Marian (she/her) is an attorney and mediator based out of Austin, TX with over a decade of experience in civil and family law matters.
Marian Coleman
Transitions ADR
Originally from Michigan, Marian studied philosophy and ethics at the University of Michigan (B.A. w/ Honors, 2008) before moving to Texas and attending the University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2013). While at UT Law, Marian trained as a mediator, served in the Legislative Lawyering Clinic, and clerked at the Austin Independent School District. After law school, Marian spent the next eight years counseling school districts across the state on a broad range of topics, from open government to ADA compliance, construction law, high value contracts, Title IX, student rights, special education, civil litigation, appellate law, and more. Marian has trained hundreds of school administrators on a variety of topics including student rights, discrimination, employment, contracts, and open government. In March of 2021, Marian left education law and now primarily practices as a mediator in civil law, family, and CPS cases. Marian proudly serves as a member of the Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference legal committee, and presented multiple sessions and continuing legal education courses at both the 2021 and 2022 PTWC conferences.
Experience
Attorney/Mediator; Transitions ADR (2021-Present)
Of Counsel/Partner; Law Office of E. Schwartz (2018-2021)
Legal/Strategy Consultant; Astral AR / Pan American Drone Co. (2018-2022)
Associate/Senior Associate; Eichelbaum, Wardell, Hansen, Powell & Munoz, P.C. (2013-2021)
Law & Policy Clerk; Austin ISD (2012-2013)
Student Counsel; UT Legislative Lawyering Clinic (2012)
Law & Policy Intern; Texas Appleseed (2011)
Credentials
State Bar of Texas, 2013
US Western District of Texas, 2014
US Southern District of Texas, 2016
UT Law Mediator Training, 2011
TMCA Credentialed Advanced Mediator, 2023
Conference Presentations / CLE
2022 Texas Title IX Administrators Conference
LGBTQ+/Non-Binary Student and Staff Issues &
Q&A session (Oct. 2022)
2022 Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference
Don’t Mess with Texas’ Trans Kids – CLE (July 2022)
Paper Trail: Protecting your Family and Property in a Shifting Legal Landscape (July 2022)
2021 Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference
Whiplash – The Rapidly Changing Legal Landscape of Trans Student Rights – CLE, two sessions: US Schools; Youth Sports (July 2021)
2020 Texas Title IX Administrator Conference
Boys will be Boys – Gender stereotype discrimination and Title IX (Oct. 2020; repeat December 2020)
2020 Texas School Public Relations Administrators Regional Conference
Texas Public Information Act Legislative Updates; featured speaker (Jan. 2020)
2016 Texas Title IX Administrators Conference
Transitions – Learning to Adjust to a Transgender-Friendly Title IX (Oct. 2016)
Selected Webinars/Trainings
Reopening 2020: The Must, May, and Can, Staff Development Webinar (July 2020)
Summertime Blues: COVID-19 Summer School Preparedness Webinar (May 2020)
Public Information Act Essentials Webinar Series #2 (procurement) (Apr. 2020)
A Pain in the Act: New PIA Laws Affecting High-Dollar Contracts (Jan. 2020)
New Board Member Crash Course Webinar (Recurring; 2016-2018)
Public Information Act Essentials Webinar Series #1 (third party practice) (Mar. 2016)
Selected Publications
Responding to Public Information Act Requests, coauthor (2019)
Construction Basics, co-author (various eds., 2013-2019)
Delete This! – Social Media and Records Retention, author (Sept. 2016)
Commercial Contract Confidentiality: Boeing Changes the Landscape, author (July 2015)
Videoconferencing and the OMA: Five Questions for Trustees, author (Nov. 2013)
Reshaping the Future of Small-Dollar Lending in Texas, co-author (2012)
Transitions ADR 