- St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas
- J.D. – 2013
- Honors: President, Black Law Students Association
- Honors: Board, Hispanics Law Students Association
- Honors: 2013 Pro Bono Award
- Honors: 2013 Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez Scholarship
- Honors: Thurgood Marshall 2012–2013 Mock Trial Competition, 3rd Place / Quarter Finalist
- Honors: Rio Grande Valley Alternative Spring Break Program, Co-Coordinator
- Honors: Kennedy High School Mock Trial Coach, 2013
- Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: Basketball team
- Honors: Dean’s List 2007–2008
- Honors: Liberal Arts Commendation
- Major: African American Studies
- Minor: Government
Maria E. Holmes
Biography
Maria has devoted her career to helping those that need a strong legal advocate through some of their worst times. She has represented injured plaintiffs in courts across Texas, resulting in favorable outcomes for her clients. Along with her personal injury background, she has zealously represented clients on a wide spectrum of legal matters, most notably in family litigation and criminal defense. As a result of her industrious legal advocacy, Maria has been recognized as a 2019 – 2023 Super Lawyers’ Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters, a designation bestowed on less than 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40.
Prior to joining The Buzbee Law Firm, Ms. Holmes led the family and business litigation department at a prominent firm in the Houston Metroplex area where she appeared regularly in state and federal courts. Ms. Holmes has first chair trial experience in cases with high amounts in controversy ranging from a few hundred-thousand dollars into the millions. Prior to that, Maria was a solo practitioner at the Law Office of Maria Elena Holmes.
Maria is a native Houstonian and is fluent in English and Spanish. She attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts where she majored in African-American Studies and minored in Government. During her time as an undergraduate, she played basketball for the Smith College Pioneers and delved into learning Mandarin.
Maria went on to receive her juris doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio where she was the President of the Black Law Students Association and served on the board of the Hispanic Law Student Association. As an avid mock trial competitor, she competed in the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial, placing as a Quarter-Finalist in the Rocky Mountain Region Black Law Students Association which afforded her the opportunity to compete in the 2013 National Black Law Students Association competition in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Maria served as Co-Coordinator of the law school’s Rio Grande Valley Alternative Spring Break Program in which she recruited participating law students, organized legal clinics and community service projects with Proyecto Azteca and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, earning her the St. Mary’s Pro Bono Award for her commitment to serving the community through her public interest and pro bono services. Maria also clerked for the Honorable Judge Jason Pulliam in the Bexar County Court of Law No. 5 Court and worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to support her way through school.
Maria is licensed to practice in Texas.
Education
Past Positions
- C.Y. Lee Legal Group, PLLC, Associate Attorney
- The Gonzalez Law Group, PLLC, Chair
- Honorable Judge Jason Pulliam at the Bexar County Court at Law #5, Clerk
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Texas
- African-American Lawyers Section
- Women and the Law Section
- Houston Bar Association
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Publications
- How COVID-19 Impacted My Law Practice – THE HOUSTON LAWYER (2020 July/August Issue, Vol. 58, No. 1)
Current Employment Position
- Associate Attorney