For Random Profiles, we randomly pick one of our 94,000-plus attorneys and do a Q&A. We’ve found that every Texas lawyer has an interesting story. Will yours be next?

If I had more time, I would
Never use an alarm clock.

Best thing about being a lawyer
Was being able to practice alongside my dad.

Bet you didn’t know
There are 18 different animal shapes in the Animal Crackers cookie zoo.

Another little known fact
In 1885, Dr Pepper was invented by a pharmacist named Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas – thank you sir!

Bad habit
McDonald’s $1 large Dr Pepper.

Family
Wife (Liz), 2 children (Brooke and Jack), 2 cats (Lyle and Kelly), 1 dog (Scotch) – and I count my blessing daily.

Areas of practice
General solo practice, both transactional and litigation – primarily consumer, contracts, oil & gas, real estate, and estate planning/tax.

Education
Southwestern University, B.A. Economics, May 1999. University of Houston Law Center, J.D., May 2002

Mentors/heroes
My dad.

Most important career lesson
K.I.S.S.

Latest pursuit
Work/Life balancing act.

Secret for staying young
Stay in motion.

Memorable vacation
Paradise Island, Summer of 1999 – daydreams of a 1L.

Culinary talent
Mashed potatoes – large curd cottage cheese instead of sour cream or butter, trust me it works.

Community Involvement
Board Director of the Upper Kirby Foundation (a Non-Profit Corporation) in Houston, TX since 2009. Oh, and I recycle.

My favorite weekend retreats are
Playing with my kids – it’s how we stay young at heart.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing attorneys today?
Staying relevant.

If you weren’t an attorney, what profession do you think you would be in?
Day-trader.

What’s the turning point that made you decide to become an attorney?
Organic chemistry – so much for med school.

How do you think the practice will change in the next 15 years?
We’ll all be working in the cloud – literally.

Tom practices law at Thomas W. Stephens, P.C. in Houston.

You can also view Tom’s TexasBar.com profile.


Prizes
It’s not every day that you’re randomly picked from among 94,000 peers. To commemorate, randomly-profiled attorneys receive a prize.

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Opinions and statements expressed in these profiles are those of their subjects – not the State Bar of Texas.