State Bar of Texas Blog : State Bar of Texas Blog : News & Features on Lawyers & Attorneys & Legal Professionals in Austin, Dallas, Houston & TX

The Texas Lawyers Assistance Program is hosting its annual convention in coordination with the non-profit, Texas Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (TLCL) from June 3rd to the 5th at the Hyatt Hotel in Austin.

Now in its 22nd year, this event will highlight speakers from around the state and the country who will share their experience, strength and hope for living a great life as a lawyer recovering from substance abuse or mental health issues.

The convention will also feature presentations about new, as well as tried and true, methods for reducing stress and maintaining a sense of balance and wellness so that the practice of law is a sustainable career path. The Austin Chapter of TLCL is hosting an Ice Cream Social on Friday night at the hotel.

Download the registration form (pdf) for more information.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The May 2011 New Lawyers Induction Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 23, at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. The swearing-in ceremony will be for February 2011 examinees.

All information regarding the swearing-in ceremony is included with the results of those who passed the exam and are eligible to participate in the ceremony. Inductees should arrive early; doors open at 8:30 a.m.

The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will last approximately 45 minutes. New attorneys will be sworn in en masse toward the end of the ceremony following guest speakers. After the conclusion of the ceremony, attorneys may go to the concourse for refreshments. Information tables will also be set up and staff will be available to answer questions or provide assistance regarding membership requirements and other information about the State Bar.

The Frank C. Erwin Center is located at 15th Street & I-35. Parking is available at 13th & San Jacinto between 12th & 13th Streets (2 hours free), 1815 Trinity & MLK ($10.00), and 15th & Red River ($10.00).

For more information on the induction ceremony, you may visit the Texas Board of Law Examiners FAQs Page.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

An ongoing initiative of State Bar President Terry Tottenham has been Practice Tips in Good Times and Bad, a series of career development webcasts premiering the last Thursday of each month on TexasBarCLE.com. Each webcast is free of charge to registered users of the site. (Site registration is also free.)

This month's offering, So You Are Starting Your Own Practice?, will be May 26 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm CDT. (It is not MCLE-accredited.) Seasoned practitioners Claude Ducloux and Xavier Medina, both of Austin, will give their perspectives on a range of issues, from finding suitable office space and storage to managing your finances and new technology. If you're considering hanging out your own shingle, you'll appreciate the insights and advice offered in this FREE overview. Click here to register.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The TMCP Corporate Counsel of the Year and Trailblazer Outside Counsel of the Year awards nomination deadline is June 15, 2011. Visit www.texasbar.com/tmcp for more details and nomination forms.

The Corporate Counsel of the Year Award is presented to the corporate counsel that has done the most to open doors for Texas minority and women attorneys by promoting diversity within their department and/or company, and by consistently hiring minority and/or women attorneys in private practice to perform legal work on behalf of their company.

The Trailblazer Outside Counsel of the Year Award is presented to the nominee judged by the Selection Committee to have done the most to effectuate the promotion of diversity within the legal profession through hiring, retention and mentoring of minority and women attorneys, partnering with minority and women owned law firms, and involvement with Bar and/or community activities designed to promote diversity within the legal profession.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The State Bar of Texas and Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) presented awards to winners of the 2011 Law Day and YouTube contests. State Bar President Terry Tottenham and TYLA Vice President David Courreges presented the awards, with prizes ranging from $50 to $1,000.

The national Law Day theme was “The Legacy of John Adams: From Boston to Guantanamo.” Participants of the YouTube contest were asked to create a 30-second video in the style of a public service announcement on the topic of how lawyers have made a difference in our society. Read the press release for full details.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

For Random Profiles, we randomly pick one of our 87,000-plus attorneys and do a Q&A. We've found that every Texas lawyer has an interesting story. Will yours be next?

Best thing about being a lawyer: jury trials

If I had more time, I would: audit all the undergraduate and graduate classes I wanted to, for free.

The best piece of advice ever given to you and by whom: “Never give unsolicited advice.” - Elaine Taylor, my mother 

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

We have relaunched our vendor marketplace (previously known as “Marketplace”) as “Texas Legal Vendors.”

Texas Legal Vendors is a directory of legal vendors that offers a variety of services for lawyers and legal professionals. Vendors may advertise in several categories, such as case management software, corporate kits, and time and billing. Each vendor has a profile page which can include special offers and white papers.

We hope Texas Legal Vendors serves as a valuable resource for Texas attorneys and as an effective venue for law vendors to promote their products and services. If you have questions or ideas, please contact webmaster@texasbar.com.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The 2011 Texas Minority Attorney Program (TMAP) will be in Houston tomorrow, May 6.

TMAP is a one-day live CLE seminar and networking event geared towards minority and women solo and small firm practitioners.

Participants have the opportunity to learn more about the issues facing solo and small firms, discuss various client development strategies, and network with area judges and other legal professionals.

TMAP in Houston will be at South Texas College of Law, Garrett-Townes Hall, 1303 San Jacinto Street, 77002.

To register, please visit http://www.texasbarcle.com/CLE/AABuy0.asp?lID=10400&sProductType=EV.

For more information on TMAP 2011, please visit www.texasbar.com/tmap.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Houston Mayor Annise Parker proclaimed May 3, 2011 as James B. Sales Day in honor of the former State Bar of Texas president and Texas Access to Justice Commission chair. During a presentation ceremony in Houston, former State Bar President Wayne Fisher said he had never known anybody with as much integrity as Jim Sales. Shauna Johnson Clark, partner-in-charge of the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., said Sales innately understands that to whom much is given, much is expected. State Bar President Terry Tottenham praised Sales for his accomplishments, including his efforts to promote professionalism among lawyers, implement Texas' IOLTA program, and bolster services to lawyers suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues. Tottenham noted especially Sales' role as chair of the ATJ Commission, during which he helped secure $20 million to help fund legal services to the poor. The Commission's current chair, Harry Reasoner, said Sales had given selflessly and worked hard not for his glory but to ensure justice for all. Sales thanked the mayor and council, his friends and family, and all the "legendary lawyers who set the standard of giving back your time and talent."

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Can new technology help us reduce carbon dioxide emissions? Is “fracking” contributing to groundwater contamination in Texas? What is the cost of noncompliance with the EPA’s oil spill cleanup rules?

From groundbreaking initiatives to the aftermath of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the environment — and environmental law — is taking center stage. The May issue of the Texas Bar Journal focuses on new frontiers in natural resource management and the Texas attorneys who are on the front lines.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

As part of the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans initiative, El Paso Lawyers for Patriots, an arm of the El Paso Bar Association, is holding a two-day CLE aimed at preparing legal professionals to better address the legal needs of the military community. The course will be held May 20-21, 2011, at Fort Bliss in El Paso, with topics ranging from initial military client interview to jurisdiction and service of process and from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to military retirement issues, family law issues, and more. Featured speakers include Capt. Evan Seamone of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Prof. Kyndra R. Rotunda of UC Berkeley School of Law and Executive Director of AMVETS Legal Clinic, and LTC George McHugh, Liaison Officer from the Department of Defense to the ABA's Military Pro Bono Project. Click here for more information or here to register.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks