Omni Fort Worth Hotel
1300 Houston St
Fort Worth, TX 76102
1300 Houston St
Fort Worth, TX 76102
This event is not open to the Press.
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
Please join our young lawyers from across the state of Texas for our third annual Texas Young Lawyers Summit!
June 5-6, 2026
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
1300 Houston St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
CONFERENCE PRICING
Student Member: $25
Young Member (Graduated between 2016 - 2026): $50
Member (Graduated prior to 2016): $150
Non-Member: $200
CLE
This event has been approved by the State Bar of Texas for
3.50 MCLE Credit Hours
Attendees must sign in at the event to receive CLE credit.
Questions? Check out our CLE FAQ page.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Rooms can be reserved at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel with the FedSoc room rate of $179 per night.
CLICK HERE to reserve a room online.
Guests may also call the Reservations Desk at 1-800-THE-OMNI (843-6664).
The hotel cutoff date is Friday, May 8. Rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE AND REFUNDS
Registration will close at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026. This is also the deadline to receive a refund for a cancellation. No refunds will be given after the deadline has passed.
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7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
Fort Worth, TX
Description
Join us Friday evening for cocktails and lite bites in the heart of the Stockyards at Sidesaddle Saloon.
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
Fort Worth, TX
10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Panel I: From Public Duty to Private Impact: Careers Beyond Government and Clerking
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
CLE
1.25
hours
Ethics
0
hours
Fort Worth, TX
Description
This panel brings together distinguished legal professionals to examine the ethical and professional considerations that arise when transitioning between government service and private or nonprofit practice. Drawing on firsthand experience across the judiciary, government, private practice, and advocacy organizations, panelists will discuss topics including conflicts of interest, post-employment restrictions, confidentiality obligations, screening procedures, and the unique responsibilities accompanying movement between sectors. Attendees will gain practical guidance on navigating these ethical obligations while effectively leveraging public-sector experience and maintaining professional integrity across diverse legal environments.
Featuring:
- Prof. Aaron Nielson, Professor, University of Texas at Austin School of Law; Former Solicitor General of Texas
- Hon. Mark T. Pittman, Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- Natalie D. Thompson, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Benjamin D. Wilson, Of Counsel, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
- Moderator: Hon. Sean Jordan, Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
Speakers
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Debate: Birthright Citizenship: Constitutional Mandate or Historical Misreading?
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
CLE
1
hour
Ethics
0
hours
| Topics: | Fourteenth Amendment |
|---|
Fort Worth, TX
Description
The Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment states that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." But what is the proper interpretation of this clause? What does it mean to be "subject to the jurisdiction thereof"? Our experts debate these and other questions.
Featuring:
- Prof. Josh Blackman, Professor, South Texas College of Law Houston
- Prof. Keith Whittington, David Boies Professor of Law, Yale Law School
- Moderator: Hon. Elizabeth Kerr, Justice, Texas Second Court of Appeals
Speakers
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Luncheon and Keynote
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
Fort Worth, TX
Description
Featuring:
- Ryan R. Raybould, U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Texas
- Moderator: Fabio Leonardi, Criminal Division Chief, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
Speakers
2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Panel II: Ordered Liberty at 250: Natural Law from the Founders to Modern Courts
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
Sponsors: Family & Parental Rights Network
CLE
1.25
hours
Ethics
0
hours
| Topics: | Founding Era & History • Philosophy • State Courts |
|---|
Fort Worth, TX
Description
Natural law has played a foundational role in the American legal tradition, yet it is often misunderstood or dismissed in modern legal discourse. This panel will examine natural law as a mode of reasoning about objective principles of justice, tracing its influence from the Declaration of Independence and the Founding to contemporary debates. Panelists will discuss the extent to which natural-law principles continue to appear in modern jurisprudence, including a seeming resurgence in the Texas judiciary. The conversation will also focus on practical application, exploring how young lawyers can incorporate natural-law reasoning into litigation, interpretation, and advocacy while remaining grounded in text and precedent. As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this discussion invites renewed consideration of a tradition that has shaped American law from the beginning.
Featuring:
- Hadley Arkes, Founder and Co-Director, James Wilson Institute on Natural Rights & the American Founding
- Prof. Daniel E. Burns, Associate Professor of Politics, University of Dallas
- Hon. Matthew Kacsmaryk, Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- Roger Severino, Vice President of Domestic and Economic Policy, The Heritage Foundation
- Moderator: Conor Harvey, Associate, Wright Barger & Guzman LLP
Speakers
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closing Reception
2026 Texas Young Lawyers Summit
