About Phillip James
Phillip James Lopez arrived at the law after a steady climb through courthouse corridors and boutique firm offices. He completed his undergraduate work in political science at Trinity University in 2013 and earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2021. The transition from student to practitioner came quickly and methodically.
Lopez began his legal career in support roles. In 2017 he worked as a legal assistant at Newman Law Office and at YMCA International Services. Those early positions placed him close to client intake and file management. He moved into law clerk roles in 2019 and 2020, gaining hands-on exposure to firm operations and case preparation at Seiler Mitby and at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner.
The year 2021 was a turning point. Lopez served as a briefing lawyer for The Honorable Michael B. Newman at Harris County Probate Court No. 2. In that role he prepared written submissions and assisted with legal research for matters before the probate court. He also worked as a contract lawyer at Magnan Couture, PLLC, taking on discrete assignments for the firm while completing his transition into full-time practice.
In 2022 Lopez joined Kellum Law Office as an associate lawyer. The position followed a steady accumulation of courtroom exposure, research responsibilities, and client-facing work. His file history shows a blend of tasks typical for early-career litigators: drafting motions, preparing bench memoranda, and supporting hearing preparation. Colleagues describe him as methodical in document work and attentive in client meetings.
Lopez’s education and the sequence of positions he has held suggest a concentration on matters that touch both probate administration and civil litigation. His time in a probate court chamber and at firms that handle contested matters gave him sustained experience in drafting court filings and managing case files from intake through hearing preparation. He has worked on briefing, clerking, and associate-level tasks that require attention to procedural detail.
He currently practices at Kellum Law Office, handling probate and civil litigation matters.
