Dechant, Edmund

James W. Deatherage was born in Cainsville, Missouri. He attended Austin College where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1956. He attended Southern Methodist University School of Law and received his LL.B. in 1964. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, College of the State Bar of Texas, American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit. Jim is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Jim began a general practice of law in Irving in 1964. Over the years, he represented numerous school districts in north and central Texas, and has served as general counsel to the Irving Independent School District since 1968. He founded Jim Deatherage & Associates, P.C. in 1978, and in June, 2011, he became Of Counsel with Boyle and Lowry, L.L.P.

Jim has extensive experience in the broad field of school/educational law, including municipal law, construction law, contract law, civil rights law, and special education law, to name a few. He founded Consulting Educators, Inc., which provided preparation and support for school personnel as well as lay-persons in dealing with the provisions of Special Education law. He was a moving force in the foundation of the Irving Schools Foundation. Jim currently practices general law, particularly in the area of probate law, and continues to serve as general counsel for the Irving Independent School District

Seminars and Publications Prepared and Presented by James W. Deatherage

During the course of his representation of the various school districts, Jim has prepared and presented numerous seminars, conferences, and in-services, including the following:

Preparation For and Participation in Office of Civil Rights Investigations

Effective Use of Admission, Review, and Dismissal Committee Procedures for a Successful Meeting

Successfully Navigating an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Complaint

Preparation for and Conduct of a Special Education Due Process Hearing

Professional Liability Exposure of Professional Educators

Dealing with Employee Grievances and the Resulting Complaint Process

Being an Effective Witness in Grievance and Due Process Hearings

Inner Workings of School Law and Special Education Law (University of North Texas and University of Texas at Arlington Graduate Education Students' Seminars)

Negotiating Special Education Law Requirements (Colorado and Oklahoma Councils of School Attorneys)