Walker Crowson was raised in El Paso, Texas, along with his younger brother
Matt. His parents, Junior and Nancy, frequent community volunteers, taught him
the value of hard work and the importance of giving back to his community. As
an undergrad at University of Texas, Crowson served as Philanthropy Chairman
for his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In that role he coordinated the SAE
Children’s Christmas Party with children from East Austin. This, he says,
started his “bug for volunteering with kids.”
After graduating from UT in 1996, Crowson headed to Lubbock for law school.
When I asked him why he decided to head into the practice of law, I heard the
obvious answer: “I grew up watching my dad be a lawyer, which influenced
me.” Although true, he also revealed another quite different moment that
impacted his decision. When Crowson was 13 he was enjoying himself at a UTEP
tailgate where a number of lawyers were in attendance. At one point, “the
crowd parted and a beautiful, baby blue convertible 911 Porche” drove
up with a “cool-looking guy driving, and a good looking blonde in the
passenger seat, and three cases of beer in the back.” He asked his father
who it was, and learned he was another El Paso attorney. At that point, Walker
announced: “I want to be like him.” He was sold.
At Texas Tech Law, Walker served on the Texas Tech Legal Research Board on
the Board of Editors and, in 1999, graduated cum laude. But perhaps his greatest
accomplishment in law school was meeting his wife, Jennifer, who was in his
section. “That had to be the coolest part. I’m still wondering how
I hooked her.”
After law school, he and Jennifer started their practice together at the El
Paso firm of Kemp Smith, LLP—the largest firm in El Paso—where Crowson
specialized in employment law. After practicing together for about five years,
they both left the firm in 2005, and he joined his father’s practice in
August 2005. Crowson still specializes in employment law—on both sides
of the docket—and is now Board Certified in labor & employment law.
He and Jennifer are now settled into the El Paso community with their two daughters
Charlotte (3) and Ella (1) (“They make life worth living.”) and
their Labradors, Bobo and Judge. Given the Crowson family business, don’t
be surprised when Charlotte and Ella join the family firm in 2027!
Crowson first became involved with the bar at the encouragement of his colleagues
because he likes “working with folks with whom I have a lot in common
and who enjoy helping out in the community—especially kids.” During
his tenure as President of EPYLA, he plans to focus on increasing membership
and participation in the bar, the EPYLA Children’s Christmas Party, Wills
for Heroes Clinics and mock trial.
Law and community service may run in his genes, but it doesn’t run his
life (billable hours being his least favorite part of practicing law). “To
understand me, you have to understand that I love my wife and kids, playing
golf, and the Longhorns (depending on the season, not necessarily in that order).”
Walker mixes these avocations with his vocation—you will often find him
on the links with his father and law partner (who taught him the value of playing
golf twice a week). And we won’t be surprised to find him someday at a
‘Horns tailgate, in a flashy car, with his wife Jennifer in the passenger
seat, and a few cases in the back . . .
