Texas Legal Board Selects Janna Clarke as Chair and John Hatchel as Chair Elect

AUSTIN, Texas—Janna Clarke of Fort Worth has been elected as chair of Texas Legal, the statewide nonprofit legal insurance plan. John Hatchel of Woodway has been elected as chair-elect. The immediate past chair is Steve Benesh of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP in Austin.

Janna Clarke, who is currently of counsel to Broude, Smith & Jennings, P.C., graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She received her law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.

She is an ad hoc member of the Tarrant County Bar Association where she has served in a number of capacities, including president. Clarke also served as the president of the Tarrant County Women’s Bar Association. She is a life fellow of both the Tarrant County Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation.

In addition to her professional achievements, Clarke is dedicated to her community. She is a graduate of Leadership Fort Worth and is the former mayor pro tem of the city of Keller. She is a former police officer and currently serves as the president of the Greater Keller Women’s Club Foundation. She recently completed a three-year term on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors.

John Hatchel graduated from West Texas A&M University (formerly known as West Texas State University). In 2000, he joined Texas First Group as a municipal consultant. He provided municipal management and utility consulting services for several cities including Bryan, Laredo, Pampa, Hamilton and Bee Cave.

During his retirement, Hatchel has been able to use his management skills in various volunteer capacities in his community and for the State of Texas. In December of 2001, Governor Rick Perry appointed him to serve on the Texas State Bar of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). In December 2002, he was appointed as board chair of that agency, a position he held until June of 2008. 

After retiring from the TSBPE, Governor Perry appointed Hatchel to a three-year term as a public member on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors. In 2011, the governor appointed him to the Board of Regents for the Texas State Technical College System. Currently, he also serves on the board of directors for the Brazos Higher Education Corporation.

Steve Benesh received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He has held several leadership roles, including chair of the State Bar’s 2014 Annual Meeting, president of the Austin Bar Association, chair of the Austin Bar Foundation, and director of the Texas Bar Foundation. Benesh currently serves on the board of directors of The Capitol Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Junior Achievement of Central Texas.

Texas Legal membership covers legal expenses much like health insurance covers medical expenses. A low monthly fee gives members access to a network of attorneys throughout the state. To learn more about Texas Legal or to become a member, please visit www.texaslegal.org.

About Texas Legal

Formerly known as Texas Legal Protection Plan, Texas Legal is a statewide, nonprofit legal insurance plan that was founded by the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Legislature in 1972 as an effort to better serve the legal needs of Texans. Texas Legal is the preferred provider of the State Bar of Texas. The nonprofit offers plans for companies, group and individuals.

For more information, please visit www.texaslegal.org.

Contact: Ivonne Snavely or Katherine Harris, 512-472-9599 isnavely@echristianpr.com or kharris@echristianpr.com