Our History As A Law Firm

I.D. FOWLER (about 1904)
Photo courtesy Austin History Center

The Fowler Law Firm PC opened its doors October 1, 2007 on the 11th Floor of 919 Congress Avenue in Downtown Austin. The firm quickly grew to its current size of twelve active attorneys with offices in Austin, Georgetown and Hays County (Kyle), Texas. Our attorneys continue a tradition of professional excellence which began with I.D. Fowler, who entered University of Texas Law School in 1896 when only men were entitled to receive law degree, a “Baccalaureate of Law”. 1

In 1896, there was no State Bar of Texas, nor any requirement to attend a law school or submit to uniform examination or licensing standards. Those hoping to practice law may have gone to law school, read for the law, or worked under the supervision of another attorney until a local judge decided the student lawyer was ready to practice law. I.D. Fowler was declared “ready” in 1899, four years before the Texas Legislature in 1903 first enacted laws mandating that all lawyers take an examination. 2

I.D Fowler’s son, Marion West Fowler, read for the law. Licensed by the State Bar of Texas in 1933, Marion West Fowler became an accomplished real estate lawyer and opened his first office at 812 ½ Brazos Street, just up the street from the Driskill Hotel in Downtown Austin in a one room walk up where Marion Fowler founded one of the first full service commercial title companies in Austin; Photo Record Abstract & Title in 1946. In the same year, Marion Fowler  announced to the Austin City Council that he would build the largest riverboat on an inland waterway on Lake Austin and thereafter began an operation that continues to this day, Lake Austin Riverboats on Lake Austin.

RIVERBOAT COMMODORE
Lake Austin, Texas
Photo Courtesy Lake Austin Riverboats

Fowler & Fowler began organically as a law firm partnership of father I.D. Fowler and son Marion West Fowler; thereafter Marion West Fowler’s three sons, Dudley Fowler, Robert Penn Fowler and Bradley Fowler attended University of Texas and University of Texas Law School and  became licensed Texas attorneys. Dudley and Bradley worked  briefly with Fowler & Fowler but Robert Penn Fowler continued a life long association with and ownership in Fowler & Fowler from 1960 until the time of his death in 2020. 
ROBERT PENN FOWLER (about 2016)
Photo Courtesy The Fowler Law Firm PC

LAURA FOWLER (about 2020)
Photo courtesy Fowler Family Archive

The Fowler Law Firm PC began operating at 919 Congress Avenue October  1,  2007 with Laura Fowler as its Managing Shareholder and Robert Penn Fowler Of Counsel. Under Laura’s leadership, Fowler Law  received recognition as a Martindale- Hubbell  AV Preeminent®  law firm, a U.S. News and World Reports Best Law Firms in the United States in several areas of practice, a State of Texas certified Woman Owned Business (HUB), an Austin Business Journal Pro Bono Super Star and an Austin Diversity Report Card winner. Laura’s unique form of recruitment requires any attorney who is made an offer to associate with The Fowler Law Firm PC, to have  a track record of service to the community as well as professional excellence. Laura believes the requirement of each individual attorney engaging in dynamic, purposeful  contribution to the community,  more than any other criteria,  has created a uniquely  happy, healthy professional work environment and a surprising number of professional as well as community awards.   4, 5

1. TARLETON LAW LIBRARY.https://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/ut-law-buildings
2. TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK ‘State Bar of Texas’ (Jan 1, 1996)
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/state-bar-of texas
3. AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN SUNDAY July 14, 1946; December 12, 1946
4. AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL ‘Laura Fowler Principal. Fowler Law Firm’ (May 9, 2010)
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/05/10/story14.html
5. AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL ‘These Austin law firms stand out as Pro Bono Superstars (February 5, 2021)
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2021/02/05/austin-law-firms-pro-bono.html