Who Will Be There When You Need Them Most
Attorney Caroline A. McClimon
Biography
Caroline A. McClimon, was admitted to practice law by the State Bar of Texas in 2009 and is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In addition to being an active litigator, Ms. McClimon presides as the Judge for the City of Bastrop and is the President of the Bastrop County Bar Association.
Ms. McClimon received her B.A. degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University in 2005. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Ms. McClimon was the recipient of academic and athletic scholarships and lettered in Women's Varsity Crew. Ms. McClimon received her J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
While in law school, Ms. McClimon served as assistant editor of Oklahoma Law Review, received an American Jurisprudence (Am. Jur.) Award for Agricultural Environmental Law and served as President of the Christian Legal Society and Secretary of the Oklahoma International Law Society. Ms. McClimon was also a member of the Jessup Moot Court Team from 2007 to 2008. Ms. McClimon has previously worked for United States Senator John Cornyn and on several grassroots campaigns.
Prior to founding McClimon Family Law and merging law practices with Joe Grady Tuck to form Tuck McClimon, Ms. McClimon worked at a firm in Dallas where she obtained invaluable experience representing several thousand plaintiffs in litigation involving mass tort, breach of contract, and antitrust claims. Ms. McClimon also represented HOAs and landowners in several administrative hearings before the Texas Railroad Commission and helped in negotiating and drafting mineral leases that were favorable to landowners.
Since relocating to Bastrop County in 2011 where her husband was born and raised, Ms. McClimon began to focus her practice on family law, estate planning, and probate matters. Ms. McClimon has more than 15 years’ experience in the courtroom and maintains a strong professional reputation for her litigation and courtroom skills. Ms. McClimon has extensive experience with jury trials involving family law matters (ranging from divorce to child custody) and had a jury award her client $1,000,000.00 in punitive damages in a suit to terminate the other parent's parental rights.
Ms. McClimon's philosophy on the practice of Family Law, whether it is a divorce or child custody matter, is that utilizing creative and practical solutions will afford the client the best results as each situation is unique to their personal situation. Specifically, Ms. McClimon truly believes that due to the emotional and complex nature of divorce and child custody that in order to be an effective and zealous advocate it is important to understand each client's particular circumstances instead of attempting to apply a "one-size fits all" approach to resolving their case, whether it is a complex property division or managing high-conflict custody disputes dealing with significant issues; family violence, child support enforcement actions, modifications of previous orders, grandparent rights, termination and paternity issues.
In addition to her zealous representation of her clients, Ms. McClimon is passionate about giving back to the community, and she is active in many local, regional, and national non-profit organizations, giving both her time and talent to further their missions. She served as President (2021-2023, 2025, & 2016-2018) and Vice President (2019-2020, 2024) of the Bastrop County Bar Association and has been a member of that organization since 2014. Ms. McClimon has also dedicated time to the Smithville community by serving as Treasurer of the Smithville Chamber of Commerce (2016–2018) and as a Commissioner on the City of Smithville Planning & Zoning Commission (2015-2018). Ms. McClimon is also a member of the Smithville Noon Lions Club (and has served on its Board of Directors) and is an active member of the Family Law Section of the Texas State Bar Association, Austin Bar Association, Williamson County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
In 2019, she was selected as a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, and in 2020 as one of the Top Texas Women Attorneys, published in both Super Lawyers Magazine and Texas Monthly Magazine. Ms. McClimon was again selected as a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers in 2020 through 2022 and has continued to receive that accolade in subsequent years. In 2024, Ms. McClimon was selected as a Super Lawyer. Ms. McClimon also maintains a 10.0 Rating with Avvo.
In April 2019, Ms. McClimon was appointed to Associate Judge for the City of Bastrop and then made Presiding Judge in March 2023.
In her free time, Ms. McClimon enjoys spending time with her three children and husband around Central Texas and hiking at different state parks throughout Texas.
Education
- University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma
- Doctor of Jurisprudence - 2008
- Law Review, Oklahoma Law Review, Assistant Editor, 2008
- Southern Methodist University
- B.A., Political Science - 2005
- Honors: Athletic-scholarship Women's Crew (2001 - 2005)
- Honors: Delta Gamma Sorority (2002-2005)
- Honors: Political Science Symposium, Chair of Programming (2002-2005)
Pro-Bono Activities
- Cen-Tex Family Services, Inc., Board Member (2019-present)
- Smithville Chamber of Commerce, Director and Treasurer (2015-2018)
- Smithville Little Dribblers, Coach (2019, 2023-2025)
- Smithville Little League, Coach (2019, 2022)
- City of Smithville Planning & Zoning Commission, Commissioner (2015-2018)
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 2009
Professional Associations
- Bastrop County Bar Association, President, 2025, 2021-2023, 2016-2018
- Family Law Section of the Texas State Bar Association, Member
- Austin Bar Association, Member
- Williamson County Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2022
Honors
- Presiding Judge, City of Bastrop (2023-Present)
- Associate Judge, City of Bastrop (2019 – 2023)
- Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2024
- Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2019 - 2022
- Top Texas Women Attorneys, published in both Super Lawyers Magazine and Texas Monthly Magazine, 2020
- 10.0 Rating with Avvo
- Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas 2016-2019