Posted inTexas Young Lawyers Association

TYLA Director Spotlight: Naomi Melchiorre

By Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) on

Editor’s Note: In this blog series, we are getting to know the members of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors. TYLA, commonly called the “public service arm” of the State Bar of Texas, works to facilitate the administration of justice, foster respect for the law, and advance the role of the legal profession in serving the public. All TYLA programs are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of its board and committee members, with the cooperation of local affiliate young lawyers associations. Learn more at tyla.org.

Name: Naomi Melchiorre

Employer/Organization: Santoyo Wehmeyer, P.C.

Practice Area(s): Oil & Gas
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Posted inCLENews

Outstanding volunteers honored by TexasBarCLE

By Will Korn on

Eight Texas attorneys have been selected as winners of “A Standing Ovation” award from TexasBarCLE. The lawyers were chosen based on their exceptional volunteer contributions to CLE programing in 2022.

“All of our volunteers deserve our gratitude for contributing to the continuing education of their peers,” Director of TexasBarCLE Hedy Bower said in a press release. “Nevertheless, some stand out each year for extraordinary dedication and commitment. The staff looks forward to singling out individuals that not only gave enormously to our efforts, but also were gracious, easy to work with, and—oftentimes—helped us out in a real pinch.”

The following lawyers were recognized:

Judge Ann-Marie Carruth, Lubbock

Penny R. Robe, Plano

Jennifer L. Falk, Dallas

Michael D. Jones, Houston

Matthew Kolodoski, Dallas

Roland Love, Dallas

Jim Mueller, Dallas

Kuruvilla Oommen, Irving

Posted inSponsored Content

Sponsored Content: The Legal Professional’s Guide to Your Best Year Ever

By Guest Blogger on

With this guide, you can review top tactics to get organized and stay the course toward your firm’s most successful year yet.

At the top of each year, legal professionals across the country have an opportunity to reflect on their previous efforts and set plans in motion to improve their processes, increase their revenue, and better serve their clients. This guide will provide practical advice that will set your firm up for success throughout the year.

Creating Effective Goals for a New Year

The following tips can help you meet your business’s growth goals in the new year, whether you’re looking for new clients, elevating your company’s reputation, or improving your current clients’ experience.
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Posted inTexas Young Lawyers Association

TYLA Director Spotlight: Alyson Martinez

By Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) on

Editor’s Note: In this blog series, we are getting to know the members of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors. TYLA, commonly called the “public service arm” of the State Bar of Texas, works to facilitate the administration of justice, foster respect for the law, and advance the role of the legal profession in serving the public. All TYLA programs are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of its board and committee members, with the cooperation of local affiliate young lawyers associations. Learn more at tyla.org.

Name: Alyson Martinez

Employer/Organization: Webb & Zapata County Community Supervision and Corrections Department

Practice Area(s): Adult Probation Director & Criminal Law
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Posted inNews

Texas Board of Legal Specialization announces new specialty areas in aviation and insurance law

By Will Korn on

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization, or TBLS, announced Wednesday the addition of aviation and insurance law to its board certification program. Both specialty areas will be added to the certification program this month, bringing the total number to 27 specialty areas available for attorney board certification.

“As the largest single-state certification program for lawyers in the U.S., our organization is thrilled to welcome these two specialties that Texas lawyers can now apply to certify themselves in,” TBLS Executive Director Leo Figueroa said in a press release. “The addition of these programs allows TBLS to provide even more options to current and future applicants who want to diversify themselves in their specialty areas of law. It also helps ensure clients that when working with an Aviation Law or Insurance Law Board Certified attorney, they’ll be getting counsel from a tested, respected, and proven lawyer.”

The Texas Supreme Court approved the creation of aviation law and insurance law at the end of 2022. Below are descriptions of both areas.

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Posted inCourtsGuest BlogState Bar

Opinion: Jurors deserve our appreciation. Here’s how courts can show it.

By Guest Blogger on

Doryn Danner Glenn

By Doryn Danner Glenn

“You have been summoned for jury service.” The feelings evoked when reading those words on an envelope pulled from the mailbox vary from person to person. Some are excited about the prospect of experiencing the court system in such a vital role. Others dread the thought of making a decision that impacts someone else in a powerful way. Still others worry about the costs of missed work or the hassles of juggling schedules.

For those who actually attend when summoned, the process itself can be overwhelming and frustrating. Parking can be expensive or difficult to find. Hours may pass without getting information about why there is delay. Food and drink may not be readily accessible. The experience can also be very rewarding and one that allows citizens to observe and participate in the justice system in a new and exciting way.

The State Bar of Texas Jury Service Committee’s purpose is to concern itself with improving the manner in which jurors are treated within the judicial process, including compensation, and developing and implementing programs to ensure broad citizen participation in and support for our jury system. Continue Reading

Posted inNewsTexas Bar Foundation

Texas Bar Foundation announces outstanding law review article award

By Will Korn on

The Texas Bar Foundation named John G. Browning, a former justice of the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas, the winner of its 2023 Outstanding Law Review Article Award. The annual award honors an outstanding article published in any Texas law review during the preceding year that relates to the legal profession, the practice of law, or substantive law as applied to the practice of law; its regulation, discipline, availability; its improvement or advancement; and its future or past.

Browning’s winning article, “Judged by the (Digital) Company You Keep: Maintaining Judicial Ethics in an Age of Likes, Shares, and Follows,” was published in Volume 12 of the St. Mary’s Journal of Legal Malpractice and Ethics. The article examines what Browning describes as benign conduct on social media by judges—retweeting or sharing an article, “liking” a post, following an individual or entity on Twitter, etc.—that can violate canons of judicial conduct and create an appearance of impropriety or bias. Browning will be presented with the award at the Texas Bar Foundation’s gala on June 23, in conjunction with the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in Austin.

Posted inTexas Young Lawyers Association

TYLA Director Spotlight: Miranda Caballero

By Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) on

Editor’s Note: In this blog series, we are getting to know the members of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors. TYLA, commonly called the “public service arm” of the State Bar of Texas, works to facilitate the administration of justice, foster respect for the law, and advance the role of the legal profession in serving the public. All TYLA programs are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of its board and committee members, with the cooperation of local affiliate young lawyers associations. Learn more at tyla.org.

Name: Miranda Caballero

Employer/Organization: R. Reese & Associates, PLLC

Practice Area(s): Transactions and Commercial Contracts primarily focused in Oil & Gas
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Posted inTexas Board of Legal Specialization

TBLS now accepting certification applications

By Joanna Herzik on

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization is now accepting online board certification applications for 2023. You can find the specific requirements for each of the 27 specialty areas in the “Apply” section of www.tbls.org.

Certification applications must be submitted by April 7, 2023; the exam is October 2 & 3, 2023, in Austin.  If you have questions about the TBLS Board Certification program, please contact TBLS at 1-833-413-0253 or send an e-mail to tbls@tbls.org.

Posted inSpecial EventState Bar

Registration open for State Bar of Texas president-elect candidate forums

By Lowell Brown on

State Bar of Texas president-elect candidates Jerry Alexander and Steve Benesh will participate in live, virtual candidate forums from noon to 1 p.m. Central on March 10 and April 4.

Registration is required. You can register for these free events by clicking on the desired dates below.

Register for March 10

Register for April 4

Submit questions for the candidates in advance by email to webmaster@texasbar.com or during the forums by using the Zoom Q&A feature. If submitting questions by email, please use the subject line “Questions for the Candidates.”

For more information on the election, go to texasbar.com/elections.

NOTE: The candidate forums are not approved for CLE credit.

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