Kandace D. Walter

Director and Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Small Business and Trademark Clinic

Full-time faculty

Email

kdwalter@smu.edu

Phone

214-768-3323

Kandace D. Walter is a 2004 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (J.D.) and 2001 graduate of Florida A&M University (B.S. Chemistry). She is licensed to practice law in Texas and is also registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (2009). Prior to opening her own law firm in 2016, Ms. Walter was an Assistant District Attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office as well as an Assistant City Attorney and Community Prosecutor for the Dallas City Attorney’s Office. She also worked for a medium-sized firm focusing on school law and an intellectual property boutique focusing on intellectual property prosecution and business litigation for a wide range of clients. As a solo attorney, Ms. Walter assisted entrepreneurs, small business owners and nonprofits with transactions and intellectual property legal services.

In 2020, Ms. Walter was hired as an adjunct and as the Director of the Small Business & Trademark Clinic at SMU Dedman School of Law. In 2023, she became an Associate Clinical Professor. She previously worked as an adjunct Professor at Collin County Community College, where she has taught Introduction to Intellectual Property.

Ms. Walter is very involved in the Dallas legal community. Ms. Walter was elected to serve as the 2023 Secretary/Treasurer for the Dallas Bar Association. She will also serve as 2023-24 Vice President for the Barbara M.G. Lynn American Inn of Court. Ms. Walter is a new member of the Texas Intellectual Property Alliance Board of Directors. She has served on the boards of J.L. Turner Legal Association, J.L. Turner Legal Association Foundation, and The NEW Roundtable, Inc. Ms. Walter was recognized as the 2019 Cleo Steele Mentor of the Year by the J.L. Turner Legal Association. She also participated in the Dallas Bar Association 2019 WE LEAD Program and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers 2017 Leadership Class. Ms. Walter also served as the 2019 Chair for the Diversity in the Profession committee of the State Bar of Texas. She also participated in the first post-pandemic Bar None XXXV Show, which raises scholarship funds for the Sarah T. Hughes Diversity Scholarships.

Area of expertise

  • Intellectual Property

Education

B.S., Florida A&M
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law

Courses

Small Business & Trademark Clinic