Location: CCJ 2.306 Eidman Courtroom and Virtual
October 15, 2025
Jennifer Banda, Director of the Center for Women in Law, hosted a conversation with Ambassador Carrin F. Patman, former ambassador to Iceland, respected litigator, public service leader and CWIL Founder.
For three decades, Ambassador Patman was a litigator at Bracewell, concentrating on high-stakes litigation, and served on the firm’s management committee. In 2022, President Biden nominated Patman to be the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland, and she was confirmed the same year. Ambassador Patman graduated from Duke University and The University of Texas School of Law, where she was a member of the Texas Law Review.
During this one-hour conversation, she discussed her 30-year litigation career and the criticality of strategic thinking, zealous client representation, ethical integrity, and negotiation and communication skills.
The conversation also focused on her just completed ambassadorship, with a discussion about the diplomatic role of an ambassador, the path to public service, her specific work fostering the U.S. and Iceland partnership, engagement through NATO and advocacy for U.S. policies on a range of international issues.
Ambassador Patman also discussed her commitment to public service and leadership and the importance of cultivating future leaders, including discussion of her own community service roles. She has been very active in her local community in Houston, chairing of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. At the University of Texas, she has served as president of the Law School Alumni Association, president of the Texas Law Review Association, Trustee and Senior Trustee of the Law School Foundation and founding board member of the Center for Women in Law. She and her husband founded The Patman Center for Civil and Political Engagement at the LBJ School.
This course can be claimed as 1 hour of self-study CLE credit with the State Bar of Texas. Self-study is optional and 3 of your total 15 hours can be completed in the form of self-study activities. Contact your State Bar with any questions.
