Joseph “Joe” Hoffer’s law practice includes providing holistic legal advice, counsel and services to public school systems, private schools, higher education, nonprofits, as well as select for-profit employers including: (1) civil litigation; (2) labor and employment; (3) board and corporate governance; (4) business transactions including public procurement and contracting, trademark and copyright, and inter-local and shared services arrangements; (5) student law including special education, discipline, civil rights and grievances; and (6) administrative law, including appeals of state and federal agency action.
Education & Honors
Mr. Hoffer attended Texas A&M University and completed his undergraduate at Southwest Texas State University (now known as Texas State University), receiving his B.A. summa cum laude. He attended St. Mary’s University School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctorate. While in law school, Mr. Hoffer served on the Editorial Board of the St. Mary’s Law Journal, serving as Research/Articles Editor his third year and as a staff writer during his second year. Mr. Hoffer was on the law school Dean’s List and graduated in the top of his class.
Admissions & Affiliations
Mr. Hoffer is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and Supreme Courts of Texas, Arizona and Arkansas. He is licensed to practice law in Texas (2006), Arizona (2021) and Arkansas (2021). Mr. Hoffer also practices before and is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and several federal trial courts including the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas.
Mr. Hoffer is a member of the State Bar of Texas Administrative and Public Law Section, School Law Section and Labor and Employment Law Section. Mr. Hoffer currently volunteers on the regional advisory board for Teach for America-San Antonio. He is or has been a member of the Texas City Attorneys Association/Texas Municipal League, Texas Council of School Attorneys, Randolph-Metrocom Chamber of Commerce (now the Tri-County Chamber) (past board-member), Judson ISD Education Foundation, Inc. (past board member), Education Law Association, the Military Child Education Coalition, and National Alliance of Public Charter School Attorneys. Mr. Hoffer is a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Recognitions
Mr. Hoffer was recognized as:
- 2023 Best Lawyer for Schools and Education in SA magazine
- 2022 Best Lawyer for Schools and Education in SA magazine
- 2021 Best Lawyer for nonprofits and schools in Scene in SA magazine
- Outstanding Lawyer for Schools by SA Magazine
- Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyer consecutively for 2015 and 2016 by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters)
- San Antonio Best Lawyer in the legal field by Scene in SA magazine (2012)
Publications
Qui Tam: Survival of the Action and Fate of the Proceeds Following the Death of the Relator. For the King and For Himself . . . And His Heirs, 37 St. Mary’s L.J. 199 (2005)