Harriet Miers is not only a phenomenal legal mind – she is a trailblazer, and a leader who has worked to ensure that justice is accessible to all. Ms. Miers is partner of Locke Lord LLP, with offices in Dallas and Washington, D. C. She returned to the Firm in May 2007, after serving in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001-2007 as Staff Secretary, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Counsel to the President. Prior to joining the White House staff, Ms. Miers had a distinguished career in a commercial litigation practice, representing a broad range of clients in varied industries. She currently is a member of her firm’s litigation and public policy sections.
Harriet’s career is marked by an impressive series of firsts. Ms. Miers was the first woman hired at the Dallas firm of Locke Purnell Boren Laney & Neely and became the first woman to lead the firm as its President. She was Co-Managing Partner of the merged firm of Locke, Liddell & Sapp, a position she held until she left to join the Bush Administration. For her work as Counsel to the President, Ms. Miers received the Department of Justice Edmund J. Randolph Award in January of 2007. She also received the Agency Seal Medal awarded by the Central Intelligence Agency to persons outside the Agency for significant contributions to its work. She was nominated to become a Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States, which nomination was withdrawn before a Senate Judiciary Hearing occurred.
Throughout her career, Ms. Miers has been committed to public service. In 1985, Ms. Miers became the first woman President of the Dallas Bar Association. In 1989, Ms. Miers was elected as an at-large member of the Dallas City Council. In 1992, she became the first woman President of the State Bar of Texas. Ms. Miers served as Chairwoman of the Texas Lottery Commission. She recently has been selected to Co-Chair the nationwide Leaders Council for the Legal Services Corporation, and she is a strong advocate for legal services to the poor and the advancement of minorities in the profession. Over the years, Ms. Miers also served in many leadership roles in the American Bar Association, including Chair of the Board of Editors of the American Bar Journal. She currently is a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Governmental Affairs. She serves as the Chair of the Board for the Center for American and International Law. She also serves as a Commissioner of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, and as Chair of its Legislative Committee. Additionally, she serves on the boards of a number of philanthropic and community organizations.
Ms. Miers graduated from Southern Methodist University with an M.S. in Math in 1967, and she graduated from the SMU Dedman School of Law in 1970. She received the Robert G. Storey Award for Distinguished Achievement from the SMU Dedman School of Law. She also has received Distinguished Alumni Awards from both SMU and the School of Law. She has received an Honorary Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law.