Rice University Paralegal Certificate Program

Course Instructors

Ron Bankston - Lead Instructor, Essential Skills and Tort Law Instructor - is a partner in the litigation firm of Kane Russell Coleman & Logan PC. He has been practicing in the field of civil litigation for 29 years, and he is board-certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Bankston has served as special assistant disciplinary counsel for the Texas Commission on Lawyer Discipline, has been a lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials, and is also a trained mediator. He is a life fellow in the Texas and Houston Bar Foundations, a sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Texas Trial Lawyers' Association, a member and past director of the Houston Trial Lawyers' Association, and a member of the Attorney-Mediators Institute and the Association of Attorney-Mediators. He has served and been recognized as a distinguished faculty member for the Houston Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program and is a guest lecturer and instructor in trial advocacy at the University of Houston Law Center. He holds a JD from the University of Houston.

Terry Lea Elizondo - Family Law Instructor - is an attorney at the Law Office of Elizondo & Elizondo, where she has served clients for more than 25 years in the areas of juvenile law, family law, divorce, real estate, child custody and child support. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Houston Bar Association. Ms. Elizondo holds a JD from South Texas College of Law, an MA from Seattle University and a BA in English from the University of Houston.

Jason Fowell - Contract Law Instructor - is an attorney at Essmyer, Tritico & Rainey, LLP, where he practices construction law, real estate law, commercial litigation, personal injury, consumer rights, probate, business law and contracts. He serves as adjunct professor in mock trial litigation at South Texas College of Law. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Houston Bar Association and Houston Young Lawyers Association. Mr. Fowell holds a JD from South Texas College of Law and a BBA from the University of Houston.

Laura Davidson Fowell - Criminal Law Instructor - is an attorney at Joe R. Davidson, P.C., where she represents clients in estate, probate, trust, wills, and general civil practice and litigation. Previously, she served as assistant district attorney and misdemeanor and felony prosecutor for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Fowell is adjunct professor and varsity mock trial coach at South Texas College of Law. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association and Houston Young Lawyers Association. Ms. Fowell holds a JD from South Texas College of Law and a BS in corporate communication studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

Lori Swann - Essential Skills and Texas Procedures Instructor - practices with Cunningham Law Group, a small Houston litigation firm that specializes in matters involving fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. She served as an assistant district attorney for 10 years in Harris County where she tried more than 100 criminal cases, including several death penalty cases. Ms. Swann has lectured extensively in many areas of criminal law and advocacy for the Texas Justice Court Training Center, the Houston Area Women’s Center, the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association and the National College of District Attorneys. She has also served as a faculty member for the National Advocacy Center. Ms. Swann is a graduate of Rice University and holds a JD from The University of Texas School of Law.