The award has been presented annually since 2016 to an outstanding first-year member of the College. The Texas Bar College created the award in memory of Steve Condos, one of the original Charter members of the College who served as an influential and hardworking member of the first College Board shortly before his untimely death.
The Steven G. Condos Award for Outstanding New Member to the College
2021 Recipient – Shelly Joyner
Shelly C. Joyner is an associate attorney at Crain & Wooley, an estate planning firm in Plano, Texas. She is a proud graduate of UNT Dallas College of Law where she was active in advocacy activities, student government, and other student organizations.
Originally from Memphis, Shelly is a “second career” lawyer after 17 years in various positions with an air freight shipping company. She chose to go to law school after she found herself studying law as a way to unwind after a tough night on the tarmac. She found the perfect school in UNT Dallas College of Law where her class was comprised primarily of other non-traditional students with a passion for justice.
After graduation, Shelly was able to continue at Crain & Wooley where she’d started working as a law clerk during law school. There, she was able to use her contingency planning background to create custom estate plans for clients. The firm also gave her the opportunity to find creative outlets for community education regarding Texas probate laws, which are commonly misunderstood and often result in a costly clean-up for loved ones.
When the pandemic changed everything, Shelly chose to take the lemons and make lemonade. When CLEs became easily accessible online through her various bar organizations, she loaded up on as many as possible. Because of the additional education, she was able to take on ancillary matters for her estate planning clients that the firm had previously referred out. Additional civil rights training allowed her to spend the summer volunteering as a legal observer at the racial justice demonstrations throughout North Texas. Other pro bono work during the year resulted in membership in the State Bar of Texas Pro Bono College. Shelly strongly believes that it is her duty as an attorney to advocate for those who cannot afford legal services, and is grateful that the Texas Bar College gives her the resources to be able to effectively do so.
Shelly is involved with the amazing women of Attorneys Serving the Community and Daughters of the American Revolution. She is also currently serving as a Co-Chair of the Dallas Area Young Lawyer’s Elder Law Community Outreach Committee. She greatly enjoys helping aspiring advocates by judging high school, undergraduate, and law school moot court and mock trial competitions throughout North Texas. She also loves walking Plano’s city parks with her mutts, Pepper the Batdog and Moira Rose.
Past Recipients
2020
Carra Miller
2019
Geeta R. Dammanna
2018
Christine S. Wakeman
2017
Constance Filley Johnson
2016
Russell Blair Ross, Houston
2015
Rachael K. Jones, Austin
2014
Kirsten L. Ruehman, Houston
2013
Jessica L. Mikell, Houston
2012
Ms. Umeka Lewis, Houston
2011
Abraham Michael Khaleghi, Houston
2010
Allen L. Stidger, Fort Worth
2009
Edward Frank Penak, Austin
2008
Elizabeth Ann Gilday, Dallas
2007
Maxine Aaronson, Dallas
2006
Mary E. Ramos, Houston
2005
Leo A. Luebbehusen, Hurst
2004
Rebecca Denise McCrum Renfro, Deer Park
2003
Kristyn Swen Helge, Fort Worth
2002
Douglas F. Ocker, Houston
2001
Ben B. Fiedler, Houston
2000
Georgia L. Fenton, Sugar Land
1999
Teresa C. Trowers, Lubbock
1998
Lloyd D. Ronin, Houston
1997
Robert L. Cole, Jr., Quitman
1996
Andrew L. Fono, Jacksonville, NC
1995
John C. Juravich, Houston
1994
Gloria P. Martinez Senftner, Auburn, CA
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