Craig R. Bennett

Craig Bennett is an attorney in the environmental, legislative, & regulatory group of Jackson Walker’s Austin office. Craig’s practice focuses on administrative and regulatory law, including counseling clients on a broad range of matters such as compliance, enforcement, litigation, and judicial review of administrative agency decisions. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Craig served as a Master Administrative Law Judge with the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings for 18 years.

In the time before serving as an Administrative Law Judge, Craig was in private practice in Dallas and Austin as a litigator in the areas of employment, civil rights, governmental liability, and environmental law. A seasoned mediator, Craig has spent two decades successfully mediating dozens of cases for a variety of clients. From 2004-2010, Craig served as an Exam Commissioner for the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Craig currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Law School, where he has taught Texas Administrative Law since 2007. He has been a regular guest lecturer at Baylor Law School and numerous universities in China, including Wuhan University Law School, Xiamen University Law School, and Jinan University. Craig is also a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars, including various Advanced Administrative Law Seminars.

Education

• J.D., Baylor University Law School
• B.S., Indiana University, Bloomington

Court Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Texas

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 1995

Practice Experience

• Advises clients on litigation strategy and compliance with applicable regulatory and other laws
• Has represented a wide variety of municipal entities in employment and civil rights litigation, including large population counties and prominent school districts
• Has represented both large and small private entities in state and federal courts
• Has served as first chair and second chair counsel in jury and bench trials in federal courts

Publications & Speeches

• Speaker, “The Art of Persuasion: Winning at SOAH,” 15th Annual Advanced Texas Administrative Law Seminar, UT Law CLE (September 2020)
• Speaker, “Changing Perspectives on Judicial Deference,” 14th Annual Advanced Texas Administrative Law Seminar, UT Law CLE (August 2019)
• Speaker, “Successfully Navigating a SOAH Contested Case Hearing,” 31st Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, Texas Bar CLE (June 2019)
• Speaker, “SOAH Proposals for Decision,” 30th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, Texas Bar CLE (June 2018)
• Speaker, “Agency License Denial and Revocation Proceedings,” 29th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, Texas Bar CLE (June 2017)
• Speaker, “A Comparison of SOAH ALJs and In-House ALJs,” 27th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, Texas Bar CLE (June 2015)
• Speaker, “Common Evidentiary Issues,” 25th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, Texas Bar CLE (June 2013)
• Speaker, “Evidentiary Mistakes to Avoid,” 7th Annual Advanced Texas Administrative Law Seminar, UT CLE (August 2012)
• Speaker, “Summary Disposition: Hearing? We Don’t Need No Stinking Hearing!,” 24th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, Texas Bar CLE (June 2012)
• Speaker, “Pleadings and Motion Practice Before SOAH,” 18th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, State Bar of Texas CLE (October 2006)

Community Involvement

• State Bar of Texas
  • Administrative Law Section
  • Public Utility Law Section
• Austin Bar Association
  • Administrative Law Section
• Speaker, UT Quest Series
• Exam Commissioner, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2005-2010
• Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, Basic Mediation Training, 2000
• Officer, Federal Bar Association, Dallas Chapter, 1998

Courses Taught

Administrative Law: Texas