Experienced and Tested Employment Lawyer

Allen Vaught has over 26 years of experience as an attorney. During that time, he has represented thousands of clients in employment law cases. Allen's awards and recognitions as an attorney include:   

• Named “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers publication in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, & 2012 (Employment and Labor Law emphasis – limited to top 5% of Texas lawyers).
• Texas Lawyer “Litigator of the Week” Award (Sep. 10, 2012) (relative to jury verdict for unpaid overtime wages for employees misclassified as independent contractors).

Allen is licensed to practice law in Texas and Mississippi and is admitted to practice in the following federal courts:

• United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, and Armed Forces;
• United States District Courts for the following Districts: Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas; District of Colorado; Southern District of Indiana; Southern District of Mississippi; Eastern District of Missouri; District of New Mexico; Northern District of Ohio; Northern and Western Districts of Oklahoma; Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas; Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin; and
• United States Court of Federal Claims.

Allen's published articles include:

• The Salary Basis Test for Overtime and Minimum Wage Laws, 6 Emory Corp. Governance & Accountability Rev. 45 (2019).
• Know Your Client’s Rights in Wage and Hour Cases, Trial Magazine, April 2015.
• Reservist’s Rights (USERRA), Trial Magazine, November 2014.

Allen graduated from Baylor University in 1995 with a BBA in accounting and earned his law degree in 1997 from the South Texas College of Law.

Allen is a member of the Texas Employment Lawyers Association.

United States Army

Allen served as a U.S. Army captain in Iraq from April 2003 until March 2004 and led the first U.S. Army Civil Affairs/PSYOPS team to enter Fallujah. After eventually being transferred to Sadr City, Vaught was injured by an IED and, as a result, later honorably discharged. Allen's military awards include the:

• Purple Heart. 
• Army Commendation Medal.
• Valorous Unit Award (for operations in Fallujah attached to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment).
• Combat Action Badge.
• Order of the Spur. 

Texas House of Representatives

After returning from Iraq, Allen was elected to the Texas House of Representatives (TX HD 107). He served as the vice chairperson of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and vice chairperson of the Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee.  Allen's legislative awards from non-partisan groups include the:

• Law and Order Award, Texas District and County Attorneys Association (2009). 
• Legislative Award, Texas Police Chiefs Association (2009).
• Children’s Advocacy Award, Texas Pediatric Society (2009).
• Legislative Advocate of the Year, Texas PTA (2009).
• Legislative Initiatives Nurturing Children Award, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas  (2009). 
• Legislator  of the Year, Association of Texas Professional Educators, Region 10 (2009). 
• Friends of Veterans Award, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (2009). 

Dallas Police and Fire Pension System

Allen was appointed by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson to serve as a trustee on the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System Board in 2019 where he served until 2021.  The DPFP is an independently governed component unit of the City of Dallas and serves to provide retirement, death and disability benefits to police officers and firefighters employed by the city.  

Chairman, Dallas Veteran Affairs Commission

In 2021, Dallas was one of the first cities to start a veterans commission at the municipal level. Allen was unanimously approved by the Dallas City Council, as Mayor Eric Johnson's nominee, to serve as the chairman of the newly formed Dallas Veteran Affairs Commission, where he served until late 2022. The goal of the commission was to identify and address veteran needs at the local government level with an emphasis on healthcare, jobs, and homes.

Chairman, Dallas Charter Review Commission

Allen was nominated by the Mayor of Dallas and unanimously approved by the Dallas City Council to serve as the chairman of the Dallas Charter Review Commission in 2023 and 2024. Every 10 years, the Dallas Charter Review Commission reviews and makes recommendations for changes to the Dallas City Charter. A city charter is similar to a constitution, but for a city.