Before beginning his legal studies and career, James Rodriguez earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University. After graduating from Texas A&M in 1989, Mr. Rodriguez was selected from a nationwide search to participate as a Fellow in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington D.C. While in D.C he worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill. In 1996, Mr. Rodriguez graduated from the University of Houston Law Center, after working full time as a legal clerk while attending law school. After law school, Mr. Rodriguez began his career representing catastrophically injured clients and today is a partner with Padilla & Rodriguez, L.L.P., where he continues to work on cases involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful deaths. Mr. Rodriguez is fluent in Spanish and has worked in a number of capacities advocating for immigrants’ rights. He has served as past president of the Mexican American Bar Association (Houston); past vice president of the Hispanic Bar Association (Houston); past president of the League of Latin American Citizens Council 30. He is currently on the advisory board of the Hispanic Bar Association (Houston) and is a member of the board of directors of the Fe y Justicia Worker Center. He is also a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association of Justice. Mr. Rodriguez is a Member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2013). Mr. Rodriguez is a native of Bryan, Texas. His family roots trace back to the earliest Mexican settlers in Brazos County, Texas. While living in Houston, Texas, Mr. Rodriguez remains active with his family and in community, business and civic affairs in Bryan. His interests include fund-raising for various programs aimed at the advancement of minority young adults and speaking to young students about the value of education.