Mary Evelyn McNamara is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice focuses on divorces and other family law cases involving complex property and children’s issues, child custody modifications, and enforcement of court orders. Having experience as a former briefing attorney for the Third Court of Appeals, Ms. McNamara also handles appeals.
Experience
- Rivers McNamara, PLLC, Partner (founded March 2011)
- Brown McCarroll, LLP, Partner, Associate (September 2004 – March 2011)
- Third Court of Appeals, Austin, Briefing Attorney to Justice Jan Patterson (August 2002 – August 2004)
- Law Offices of Dicky Grigg/Spivey, Grigg, Kelly & Knisely, Legal Assistant (November 1989 – August 1999)
Credentials
- Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2009, recertified in 2014)
- Attorney at Law, Texas (2002)
Education
- University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2002) Texas Law Review, Notes Editor
- Duke University (B.A., English and History, 1986)
Speeches & Publications
- Family Law Appeals, University of Texas School of Law 27th Annual Conference on State and Federal Appeals, co-authored with Richel Rivers (forthcoming June 2017)
- How to Deal with Difficult People, Panel member, combined Austin Inns of Court mentoring lunch (forthcoming February 2017)
- Property Division/Spousal Maintenance Mock Trial Demonstration, Brown Bag Seminar, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, co-presented with Eric Robertson (February 2013, February 2014, June 2016, forthcoming June 2017)
- Ethical Considerations in Mediation, Panel member, Ethics CLE, Travis County Women Lawyers Association (April 2016)
- Trying A Family Law Case on a Shoestring, Brown Bag Seminar, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (August 2015)
- Temporary Orders Procedures, Divorce Basics Seminar, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (December 2014, December 2015, December 2016, forthcoming December 2017)
- Interventions in Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, State Bar of Texas 40th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, co-authored and presented with Karen Langsley (August 2014)
- Conducting the Client Interview, How to Do a Pro Bono Divorce, Texas Young Lawyers Association (May 2014)
- 2013 Family Law Legislative Update, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (October 2013)
- Hot Legal Issues Roundtable Discussion: Family Law, Texas Women Lawyers Annual CLE, copresented with Lauren Waddell (March 2011)
- Discovery in Family Law Cases, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (September 2010)
- Quarterly Evidence and Discovery case updates for State Bar of Texas Litigation Section News for the Bar (Fall 2007 to Summer 2010)
- Moderator of Judicial Panel, with Hon. Nancy Atlas, Hon. Jan Patterson, and Hon. Suzanne Covington, Texas Women Lawyers Annual CLE (February 2010)
- 2009 Family Law Legislative Update, Texas Women Lawyers Fall 2009 Newsletter
- Monthly Case Updates, Family Law Section of the Austin Bar Association (May 2005 – September 2009)
- Fiduciary Duties in Family Law, State Bar of Texas Fiduciary Litigation Course, co-authored with Richel Rivers (April 2008)
- Case Update: Sheshunoff v. Strunk, Brown McCarroll, LLP Litigation Section CLE (December 2006)
- Parenting Plans/Protective Orders, Texas Association of Legal Professionals (February 2006)
- Evidence and Discovery in ADR: Issues in Mediation and Arbitration, State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, co-authored with Richel Rivers and Blake Bailey (2005)
- Challenges for Cause, Brown McCarroll, LLP Litigation Section CLE (January 2005)
Awards
Family Law | 2011,2012
Pro Bono Award | 2010
Professional Memberships and Activities
Family Law
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law and Appellate Sections
- Austin Bar Association, Family Law and Appellate Sections
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (2010 – present)
- Texas Family Law Foundation (2015 – present)
Legislative Bill Review Committee, January 2017 to present
Legislative Action Committee, January 2017 to present - Travis County Family Law Advocates (2010 – present)
Access to Justice
- Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
Volunteer attorney and Family Law mentor
Board of Directors (2010 – 2015)
Immediate Past President (2015), Board President (2014), President-Elect (2013), Secretary (2012), Treasurer (2011) Executive Committee (2011 – 2015) - Pro Bono Committee for the Third Court of Appeals, Austin (2016 – present)
- Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas (2010 – present)
American Inns of Court and Mentoring
- Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court (2016 – present)
Founding Master
Team Leader - Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court (2001 – 2016)
Barrister, 2012-2016; Associate, 2002-2012; Student, 2001-2002; Team Leader (2015) - Mentor for law students, University of Texas School of Law (2016 – present)
Women and the Law
- Texas Women Lawyers Association (2000 – 2001, 2003 – 2011)
Board of Directors (2003 – 2011)
Immediate Past President (2010 – 2011)
President (2009 – 2010)
President-Elect (2009 – 2010)
Vice-President (2008 – 2009)
Secretary (2007 – 2008)
Treasurer (2006 – 2007)
Law Student Representative (2000 – 2001) - Council, Women and the Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (2009 – 2012)
Community Involvement
(2016 - Present)
Family Grant Review Committee
