THAD HARKINS is a 1976 graduate of Southwestern University, where he obtained his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, and was recognized in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Before entering law school, he received graduate education in political philosophy at the New School for Social Research. He received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1981. He subsequently attended the Master of Laws program of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, focusing his studies on federal civil litigation and employment law.
Prior to establishing the firm, Mr. Harkins was a shareholder with Green, McReynolds & Harkins, P.C., and the Kleberg Law Firm. Mr. Harkins was previously an intern in the Washington Office of Senator Lloyd Bentsen; Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Central Texas; and Assistant Director, Staff Counsel for Inmates, Texas Department of Corrections. Mr. Harkins practices primarily in the areas of civil litigation, employment and labor law (management and labor), with experience in personal injury, employee benefits and commercial litigation. He also serves as a mediator and arbitrator in civil litigation matters, primarily in employment and school law issues.
Mr. Harkins is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law. He has for many years been AV-rated, the highest rating available, by fellow attorneys for Martindale-Hubbell, the nation's premier legal directory. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States District Courts, Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas and Northern District of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Harkins is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Civil Litigation, School Law and Employment Law Sections), American Bar Association (Litigation and Labor Law sections), the American Trial Lawyers Association, the San Antonio Bar Association, the Fifth Circuit Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association (President-San Antonio NELA-1999) and the College of the State Bar of Texas. He is listed in various current and prior year peer-selected lists, including Best Lawyers in America© 2008 and 2009, Texas Super Lawyers 2009, Texas' Best Lawyers© 2009, and Best Lawyers in San Antonio© 2009. Mr. Harkins is a frequent lecturer to attorneys, human resource managers and risk managers on issues of employment discrimination, litigation skills and procedure, work related injury claims and governmental liability for employment law claims.