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Bio

Brian McGiverin

Brian McGiverin is a long-time civil rights attorney with both nonprofit and private sector firms. He founded ACLC in 2017 and is the Executive Director.

 

Brian has extensive experience in complex civil rights litigation at both trial and appellate levels. But he also helps families handle routine legal needs in civil, criminal, and probate matters, to get them back on track.

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Brian is also an advocate for improving the criminal justice system, increasing affordable housing, and ending poverty. He has received training in community organizing and collaborated with many organizations on projects and issue campaigns.

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In late 2015, Brian started the Dietz, Lawrence & McGiverin Law Center with fellow long-time nonprofit attorneys Kevin Dietz and Doug Lawrence. They started DLM with a commitment to helping clients fix their legal problems and get back on track. DLM quickly began tackling legal issues in family law, criminal defense, probate, and civil litigation. 

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Before DLM, Brian was a staff attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project. At TCRP, he was responsible for complex litigation in federal courts across Texas and appeals to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. His focus was suing prisons and jails to address excessive force, dangerous conditions, deficient medical care, religious liberties, and disability accommodations. He also filed lawsuits regarding free speech, police accountability, the Public Information Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as various administrative complaints around housing and education.

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Prior to TCRP, Brian worked for the State Bar of Texas, staffing projects for Texas Lawyers Care and the Texas Access to Justice Commission. In that position, he helped increase low-income Texans' access to justice from the legal system.

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Finally, Brian was a policy aide for Austin City Council Member Delia Garza for a year beginning in April 2016, dealing with topics including public safety, health and human services, labor, finance, and the City budget.

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Recognition & Awards

2014 Excellence in Public Interest Award from Texas Law Fellowships

2013 Susan P. Burton Award from Volunteer Legal Service of Central Texas

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Affiliations, Past and Current 

  • State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters: 2016-18, Chair 2018-present

  • President, Texas Democrats for Progressive Courts: 2018-present

  • Board, Austin Tenant's Council: 2011 - present

  • Travis County Democratic Party Precinct Chair 447: 2016 - present

  • Advisory Board, University of Texas’ Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights: 2016 - present

  • Chair, Austin Lawyers Guild: 2011-18

  • General Counsel, Prison Justice League: 2015-18

  • State Bar of Texas' Poverty Law Section: 2012-17

  • Austin Interfaith Sponsoring Committee: 2014-15
     

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