Blab AI
Kemp Smith Marks 160 Years, Adapts to Digital Law and AI, Strengthens Local Talent Pipeline
When the 160th anniversary of Kemp Smith rang out this year, the firm’s second‑oldest status in Texas was only part of the story. Founded in 1866, the practice has grown from a frontier office that followed the Southern Pacific Railroad to a modern firm with offices in El Paso, Austin and Las Cruces, now headquartered on the 17th and 18th floors of the former Wells Fargo building at 221 N. Kansas.
The roots of the firm lie with two former Confederate officers, Maj. Bennett Hillsman Davis and Capt. Thomas Jeremiah Beall, who set up Davis & Beall in Bryan, Texas. Judge Wyndham Kemp joined in 1875, prompting a name change to Davis, Beall and Kemp, and the firm eventually became known as Kemp Smith. When the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in El Paso in 1881, Kemp Smith followed, making it the oldest law firm in the city.
Kemp Smith’s early history is punctuated by a 1895 case in which an attorney defended Constable John Selman after Selman shot and killed the notorious gunfighter John Wesley Hardin in an El Paso saloon. The trial ended with a hung jury, adding a Wild West chapter to the firm’s legacy.
Collaboration and specialization have long been cornerstones of the firm’s culture. Former managing partner Mike McQueen, who retired in 2021 after 45 years, said, "It’s the people you work with," emphasizing that a larger firm allows lawyers to focus on specific practice areas and refer clients to colleagues when needed. McQueen also noted that the firm’s recruiting strategy now targets lawyers with ties to El Paso, a shift that has helped retain talent.
In 2024, Kemp Smith announced a summer clerkship program that will host eight law students, all from El Paso. "All eight are from El Paso," McQueen explained. The firm also donated $100,000 to the University of Texas El Paso to support the region’s first law school, which will focus on international law.
Today the firm employs 35 lawyers: 24 partners, 10 associates and one counsel. While salaries remain undisclosed, historical data shows a progression from an associate’s $5,400 annual salary in 1960 to $58,000 for a first‑year lawyer in 1997.
Technology has reshaped Kemp Smith’s practice. The firm once housed a full‑floor law library staffed by a full‑time librarian. "When I started at the firm, one whole floor was our law library. We had a fulltime law librarian to keep the works up to date," McQueen recalled. Today, the firm relies on online databases, eliminating the need for a physical library.
Looking ahead, McQueen identified artificial intelligence as the next frontier for the firm. "Today’s frontier is artificial intelligence," he said. While he has heard lawyers use AI to improve drafting, he noted that the firm has not yet widely adopted the technology in El Paso. "AI can make your sentences better," McQueen added, "but there is still the analysis and framing of the argument. There is a difference between AI and a competent lawyer."
Kemp Smith remains deeply involved in community service, with attorneys serving on the boards of more than 100 local nonprofits. The firm’s culture of collaboration, specialization and community engagement has helped it navigate changes in legal education, technology and talent recruitment while maintaining a strong presence in the Southwest.
As the firm celebrates its 160th anniversary, Kemp Smith continues to balance its historic legacy with modern demands. The firm’s expansion into Austin and Las Cruces, its investment in local legal education, and its cautious approach to AI adoption illustrate a strategy that honors tradition while preparing for the future of legal practice.
The roots of the firm lie with two former Confederate officers, Maj. Bennett Hillsman Davis and Capt. Thomas Jeremiah Beall, who set up Davis & Beall in Bryan, Texas. Judge Wyndham Kemp joined in 1875, prompting a name change to Davis, Beall and Kemp, and the firm eventually became known as Kemp Smith. When the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in El Paso in 1881, Kemp Smith followed, making it the oldest law firm in the city.
Kemp Smith’s early history is punctuated by a 1895 case in which an attorney defended Constable John Selman after Selman shot and killed the notorious gunfighter John Wesley Hardin in an El Paso saloon. The trial ended with a hung jury, adding a Wild West chapter to the firm’s legacy.
Collaboration and specialization have long been cornerstones of the firm’s culture. Former managing partner Mike McQueen, who retired in 2021 after 45 years, said, "It’s the people you work with," emphasizing that a larger firm allows lawyers to focus on specific practice areas and refer clients to colleagues when needed. McQueen also noted that the firm’s recruiting strategy now targets lawyers with ties to El Paso, a shift that has helped retain talent.
In 2024, Kemp Smith announced a summer clerkship program that will host eight law students, all from El Paso. "All eight are from El Paso," McQueen explained. The firm also donated $100,000 to the University of Texas El Paso to support the region’s first law school, which will focus on international law.
Today the firm employs 35 lawyers: 24 partners, 10 associates and one counsel. While salaries remain undisclosed, historical data shows a progression from an associate’s $5,400 annual salary in 1960 to $58,000 for a first‑year lawyer in 1997.
Technology has reshaped Kemp Smith’s practice. The firm once housed a full‑floor law library staffed by a full‑time librarian. "When I started at the firm, one whole floor was our law library. We had a fulltime law librarian to keep the works up to date," McQueen recalled. Today, the firm relies on online databases, eliminating the need for a physical library.
Looking ahead, McQueen identified artificial intelligence as the next frontier for the firm. "Today’s frontier is artificial intelligence," he said. While he has heard lawyers use AI to improve drafting, he noted that the firm has not yet widely adopted the technology in El Paso. "AI can make your sentences better," McQueen added, "but there is still the analysis and framing of the argument. There is a difference between AI and a competent lawyer."
Kemp Smith remains deeply involved in community service, with attorneys serving on the boards of more than 100 local nonprofits. The firm’s culture of collaboration, specialization and community engagement has helped it navigate changes in legal education, technology and talent recruitment while maintaining a strong presence in the Southwest.
As the firm celebrates its 160th anniversary, Kemp Smith continues to balance its historic legacy with modern demands. The firm’s expansion into Austin and Las Cruces, its investment in local legal education, and its cautious approach to AI adoption illustrate a strategy that honors tradition while preparing for the future of legal practice.
