Baylor Law School has named Steve McConnico its 2011 Baylor Lawyer of the Year. Presented since 1963, the award is given annually to an alumnus who has brought honor and distinction to Baylor Law School and the legal profession. Steve was recognized at a luncheon on February 16 in Austin.

Steve is a 1976 honors graduate of Baylor Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Baylor Law Review. After graduation he became the briefing attorney for Justice Jack Pope of the Texas Supreme Court.

Steve joined SD&M in 1981 and has tried more than 200 cases to jury verdict. His vast experience includes representing clients in matters involving breach of fiduciary duty, theft of trade secrets, probate, breach of contract, environmental regulation, election law, class actions, business torts, oil and gas, personal injury, and professional malpractice. He is board certified in personal injury and civil trial law.

Steve is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers, as well as an advocate on the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has served as president of both the Austin Chapter of ABOTA and Tex-ABOTA. Since 2003, Texas Monthly has selected him as one of 100 Texas Super Lawyers.

He was practice court professor at Baylor Law School in 2005 and president of the Baylor Law School Alumni Association from 2003 to 2004.

Past recipients include Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski, former Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, former F.B.I. director William Sessions, former U.S. Rep. Jack Hightower and Gov. Price Daniel Sr.