William B. (“Bill”) Connolly is from Houston, Texas and he has been a family, juvenile, protective services trial and appellate attorney for nearly 40 years. He is Board Certified in Family Law and Juvenile Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a NACC Child Welfare Law Specialist and is a bar leader in the creation of the newly approved Texas Child Welfare Law Board Specialization. Bill is a former Adjunct Professor of Juvenile Law and has lectured and mentored attorneys, judges, CPS (DFPS) officials, juvenile court officials and healthcare professionals on a variety of subjects including substance abuse, addiction, mental health issues, confidentiality and privilege (including HIPAA) and many trial and appellate issues in family, CPS and juvenile law Houston.
Bill has extensive litigation and appellate experience in matters of all sizes and complexities relative to conservatorship, property division, termination of parental rights, child abuse and neglect and juvenile delinquency. A former Adjunct Professor of Juvenile Law, he has extensive experience in handling difficult family issues such as substance abuse and addictions, mental health issues, domestic violence and child custody (conservatorship) matters. Bills also know that the emotional and psychological cost on families is frequently too high. Accordingly, several years ago he expanded his practice to include mediation and alternative dispute resolution services such as Collaborative Family Law.
Since 1981, Bill has been active in the Houston and State Bar of Texas and has served as Chair of the Juvenile Law Section for the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. He has authored many articles and has served as a lecturer, presenter, and mentor to attorneys, judges, CPS and probation professionals and mental health providers across Texas.
Education:
South Texas College of Law, J.D. (1979)
The University of Windsor, B.A. (1974)
Areas of Practice
Family Law
Juvenile Law
Child Welfare Law
Civil Appellate Law
Certified Legal Specialties
Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Juvenile Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Child Welfare Law, National Association Counsel for Children (NACC)
Professional Associations and Memberships
Board Certified – Family Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Board Certified – Juvenile Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist – National Association Counsel for Children (NACC)
Chair – State Bar of Texas, Juvenile Law Section (2009)
Chair – Houston Bar Association, Juvenile Law Section (1995)
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) – (Board of Directors – Texas – 2004 – 2005)
Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (TAFLS)
Texas Family Law Foundation
Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists
AV Rated – Martindale-Hubbell
Adjunct Professor of Law – South Texas College of Law – 1998-2001
Mediator, Civil Trial, Family, Appellate and Other Civil Disputes
Collaborative Family Law Institute
Continuing Legal Education Speaker/Author – 1981-Present
Permanent Commission on Children, Family Youth – Texas Supreme Court (Collaborative Counsel)
Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
Member, Houston Bar Association (Sections: Juvenile, Family and Appellate)
Member, Houston Bar Foundation
Writings, Speeches and CLE Presentations
A Quantum Leap: Defending a 262 Hearing After HB7: Ethical Considerations and Effective Assistance of Counsel (October 27, 2017)
Urgent Need and Reasonable Efforts: Defending a DFPS Case 262 Hearing: Ethical Considerations and Effective Assistance of Counsel (April 14, 2017)
Defending a DFPS Case, Section 262 Adversary Hearings: Ethical Considerations & Effective Assistance of Counsel – Annual Adjusting the Bar Conferences (2010 – 2018)
Unraveling the Gordian Knot: Records Privacy and Client Confidentiality in a Digital World – The Lovett Center (December 2, 2015)
The Privacy Enigma: Legal and Ethical Issues of Clinical Practice in the Electronic Age – The Coalition of Behavioral Health Services (October 13, 2015)
La Vida Loca (The Crazy Life): Practice Strategies for DFPS Litigation – 39th Annual Advanced Family Law Conference (San Antonio – 2013); Dallas Bar Association (2013); Houston Bar Association (2014)
Standards for Risk Assessment, Termination and Reunification Decisions and Internal Appeals in Region Six (6) DFPS Cases – The 4th Annual Juvenile Law Conference (September 20-21, 2013)
Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse: Creative Solutions – Association for Conflict Resolution Houston Chapter Domestic Violence
Mediation – Advanced Skills Training (May 25, 2012)
Substance over Form; New Legal and Ethical Duties of Ad Litems – 25th Annual Juvenile Law Conference, February 28, 2012
Case Law Update – Juvenile Law Conference (September 25, 2010)
Creative Solutions in Substance Abuse Cases – University of Texas Parent-Child Relationships Conference (January 29, 2010)
Abuse, Addiction and the Legal System – 23rd Annual Juvenile Law Conference (February 18, 2010)
Interesting Developments in Family and Juvenile Law – Houston Bar Association (November 17, 2009)
Trends in DFPS Termination Cases (A Call for Reform) – The Children at Risk Child Conference (2008) and 21st Annual Juvenile Law Conference (2008)
On the one hand… Confidentiality, Medical and Mental Health Issues in Juvenile Cases – 20th Annual Juvenile Law Conference (2007)
On the other hand…Confidentiality, Medical and Mental Health Issues in DFPS Cases – 20th Annual Juvenile Law Conference (2007)
Handling Drug and Alcohol Issues in a Family Law Case – 2007 Family Law Conference (2007)
Without a Trace: Confidentiality, Privilege and the Legal Process – The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse – Houston (2007)
Mixed Metaphors: Hidden Meanings and New Ideas for a Changing World – 2006 Parenting Plan Conference – Dallas, Texas (2006) and Houston, Texas (2006)
Same Difference – Determinate Sentencing – Nuts and Bolts of Juvenile Law Seminar – Austin, Texas (2005-2006)
Trouble in Mind: Representation of Juveniles with Mental Illness and Mental Retardation – Nuts and Bolts of Juvenile Law Seminar – Austin, Texas (2006) and Galveston, Texas (2006)
No Reversible Error-Preserving Error and Perfecting Appeals In DFPS Termination and Conservatorship Cases – Galveston County Bar Association (2006)
Overcoming the Blame Game – Ethical issues, Parenting Plans and Parenting Coordinators – Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Texas Chapter-State Conference (2005)
2005 Legislative Update – SAPCR Legislation Affecting Juvenile Practice – Houston Bar Association – Juvenile Law Section Meeting – Houston (2005)
Recent Cases
Obtained Custody for Grandparents
Successfully defended a custody modification case
Obtained Custody for Father
Successfully defended parent in Protective Order case
Obtained Custody for Grandparents
Obtained Custody for Father
Juvenile Law
Obtained early termination of probation on Aggravated Robbery Case
Secured Dismissal of Cases involving a Sex Trafficked Girl
Secured Dismissal of Aggravated Robbery case
Assisted in defense of child on Sexual Assault charges
Obtained a no disposition (punishment) on assault case
CPS(DFPS) Child Welfare Law
DFPS Ordered to provide a disabled parent “reasonable accommodations” in a Family Service Plan
Successfully defended a parental rights termination case
Obtained termination of parental rights and grandparent conservatorship
Successfully defended several initial custody determinations against DFPS on behalf of parents
Obtained return of child to parents from CPS
Obtained Custody for grandparents over foster care placement in contested case
Obtained reversal of child abuse finding against parent in a CPS Administrative Review
Appellate Law
Secured Appellate Court ruling voiding adverse Orders against Client by trial court judge
Participated with a team of attorneys in Texas Supreme Court decision reversing the Austin Court of Appeals and redefining the “Acceptance of Benefits” doctrine in Texas