Josh Borderud, Esquire

2020 American Inns of Court Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA–Josh Borderud has been selected to receive the prestigious 2020 American Inns of Court Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service. Borderud has directed clinical programs at Baylor Law since 2016.

“Through our clinical programs that have expanded greatly during his tenure, he actively mentors law students in service to veterans, first responders, and those in need,” says Bradley J.B. Toben, Esquire, dean of Baylor Law, who nominated Borderud for the award. “Not only does he instruct law students on the importance of legal excellence, civility, ethics, and professionalism, he exemplifies these qualities.”

As director of clinical programs, Borderud is the supervising attorney for three legal clinics: the Baylor Law Veterans Clinic, Estate Planning Clinic, and Trial Advocacy Clinic. Since becoming the first full-time director of the Veterans Clinic in 2016, Borderud has recruited dozens of attorneys to provide legal advice and take on pro bono cases and has increased the number of veterans served.

Borderud also transformed an annual wills clinic hosted by the Veterans Clinic into a year-round clinic offering assistance with wills, medical powers of attorney, and related documents to veterans and first responders.

Borderud has also developed a Trial Advocacy Clinic, which expands clinical programming into the courtroom via two programs. In one, students under Borderud’s supervision represent low-income defendants in Waco Municipal Court. In another, students under Borderud’s supervision represent juveniles at their initial detention hearings.

Borderud also spearheaded the creation of a treatment court for defendants with prior military service. The McLennan County Veterans Treatment Court launched on Veterans Day 2019.

Borderud is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He is a past president of the Waco-McLennan County Young Lawyers Association and serves on the board of directors of the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association. He is a Barrister member of the Judge Abner V. McCall American Inn of Court.

Borderud began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Milam County, Texas. He then joined the Waco, Texas, law firm Pakis, Giotes, Page & Burleson PC.

Borderud earned his law degree in 2009 at Baylor Law, where he was technology editor of the Baylor Law Review. He also cofounded the Baylor Public Interest Legal Society, which facilitates students’ involvement in pro bono and public service programs. Borderud earned an undergraduate degree in history from Baylor in 2001 and a master’s degree in history in 2003, also from Baylor.