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Lori Elaine Hall Laird

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  • Webster, TX
  • Licensed for 16 years
  • Free consultation
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About Lori

Lori Elaine Laird is a Texas attorney and mediator.  Prior to becoming an attorney she was a police officer, serving as a patrol officer, a patrol sergeant, hostage negotiator and member of the department’s Honor Guard.  She was also an instructor at the police academy teaching the United States and Texas Constitutions and Police Professionalism and Ethics to police officers from across the state.

Among her diverse skill set, she renders legal advice and support to her investigative team, appears as counsel before the Court in pre-trial matters, trial,  litigation and appeals.  She has the sound ability to conduct thorough legal research and an exceptional ability to understand and present complex legal theories in a courtroom setting.  Ms. Laird is admitted to practice in all Texas State Courts as well as admission to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit.  She is also a certified mediator and holds certification qualifying her as an advanced family law mediator.

Lori is an honors graduate from the University of Clear Lake receiving her Bachelor of Science in Psychology.  She went on to receive her Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law where she was a Dean’s Merit scholarship recipient as well as a member of Phi Delta Phi- the honors legal fraternity.  During her tenure at law school she was also a contributing writer for two law journals and Editor in Chief for one.  She was also a journalist and eventually editor in Chief of the law school newspaper.  Lori also worked for a local civil litigation law firm and interned at the First Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas.

When asked about her legal style, Lori characterizes it as follows:  “I utilize all of the tools at my disposal.  My experience as a police officer places me in a unique position in all types of cases to dissect a case, find inconsistencies and “get into the head” of the officers or other parties in the case.  If mistakes where made–who better to be able to identify them then a former police officer–someone trained in investigation?  My creative approach can often be the difference between a dismissal in a case, a reduction in charges or even a Not Guilty finding by a jury or judge.  I feel at home in a courtroom and am a zealous advocate for my clients.  I use my skills to obtain the best possible results for my clients.”

Lori applies the same approach, not just in criminal cases, but in all litigation cases–family law cases, divorces, custody battles, and personal injury or civil law cases.  She believes strongly in the adversarial system and puts the opposing party to their burden of proof.  She believes in passionately and wholeheartedly defending the needs and interests of her clients.

The best defense is a good offense and in the legal world that means hiring an experienced aggressive attorney who understand not only the law- but is also an astute student of human nature- how to negotiate, when to agree, when to fight, how to pick a jury and how to bring your personal story to the jury in a way that gets you the best possible results.  Need legal help?  Have a legal problem?  Call today and let her develop a personalized action plan to assist you with your legal needs.

Practice areas

OtherLitigationCriminal defenseDUI and DWIFamily
  1. Family: 44%

    Family Law- all areas: divorce, child custody and child support. An aggressive litigator is needed especially if you are fighting a custody battle or have a large martial estate to divide. We can help with large property divisions and work closely with any experts required for complex cases. So- whether your case is large or small- we have a plan and support staff for you.

    16 years

  2. DUI and DWI: 24%

    16 years

  3. Criminal defense: 22%

    Former police officer, patrol sergeant and hostage negotiator. I am an aggressive attorney with special insight into criminal cases. Proven results. if you or someone you love has been charged with a crime you must act now. An accused individual requires aggressive representation to assure that their rights are protected. Our firm is dedicated to your defense. Visit our website at: www.lorilaird.com and our blog at lorilaird.wordpress.com.

    16 years

  4. Litigation: 8%

    Aggressive litigator in all areas of civil law.

    16 years

  1. Appeals: 2%

    Former intern for the 1st Court of Appeals- Houston. Particularly persuasive in the area of appellate work. Call today for your consultation.

    16 years

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

88415 1387954005

88415 1387954331

88415 1387956418

Contact

711 W. Bay Area Blvd., Suite 420
address map

Law Office of Lori Elaine Laird PPLC

711 W. Bay Area Blvd., Suite 420
Suite 107
Webster, TX, 77598

Lori's Legal Lineup: Your Law Advocate

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License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
TXEligible To Practice In Texas 200409/28/2020
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers51
Legal guides23
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Texas Rising StarTexas Super Lawyers2014
Top 100 Trial LawyersNational Trial Lawyers2014
MemberCollege of the State Bar of Texas2014
MemberCollege of the State Bar of Texas2013
Top Contributor Family LawAVVO2013
Top Contributor Criminal LawAVVO2013
Client's choiceAVVO2013
Top Contributor LitigationAVVO2013
Client's choice Family LawAVVO2012
Client's choice LitigationAVVO2012
Client's Choice AppealsAVVO2012
Volunteer AttorneyNational Adoption Day2006
Mediation CertificationSouth Texas College of Law2006
Advanced Family MediationUniversity of Houston2006
Pro Bono AwardGalveston County Bar Association2005
Annotations AwardSouth Texas College of Law2003
WinnerSpurgeon Bell Moot Court Competition2003
Advanced Westlaw Training CourseWestlaw2002
Dean's Merit Scholarship AwardSouth Texas College of Law2001
Legal Honor's Fraternity MembershipPhi Delta Phi2001
Principle Based Leadership SkillsTexas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool2000
Listed on National Dean's ListNational Dean's List1999
Oak AwardCity of Baytown1998
Dean's ListUniversity of Houston- Clear Lake1997
Dean's ListUniversity of Houston- Clear Lake1997
50 mile awardHarris County Sheriff's Academy1990
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Attorney at LawLaw Office of Lori Elaine Laird, PLLC2004 - Present
AttorneyUnited States Supreme Court2014 - 2014
Patrol SergeantBaytown Police Department2008 - 2010
Hostage NegotiatorBaytown Police Department2008 - 2010
PartnerLaird ~ Valdez, LLP2006 - 2011
AttorneyUnited States District Court Southern District Of Texas2005 - 2014
Personnel and Media Relations OfficerBaytown Police Department2005 - 2006
InstructorPolice Academy Instructor1998 - 2000
Patrol officerBaytown Police Department1990 - 1997
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
National Criminal Defense Lawyers AssociationN/A2013 - Present
Federal Bar AssociationN/A2013 - Present
Texas Family Law FoundationN/A2012 - Present
Pasadena Philharmonic SocietyTrustee2011 - Present
State Bar of Texas, Immigration and Nationality Law SectionN/A2011 - Present
Galveston County Criminal Defense Lawyers AssociationN/A2009 - Present
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers AssociationN/A2009 - Present
College of the State Bar of TexasN/A2009 - Present
State Bar of Texas Family Law SectionN/A2009 - Present
Bay Area Bar AssociationN/A2008 - Present
State Bar of Texas, Criminal Justice SectionN/A2008 - Present
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
Texas Monthly MagazineSuper Lawyers Rising Stars 20142014
Super Lawyers MagazineRising Stars 20142014
AnnotationsSouth Texas College of Law Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 2, Ed. 1, April/May, 20042004
AnnotationsSouth Texas College of Law Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 1, Ed. 1, February/March, 20042004
State Bar Section Report Corporate CounselLocked up or Locked out? Minority Stock Holders May Hold the Key! Spring 2004, Vol. 2, No. 12004
Currents: International Trade Law JournalSPACE RESUSCITATION: CAPITALISM TO THE RESCUE? WHEN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BECOMES INTERNATIONAL COMPLICATION2003
AnnotationsSouth Texas College of Law Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 1, Ed. 1, September, 20032003
AnnotationsSouth Texas College of Law Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 2, Ed. 1, October, 20032003
AnnotationsSouth Texas College of Law Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 3, Ed. 1, November, 20032003
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
South Texas College of LawJD - Juris Doctor2004
University of Houston, Clear LakeBA - Bachelor of Arts1999
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Galveston County Juvenile Justice CLESearch & Seizure2011
Galveston County Juvenile JusticeJuvenile Law2008
Galveston County Juvenile JusticeJuvenile Law2007
Law Office Management CourseLaw Office Management2006
Basic Police AcademyUnited States Constitution2002
Basic Police AcademyTexas Constitution2002
Basic Police AcademyPolice Professionalism and Ethics2002
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
Sexual Assault5 felonies charges- 5 not guilty verdicts
Sexual AssaultMistrial. D.A. refiled case- but we plead it out to a deferred adjudicated misdeameanor assault-

Reviews

(15)
5 Star
87%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
13%
Review Lori Laird

A very brilliant attorney

Posted by

I hired Lori Laird to handle getting custody of my daughter. Not only did Mrs. Laird get me sole custody of my daughter, she was also able to get me child support AND health insurance payments. Furthermore, she was able to get a breathalyzer installed to make sure my daughter was safe when she was with her mother. She is thorough and ready to go to bat for her clients showing compassion throughout the dealings of the case. And that is something that is hard to find in most attorneys today. I’ve recommended her to several friends in need of her services. I cannot think of a better Attorney to represent someone.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Want someone to fight for you?

Posted by

I hired Lori about a year ago. With 2 days notice, she walked into the court room with a lawyer that had previously ripped me apart, and proceeded to rip him and his client, my ex husband apart. My ex husband was found in contempt for moving my daughter to another state, violating our geographic restriction. She requested my child be brought back to Texas immediately and he was fined and he was also ordered to pay some of my legal fees. I will say as far as the other post about not being able to get ahold of her is completely false. There was a time when i wasn’t sure things were being done, but I’m no attorney. She is like a silent killer. She is working on your case and fighting for you. I never once had an email or a text that was not responded to in a reasonable amount of time. She took my case to trial and i was awarded sole custody, $250 more a month for child support than requested, $10k back child support, and $10k for attorneys fees, my child will not be taken out of Harris or contiguous counties ever, unless supervised by his mother, and all visits are to be at his mothers house. I received the best possible outcome. I was very pleased with Lori and her staff. Just rest assured, when it comes down to it, and it’s “fighting” time, Lori has your back 100%. She’s honest. Witty. And tough. She’s not scared. I love that about her. And she’s not going to tell you what you want to hear. She’s going to put it all out there. I highly recommend Lori and can promise you that she will fight for you and your family.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

The BEST attorney in TEXAS!!!

Posted by

We where introduced to Lori from another attorney that was unable to handle the case due to her own case load... Thank god she did! Lori was on track from the very start. We presented her with the evidence we had collected, 3000 to 4000 Facebook and Twitter entries and photos. She battled with the amicus, once she discovered the amicus took the side of the druggy mother, requested the custody be presented to a jury. Lori kept us involved through the whole process prior to trial. Lori even invited us into her home for trial prep. Her husband informed us that we where the 1st of her cliants that has ever been in their home. When we finally went to court, she battled 3 opposing attorneys. The trial went 7 days, they had the stand for 5 1/2 days and we had it 1 1/2 days. In closing arguments, a juror even applauded. It took the, jury consisting of 6 men and 6 women less than 1 hour to come back with a unanimous verdict in favor of placing my grand daughter in my sons custody giving him 100% geographical rights. My grand daughter now lives with us in Pennsylvania and is happy and healthy. I don't know what the outcome would have been without Lori's help. Not only is Lori the best damn attorney in Texas, she has become a life long family friend! Shake and Bake baby!

Fraudulent Prescription Criminal Case

Posted by

I had a criminal case where I was charged with fraud for prescription medication. Ms. Laird completely understood everything that had occurred and was able to get me through a very difficult time in my life while completely mitigating the effects of these charges against me. I was so surprised by the level of her investigation and her ability to persuade the district attorneys office to cooperate and work with her and me. I couldn't have had a better defense attorney. I highly recommend her for any criminal case- she is awesome.

A lawyer who will successfully and completely get you through the worst of times

Posted by

I hired Lori Laird to handle a divorce case for me. It was a complicated case with large property division and children. My husband was involved in an adulterous affair with a co-worker. Weeks after I filed for divorce I found out I had cancer. It was a very difficult, emotionally devastating, and rough time for me. Lori not only fought aggressively to assure my financial, emotional and physical safety, she also was compassionate and caring and truly was concerned about my health and well being. Lori got me everything I wanted in my case and even some things I didn't even know I would need. I highly recommend her if you ever need an attorney. She will give it her all for you. She was my guardian angel and my warrior in my darkest time of need.

WONDERFUL ATTORNEY

Posted by

Lori is one of the best attorneys I have ever run across and I work in a Family Law firm. My boyfriend and I hired her for his divorce/child custody case in which he wanted primary of his twin boys. She was on the case for one year and took it to a 4 week jury trial (more progress than we had gotten in about 3 years) and got us the results we wanted. She is an amazing, powerful, aggressive attorney that gives it to you straight and doesn't mess around with her opposing counsel's games. She is extremely knowledgeable in many areas and was the absolute best attorney we could have ever had on our case. If you want an attorney that will fight for you, you want Lori. She is professional, extremely capable, responsive, and fearless. I will go to Lori for all of my family law needs in the future as will everyone else I know. We are SO THANKFUL that we were referred to Lori. We could not have been happier.

Truely Amazing!!!

Posted by

Truely Amazing!!! Ended up going to trial in regards to a custody battle and we ended up getting more than what we asked for!! Lori was always available to help and answer questions whenever I needed her. She was comforting and really made such a difficult time easier. During trial she was a firecracker and we won!!!

The Perfect Divorce Attoney

Posted by

Lori Elaine Laird is the perfect attorney to handle family and divorce law. She is very astute in her field, and has the presence of mind to be gentle when needed and aggressive when important. I give my personal recommendation of her service in divorce cases. She is a life saver for her clients. She works in such an efficient manner that I found the divorce to be a totally painless experience. Anyone can feel confident that Lori Laird will be the best client advocate that one can employ, and I give her the very highest of recommendations.

Caring and Compassionate Lawyer

Posted by

I had a very nasty divorce case. My ex husband was abusive and left me for another woman. I hired an attorney who was not helping me and my ex decided he would challenge me for custody of our daughter. Everything went downhill and my lawyer wasn't good enough to help me. Then I found Lori. Everything changed after she got on my case. I was very blessed to have Lori Laird for my attorney. She took control of everything. She even took control of me when I was "losing it" and gave me tough but good advice. We had a week long jury trial in Brazoria County. My husband's attorney tried hard to make me look bad. But Lori came to my rescue and set everything right. I not only got custody of my daughter but also got all of the property I was requesting. Lori really knows what she is doing. I recommend her to anyone who ever asks me for an attorney recommendation.

Amazing Lawyer

Posted by

I was arrested for a felony DWI. This was a very difficult case as I had recently started taking some new prescription medication. The District attorney would not budge on the charges. Lori had to set this case for trial. She prepared better than any television attorney I have every seen. As the jury as being brought in the district attorney looked at Lori's table covered with files and books and said, "geez, you are really prepared for this trial, aren't you?" Lori looked up and smiled and said, "bring it on." The DA walked away and before the jury sat down the district attorney dismissed the case. She is simply awesome.
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Attorney endorsements

(15)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

J. Kyle Verret, Family Attorney on Jan 22, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Ngoc-Anh Creevy, Family Attorney on Jan 12, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Mark Oxford, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 6, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse attorney Lori Laird. She is multilingual, experienced and a very skilled attorney. Highly recommended.

Mark Jones, Family Attorney on Jan 6, 2015
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

I endorse Lori. She aggressively represents her clients while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

Andrew Tolchin, Criminal defense Attorney on Dec 26, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse Lori Laird for criminal defense and family law. Lori is highly respected in the legal community-- a lawyer's lawyer-- someone attorneys will contact for legal advice on how to practice even better. Lori is an accomplished trial attorney. Lori is extremely smart, knows the law, and very easy to talk to. Lori is even invited on to the radio show, "Ask the Expert", where she takes legal questions from callers and answers them on the spot. Without reservation, I endorse attorney Lori Laird.

Loren Schragger-Paeglis, Litigation Attorney on May 19, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Ms. Laird is fearless as a lawyer who truly believes in "Justice for All". She provides clear insights on how the law works best for her clients and will strongly advocate for their legal rights. I highly endorse her for criminal and family law cases.

Ryan Beason, Family Attorney on May 8, 2014
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

I endorse this lawyer.

Anne Darring, Family Attorney on Aug 23, 2013
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

Lori is an amazing and effective attorney. She lead the crusade to remove an abusive and dishonest Judge from the bench in Galveston County. Her courage and thoroughness was a driving force in the removal case.

David Medearis, Family Attorney on Apr 30, 2013
Relationship: Other

I endorse this lawyer. Lori is a fearless attorney who is not afraid to take on difficult cases.

Mark Kelly, Criminal defense Attorney on Apr 30, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Laird is a hard working attorney and gets excellent results for her clients.

Steve Fischer, Family Attorney on Dec 20, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I saw Lori in action in Child Support Court and also watched her take on a horrible judge in Galveston County. She is fearless yet likeable which makes for a super combination.

Tad Nelson, Family Attorney on Dec 20, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I know Lori as both a fellow lawyer in the community and a friend and I can tell you Lori's reputation is one of a person that knows her subject matter and knows how to get things done! Anybody would be fortunate to have Lori as their lawyer.

Christine Mangle, Family Attorney on Nov 27, 2011
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

Lori Laird is one of the best opposing counsels I have dealt with during my nearly 17 1/2 years of practicing family law in the Galveston County area. She is a tenacious advocate for her clients but also has the experience to know when and how to negotiate the most beneficial outcome for her clients. I would use Ms. Laird as my counsel if the need ever arose in my personal life.

Peggy Bittick, Family Attorney on Jun 14, 2011
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

Lori Laird is an advocate for her clients and champions their causes. She knows what she is doing.

Shari Goldsberry, Family Attorney on Apr 17, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Lori Elaine Laird was born arguing and winning. She has a natural ability in the court room that is a rare sight to see. She can think on her feet and is one of the most brilliant minds I've ever known. I have every faith in her abilities to represent clients in both civil and criminal litigation to the fullest. Her office staff is amazing and on top of everything.

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