100% Results-Driven | 100% Dedicated | 100% Committed
100 Main Street
Fort Worth Attorney
Jim Whitton has practiced school law for over 40 years, representing boards of numerous independent school districts and private and independent schools throughout North and West Texas. He advises public and private educational entities in all aspects of school and public law, including employment, student discipline, competitive purchasing, real estate, policy development, elections and open government. He has experience defending educational entities before the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other state and federal agencies. He is also a frequent speaker at the Annual School Law Conference conducted by the University of Texas School of Law, at the Annual Conventions of the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards, at the Annual Retreat of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and he regularly provides training for school boards, school administrators, and school staff.
Mr. Whitton is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, signifying the highest level of professional excellence and adherence to the highest ethical standards – a distinction achieved by fewer than 5% of attorneys nationwide.
State Bar of Texas
School Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Tarrant County Bar Association
Texas Association of School Boards Council of School Attorneys
National School Attorneys Association
15 Year Fellow of the Texas Bar College
Lifetime Sustaining Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
Sustaining Life Fellow of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation
2024 Recipient of the Tarrant County Bar Association Professionalism Award
Chair, Board of Directors of the Texas Association of School Boards’ Council of School Attorneys (2020-2021)
Super Lawyer in Schools and Education Law by Thomson Reuters, Texas Monthly (2005-2014)
List of Top Attorneys for School and Education Law in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, 360 West Magazine, and 76107 Magazine. (2017-2024)
“Can You Hear Them Now? Tips For When The Cell Tower Companies Come Calling,” Inquiry and Analysis (June 2009)
“Unanswered Questions About School Vouchers,” Fort Worth Business Press (October 2002)
“School Law Legislative Update” (September 14, 2023)
“Managing Generational Differences: The Mentorship of Young Attorneys” The University of Texas School of Law 37th Annual School Law Conference (February 17, 2022)
“Uncivil Discourse: Managing Disruptive Comments and Complaints in a Time of Unrest”, Texas Association of School Administrators Midwinter Conference (January 31, 2022)
“Uncivil Discourse: Managing Disruptive Comments and Complaints in a Time of Unrest” Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Joint Annual Convention (September 25, 2021)
“Can They Really Say That About Me?” Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Joint Annual Convention (October 1, 2020)
“Can They Really Say That About Me?” 35th Annual University of Texas School of Law School Law Conference (February 21, 2020)
“School Law Legislative Update”; Fort Worth, Texas (October 18, 2019)
“Handling Employee and Parent Grievances”, Everman ISD
“Fair and Effective Documentation for Administrators”, Everman ISD
TASB Legal Panel “Ask the Attorneys”, Region 14 Education Service Center, Abilene
TASB Legal Panel “Ask the Attorneys”, Texas A&M Commerce
Legislative Update – March 22, 2018, Education Law Association, Fort Worth Conference
“The Real Shark Tank: Questions and Answers on How to Survive and Succeed”, TASA Midwinter Conference, January 30, 2018
“Sexual Harassment in the K-12 Environment”, All Saints Episcopal Scholl, January 3, 2017
“Counselor legal Issues”, Crowley ISD, October 5, 2016
“The Dynamic Duo – Fighting for the Truth, Justice, and the ISD Way”, TASA MidWinter Convention, January 26, 2016; Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Joint Annual Convention, Houston, TX September 23, 2016.
2015 School Law Post-Legislative Seminar, School District Administrator Workshop
Have Gun, Will? School Safety in a Post-Sandy Hook World, Education Law Association DFW Regional Conference, 2014
2013 Legislative Update, School District Administrator Workshop
Are You Sure Your Independent Contractors Are NOT Your Employees? Texas Association of School Administrators Midwinter Convention and the UNT Higher Ed Law Conference
Can You Hear Them Now? Tips For When The Cell Tower Companies Come Calling, Region XI Superintendent’s Program
Complying With the Public Information Act, Superintendents’ Study Group, ESC Region XI
Conducting Meaningful Grievance Hearings, Superintendents’ Study Group, ESC Region XI
CPS and Custody Issues, Education Law Association, DFW Regional Conference
Ethical Issues Relating to Reporting Requirements, State Bar of Texas School Law Section Annual Retreat
Keeping Schools Safe When Parents Are The Problem, Region XI and Superintendents’ Study Group, ESC Region XI
Off The Record: Answers to Questions We All Want to Know, State Bar of Texas School Law Section Annual Retreat
Open Meetings and Grievances, Region XI Principal Preparation Program
Stump the Lawyer, University of Texas at Arlington Superintendents’ Academy
TASB Legal Update, Region XIV Spring Workshop
Who’s Your Daddy? Complying With New Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code, University of Texas School of Law Annual School Law Conference
Board of Directors, The Center for Transforming Lives, Fort Worth, Texas (2017-Present)
Board of Directors, Trinity Terrace Continuing Care Community, Fort Worth, Texas (2002-Present)
Chair of the Church Council, First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth (2017-2019)
Chair of the Board of Trustees, First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth (2013-2015)
President, Rotary Club of Fort Worth (1995-1996)
William B. Todd Service Above Self Award, Rotary Club of Fort Worth (2008)
Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Club of Fort Worth (1994)
Distinguished Service Award, 2001-2002, American Heart Association
Chairman of the Board, Fort Worth Region of the American Heart Association (1997)
Vice Chairman of the Board, United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County (1994)
Leadership Fort Worth
100% Results-Driven | 100% Dedicated | 100% Committed
100 Main Street
100% Results-Driven | 100% Dedicated | 100% Committed
100 Main Street