Amber Liddell Alwais
Partner, Attorney at LawBiography
Confident, yet compassionate, Amber Liddell Alwais protects her clients, making them feel safe and secure while fighting for them from beginning to end. Amber is a staunch advocate for clients, committed to providing highly personalized legal services in all Family Law matters, including traditional and nontraditional divorce, custody issues, property division, child support, and adoption matters.
Prior to joining Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, Amber had the honor of being the first of only two staff attorneys for Bexar County District Judges. There she had the privilege of experiencing the law from both sides of the bench.
In addition to her legal practice, Amber serves as a family law, probate law, and criminal law instructor at The University of Texas at San Antonio. She is also vice president of the San Antonio Bar Association Family Law section.
Amber is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to excellence in this area of law. Board Certification requires continuing education and involvement in the issues of family law, including marriage, adoption, divorce, custody, support and ownership of property acquired before and during marriage.
Amber was named the 2003 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the Women’s Bar Association of Bexar County in recognition of her contributions to the San Antonio legal community. She also has been honored on both the Texas Super Lawyers and Texas Rising Stars listings published by Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, and has been regularly selected to San Antonio’s Top Attorneys list published by S.A. Scene magazine.
As a mother and a top-notch litigator, Amber offers a unique perspective. She understands what you’re fighting for and knows the importance of every decision you make and how it will affect your family’s future.
Areas of Practice
- 100% Family Law
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1996
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1997
- S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1996
- U.S. Supreme Court of Texas, 1996
Education
St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas
- J.D. – 1996
Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas
- B.A. magna cum laude – 1993
Published Works and Presentations
- Understanding Real Value, Advanced Family Law, 2008
- Using Summary Judgments in Family Law, Advanced Family Law, 2006
- Surviving Presiding Court in Bexar County, Texas, The Anatomy of a Civil Trial, St. Mary’s University
- Here Comes Grandma and She is One Tough Customer, Judicial Section Annual Conference, 2002
- She is a Minor. She is Pregnant. She Doesn’t Want to Tell Her Parents, Judicial Section Annual Conference, 2002
- When Your Opponent Has a Fool for a Client: Facing the Pro Se Party, Judicial Seminar, 2000
- Getting Through a Jane Doe Application from Beginning to End: The Parental By-Pass Notification Act, Judicial Seminar, 2000
- The San Antonio Pro Se Assistance Program, October, 2000
Classes/Seminars
- Extreme Family Law Makeover VIII (Course Director), 2009
- Extreme Family Law Makeover VII (Course Director), 2008
- Texas Post Adoption Professionals Annual Meeting (Speaker), 2000 – 2005
- San Antonio Bar Association CLE Lunches (Speaker), 2002 – 2004
- National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (Speaker), 2002
- Judicial Section Annual Conference (Speaker), 2001 – 2002
- Advanced Family Law Seminar (Speaker), 2000
- State Bar Leaders Seminar (Speaker), 2000
Honors and Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2018 -2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers, 2024
- Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2013 – 2023
- Top 50 Central and West Texas Region Lawyers, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Legal Division, 2021
- Texas Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2008 – 2010
- San Antonio’s Top Attorneys, S.A. Scene Magazine, 2007 – 2010, 2012 – 2014
- Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year, Women’s Bar Association of Bexar County, 2003
Professional Associations and Memberships
- TACA (Texas Association of Court Administrators), Member, 2010 – Present
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Member, 2010 – Present
- San Antonio Family Lawyers Association, Treasurer, 2010 – Present
- San Antonio Bar Association, Family Law Section, Vice President, 2013 – Present
- San Antonio Bar Association, Family Law Section, Sergeant at Arms, 2009 – Present
- San Antonio Bar Association, Family Law Section, Board Member, 2006 – Present
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Member, 2000
- College of the State Bar of Texas, Member, 2001 – Present
- Texas Association of Family Law Specialists, Member, 2010 – Present
- Extreme Family Law Makeover, Course Director, 2008 – 2010
- San Antonio Bar Foundation, Member, 2004 – Present
- San Antonio Family Lawyers Association, Member, 2010 – Present
- CASA of San Antonio, Board Member, 2001 – 2006
- Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, Chair, Judicial Liaisons, 2002 – 2005
- Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, Bench Brunch Volunteers Chair, 2007 – Present
- Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, Bench Brunch Volunteers Chair, 2003 – 2005
- Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, Member