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

The State Bar Board of Directors is soliciting candidates for the 2012 president-elect race. State Bar Rules stipulate that the 2012 president-elect nominees shall come from metropolitan counties of the state (Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and Travis).

The Board of Directors Policy Manual describes the criteria for selecting nominees. The Board will consider potential nominees' involvement in State Bar committee work, knowledge of State Bar operations, participation in local and specialty bar associations and other activities demonstrating leadership ability. Although prior membership on the State Bar Board of Directors is not a prerequisite for nomination, it is important in determining whether a lawyer is a qualified nominee. Nominees should submit a resume and a statement of views of the key issues facing the Bar, the role they would play in dealing with those issues, and what they would seek to accomplish during their tenure as President, all within the overall strategic plan of the State Bar.

Over a period of years, the office of State Bar president should include men and women, ethnic and racial minorities, lawyers from large and small firms and solo practitioners, and those from urban and rural areas of the state. The Board is working toward that end in the selection process.

The Board's Nominations and Elections Subcommittee is accepting names and background information of potential candidates. Please write the subcommittee to recommend potential candidates, c/o Terry Tottenham and Pablo Almaguer, Nominations & Elections Subcommittee Co-Chairs, P. O. Box 12487, Austin 78711-2487. Anyone submitting a name for consideration should first obtain that person’s consent to have his/her name submitted. The deadline for nominations is October 1, 2011.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The timely filing deadline to apply to take the February 2012 Texas Bar Exam is August 30. The late filing deadline is October 30. For more information on rules and requirements, application fees and late fees, and to download an application to take the Texas Bar Exam, you may visit the Texas Board of Law Examiners website at http://www.ble.state.tx.us/applications/apps_index.html.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Lone Star Legal Aid’s Longview branch office is conducting a day-long CLE for Texas attorneys who would like to assist veterans with their legal issues. The CLE takes place Friday, Aug. 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Good Shepherd Institute for Healthy Living, 611 E. Hawkins Pkwy., in Longview. “These are critically tough economic times for everyone and we are working to identify and serve low-income veterans who need important legal help but cannot afford it,” said Dorman Brumbelow, Pro Bono Litigation Coordinator in the Longview office. “Our partnerships with private attorneys are vital to ensuring that more low-income Texans have access to justice.”

The event is free to attorneys who agree to accept at least one civil case on a pro bono basis from Lone Star Legal Aid for a low-income veteran. The program includes an overview of veterans benefits, federal and state protections for active service members, and other issues such as IRS considerations. Attorneys can earn up to 7.5 hours of MCLE credit. For more information or to register, contact Tammy Self or Sheila Timberlake in Lone Star Legal Aid’s Longview office at (903) 758-9123.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Trial lawyer Rosemary Snider has been named one of the state's top women lawyers in the inaugural list of "Winning Women" which is published by the Texas Lawyer. The list recognizes outstanding trial and appellate lawyers who have had success in high-stakes cases. Snider and the 19 other attorneys who made the list will be honored at a luncheon at the Belo Mansion in Dallas on Sept. 30, 2011. Snider is a Principal in the Dallas office of McKool Smith, PC.

• 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?

Family: Daughter, Austin Elizabeth Grisham, 20 years-old and a junior at St. Edward’s University – Austin, Texas.

Areas of practice: Probate, Guardianship, Trust, Estate Planning, Elder Law and litigation in these areas. I have also completed my training, pro bono work and observation sessions to become a licensed attorney mediator. I expect to be licensed within the next few weeks and am eager to build a mediation practice.

Education: Univ. of Texas at Arlington (B.A. 1983); Southern Methodist University (J.D. 1989).

Culinary talent:  I am a whiz at turning on the microwave.

Hobbies: Reading, writing, and I’m learning to play guitar. Unfortunately, I am about as good at playing guitar as I am at cooking.

Most important career lesson:  Learn to say “no.”

Favorite quote: (I am a lover of Mark Twain)  “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”  

Pet peeve: spitting – or not waiting your turn in traffic. It’s probably the same people doing both.

Favorite TV program: Mad Men.

The last movie I saw: The Help.

Favorite food: Mexican food.

Favorite restaurant: Benitos.

If I had more time, I would: Take a nap. Get a massage. Travel.

Best thing about being a lawyer: Helping people and having something to talk about at parties.

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be? God. If that’s too sacrilegious, then Queen Elizabeth – the original one, on one of the days she bathed.

If you weren't an attorney, what profession do you think you would be in?  I would love to be a writer - a talented writer. I would also love to design wedding gowns (how random is that?).

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Law Jam 3 is a benefit concert for pro bono legal aid. The concernt is a joint program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas that benefits the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP).

This event will be held on August 20, 2011 at the Granada Theater in Dallas. Doors will open at 5:30pm with the event beginning at 6pm. Seven bands will be performing: Big Wheel, The Usuals, Black Dirt Tango, The Catdaddies, Blue Collar Crime, The Wrecking Crew, and Texas Rock Association. All of the bands are comprised of Dallas-area lawyers and judges Click here for ticket information.

The mission of DVAP is to increase and enhance pro bono legal services to the poor in Dallas through the recruitment, training, and support of volunteer attorneys.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

For the first time, TexasBarCLE is partnering with Minnesota CLE to offer top-quality legal education in conjunction with a 7-day cruise of the eastern Caribbean. A 15-hour MCLE-accredited Negotiation Skills Training Seminar will be taught by Nina Meierding, a nationally-recognized leader in the field of conflict resolution for over 25 years. Departing from Miami on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, and returning Saturday, Feb. 18, the cruise will feature first-class meals and entertainment, plus optional excursions including snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep sea fishing, as well as stops in Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten. Reserve your spot now -- the early bird discount ends August 31! For full details on the seminar, the cruise, and pricing, click here.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Paralegal Division is sponsoring the Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (TAPS) at the Marriott Hotel & Golf Resort in Fort Worth on October 5 - 7, 2011. Online registration for 2011 TAPS is open, and the early registration deadline date is August 26, 2011.

TAPS is a three day multi-track CLE seminar for paralegals. The theme of the seminar is Pearls of Wisdom - Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence. Download the 2011 Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar Brochure. 

Paralegal Division members may apply for the TAPS Scholarship. There is also a social sponsorship and an exhibit booth available for the seminar. Interested exhibitors may email TAPSVendors@txpd.org for booth selection.

For more details on the seminar and to register online, you may visit www.txpd.org/taps.
 

• 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: I get to solve problems every day. 

Secret for staying young: Laughing as much as possible. 

If I had more time, I would: love to learn the art of photography. 

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks