The National Trial Competition was established in 1975 to encourage and strengthen students advocacy skills through quality competition and valuable interaction with members of the bench and bar. The program is designed to expose law students to the nature of trial practice and to serve as a supplement to their education. It is the Texas Young Lawyers Association intent to provide a meaningful contribution to the development of future trial lawyers.

2006-2007 Team Members

Tryouts for the 2006-2007 team are on 23 Sept 2006.

Coach Profile -

Mr. Hensley serves the firm in an "of counsel" role offering advice and background solely to the lawyers of the firm in their representation of firm clients. Mr. Hensley is retired from the private practice of law. He maintains an office at the firm.

Mr. Hensley had an active trial practice and later enjoyed the representation of many agriculture cooperatives across the state. He represented in trial many of the institutions and families that the firm counts as its clients. In 1989, Mr. Hensley was recognized as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. During his career, he also earned a reputation in cotton industry as a knowledgeable and capable advocate of that business. Mr. Hensley is a member of the Legal, Tax and Accounting Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. He was a frequent speaker at cotton industry meeting on litigation, internal governance and legislative matters. He continues to maintain relationships in that industry.

Mr. Hensley was an honors graduate of South Plains College and Texas Tech University. He holds Associates, Bachelor in Business Administration - Finance, and a Juris Doctorate degrees. He earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1982. During his time at the Texas Tech School of Law, Mr. Hensley earned the Order of the Barrisiter, was Chairman of the Board of Barristers, and was a member of the 1982 National Championship Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Young Lawyers Association. Mr. Hensley received the Lewis E. Powell, Jr., Award for Excellance in Advocacy by the American College of Trial Lawyers. Since his graduation, Mr. Hensley has continued to serve the law school in training student advocates for competition as an Adjunct Professor of Law, 1984- present. His teams have earned state, regional and national championships.

Prior to entering the private practice, Mr. Hensley served as an Assistant (1977-1978) to U. S. Representative George H. Mahon, Chairman Committee on Appropriations and Chairman Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations, and as an Assistant (1978-1982) to U. S. Representative Kent R. Hance.

Practice Areas: Limited to assisting attorneys of the firm in representation of firm clients, cooperative law, and litigation.

Law School: Texas Tech University School of Law
Lubbock, Texas (1982)
Chairman, Board of Barristers
Recipient of the National Order of the Barrister

Undergraduate: Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
Bachelor of Business Administration, with High Honors (1979)

Licenses: Admitted to Practice, Texas, 1982
Admitted to the Western and Northern Districts of Texas, U. S.
District Courts
Admitted to the Fifth Circuit, U. S. Court of Appeals

Professional Organizations: State Bar of Texas; Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Civil Trial, since 1989
Member of the Legal, Tax and Accounting Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

Honors: Distinguished Service Award, Texas Agricultural Cooperatives, 1999
American College of Trial Lawyers Award for Outstanding Instruction in Trial Advocacy, 2005.

Civic Involvement: President of Civic Lubbock, Inc, a non-profits arts and entertainment corportation;
Member, Texas Tech University Chancellor's Council;
Member of various committees, including Trustees, Finance, and Personnel, at the First United Methodist Church;
Member of the Sports and Community Venues Advisory Committee for the City of Lubbock, 2000; and
Member of the Hotel/Motel Tax Advisory Committee for the City of Lubbock, 2003 - present.