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Connecting ACU alumni in the legal profession to serve, support and seek justice together
The Wildcat Bar Association is Abilene Christian University’s affinity group for alumni in the legal profession. Founded in 2026, the WBA exists to cultivate a Christ-centered network of ACU alumni attorneys who encourage one another and current Wildcats to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Through the WBA, alumni can reconnect with classmates, invest in the next generation of ACU law students and find community with professionals who share both a legal vocation and a Christian commitment.
Why join?
Membership in the Wildcat Bar Association offers opportunities to:
Connect – Build relationships with ACU alumni across practice areas and geographic regions through an alumni directory, professional gatherings, and regional meetups.
Grow Professionally – Receive invitations to continuing legal education events, panels, and workshops, including tentative CLE opportunities at ACU Dallas beginning in Spring 2026.
Support Students – Engage with current pre law students through mentoring, classroom visits, externship opportunities, and events that help students discern and prepare for legal careers
Stay Informed – Receive a yearly digital newsletter with updates from ACU’s pre law program, profiles of recent graduates, and professional highlights from fellow alumni.
Give Back with Purpose – All membership contributions are tax deductible and directly support the ACU Law School Admissions Endowment, helping fund LSAT prep courses and exam fees for promising students.
Membership Tiers
WBA membership is open to ACU alumni who are practicing attorneys, law students, judges, or working in law related roles, as well as friends of the program who want to support ACU pre law students.
Yearly membership tiers include:
Law Student Member – Free
Current law students can claim their free membership by emailing wildcatbar@acu.edu.
Public Sector or Nonprofit Member – $50 annually
Early Career Member (less than 10 years in practice) – $150 annually
Regular Member – $250 or more annually
Sustaining Leadership Circle – $1,000 dollars or more annually (also qualifies you for ACU’s President’s Circle)
Lifetime Membership – $10,000 dollars or more in your lifetime
How Your Membership Makes a Difference
All WBA membership contributions are tax-deductible and go directly to the ACU Law School Admissions Endowment established by Dylan and Savannah Benac. This endowment:
Supports LSAT preparation courses for promising ACU students.
Helps cover LSAT exam fees for students with financial need.
Expands access to law school for hardworking, high potential students.
By joining the WBA, you are investing in the next generation of ACU-trained lawyers who will serve in courtrooms, boardrooms and communities around the world.
Leadership
Co-chairs:
Justice April Farris, Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals
Chris Riley, J.D., Associate Professor of Government and Criminal Justice and Pre Law Advisor, Abilene Christian University
Steering Committee:
Alex Abston (’16)
Dylan Benac (’14)
Beau Carter (’16)
Chris Knight (’12)
Jason Shumacher (’00)
Chelsea Thorton (’01)
Lori (Halstead ’01) Windham
Will Beasley (’11), ex-officio
Advisory Board:
Justice Jeff Boyd (’83), retired
Dr. Mel Hailey (’70)
Judge Brantley Starr (’01)
Justice Steve Smith (’74)
Jim Orr (’86), ex-officio
Questions?
For more information about the WBA, please contact wildcatbar@acu.edu.
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