Attorneys

Biography

A 2025 graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, Danielle Ball served as Chief of the First Amendment Clinic at SMU, where she led client representation in matters involving media law and free speech. She also served as President of the First-Generation Law Student Association, where she worked to bridge the gap between first-generation students and the legal profession by expanding access to mentorship, professional development, and academic support.

Recognized for her litigation skills, Danielle was named Best Advocate at the Georgetown White Collar Crime Mock Trial Invitational and received a perfect score at the 2025 AAJ Regional Competition for her cross-examination and closing argument. In addition, she won SMU’s Rowling Center Business Negotiation Competition and was also honored as Best Advocate in her Jackson Walker Moot Court Competition.

Having earned dual undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Telecommunication-Broadcast Journalism from the University of Florida, Danielle began her professional career prior to law school as a political anchor and reporter before founding her own communications firm. In 2021, she launched her own nonprofit organization, Launch into Literacy, with a mission to combat the literacy crisis in America. To date, the organization has delivered programming to over 300 schools and installed more than 200 community micro-libraries.

A lifelong community advocate, Danielle was awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by the Biden Administration for completing over 10,000 volunteer service hours.

In her personal life, Danielle is a former nationally competitive Irish dancer and a Miss America local titleholder, having earned more than $60,000 in scholarships for academic excellence and community service. A true foodie, Danielle enjoys discovering new cuisines-whether in the Dallas–Fort Worth area or during her travels abroad. She’s visited four continents so far with plans to visit her 5th in 2026.

Admission to Practice

• Texas, 2025

Memberships & Affiliations

• State Bar of Texas
• Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Social Committee Co-Chair, Bolton Ball Committee Fundraising Co-Chair
• Media Law Resource Center

Education

SMU Dedman School of Law
Dallas, Texas
J.D., 2025

• First Amendment Clinic, Chief
• Dean’s Merit Scholarship
• Georgetown White Collar Crime Mock Trial Invitational Fall 2024, Best Advocate
• Jackson Walker Moot Court Competition, Best Advocate
• SMU Negotiation Competition 2022, 4^th Place

University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
summa cum laude

B.S., Telecommunication, News, 2018

• Outstanding Service to Communications Award Recipient

B.A., Political Science, 2018

• Florida Bright Futures Full Tuition Scholarship
• Dean’s List (all semesters)

Representative Cases

• Represented a Dallas journalist in a Section 1983 case brought on that basis of wrongful arrest and First Amendment retaliation -successfully drafting pleadings that led to a favorable outcome in the case.
• Assisted in representing the Human Rights Defense Center in a First and Fourteenth Amendment lawsuit challenging a jail’s censorship of books and magazines sent to inmates, contributing to briefing on a preliminary injunction motion to stop unconstitutional mail rejection practices and enforce due process protections for publishers.
• Helped Draft Amicus brief for a Fifth circuit en banc proceeding on whether the required chilling effect to establish a First Amendment retaliation claim is objective or subjective (the current subject of a circuit split).