Houston lawyer and former state district judge Alvin L. Zimmerman will give a lecture on family law and forensic psychology at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Rockwell Pavilion, located on the second floor of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library.
Zimmerman, a UH alumnus, was invited by the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology Club, who to brought him to campus through a collaboration with the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Honor Society in Political Science.
“His work in both forensic psychology and law has led us to want to collaborate with Phi Alpha Delta and Pi Sigma Alpha,” said Ashley Moore, Psi Chi club president. “Dr. Zimmerman’s work as a lawyer and judge has contributed to forensic psychology by illustrating that it can be interwoven into the world of law and be a useful tool to those familiar with it.”
“We hope to learn from Judge Zimmerman’s experience to generate early integration between psychology and pre-law that will be useful as students prepare for legal careers,” said Lolin Wang-Bennett, the psychology department director of development.
Tuesday’s lecture will focus on Judge Zimmerman’s experience and how family law and forensic psychology come together in the courtroom. It will focus on his legal experience and how his interest in psychology has furthered his career.
“Judge Zimmerman has extensive experience in the legal field, and this is a great opportunity for potential law students to hear how they can incorporate their very own interests into their legal career just as he has,” said Vicky Cantu, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law director of communications.
As an active lawyer in Harris County, Zimmerman’s legal experience includes presiding as a state district judge of the 269th Civil District Court, the 309th Family District Court, Municipal Court of the City of Houston and as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas.
As Chairman of the Board for the law firm, Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern and Wise, P.C., Zimmerman specializes in family law, civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
He is an active mediator in Harris County with experience in tort, oil and gas, construction and intellectual property. He was named H magazine’s “best lawyer in Houston” and is included in “The Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers, a peer review publication. He is the recipient of the UH Distinguished Alumni Award.
There will be a moderated question and answer session at the end of the lecture. The dress is business casual. The sponsors of the event are working with the Houston Food Bank and ask that attendees of the event bring canned goods to donate.
