The Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, or DEAC, announced it has hired Bill Holston as its new chief operating officer. He will transition into his new role in August of this year. The DEAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm that provides free legal representation to tenants facing eviction in Dallas County. Since 2012, Holston has … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Commission, or TAJC, honored Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or TAJF, Executive Director Betty Balli Torres with the Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to improving Texans’ access to justice during the Champions of Justice Gala on April 25 in Austin. This award, named after the TAJC’s … Continue Reading
Diana Gomez was sworn in as the 2023-2024 president of the Houston Bar Association, or HBA, during the HBA’s annual dinner on May 11. She is the sixth woman and the first Latina to hold this office in the HBA’s 153-year history, according to a press release. Gomez succeeds Past President Christopher V. Popov, of … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee announced its 2023 Pro Bono Excellence award winners. Hillary Holmes, of Houston, received the Frank J. Scurlock Award; Monique Lopez-Hinkley, of Fort Worth, received the J. Chrys Dougherty Award; Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, or DVAP, of Dallas, received the Pro Bono … Continue Reading
Michelle Moore, of Burnet, was awarded the Warren Burnett Award. Named for the late legendary Texas Attorney Warren Burnett, the Warren Burnett Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to improving the quality of criminal legal representation to indigent Texans. The award honors either an individual or organization for their work in the courtroom, legislature, or in the … Continue Reading
The Texas Bar Foundation, or TBF, has awarded a $34,485 grant to Dallas-based Advocates for Community Transformation, or ACT, to increase its casework capacity in Fort Worth, according to a press release. This grant, the largest ACT has received from the TBF according to a press release, will help ACT hire a community advocate, essential … Continue Reading
The Supreme Court of Texas has debuted new forms that allow individuals representing themselves to create a will. The forms are the result of a change in state law passed by the 84th Texas Legislature and signed by the governor. They assist a person who is single, married, widowed, or divorced and those with or without … Continue Reading
The Texas Bar Journal will be following the journey of newly licensed attorney Chris Spendlove through the first year of his career. This initiative intends to show future Texas lawyers what to expect when approaching the first year of their legal career. Throughout the year, Spendlove will update the State Bar on the highs and … Continue Reading
Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, or VLS, has received a $20,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation, one of the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundations, to continue its work of providing pro bono legal services to low-income survivors of domestic violence. With this grant, VLS will assist those affected by domestic violence, aiming … Continue Reading
The Austin Bar Association was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to start a podcast dedicated to highlighting the value of diversity in leadership positions in the Austin legal community, according to a press release. The podcast, titled Council of Firsts, is another step toward making the Austin Bar Association a more … Continue Reading
Texas lawyers have elected Steve Benesh of Austin as the next president-elect of the State Bar of Texas. Benesh received 52.41%—12,081—of the 23,051 votes cast during the monthlong voting period that ended May 2. His opponent, Jerry Alexander of Dallas, received 47.59%, or 10,970 votes. Benesh will be sworn in as president-elect on June 22, … Continue Reading
The American Bar Association Hispanic Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities will host the third annual Cinco de Música, a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of and support for the ABA Hispanic Commission, at 5:30 p.m. May 4. Chaired by Texas Access to Justice Foundation Executive Director Betty Balli Torres, this free virtual event … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors on Friday voted to select Kennon Wooten as chair-elect. Wooten, a partner in Scott Douglass & McConnico in Austin, will take office in June and will serve as board chair until June 2024. Wooten was elected in 2021 to serve as a director on the State Bar … Continue Reading
Houston Volunteer Lawyers, or HVL, the pro bono arm of the Houston Bar Association, recently announced Jessica Howton Stool as its new executive director. She began her new role on April 17, succeeding former HVL Executive Director Anne Chandler. “Jessica brings a wealth of pro bono experience to this role,” said HVL Chair David E. … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Commission, along with its co-sponsor, the State Bar of Texas, raised $485,000 to help provide civil legal services to low-income Texas veterans during the Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans on April 25 at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. Proceeds from the gala will be distributed by … Continue Reading
The Texas Legal Services Center, or TLSC, a nonprofit organization funded by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, launched on April 24 the Virtual Court Access Project, a statewide pilot project aiming to improve low-income Texans’ ability to receive free legal services through deploying accessible, virtual court kiosks to communities. The kiosks act as virtual … Continue Reading
The Houston Bar Association, or HBA, will announce the recipients of the Justice Eugene A. Cook Professionalism Award, the Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award, and the HBA President’s Award during the HBA’s annual dinner on May 11 at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston. Tickets and tables for the dinner are available for purchase … Continue Reading
Hunton Andrews Kurth announced that 100% of its full-time U.S. attorneys participated in pro bono projects in 2022-2023. “Our steadfast commitment to 100% participation in pro bono activities reflects the firm’s overall mission to support the communities in which we live and work,” Managing Partner Sam Danon said in a press release. “We believe a … Continue Reading
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, an initiative of the Dallas Bar Association, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and local lawyers, is hosting free virtual and in-person legal clinics for eligible Dallas County residents throughout May.… Continue Reading
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has adopted a change to its rules. The approved amendment is as follows: FIFTH CIRCUIT RULE 35.6 35.6 Determination of Causes En Banc and Composition of En Banc Court. A cause will be heard or reheard en banc when it meets the criteria for en banc … Continue Reading
The Women’s White Collar Defense Association, or WWCDA, announced the launch of its Austin chapter on April 5, according to a press release. The second chapter to launch this year, Austin becomes WWCDA’s 48th chapter overall as the association continues to expand and elevate its presence across white collar law around the world. Austin now … Continue Reading
The Metaverse was a big topic at 2023 SXSW, with presenters sharing plans on how people will implement it in the future. At a panel titled “The Metaverse Mindset for Web3, AI, and the Future of Business,” Sandy Carter, senior vice president of Unstoppable Domains, highlighted the advancements of the Metaverse, Web3, and AI. She … Continue Reading
For many people optimistic about the future of technology, the recent innovations of Metaverse, NFTs, and the prospect of digital ownership can be exciting. However, issues are starting to arise from these innovations regarding the privacy of people’s personal information. Brittany Kaiser, the co-founder of the Own Your Data Foundation, spoke at the 2023 SXSW … Continue Reading
In the 2023 SXSW panel titled “The Real World of Music Licensing and Money,” panelists Jeff Brabec, senior vice president of business and legal affairs of BMG, and entertainment law attorney Todd Brabec gave clear and straightforward answers about licensing music for different media—movies, television shows, and video games. The panelists, twins who are co-authors … Continue Reading
The Texas Bar Journal will be following the journey of newly licensed attorney Chris Spendlove through the first year of his career. This initiative intends to show future Texas lawyers what to expect when approaching the first year of their legal career. Throughout the year, Spendlove will update the State Bar on the highs and … Continue Reading