessary to start up a new law school.

• Distinguished Professor of Law
  Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (March 1999-present)

• President and Professor of Law
  Texas Southern University (December, 1995 –March 1999)

• Interim President and Professor of Law
  Texas Southern University (October, 1995 - December, 1995)

• Interim Provost And Senior Vice President For Academic Affairs and Professor of Law
  Texas Southern University (August, 1995 - October, 1995)

• Dean and Professor Of Law
  Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University (July, 1981 - July, 1995)

• Professor of Law
  Northeastern University School of Law, (July, 1980 - July, 1981)

• Associate Professor Of Law and Associate Dean
  Syracuse University College of Law (August, 1975 - June, 1980)
  Tenured, Fall 1977.

• Assistant Professor of Law & Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
  Cleveland State Univ., Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (September, 1974 - August, 1975)

• Assistant Professor of Law
  Cleveland State Univ., Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (September, 1972 - August, 1974)

• Assistant Professor of Law
  Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern Univ. (September, 1971 - August, 1972)
  Courses Taught: Computer Law, Contracts, Commercial Paper, Sales, Secured Transactions, Black Jurisprudence Legal Skills and Analysis, Legal Research and Writing Wills, The Law and Social Sciences, and Professional Responsibility.

• Programmer Analyst
  Singer General Precision (June, 1971 - August, 1972)
  Assigned to the Lunar Module Mission Simulator and specifically responsible for program development and analysis of the Environmental Control and Interface, and the Reaction Control Systems.

• Programmer Analyst
  Singer General Precision (November, 1966 - August, 1970)
  Assigned to the Lunar Module Mission Simulator and specifically responsible for program development and analysis of the Propulsion, Reaction Control, the Executive, and the Stabilization and Control Systems.
  

Select Publications

• “The Distinction Between Lawyers As Advocates And As Activists; And The Role of the Law School Dean In Facilitating the Justice Mission,” 40 CLEV. ST. L. REV. 405 (1992).
  
• Computer Use - Legal Arrangements and Liabilities, in Computers, Society and Law: The Role of Legal Education (AFIPS Press 1973).
  
• Some Ideas on the Computer and the Law, 2 TEX. S. U. L. REV. 20 (1971)

Professional Organizations & Boards

• American Bar Association
• Section on Science and Technology
• Section Council (1990 - 1995)
• Chair of Committee on Opportunities for Women & Minorities (1989-1994)
• Chair of Education Committee (1974 - 1978)
• Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar
• Legal Technology Advisory Council (1991 - 1997)
• Diversity in Legal Education Committee (1990 - 1997)
• Nominating Committee (1991 - Present)
• Affirmative Action Committee (1983 - 1990)
• Member of numerous Law School Accreditation Teams
• Texas Supreme Court Historical Society - Board of Trustees (1990 - Present)
• College of the State Bar of Texas (1993 - Present)
• State Bar of Texas - Numerous Special Committee Assignments
• Computer Contracts & Licensing Committee (1993 - 1995)
• Continuing Legal Education Committee (1991 - 1995) (1996 - Present)
• ABA House of Delegates Selection Committee (1992)
• Selection of Directors and Faculty for CLE Programs (1991 - 1992)
• Administration of Justice Committee (1991 - 1994)
• Professionalism Committee (1989 - 1990)
• Texas Young Lawyers Association, Law School Liaison (1989 - 1990)
• Opportunities for Minorities Committee (1986 - 1990)
• Liaison with Law School Committee (1982 - 1990)
• Houston Bar Association
• Houston Bar Foundation’s Selection Committee (1994 - 1997)
• Law Practice Management Section - Board of Directors (1990 - 1997)
• Chair (1995 - 1996)
• Vice-Chair (1994 -1995)
• Secretary (1993 - 1994)
• Law Practice Management Committee (1989 - 1990)
• National Bar Association
• Legal Education Committee (1983 - Present)
• Convention Committee (2001 – Present)
• Texas Legal Services Center
• Board of Directors (1993 - 1996)
• Lone Star Legal Aid
• Board of Directors (2001 – Present)
• Gulf Coast Legal Foundation
• Board of Directors (1984 - 2001)
• President (1994 - 1995)
• President-Elect (1993 - 1994)
• President (1988 - 1989)
• Treasurer (1987 - 1988) & (1998 – 1999)
• Hiscock Legal Aid Society
• Board of Directors
• Law School Admissions Council
• Financial/Legal Affairs Committee (1991 - 1993) (1995 - 1997)
• Minorities Affairs Committee (1987 - 1991)
• Chairperson (1987 - 1989)
• Board of Trustees (1987 - 1989)
• Services Committee (1984 - 1985)
• PEP Committee (1982 - 1983)
• The Texas Lawyer
• Board of Contributors (1988 - 1997)
• Editorial Board (1985 - 1988)
• Greater Houston Partnership Board of Directors (1997 - 1999)
• Houston Chamber of Commerce (Life Member)
• Chairman’s Club (1985 - 1987)
• Outstanding Service Award (1987)
• Exemplary Volunteer Award (1987)
• Butterworth Legal Publishers – Texas Advisory Board
• Salvation Army Board of Directors (1996 - 1999)
• Houston Festival Board of Directors (Executive Committee) (1996 - 1999)
• Central Houston Board of Directors (1996 - 1999)
• Sickle Cell Foundation of Texas
• Board of Directors (1988 - 1994)
• Chair of Fundraising (1992 - 1994)
• President (1990 - 1991)
• Houston Campaign for the Homeless
• Steering Committee (1988 – 19890)
• Boy Scouts of America
• Board of Directors (1993 - Present)
• Executive Committee (1998 - Present)
• Nominating Committee(1998 – Present)
• District Chairman of Career Awareness (1993 - Present)
• NAACP – Life Member(Member Of Board-Houston Brench)
• General Counsel (2005 – Present)
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – Life Member
• Black Rodeo Committee (1993 – Present)
• 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston – Founding Member
• Vice President (1994 – 2004)
• Treasurer(2004 – Present)
• Houston 2012 Foundation
• Board of Directors (1998 – 2003)
• IMANI House
• Board of Directors (2000 – 2004)
• Conrad Johnson Foundation
• Treasurer(1998 – Present)

 

Back to Top of the Page