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Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., is IDRA’s chief legal analyst. She supports IDRA’s state and federal legal engagement by providing legal analysis and general counsel. She coordinates IDRA’s legal research and strategy, expert testimony and amicus curiae advocacy to elevate the voices of students and coalition partners. Her work builds on IDRA’s almost 50-year legacy of support to families, educators and their attorneys seeking education justice through the courts. Ms. Duggins-Clay also leads our policy advocacy related to school discipline and policing in Texas.

Ms. Duggins-Clay participates in state and national coalitions; prepares amicus briefs and position statements; assists civil rights litigators with strategy and preparation of plaintiffs, experts, and witnesses for litigation; and publishes legal analyses of court and agency actions impacting equal educational opportunity. She also leads IDRA’s Texas-focused school discipline and policing work.

Ms. Duggins-Clay received a bachelor’s degree in education and English and a minor in race and ethnic studies from Southwestern University. She earned her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, where she served as the inaugural G. Rollie White Public Service Scholar. She also obtained a professional certification in human rights, conflict management, and community development from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and is currently pursuing a certification in restorative justice facilitation and leadership from the University of San Diego’s Center for Restorative Justice.

Her co-authored article, Youth Dignity Takings: Understanding and Restoring the Involuntary Property Loss of Book Bans and Trans Bans, appears in the Loyola Interdisciplinary Journal of Public Interest Law. She also co-authored an amicus brief filed in support of the George family in George v. Barbers Hill Independent School District, urged the court to uphold the Texas CROWN Act and protect students from the severe harms caused by discriminatory policing of students’ dress and grooming.

Prior to joining IDRA, Ms. Duggins-Clay worked as an associate at Husch Blackwell LLP, where she handled litigation, investigations, training and compliance on behalf of education institutions, with a focus on equity and organizational response to misconduct. In 2019, she was named a “Top 20 Up and Coming Lawyer” by the Austin Black Business Journal.

Ms. Duggins-Clay also served as a law clerk for Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd and intern for federal district court Judge Lee Yeakel. As a law fellow for the Texas Civil Rights Project, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, she supported the organizations’ litigation and policy advocacy. As a legislative aide, she advised Texas Senators Judith Zaffirini and Wendy Davis on school finance and school-to-prison pipeline issues.

Ms. Duggins-Clay has a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, where she was the inaugural G. Rollie White Public Service Scholar. She also earned a certification in human rights, conflict management, and community development from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. She has a bachelor’s degree in education and English and a minor in race and ethnic studies from Southwestern University.

As a law student, she served as a legal fellow for the Texas Civil Rights Project, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, where she provided litigation research and support, and supported the organizations’ policy and advocacy work. Paige has also worked as a legislative aide and policy analyst to Texas State Senators Judith Zaffirini and Wendy Davis, where she researched and advised on a variety of issues, including school finance and school-to-prison pipeline issues.

She was named Outstanding Young Alumna ’17 by the Texas Law Alumni Association in October 2025.

Media featuring Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D.

Youth Dignity Takings: How Book and Trans Bans Take Youth Property and Dignity, Sarah M. Camiscoli, Maryam Salmanova, & Ibtihal Chamakh, in Loyola Interdisciplinary Journal of Public Interest Law, August 2024

The Supreme Court ends affirmative action in college admissions, Nadra Nittle, The 19th, June 29, 2023

Bill requiring armed security at all Texas schools heads to Gov. Abbott’s desk, Courtney Friedman, KSAT-TV, June 12, 2023

Texas Legislature’s response to Uvalde: Armed security officers at every school, by Talia Richman, Dallas Morning News, June 1, 2023

Commentary: Texas bills offer illusion of school safety, Paige Duggins-Clay, San Antonio Express-News, May 2, 2023

House committee hears testimony from LCISD parents on anti-identity-based bullying bill, by Jaxie Pidgeon, Everything Lubbock, April 18, 2023

Families could face steeper penalties for truancy under Texas bill up for debate, Talia Richman, Dallas Morning News, April 11, 2023

A ‘Dark Vision’ Of Discipline: Zero Tolerance Makes A Comeback, by Josephine Lee, Texas Observer, March 10, 2023

A Reckless Anti-Immigration Lawsuit Challenges Texas Tuition Laws, Latino Business Report Podcast, August 23, 2022

Most efforts to ban books in Texas schools came from 1 politician and GOP pressure, not parents, Houston Chronicle, Hannah Dellinger & Alejandro Serrano, August 10, 2022

Parental rights bills have been introduced in most states. Teachers are pushing back, Nadra Nittle, The 19th, March 25, 2022