Thomas L. Ausley Named in "The Best Lawyers in America, Family Law Section" since 1987; board certified Family Law (1980) and Civil Trial Law (1982) by Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Kristen A. Algert Helping couples maximize their options and maintain their dignity during divorce; board certified Family Law (1997) by Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Eric Robertson Named in "The Best Lawyers in America Family Law Section"; board certified Family Law (1997) by Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Kelly Ausley-Flores Assisting her clients through the difficult process of divorce by putting the clients’ needs first; board certified Family Law (2000) by Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
JoAl Cannon Sheridan Combining legal experience with a sensitivity to often emotionally difficult family law matters is essential to providing the best representation for her clients.
Kelly Caperton Member of the State Bar of Texas (2006), the American Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Austin Bar Association (Family Law Section), and the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas.
JoAl Cannon Sheridan is a lawyer who comes from a background and upbringing of compassion for clients and service to others, both to her profession and community. The daughter of an established lawyer in rural Central Texas, JoAl believes that combining legal experience with a sensitivity to often emotionally difficult family law matters is essential to providing the best representation for her clients.
JoAl began her legal career as a briefing attorney for the Hon. Joe L. Draughn of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas. In 1994, JoAl was engaged in private practice in rural East Texas, with a focus on family law and general litigation, prior to joining Ausley, Algert, Robertson and Flores in January 2008.
JoAl brings with her a solid foundation of courtroom experience, coupled with day-to-day contact and service to her clients. She has long felt that in addition to meeting the needs of her clients, it is her obligation to give back to both her profession and her community, and has served in many capacities in the State Bar of Texas, her church and her community, including being recognized as the Outstanding Baylor Young Lawyer of the Year in 2004. JoAl is a frequent speaker and author for continuing legal education seminars, and is currently serving her second term as a council member for the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section. JoAl is a former Trustee for the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, and Panel Chair of her local Grievance Committee. She currently serves as Trustee for the Texas Bar Foundation, a charitable arm of the State Bar of Texas which promotes legal education for the public and legal services to the poor.
Education
University of Texas at Austin, B.A. with honors, 1989
Baylor Law School, J.D., 1992 (Top 20%)
Professional Activities:
Baylor Law School 2004 Young Lawyer of the Year
Recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics Magazines (July 2004)
Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics Magazines (October 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007)
Outstanding Third Year Director, SBOT Board of Directors (2001)
SBOT Presidential Citation and Award of Merit (2001 and 2004)
Director, State Bar of Texas Board of Directors (1998-2001)(youngest ever elected);
Chair, SBOT Board Legislative Policy Committee
Chair, SBOT Board Legal Services Committee
Vice-Chair, SBOT Board Grievance and Disciplinary System Oversight Comm.
Member, SBOT Women in the Profession Standing Committee
Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Conroe, Texas (1993-1994)
TYLA VoTexas and Victims Rights committees
CLE Speaker and Author, "Discovery Grab Bag," SBOT Advanced Family Law Course August 2007;
CLE Speaker and Author, "Divorce Beyond Hate," SBOT Marriage Dissolution Institute, May 2007;
CLE Speaker and Author, "Digging Up Alcatraz: Revisiting The rocks of Common Law and Uncommon Claims" (Reimbursement), SBOT New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2006
CLE Speaker and Author, "Nobody's Doin' What They’re S'posed To–Enforcing Child Support and Possession Orders," SBOT Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, August 2006
CLE Speaker and Author, "Sleeping With the Enemy–Domestic Violence and Protective Orders," SBOT Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2005
CLE Speaker and Author, "Here’s Hopi The Marriage Lasts–Protecting Separate Property Through the Use of FLP's, Corporate Structures and Trusts," SBOT New Frontiers in Marital Property Course, October 2005
CLE Speaker and Author, "Avoiding Getting Cross With Your Cross Client," Advanced Family Law Seminar, August 2005
CLE Speaker and Author, "The Best Defense is a Good Offense: Defending Modifications Without the Third Prong," Advanced Family Law Seminar, August 2004
CLE Speaker and Author, "Sex, Drugs, and Body Piercing-Bad Facts in Custody Cases, Both for Ya and Against Ya," Advanced Family Law Seminar August 2003
Panel member, 'Custody Cases,' Advanced Family Law Seminar, August 2003
CLE Speaker and Author, "Managing the File," Advanced Family Law Seminar August 2002
CLE Speaker, "New Millennium Ethics for the Small Town Practitioner," Navarro County Bar Association, August 2001
CLE Speaker on Ethics, Local Bar Leaders Conference Las Colinas, Texas August 2000
Keynote speaker on Family Law, RACA conference, April 2007
Frequent speaker on Constitutional and Legal issues at Jacksonville ISD, Henderson ISD, Athens ISD, Wells ISD
Guest Lecturer, Lon Morris College Leadership Class (2002 through present)
President, Cherokee County Bar Association 1997-98
Director, Baylor Law School Alumni Association (2006-2009)
Member, First United Methodist Church, Jacksonville, Texas
Chair, Administrative Board (2002)
Chair, New Building Finance Committee
Member, Finance Committee
Sunday School Teacher
"Spirit of Faith" Class (Mentally handicapped adults)
"Alpha Omega" Class (Senior adults–2nd Sunday teacher)
Recipient, Texas Methodist Conference Outstanding Sunday School Teacher
Award, Southern District (1996)
Member, FUMC Chancel Choir
Member, "Brown Bag Ringers" Bell Choir
Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
Chair of the Board, 2002
Treasurer, 2000-2001
Jacksonville Rotary Club
Director/Chair, Community/Public Service Division, 1998-present
President-Elect 2003
President 2004-2005 (first woman president of J'ville club)
Director, Nan Travis Hospital Foundation Board (2006-2009)
Nominee, Texas Governor’s “Lone Star Award” for Volunteerism, 2003
United Fund of Jacksonville Board of Directors 2002-2006
Soup Kitchen Volunteer
Member, Jacksonville Tennis League Teams (3.5 and 4.0)
Advisor, Boy Scout Law Explorer Post (co-ed) 1995-2000
JISD Leadership/Career Day Speaker and Read-a-thon speaker
Certified Dive Master (professional level) and Rescue Diver
Specialty Certification–Shark Diving and Education (Grand Cayman, B.W.I.)
Jacksonville Tennis Association
Secretary, 2004-2005; Vice President, 2005-2006
Member, United States Tennis Association (current rating–3.5)
Quarter-finalist, National Mixed Doubles Championship (3.0)
Personal Information
Born Mexia, Texas, March 7, 1967 to Joe B. and the late Alice Jean Sundberg Cannon
Married Dr. Dirk Sheridan, Ed.D. November 6, 1993
Proud owner ("mother"?) of Domino, Gizelle, Excel, and Patches (dogs), and Tigger, DaVinci, Callie and Lazarus (cats), not to mention several unnamed salt water fish.
