Elizabeth M. Fraley
Gerald Reading Powell Chair in Advocacy and Co-Director of the Executive LL.M. in Litigation Management

Professor Elizabeth M. Fraley is the Gerald Reading Powell Chair in Advocacy at Baylor Law, teaching Practice Court II and III. These mandatory courses teach evidence (PCII), while PC III focuses on trial and post-trial procedure, summary judgments, and jury selection. These courses include multiple trial experiences, helping Baylor Law students graduate practice ready. She is the Co-Director of Baylor Law’s Executive LL.M. in Litigation Management Program where she teaches Proving and Attacking Damages, Business Processes, and Technology courses. She serves as Dean of the School of the Trial in Baylor Law’s Academy of the Advocate in St Andrews, Scotland. She chairs Baylor’s bar success program, helping to ensure that all Baylor Law students pass the bar examination. Professor Fraley hosts a monthly webinar on current issues in litigation.
While serving full-time at Baylor Law, Professor Fraley also maintains a trial practice and actively tries cases. Periodically, her students have the opportunity to observe her in trial and are able to watch the techniques taught in her classroom put into practice in the courtroom. She serves as a consultant for other lawyers, helping develop trial strategies and skills and maintains a coaching and mentoring practice for young lawyers, especially women, as they face the challenges of this profession. She received the 2023 Louise B. Raggio award from the Dallas Women’s Lawyers Association. The award recognizes Professor Fraley’s outstanding achievements as a trial lawyer, a legal educator, and an advocate for women in the profession.
Professor Fraley graduated from Newcomb College of Tulane University in 1985 before attending Baylor Law. While at Baylor Law, she was a member of the Baylor Law Review and active in national moot court and mock trial teams. Following graduation, she joined Scott, Douglass & Luton (now Scott, Douglass & McConnico) in Austin, becoming a partner in three years. Professor Fraley then opened Fraley & Fraley, LLP (now the Fraley Firm, PLLC) in Dallas in 1995 where she served as managing partner. The firm and Professor Fraley hold an AV Preeminent rating of 5.0/5.0 with Martindale Hubbell. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas. Her practice focuses on litigation and mediating medical malpractice claims, professional licensing claims, and business and commercial disputes. She has tried nearly 100 civil jury trials to verdict. She is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education events both nationally and in Texas. She teaches evidence, civility and collegiality to the state’s judges through the Texas Center for the Judiciary.
Professor Fraley is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) where served on the Masters in Trial faculty. She is the immediate past president of the Waco ABOTA Chapter and currently serves as a Board Member of the National ABOTA organization. She chairs the National Artificial Intelligence committee and also serves on the editorial board of ABOTA’s national magazine, Voir Dire, ABOTA’s diversity committee, and the Defending the Judiciary Committee. Professor Fraley has run the Teachers’ Law School, providing civics education for local high school and middle school teachers. She is a member of the Abner V. McCall Inn of Court where she serves as a Master. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly annually since 2004 and has been named a Best Lawyer in Dallas by D Magazine annually from 2011-2022. She is the author of the updated version of Texas Courtroom Evidence and co-author of Fundamentals of Lawyer Leadership, Texas Commercial Causes of Action as well various law review articles.
Professor Fraley is the incoming president of the Waco Symphony Association. She and her husband, Patrick Stansbury, are active members of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, where she served on the vestry. She was elected to the Executive Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. She and Patrick are avid travelers, entertainers, and the proud parents of their 6 children.
Recent Publications
Courses Taught
Practice Court III, LL.M. Program: Proving and Attacking Damages, Fundamentals of Litigation Management and Future Technology Trends