Instructor Spotlight
"Our students are better positioned to work in the industry because they have both the knowledge and an understanding of how we apply that knowledge working in the legal profession." —Kristine HornBruce Akerly
Aaron Bath
With a career spanning over two decades in litigation with oversight of over 120 trials, Aaron is the National Director of Litigation & Legal Operations at Balfour Beatty, a leading global infrastructure group in London, with a market-cap north of $80 billion. His background includes serving as head of litigation at Copart, Inc., and managing roles at top litigation law firms across Dallas and New York. As an instructor for SMU's Paralegal Studies Certificate program, Aaron shares his knowledge on legal technology, eDiscovery, and litigation management. His academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree from SMU in Jurisprudential Studies/Philosophy, a professional certificate in Data Science & Analytics from Columbia University, and a graduate degree in AI/Machine Learning from MIT. An active figure in the Dallas legal community, Aaron is a former president of DAPA (Dallas Area Paralegal Association), and a founding board member of the North Texas Chapter of ACEDS (Association of Certified eDiscovery Specialists). Renowned for his insights into AI’s role in legal practices, Aaron is a sought-after public speaker at premier legal conferences worldwide.
Michele Boerder
Board Certified Paralegal – Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Michele Boerder is a senior paralegal in the Dallas office of Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP, and has 40 years of experience. She has both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of North Texas and received an A.A. from the El Centro College Paralegal Program in 1979. She is a Board Certified Paralegal – Civil Trial, Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a Certified Paralegal (“CP” through NALA), as well as a past President of the Paralegal Division, State Bar of Texas, and a past President of the Dallas Area Paralegal Association.
Ms. Boerder served on the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Committee, the TBLS Paralegal Civil Trial Commission, NFPA's Certification Standards Committee, and Paralegal Today magazine’s editorial review board. She received the Dallas Area Paralegal Association’s Paralegal of the Year Award in 1995, NFPA's Paralegal of the Year Award in 2005, the Dallas Area Paralegal Association's "Michele M. Boerder Lifetime Achievement" award in 2006, NFPA’s William R. Robie award in 2011, and the Paralegal Division Award of Excellence in 2019.
Arlene Ferrell
Ms. Ferrell is an active member of the International Legal Technology Association, American Society of Training & Development and served as a Board Member with the Chief Learning Officer Magazine for several years.
Arlene has worked with several global and local law firms, including Dorsey & Whitney, Andrews Kurth Kenyon, Thompson & Knight, and Carrington Coleman. Her own style of teaching others about the many features and tools available in legal technology has allowed her to stand out as an elite trainer in the field of legal technology.
Lindsey Hardy
Ms. Hardy holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law.
Kristen Hensley
Kristen Hensley has had several years of success representing heavily regulated industries including healthcare and financial services. She currently works for Conifer Health Solutions, a subsidiary of Tenet Health Care, where she serves as regulatory counsel, providing risk assessments and legal guidance to the business. Additionally, Kristen manages outside counsel in litigation matters across the United States.
Prior to serving as in-house counsel, Kristen was a litigation attorney. She worked for various law firms and tried numerous cases in state and federal court. Kristen’s practice areas were primarily focused on family law and civil litigation. To gain knowledge and experience, Kristen served as a court appointed attorney ad litem.
Kristen is licensed in Texas and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts. In 2013, Kristen had the honor of being sworn in to the United States Supreme Court by Chief Justice Roberts.
Her love of the law has led Kristen to volunteer her services to others. Kristen has taken several pro bono matters through the Dallas Bar Association’s Volunteer Attorney Program, assisted multiple families on National Adoption Day, served as a Lewisville Teen Court Mentor, and led the Denton County Wills for Heroes Program for three years. Kristen is also passionate about assisting others to prepare for their own legal careers. She has taught legal courses at the SMU CAPE program, Collin Community College, and University of Arlington. She also mentors students as they prepare for the Texas Bar Exam, tutoring in the areas of Family Law, Probate Law, and Civil Litigation.
Kristine Horn
Ms. Horn has served as appellate counsel in Texas, Colorado, New York and Florida state courts, and in the 5th and 2nd Circuit Courts of Appeal. Her arguments before the 5th Circuit include criminal cases in which she was appointed by the court to serve as counsel for indigent defendants.
Ms. Horn has written several legal articles and teaches an in-house constitutional law seminar for law schools across the country to assist students preparing for the multi-state bar exam. She currently works as an attorney for the 5th Court of Appeals.
Richard J. Pradarits Jr.
Richard J. Pradarits Jr. has practiced law for 32 years. He has practiced in Texas and federal courts at the trial- and appellate-court levels. He has extensive experience in torts, contracts, statutory, and other actions and with complex litigation, including class actions. He has received two local mediation awards. He was a research attorney at the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas. He received his Juris Doctor degree, summa cum laude, from South Texas College of Law-Houston, where he was assistant managing editor of law review. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Southern Methodist University.
Rich Robinson
Danny Thankachan
Danny currently works as the Director of Practice Technology at Blank Rome LLP, an AMLAW 100 law firm. He received his J.D. from the Cardozo School of Law, New York, and his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Toya Walker, CCEP
Toya Walker is a multi-talented legal and certified compliance professional who has dedicated her life to serving others in the legal profession and in the community. Ms. Walker serves as Legal Director at Stewart Law Group, PLLC. Ms. Walker graduated cum laude in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2002, Ms. Walker graduated from Southeastern Paralegal Institute in Dallas, Texas, where she obtained her paralegal certificate, which is approved by the American Bar Association. Ms. Walker became a certified compliance and ethics professional in 2017.
Walker is described as having a positive attitude, being enthusiastic, and a servant leader in the legal profession and the community. She served as a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Texas Advisory Committee, NALA Continuing Education Council, and Ambassador of the J.L. Turner Legal Association – Paralegal Section. She is the recipient of the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division 2018 Exceptional Pro Bono Award.