The lawyers at Kraft & Associates handle cases in the areas of Personal Injury and Social Security Disability. We have helped tens of thousands of people over the years, and we would like to help you too. Call us — you’ll find we’re easy to talk to.
To meet the great lawyers and staff at our firm please visit our Team Page.
Warning — the rest of this page is all about me. You don’t have to read the whole page before making your decision to hire a lawyer. If you’re looking for a friendly and honest law firm you’ve come to the right place here at Kraft & Associates. That’s the most important thing you need to know.
I’ve been representing injured, disabled, and elderly people since 1971, and it’s what I love to do. The great feeling of making a real difference in people’s lives is what keeps me coming to the office every day. This firm opened on October 8, 2009. I worked at another personal injury firm before starting this one.
Our firm represents people who are in unfair fights. Some are car wreck victims fighting big insurance companies. Some are physically or mentally disabled people fighting the huge bureaucracy at the Social Security Administration.
I understand and sympathize with working people because I come from a working family myself. My father was a letter carrier for the post office, and my mother was a bank teller. I didn’t have the luxury of being born to wealthy parents, but I think I got the two best parents anyone could ever hope to have.
I’ve been working part-time or full-time since junior high. I started by mowing yards around our neighborhood and had a few other odd jobs as a kid. In high school, I worked two years at Putt-Putt Golf Course in Waco — maybe the best job ever.
At Baylor, I worked part-time in the Texas History Collection, which is a library of valuable old books about Texas. Later I started working full-time at the Waco Tribune-Herald newspaper, first as a copy boy and then as an engraver. I worked the night shift during the week and worked a double shift on Saturdays. I put myself through Baylor undergraduate school and law school that way (with help from government student loans).
While attending Baylor I met and married my beautiful wife. In 2021 we celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary. I was 21 when we got married, and only 23 when I graduated from law school and started practicing law in Dallas.
My wife and I have two beautiful daughters, both grown and married, and we have recently been blessed with a terrific grandson from each daughter, and finally a granddaughter also!
On October 15, 2002, I was proud to be admitted in person to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. The swearing-in ceremony was performed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, with the full Supreme Court in session.
OK, that’s pretty much my entire life story. Thank you to anyone who read the whole thing. I feel a little silly putting all this information here, but I’ve been told that lengthy lawyer bios are “the thing to do” these days.
The main thing to know is that I’m just like you. I understand your situation, and I want to help you. And all the people at this law firm feel the same way I do. Please call us and let us try to solve your legal problems.
Now, here’s the formal stuff:
General:
- Born in Waco, Texas. Married since 1969, two beautiful daughters – one lawyer, one teacher. Two handsome grandsons and one gorgeous granddaughter.
Education:
- Undergraduate: Baylor University, B.B.A.
- Law: Baylor University School of Law, J.D. 1971
Practice:
- Plaintiff Personal Injury and Social Security Disability law in Dallas since 1971.
Memberships:
- North Dallas Bar Association – Former President, current Officer and Director
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association – Director Emeritus
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association – Sustaining Member
- American Association for Justice – Sustaining Member
- Dallas Bar Association – Member
- American Bar Association – Member
- National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives – Sustaining Member
- Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Management Association – Advisory Board Member
- College of the State Bar of Texas – Fellow
- Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism – Member
- Veterans Advocates Group of America – Member
- Military Law Section of the State Bar of Texas – Member
- Court of Veterans Appeals – Licensed to practice since 1994
- Supreme Court of the United States – Licensed to practice
Books:
- Seven Fatal Mistakes Texas Accident Victims Make
- Nine Fatal Mistakes Social Security Disability Claimants Make
American Bar Association Magazine Articles:
- The Client Matters
- Rallying the In-House Team
- Accommodations for Diversity
- A Blueprint for Marketing with Staff
- Hiring, Training, and Retaining Staff
- Social Security Disability: What Every Lawyer Should Know
- Legal Pitfalls When Hiring Domestic Help
- Social Security Disability – What Every Lawyer Should Know
American Bar Association Book Chapter Contributions:
Recent Presentations:
2019, Addison, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Website Ethics for Lawyers
2017, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Legal Aspects of Distracted Driving
2015, Farmers Branch, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers
2014, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Ethical Issues in Representing Injured or Disabled Clients
2013, Addison, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Ethical Duty to Use the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program
2013, Addison, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Legal Hazards of Hiring Household Help
2012, Kaufman, Texas
Sponsor: Kaufman County Bar Association
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2012, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Bar Association, Media Relations Committee
Topic: Ethical Considerations of Use of Social Media
2012, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Bar Association, Senior Lawyers Committee
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2012, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Bar Association, North Dallas Clinic
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2011, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Medallion Assisted Living Center
Topic: VA Pension Benefits
2011, Plano, Texas
Sponsor: LifeCare Hospitals of Plano
Topic: Long Term Care Options
2011, Irving, Texas
Sponsor: Heritage Senior Center of Irving
Topic: VA Pension Benefits
2011, Irving, Texas
Sponsor: Heritage Senior Center of Irving
Topic: Medicaid Planning for Long Term Care
2011, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2009, Cary, North Carolina
Sponsor: Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Management Association
Topic: Attracting Clients Through Blogging
2009, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
Topic: Using Avvo & Twitter to Build Your Law Practice
2008, Phoenix, Arizona
Sponsor: ATLAS Lawyer Group
Topic: Client Relationship Marketing
2008, Austin, Texas
Sponsor: State Bar of Texas
Topic: The Ethics of Law Firm Blogs
2008, Durham, North Carolina
Sponsor: Lawyers Inner Circle
Topic: Internet Social Networking for Lawyers
2007, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sponsor: Lawyers Inner Circle
Topic: Marketing to Your Client Base
2006, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Topic: Preventing Employee Turnover
2005, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Carrollton Bar Association
Topic: Ethical Attorney Advertising
2004, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: New Rules for Attorney Advertising
Blogs Published:
- P.I.S.S.D. (Personal Injury, Social Security Disability) — About the ways injured and disabled persons are mistreated by governments and insurance companies
- Kraft Elder Law Blog — Providing information about Elder Law, Medicaid Planning for Long Term Care, and Veterans Pension Benefits
