Posted inState BarTexas Supreme Court

State Bar to present budget to Texas Supreme Court on May 10

By Lowell Brown on

The State Bar of Texas will present its proposed fiscal year 2021-2022 budget to the Texas Supreme Court during a virtual meeting at 2 p.m. CDT on May 10.

The State Bar will live stream the meeting at youtube.com/statebaroftexas. The proposed budget can be viewed at texasbar.com/finances or by clicking here.

The State Bar published the proposed budget in the March 2021 issue of the Texas Bar Journal and held a public hearing on April 6. The May 10 presentation is the last step in the State Bar budget process before the Supreme Court considers approving the budget to take effect on June 1.

Posted inCLEEducationTLAPVideos

TLAP debuts new, free CLE targeting depression and suicide among lawyers

By Amy Starnes on

The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program has created a one-hour video and educational program that seeks to educate the legal community about the signs that someone may be suffering from depression and vulnerable to suicide.

Lawyers can earn one hour of free ethics continuing legal education credit for watching the film Just Ask: How We Must Stop Minding Our Own Business in the Legal World. It can be viewed by selecting the “free CLE” tab texasbarcle.com. It can also be found along with other resources on TLAP’s website tlaphelps.org.

TLAP hopes the film helps legal professionals understand when they or their colleagues might be suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. The film includes personal stories from lawyers on how suicide and depression touched their lives and provides concrete ways to help colleagues or loved ones who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts.

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Posted inAmerican Bar AssociationNewsPeople

Three Texas judges and one lawyer to perform at ABA Hispanic Commission’s Cinco de Música

By Adam Faderewski on

Loitering at the PET

Three Texas judges and one lawyer will perform two songs as part of the American Bar Association Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities’ Cinco de Música, a nationwide celebration to raise awareness and support for the ABA Hispanic Commission. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. CDT on May 5.

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Posted inLaw Firms and Legal DepartmentsLaw SchoolsLocal BarsparalegalsSpecial EventTexas Lawyers' Assistance ProgramWell-Being Week in LawWork-Life Balance

Join us today through May 7 for Well-Being Week in Law

By Justine Carreon on

Become a well-being champion by participating in Well-Being Week in Law starting today through May 7! Here’s your chance to join others across the legal profession in doing activities that promote health and happiness.

Check out the list of activities and webinars to participate in here. Each day of Well-Being Week in Law focuses on a part of your self-care routine from breathing exercises to building a support system.

Well-Being Week in Law is an event by the Institute for Well-Being in Law which is dedicated to the betterment of the legal profession by focusing on a holistic approach to well-being. Through advocacy, research, education, technical and resource support, and stakeholders’ partnerships, the institute is driven to lead a culture shift in law to establish health and well-being as core centerpieces of professional success.

Make sure to use #WellBeingWeekInLaw on your social media and follow @wellbeinginlaw on Twitter for all activities going on throughout the week.

Posted in2021 president-elect candidatesAbout The BarNewsPeopleState Bar

Laura Gibson elected State Bar president-elect; Michael Ritter wins TYLA post

By Amy Starnes on

Laura Gibson

Texas attorneys elected Laura Gibson of Houston to be president-elect of the State Bar of Texas.

Gibson received 50.51%—10,200—of the 20,194 votes cast during the voting period that ended April 30. Her opponent, Sara E. Dysart of San Antonio, received 49.49%, or 9,994 votes.

Gibson will be sworn in as president-elect during a State Bar of Texas Board of Directors meeting on June 17 and will serve as president of the State Bar of Texas from June 2022 to June 2023.

Gibson is a Houston-based partner in Dentons US and head of the Texas Employment & Labor Group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in December 1984 and joined Locke Lord in 1985. She made partner in the firm in 1992. In 1993, she co-founded a four-lawyer firm last known as Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall where she practiced until 2016. Continue Reading

Posted inLaw DayLaw SchoolsLocal BarsNews

St. Mary’s University to host 27th annual People’s Law School online for Law Day

By Adam Faderewski on

St. Mary’s University will host its first virtual People’s Law School via Zoom at 9 a.m. on May 1.

On Law Day, St. Mary’s University School of Law’s Pro Bono Program and the San Antonio Bar Foundation will offer a variety of presentations on topics from tenants’ rights to immigration law. Speakers will focus on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri on residents’ lives.

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Posted inDiversityLocal BarsNews

Tarrant County Bar to host discussion on diversity and inclusion programs

By Adam Faderewski on

The Tarrant County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee will host a discussion titled “Is Your Diversity & Inclusion Program Falling Short?” from noon to 1 p.m. on April 29.

Guest speakers Kenya Woodruff, a partner in and deputy general counsel to Katten Muchin Rosenman, and Brian Newby, managing partner in Cantey Hanger, will lead the discussion on measuring the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion in addressing racism and creating more equitable workplaces. Barriers to diversity and inclusion programs will also be discussed.

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Posted inNewsTexas Bar Journal

Texas Bar Journal announces 2021 Short Story Contest winners

By Adam Faderewski on

Thank you to the 20 writers who submitted entries to the Texas Bar Journal Short Story contest this year.

Author names were removed from entries before being submitted to judges in order to keep the contest fair and impartial. Two panels of judges faced the challenging task of selecting winners, and for each round, the same evaluation form was used for consistency. Nine entries advanced to the final round, which was judged by Pamela Buchmeyer, of Dallas and Jupiter, Florida; Mike Farris, of Dallas; and last year’s winner, Brian Schmidt, of Athens.

The winner, “The Captive,” by Mark Ratway, earned the highest number of points.

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