Now, y'all know I have a bit of a complicated relationship with Texas. I grew up in Houston, but spent most of my time there plotting my escape. Though I felt miscast as a Texan and still break out in hives at the thought of living there again, I know folks who wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. Plus, Texas is loaded with career opportunities.

So if you're trying to figure out where to pursue your legal career, I guess you should check the state out. Anyway, here's the latest:

It's always bigger in Texas. Litigation boutique Bickel & Brewer is paying first- years a whopping $185,000—and that's not even including bonus! The Dallas firm might be small (43 lawyers), but it sure knows how to make a lot of noise and get attention.

Founding partner William Brewer told Texas Lawyer Blog: “The goal here is always to be ahead of the curve.” Brewer added that despite the lousy economy, the firm is going like gangbusters: “We’re blessed.”

Is it the searing heat that makes Texas lawyers so deliriously happy? I don't quite get it, but partners in Texas are among the most satisfied in the country. "Texas seems to be the place to be, as only 8 percent and 9 percent of partners in Houston and Dallas, respectively, classified themselves as either not at all satisfied or not very satisfied," reports Major, Lindsey & Africa's 2012 partner compensation survey.

God is on the cheerleader squad (at least in Texas). If you're either an evangelical Christian or a devout atheist, may I suggest that you hitch your legal career to Texas? That's because the Lone Star State will keep lawyers on both sides very busy. 

The latest case involves cheerleaders in the tiny town of Kountze, Texas, who are fighting the local school district for the right to display biblical verses on banners during football games. The case is so hot that Texas Governor Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott intervened, defending the cheerleaders on First Amendment grounds. (Governor Perry said, "If you think about it, the Kountze cheerleaders simply wanted to call a little attention to their faith and to their Lord.") Recently, a state district court judge granted a temporary injunction to the cheerleaders, which means God and football can once again work in harmony.

Of course, the case isn't over. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation is on the other side and vows to fight on. The Anti-Defamation League has also thrown in its support.

My bet: There will be more cases like this in Texas. You could probably develop a subspecialty focused on cheerleaders and religion in Texas.

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