Advocacy Runs
in the Family.
Thomas Carter grew up watching his grandfather advocate for people with disabilities—work that would take him to the White House for the signing of the ADA. El Paso recognized him as a civil rights hero. Raised by Army officers, Air Force firefighters, and educators, Thomas learned early that standing up for others isn't a profession. It's a responsibility.
"Every case is someone's whole life. I treat it that way."
Learned from
the Bench
Thomas knew he wanted to be a trial lawyer before he ever applied to law school. As a student, he had the privilege of sitting in his uncle's district courtroom in Houston—watching the best attorneys in Texas try cases.
But it was his uncle, presiding from the bench, who left the deepest impression. Not for his legal acumen, but for how he treated every person who entered that room.
"He treated everyone with dignity and respect—that taught me what fairness actually means."
The Journey
Rather than listing credentials chronologically, this is the story of decisions made in service of the advocacy mission. Every step was taken with purpose—not to build a resume, but to become the fighter clients need.
The Foundation
Thomas was raised by Army officers, Air Force firefighters, and educators—a family that served their country in uniform and in the classroom. But it was his grandfather who showed him what advocacy really meant. A tireless champion for people with disabilities, he fought for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and attended its signing at the White House. El Paso recognized him as a civil rights hero. That's the standard Thomas inherited.
Acquiring the Tools
Thomas knew he wanted to be a trial lawyer before he ever applied to law school. As a student, he sat in his uncle's district courtroom in Houston, watching the best attorneys in Texas try cases. But it was his uncle—presiding from the bench, treating every person with dignity—who taught him what fairness looks like in practice. Law school gave him the degree. That courtroom gave him the compass.
Learning to Win
Most personal injury lawyers have never faced a prosecutor. Thomas has. His years as a criminal defense trial attorney—trying cases against the government, against law enforcement—taught him every tactic the other side will use. That experience earned him a reputation as a formidable opponent. Now he uses it to dismantle the insurance companies' playbook before they even open it.
The Mission Continues
The founding of Carter Law wasn't the start of a practice—it was the continuation of a century of service. Every case, every client, every victory becomes part of a legacy that began with soldiers and firefighters, was carried forward by a civil rights hero, and now lives in every courtroom Thomas enters. The mission doesn't end. It multiplies.
"My mother taught me the most about love, empathy, and compassion. I wouldn't be where I am today without her. That's what I bring to every case—not just legal skill, but the understanding that this is someone's whole life."
— Thomas Carter