Douglas S. Lang
Senior Counsel
Justice (Fmr) Douglas Lang advises on litigation and appellate strategies and presents appeals in jurisdictions across the country. He is a leader in the legal profession on mentorship, civility, and ethics.
Justice Lang collaborates with the firm’s trial lawyers to devise the best appellate strategies for clients and also works directly on filings or argues cases before appellate panels. Since returning to private practice, Justice Lang has appeared in state and federal courts across Texas and presented appeals in federal circuit courts and at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Drawing on his many years of judicial service and trial experience, Justice Lang provides prompt, strategic, and solution-oriented advice on resolving or avoiding conflicts. Most recently, he represented clients in cases before the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Justice Lang served more than 16 years on the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas, a 13-judge appellate court with the highest case volume of the 14 intermediate appellate courts in Texas. He authored more than 2,100 opinions and participated in deciding more than 6,100 cases. During that same period, he served for six years as a member of the Texas Multi-District Litigation Panel and as chair of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Highly respected for his tireless leadership in bar and community activities, Justice Lang’s dedication to mentoring young lawyers and devotion to civility and ethics in the legal profession have been guiding forces in his practice over 50+ years. Renowned in the field, Justice Lang is a frequent speaker at civic and continuing education events around Texas and nationally and has published many articles on appellate law, civility, and ethics.
- Litigation, Disputes, Appeals
Education
- University of Missouri School of Law, J.D.
- Drake University, B.S.B.A.; Athletic Scholarship; Letter Awards in Intercollegiate Football and Wrestling; Bill Boelter Award Presented to the Outstanding Senior Athlete Accepted for Graduate Studies
- The University of Dallas, Graduate Certificate; Theological Studies
Bar + Court Admissions
- Licensed in Missouri
- Licensed in Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Texas
- U.S. District Court, Northern District, Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District, Texas
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award, Texas Bar Foundation, 2024
- William Roper Award, St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Dallas, Texas, 2024
- Texas Trailblazer, Texas Lawyer, 2019
- Shalom Award for Civic Contribution, Presented by Temple Shalom Brotherhood, 2019
- Presidents’ Award, Outstanding Contributions to the Legal Profession, State Bar of Texas, 2010
- Recognition for Service and Leadership, American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable, 2015
- Lola Wright Foundation Award for outstanding public service in advancing and enhancing legal ethics in Texas, Texas Bar Foundation, 2007
- Citation of Merit, University of Missouri School of Law, 2012
- Sergeant of the Inn Award, William “Mac” Taylor American Inn of Court, 2011
- President’s Citation, Dallas Bar Association, 2018
- Fellows Award, Service to the Community and the Legal Profession, Dallas Bar Foundation, 2010
- Outstanding Mentor Award, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 2008
- Morris Harrell Professionalism Award, Dallas Bar Association, 2007
- Presidential Citation Recipient, State Bar of Texas, 1999
- Double D Award, Drake’s highest award bestowed upon former athletic letter award winners for professional achievement and community service, Drake University, 1993
- Alumni Achievement Award, Drake University, 1992
- State Bar of Texas Award of Merit conferred upon the Dallas Bar Association for its 1991 programs during Lang’s presidency
- Outstanding Service Award, Legal Services of North Texas, 1991
- Outstanding Young Lawyer in Dallas, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 1981
- Advisory Board, National Legal Mentoring Consortium, 2022-present
- Founder, American Inns of Court Trial Academy
- Adjunct Professor, SMU Dedman School of Law, 2023-present
- President, Dallas Bar Association, 1991; Member, 1973-Present
- Chair, Dallas Bar Foundation, 1998-2001; Fellow, 1991-Present
- Member, American Law Institute, 2004-Present
- Chair, State Bar of Texas Day of Civility, 2021
- Appointed Member by the Texas Supreme Court, Chair, Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct, 2013-2018; Chair, 2017-2018; Vice Chair, 2015-2017, Secretary, 2015
- Secretary, Board of Trustees, American Inns of Court Foundation, 2008-2015
- President, National Conference of Bar Presidents of the American Bar Association, 2004-2005
- Board of Trustees, Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, 1996-2004; Chair, 1999-2002
- Editorial Board Member, The Federal Lawyer, 2023
- Member, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Society, North Texas, Advisory Board Member and Christ the King Parish Chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 2023-present
- Salesmanship Club of Dallas, Inc., 1992-Present
- Board of Trustees, Drake University, 2002-Present
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Lector, Christ the King Catholic Church, 2014-Present
- Board of Directors, Legatus, Dallas Chapter, 2019-Present; President, 2025
- Council Member, Dallas Bar Association Appellate Law Section, 2024-2025
- President, Drake University National Alumni Association, 2002-2004; Vice President, 2000-2002; Board of Directors, 1998-2006
- Author, "Survey of Recent Mandamus Decisions of the Texas Supreme Court 10 SMU Ann. Tex. Surv. 99," 2024
- Author, “Wherefore Art Thou Civility?,” Texas Lawyer, September 4, 2024
- Author, “Do I Really Need a Mentor? Does the Sun Rise in the East?,” The Bencher, January/February 2022
- Author, “Deeds, Not Words: Mentors as Guiding Lights of Integrity in the Legal Profession,” 2007