Srinivas Behara

Biography

Judge Behara is a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas School of Law, directing the Judicial Internship Program. He also serves as the Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), which is the State’s independent centralized administrative hearing tribunal for the adjudication of contested case hearings in the executive branch of state government.

He has extensive presiding and practical experience in civil trial and appeals, mediation, and arbitration. After law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Ricardo H. Hinojosa on the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas. Judge Behara later served as a Staff Attorney to the Honorable Karin Crump, Presiding Judge of the 250th Judicial District Court in Travis County. Prior to his appointment at SOAH, Judge Behara practiced business litigation in Austin at DLA Piper LLP (US) and Almanza, Blackburn, Dickie & Mitchell, and was assistant general counsel at the Texas Medical Association where he worked in health law and legislative affairs.

Judge Behara is currently President of the Board of Directors for Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, the primary provider of pro bono legal services in Travis County and the surrounding areas. Judge Behara previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Austin Bar Association, and staff attorney with the State Bar of Texas, Legal Access Division, where he worked on a campaign to promote pro bono representation across Texas. 

After receiving his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Trinity University in San Antonio, Judge Behara obtained his law degree with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. He proudly grew up in the Rio Grande Valley (McAllen).

Publications:

“Beyond the Basics - Jury Charge Tips for the Experienced Trial Lawyer” Kirsten Castañeda and Vasu Behara (State Bar of Texas - Advanced Civil Trial Course 2017)

“Dispositive Motions in State Court,” Judge Karin Crump & Vasu Behara,  The Advocate: State Bar of Texas Litigation Section, Vol. 82 (Spring 2018)