About Amber K. King
Legal Assistant: Kristy Alonzo | 512-615-2350 | kalonzo@thompsonhorton.com
Amber’s passion for public education was inspired by a long tradition of family members who devoted their careers to teaching. Although she didn’t pursue a career in the classroom herself, Amber recognized early in her legal career that her calling was to advocate for public education as a lawyer.
Amber specializes in education and government law, providing legal representation and counsel to public school districts, colleges, and universities. Her practice covers a broad range of legal matters, including governance, labor and employment issues, special education law, student and parent rights, contracts and service agreements, governmental immunity, civil rights issues, and state and federal litigation.
Prior to returning to Thompson & Horton in 2022, Amber served as General Counsel for Lake Travis Independent School District in the Austin area. In this role, she worked closely with district and campus administration, providing strategic legal advice across all areas of school law, while also advising the district’s board of trustees. Her time as General Counsel gave her an invaluable, hands-on understanding of the day-to-day operations of a school district, strengthening her ability to provide practical, results-driven legal solutions.
Early in her career, Amber served as a briefing attorney for the Honorable John S. Anderson on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston and worked at a litigation boutique. Amber then joined Thompson & Horton where she worked as an associate in the firm’s Houston office from 2012 to 2015. Amber also previously served as an adjunct professor for Concordia University teaching a course in school law. This diverse experience has shaped Amber into a skilled advocate for educational institutions navigating complex legal issues.
Education
- J.D., summa cum laude, Texas Tech University School of Law, 2007
- B.A., summa cum laude, Oklahoma State University, 2004
Licensing & Court Admissions
- Licensed in the state of Texas
- U.S District Court for the Western and Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Memberships & Recognitions
- State Bar of Texas, School Law Section
- Texas Association of School Boards — Council of School Attorneys
- National School Attorneys Association
Representative Speeches & Presentations
- TCASE Conference, July 2026, “Navigating Independent Contractor Risks in Special Education Programs”
- ESC Directors Training, September 2025, “Legislative Update”
- ESC Directors Training, June 2025, “Smooth Sailing: Navigating Challenging IEP Meetings and Participants”
- ESC 20 Superintendent RAC, February 2025, “Legal Update: Recent Orders from the New Administration”
- T&H Civil Rights in the Classroom Webinar Series, February 2025, “The Art of Student Discipline Investigations: Tips and Tools”
- TASPA Fall Conference, October 2024, “Leave the Leave to the Professionals: Exploring Employee Leave Options”
- T&H Civil Rights in the Classroom Webinar Series, October 2024, “Understanding Anti-Discrimination & Harassment Protections”
- CSA, September 2024, “Booster Clubs and Educational Foundations”
- TASPA Summer Conference, July 2024, “PWFA: Deciphering the New Law and Regulations for Accommodating Pregnant Workers”
- TASBO Engage, February 2024, “Quid Pro No: Conflicts of Interest: A Practical Guide to Keep Your Operations on Track”
- TSNO, Region 10, February 2024, “More than Band-Aids, Bumps, and Bruises: The School Law First Aid Kit for School Nurses”
- CSA Spotlight Panel, September 2023, “Instructional Resources, Library Books, and the First Amendment”
- Thompson & Horton Webinar, September 2023, “Be on the Look Out: Locating, Identifying, and Evaluating Students Post-Pandemic and Post-HB 3928”
- Advanced Government Law Conference, August 2023, “Flash Mobs, Fights, and Facebook: How to Handle In-Person and Virtual Protests”
- 45th Annual Texas School Nurse Organization IV Belle Blackwell School Nurse Conference, July 2023, “More than Band-Aids, Bumps, and Bruises: The School Law First Aide Kit for School Nurses”