Stephanie M. Ledesma
Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Learning Programs
Phone: (713) 313-1105
Email: ssledesma@tmslaw.tsu.edu
Joined the faculty in 2012.
Education
J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law, San Antonio, TX, 1996
M.A., University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, 1990
B.S., St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, 1989
Courses Taught
Appellate Litigation
Trial Simulation
Biographical Information
- Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Learning Programs (2017-Present)
- Assistant Professor and Director of Experiential Learning Programs, Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Houston, TX (2013-2017)
- Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Experiential Learning Programs, Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Houston, TX (2012-2013)
- Adjunct Professor, Rutgers University School of Law, Camden, NJ (2011)
- Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boulder, CO (2010)
- Board Member, National Association of Counsel for Children, Denver, CO (2009)
- Managing Attorney, Ledesma Law Firm, Austin, TX (1997)
Selected Publications
- Experiential Education as Critical Pedagogy: Enhancing the Law School Experience, 38 Nova L. Rev. 249 (2014) (with SpearIt).
- The Vanishing of the African-American Family: “Reasonable Efforts” and Its Connection to the Disproportionality of the Child Welfare System, 9 Charleston L. Rev. 29 (2014).
Selected Presentations
- Faculty Member, June, 2012 , National Institute of Trial Advocacy , Trial Skills for Child Welfare Attorneys, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Faculty Member June, 2012 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Skills for Child Welfare Attorneys
Hofstra Law School Long Island, New York
- Faculty Member May, 2012 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Skills for Public Interest Lawyersb Baltimore, Maryland
Faculty Member April, 2012 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Skills for Public Interest Lawyers Tampa, Florida
- Panelist March, 2012 CASA of Williamson County, Texas, Georgetown, Texas Representing Children in CPS Cases: The Zealous Advocate
- Guest Speaker January, 2012 CASA of Williamson County, Texas
Legal and Ethical Duties of the Attorney
- Georgetown, Texas Representing Children and Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Advocate
Panelist January, 2012 CASA of Williamson County, Texas
Georgetown, Texas Representing Children in CPS Cases: The Zealous Advocate
- Moderator- January, 2012 CASA Mock Trial
Georgetown, Texas Representing Children and Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Advocate
- Panelist September, 2011 CASA of Williamson County, Texas
Georgetown, Texas Representing Children in CPS Cases: The Zealous Advocate
- Faculty Member September, 2011 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Skills for Juvenile Defenders
Loyola Law School Los Angeles, California
- Guest Speaker September, 2011 Williamson County Bar Association- Fall CLE
Georgetown, Texas 2011 Legislative Updates- Child Welfare Law
- Lead Faculty Member August, 2011 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Advocacy Training Institute
University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah
- Trial Advocacy Faculty May, 2011 419th Judicial District and Travis County Women Lawyers Association
Mock Trial Presenter
Take Your Daughter to Work Day Program-
Austin, Texas Dating Violence Mock Trial for Middle School Participants
- Faculty Member May, 2011 National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Boulder, CO Rocky Mountain Child Welfare Advocacy Training Institute
- Trial Advocacy Faculty April, 2011 Travis County Bar Association Partnership with Travis County High Schools
Austin, TEXAS Jury of your Peers Educational Program
- Faculty Member November, 2010 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Skills for Child Welfare Lawyers
Boston, MA
- Trial Advocacy Faculty Nov.,2010 419th Judicial District Travis County, Texas
Mock Trial Presenter
Austin, Texas Dating Violence Mock Trial for Middle School Participants
- Speaker October, 2010 Williamson County Bar Association
Georgetown, Texas Best Practices for Attorneys in Child Welfare Cases
- Trainer October, 2010 National Association of Counsel for Children
Trial Skills Training for Attorneys Representing Children and Parents in Child
Austin, Texas Welfare Cases
- Faculty July, 2010 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Skills for Public Service Attorneys
Louisville
- Speaker July, 2010 10th Annual Family Law on the Front Lines
San Antonio, Texas Promising Practices in Child Protective Services Cases
- Panelist June. 2010 Texas Minority Attorney Program
Austin, Texas Tips for the Solo Practitioner and Small Law Firm
- Faculty May, 2010 National Institute of Trial Advocacy Rocky Mountain Child Welfare Advocacy Louisville, Colorado
Featured Interview May, 2010 National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Louisville, Colorado “Share in NITA’s Legacy of Giving National Media Campaign”
- Speaker April, 2010 2010 County and District Clerks Legal Education
Round Rock, Texas The Anatomy of a Child Protective Services Case
- Panelist Spring, 2010 CASA of Travis County
Austin, Texas Representing Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Attorney
- Guest Lecturer March, 2010 University of Texas Law School Domestic Rights Clinic
Austin, Texas Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
- Speaker February, 2010 23rd Annual Juvenile Law Conference The Power of Parental Engagement
Dallas, Texas
- Panelist February, 2010 23rd Annual Juvenile Law Conference
Dallas, Texas Bringing Kids to Court: Should They Stay or Should They Go
- Moderator February, 2012 African American Family Mental Health Support Conference
Austin, Texas Zealous Representation of Parents for the Benefit of the Children in CPS cases
- Presenter December, 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Corpus Christi, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter December, 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Harlingen, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter November, 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Dallas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter October, 2009 Travis County Juvenile Justice Annual Certification Training
Collaboration Between Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems:
Austin, Texas Necessity for the Child’s Best Interest
- Presenter October, 2009 Judicial and Attorney Training
San Antonio, Texas The Importance of Effective Legal Advocacy for Parents in Child Welfare Cases
- Presenter October, 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Forth Worth The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter October, 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Waco, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Speaker October, 2009 Austin Bar Association-Court Appointed Family Attorneys
Austin, Texas Representing Parents in Child Abuse Cases
- Presenter October, 2009 Texas CASA State Convention
San Marcos, Texas The Power of Engagement: A Parent’s Perspective
- Presenter October, 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Longview, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Featured Interview October, 2009 Texas Supreme Court Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families Austin, Texas
- Speaker October, 2009 CASA of Travis County
Austin, Texas Representing Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Attorney
- Presenter September, 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Texarkana, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter July. 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Houston, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter July. 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Beaumont, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter June. 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
San Antonio, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Presenter June. 2009 National Association of Counsel for Children
Austin, Texas The Abuse and Neglect Case, A Practitioner’s Guide
- Panelist April, 2009 CASA of Travis County
Austin, Texas Representing Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Attorney
- Guest Lecturer March, 2009 University of Texas Law School Children’s Rights Clinic
Austin, Texas Best Practices, Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
- Guest Lecturer March, 2009 University of Texas Law School Domestic Violence Clinic
Austin, Texas Best Practices, Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
- Presenter November, 2008 Travis County Juvenile Law Certification Seminar
Austin, Texas The Role of the Guardian and Attorney ad Litem
- Lecturer October, 2008 University of Texas Law School Domestic Violence Clinic
Austin, Texas Representing Battered Women in CPS Cases
- Lecturer October, 2008 University of Texas Law School Domestic Violence Clinic
Austin, Texas Best Practices: Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
- Speaker September, 2008 CASEY Family Foundation
Austin, Texas Helping Children and Families Reach Permanency in CPS Cases
- Panelist October, 2007 CASA of Travis County
Austin, Texas Representing Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Attorney
- Guest Lecturer October, 20007 University of Texas Law School Children’s Rights Clinic
Austin, Texas Best Practices in Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
- Guest Lecturer October, 2007 University of Texas Law School Domestic Violence Clinic
Austin, Texas Best Practices in Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
- Speaker August, 2007 Southwest State University
San Marcos, Texas The Anatomy of a CPS Case
- Panelist CASA of Travis County
Austin, Texas Representing Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Attorney
- October, 2006 • Guest Lecturer
University of Texas Law School Children’s Rights Clinic
- Best Practices in Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
Austin, TEXAS
- October, 2006 • Panelist
CASA of Travis County
Representing Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Attorney
Austin, TEXAS
- October, 2006 • Guest Lecturer
University of Texas Law School Domestic Violence Clinic
Best Practices in Representing Parents and Children in CPS Cases
Austin, TEXAS
- March, 2006 • Panelist
CASA of Travis County
Representing Parents in CPS Cases: The Zealous Attorney
Austin, TEXAS
- February, 2006 • Moderator
Court Appointed Special Advocates, Travis County
Bar Association
Now That You are on the CPS Appointment List... Tool Box
Oral and written presentation
Austin, TEXAS
- February, 2006 • Panelist
Court Appointed Special Advocates, Travis County Bar Association
How to Hold the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Contempt in CPS Case
Austin, TEXAS
- February, 2006 • Speaker
Court Appointed Special Advocates, Travis County Bar Association
The Basics of CPS Representation
Austin, TEXAS
Service to the Profession
Board Memberships
- Court Appointed Family Advocates, Travis County Bar Association, Board Member, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Past Continuing Legal Education Chair
- Past Membership Chair
- Current, At Large Chair
- Past Continuing Legal Education Chair
- Travis County Adoption Day Committee Co-Chair of sub-committee, 2006
- Texas Supreme Court Permanent Judicial Commission on Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Counsel Board Member, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- National Association of Counsel for Children- Board Member, 2010-2014
- Williamson County Women’s Lawyer Section of the Williamson County Bar Association, President, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Citizen Review Team Appointee, 2011
Committee Memberships
- American Bar Association, 1998,1999,2009,2010, 2011, 2012
- College of the State Bar of Texas Recognition, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas Recognition, 2000, 2004, 2005, 200, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Austin Disproportionality Advisory Committee, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Cambridge Who’s Who, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Central Texas Domestic Violence Task Force Member, 2010, 2011
- Court Appointed Family Advocates, Travis County Bar Association, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- National Association of Counsel for Children, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- National Association of Counsel for Children, Child Welfare Specialization Committee, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- National Counsel of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2009, 2010
- State Bar of Texas Parents In Recovery Grant Sustainability Counsel, 2010
- Texans Care for Children Juvenile Justice Roundtable Committee, 2010, 2011
- Texans Care for Children Partners in CPS Reform Committee, 2010, 2011
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services State Wide Disproportionality Task Force, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Bar Association, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Travis County Community Disproportionality Counsel, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Travis County Bar Association CLE Advisory Committee, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Travis County Model Court- Family Search and Engagement Committee, Co-Chair, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Model Court Evaluation Work Group, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Model Court-Collaborative Counsel, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Model Court- Docket Committee, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Model Court- Database Committee, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Model Court- Permanent Managing Conservatorship Committee, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Model Court- Disproportionality Committee, 2009, 2010
- Travis County Disproportionality Collaborative Counsel, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Travis County Bar Association, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Travis County Adoption Day Committee Member, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011
- Travis County Women Lawyer’s Association- Jury of My Peers High School Campaign, 2010, 2011
- Williamson County Adoption Day Committee Chairperson, 2010, 2011
- Williamson County Bar Association, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Williamson County Coats for Kids in Foster Care Committee, 2010, 2011
Service to the Community
Board Membership
- Round Rock Youth sports Football Organization Parliamentarian, 1999, 2000
- Dream Team Sports Youth Football Organization President, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
- Our Savior Lutheran School Parent Teacher Organization Board Member, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011
- Our Savior Lutheran School Board Member, 2001, 2002, 2011
- Williamson County Georgetown Jets Booster Club President, 2009, 2010 and 2011
Committee Member
- Our Savior Lutheran Church Counsel, 2001, 2002
- Our Savior Lutheran Classroom Volunteer, 2001-2011
- Round Rock Christian School Volunteer, 2011, 2012
- Stony Point High School Volunteer Committee, 2006-2010
Youth Mentor/Coach
- Brushy Creek 5th-6th grade girls volley ball Assistant Coach, 2011
- YMCA 5th-6th grade girls volley ball Assistant Coach, 2011
- Round Rock Christian Academy 6th grade girls volley ball Assistant, Coach, 2012
- Hutto Volley Ball Middle School girls volley ball Coach, 2012
Legal Certifications
- Mediation Certification, 2000
- Family Law Mediation Certification, 2000
- Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS), 2010
