Answering the Call: A Journey to Chair of the Family Law Section
By Jim Mueller1
1 Jim Mueller is the owner and managing partner of Mueller Family Law Group in Dallas, where he focuses on complex divorce, high-asset property division, custody disputes, and marital property agreements throughout Texas. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Mr. Mueller is also a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and an AAML Certified Arbitrator. A frequent CLE speaker and author of Divorce in Texas: The Legal Process, Your Rights, and What to Expect, he is consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers, and D Magazine for excellence in family law. He may be reached at jmueller@muellerflg.com.
As I prepare to assume the duties and responsibilities of Chair of the Family Law Section, I am struck by how much of my professional and personal life has been devoted to the Section.
I began my career as a commercial litigator but quickly realized that I spent more time at my desk than litigating in the courtroom. Fortunately, the firm I joined 20 years ago had a family law section. Even more fortunate was the opportunity to appear in court for several family law hearings. I quickly realized—I was hooked. I took the plunge, dedicated my career entirely to family law, and the rest is history.
I joined the Family Law Section 20 years ago and have never looked back. I admired the mentors in the Section and observed that they loved practicing family law. I also formed lifelong friendships in the process. I begged for opportunities to get involved, volun-teered as much as possible, and found myself doing more non-billable work that was more fulfilling than I could have imagined.
I often wonder why any family law attorney would not join the Section. I am that “old” lawyer who proudly keeps the Toolkit on counsel table. I use the Section’s publications and resources nearly every day to enhance my practice. If you do not have the Predicates Manual or the Texas Family Law Practice Manual, you are missing invaluable resources.
At its core, the Family Law Section is a community of extraordinary people. It is powered by volun-teers who dedicate countless hours to updating existing publications and creating new ones each year. Without their efforts, we would not have a quarterly Section Report, a monthly Membership Update, or an annual bibliography of case law and emerging family law issues. Our members attend seminars, utilize these publications to sharpen their skills, and give back to their communities through pro bono service.
When I attended my first Advanced Family Law Course, I was honestly intimidated. I felt as though there was so much I did not know. Determined to improve, I committed myself to becoming better. I worked diligently to achieve board certification. I pursued involvement in organizations that allowed me to collaborate with and learn from the best in the profession. As a result, I became a Fellow of the Amer-ican Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and the author of Divorce in Texas: The Legal Process, Your Rights, and What to Expect. I have been honored to be invited as a Diplomate of the prestigious American College of Family Trial Lawyers—one of only 100 family law trial lawyers nationwide selected for that distinction. My service on various boards and com-mittees has led to roles including President of the Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers, President-Elect of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, and Second Vice President of the National American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
I believe deeply in giving back. In 2015, alongside the late Brian Webb and former Chief Justice Linda Thomas, I was proud to serve as an original founder and benefactor of the VanSickle Family Law Clinic at SMU. The Clinic provides critical assistance to unrepresented family law litigants in our commu-nity while giving law students invaluable real-world experience.
Serving the Family Law Section has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my career. As I step into this new leadership role, I do so with gratitude—for the mentors who guided me, the colleagues who became friends, and the profession that continues to challenge and inspire me every day.
