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Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program hosts free legal clinics in March

By Eric Quitugua on March 5, 2026

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 March.

All virtual clinics run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

DVAP and SMU Dedman School of Law—Thursday, March 5
DVAP and St. Mary’s University School of Law—Friday, March 12
DVAP and Haynes and Boone—Thursday, March 19
DVAP, Weil Gotshal & Manges, and UNT Dallas College of Law—Thursday, March 26

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A Texas-Sized Look at Our Constitution on its 150th Birthday

By State Bar of Texas Staff on February 20, 2026

In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes legal historian and appellate lawyer William J. Basileios Chriss and Supreme Court of Texas Justice Evan A. Young to mark the sesquicentennial of the Texas Constitution. They offer a deep dive into the foundational document’s history and evolution, tracing its iterations from 1876 to the present day and exploring how its framework for self-governance continues to serve the people of Texas well.

Posted inCourts Guest Blog

Transnational practice—are Texas courts getting Mexican domicile wrong?

By Randall Villa on February 19, 2026

A New Era of Cross-Border Litigation

Texas courts are facing more cross-border disputes today than at any other moment in the state’s history. Every week, judges and litigators encounter Mexican civil documents, addresses registered across different Mexican states, contracts executed abroad, and families whose lives move fluidly between two very different legal systems. And yet one of the most fundamental legal concepts—domicile—is often misunderstood the moment Mexican law enters the courtroom.

This article is designed for Texas judges and litigators seeking practical clarity on how Texas common law interacts with Mexican civil law—a federal system in which each of Mexico’s 32 states maintains its own civil code and its own body of family legislation. Drawing from my work as a professor at the University of Guadalajara, located in the state of Jalisco, I use the Jalisco Civil Code solely as a representative example, not because it is unique, but because it clearly illustrates how domicile functions within Mexico’s state-based civil-law framework.

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Benny Agosto Jr. assumes role as 2026 Houston Bar Foundation chair

By Will Korn on February 18, 2026

Benny Agosto Jr., managing partner in Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, is the 2026 Houston Bar Foundation (HBF) chair. Agosto succeeded 2025 HBF Chair Sara Keith during the foundation’s annual luncheon on February 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston.

Agosto said that as chair of the HBF, he intends to lead by example. “Giving back and supporting our community and the Houston Bar Foundation comes naturally to my wife, Nikki, and me. We come from humble families, and our parents taught us the importance of service,” Agosto said in a press release. “We have been blessed, and we believe it is our responsibility to pay it forward. Working together, the Foundation board and I will continue to grow the Houston Bar Foundation and expand its reach by providing legal services to those in need and supporting scholarships for students. There is no better way to serve our community. It is a genuine honor to serve as chair of the Houston Bar Foundation for 2026.”

Agosto is certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. A graduate of Houston Christian University and South Texas College of Law Houston, he demonstrates an enduring commitment to legal education and leadership development. Agosto donated more than $4 million to establish the Agosto Justice Center for Leadership and Empowerment at South Texas College of Law Houston, dedicated to expanding diversity and opportunity in legal education.

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Texas Medical-Legal Partnership conference scheduled for April 16-18

By Will Korn on February 6, 2026

Hosted by Texas A&M University Health’s Institute for Healthcare Access, the Texas Medical-Legal Partnership will hold its 2026 MLP Conference on April 16-18 at the Hilton Fort Worth.

Attendees will explore real-world insights, practical tools, and forward-looking strategies that not only strengthen medical-legal partnership (MLP) but also expand access to the legal and health services that are essential to opportunity for long, healthy lives. Through interactive sessions, dynamic panels, and meaningful networking opportunities, attendees will be able to connect and engage with other practitioners, researchers, educators, policymakers, and advocates working to integrate systems that ultimately improve community well-being, according to a press release.

The conference will focus on leveraging tools and rigorous methods to measure impact, standardize practices, and ensure responsible data use; exploring the legal and financial frameworks needed to sustain and scale integrated care models, emphasizing long-term growth and ethical partnership; and highlighting innovative service delivery methods, community-driven approaches, and systemic impact beyond traditional settings, according to a press release.

For more information and to register for the conference, go to txmlpc.org/mlpconf2026.

Posted inNews State Bar Uncategorized

State Bar of Texas announces candidates for 2026-2027 president-elect

By Rebecca Johnson on February 2, 2026

At its quarterly meeting in Fort Worth Friday, the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors voted to approve Sarah Clower Keathley and Ray Thomas as candidates for 2026-2027 president-elect.

Keathley and Thomas will appear on the ballot in April 2026 along with any certified petition candidates. Presently there are no additional president-elect candidates, although members have until March 2 to submit their nominating petitions to the State Bar for certification.

Keathley and Thomas were recommended to the State Bar Board of Directors by the Nominations and Elections Subcommittee. This year, the subcommittee considered candidates from any county in the state, in compliance with State Bar rules.

For more information, including brief bios of the Keathley and Thomas, read the press release.

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Supreme Court of Texas Justice Brett Busby to be keynote speaker at 2026 Justice Luncheon

By Will Korn on January 27, 2026

Supreme Court of Texas Justice Brett Busby will serve as the keynote speaker for the San Antonio Legal Services Association’s (SALSA) 2026 Justice Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 8 at the Mays Family Center at the Witte Museum in San Antonio.

The Justice Luncheon is an annual event for SALSA, a corps of dedicated attorney volunteers and professional staff providing free, essential, civil legal services to low-income individuals, that serves as a fundraiser and celebration of pro bono legal work in San Antonio and the surrounding counties, according to a press release. The luncheon brings together legal, business, and community leaders committed to the vision of a community in which everyone has equal access to justice, regardless of ability to pay.

“We are honored to host Justice Busby, a true champion of access to justice, as our keynote speaker for the 2026 Justice Luncheon,” SALSA Executive Director James Martinez said in a press release. “His record of service reflects the very best of the legal profession.”

Busby currently serves as the Supreme Court of Texas’ liaison to the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation. He has been a consistent advocate for increasing the availability of affordable legal services and expanding access to the justice system for all Texans.

Posted inNews State Bar Uncategorized

State Bar of Texas Board of Directors to Meet January 30 in Fort Worth

By Rebecca Johnson on January 23, 2026

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The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet at 8 a.m. on January 30 at the Hilton Fort Worth in Fort Worth. The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live on the State Bar of Texas YouTube channel.

The agenda can be viewed here. Among the agenda items, the board will hear the announcement of candidates for chair of the 2026-2027 Board of Directors and hear comments from each of them, consider and discuss approval of the State Bar of Texas 2026-2027 proposed budget for publication in the Texas Bar Journal, and consider and discuss approval of candidates for the 2026-2027 State Bar of Texas president-elect candidacy.

Those who wish to address the board in person during the meeting should fill out a speaker card at the beginning of the meeting and submit it to a staff member onsite. To sign up to speak remotely during the meeting, email boardofdirectors@texasbar.com or call 512-427-1400 or 800-204-2222 (toll free) before 5 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 29. Please provide the agenda item number you wish to speak on.

Written comments regarding agenda items must be received by 5 p.m. CST on Monday, January 26, for timely distribution to the board before the meeting. Please submit written comments by email to boardofdirectors@texasbar.com and indicate the agenda item you are referring to.

Posted inPodcast

Beyond the algorithm: how TRAIGA will rewrite AI governance in Texas

By State Bar of Texas Staff on January 22, 2026

In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes trial lawyer Chris Schwegmann to learn about the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA), new Texas artificial intelligence (AI) legislation effective January 1, 2026. TRAIGA aims to regulate the development and deployment of AI systems in the state to address issues such as discrimination, intentional harm, illegal sexual content, and the use of biometric data. The two discuss the nuances of TRAIGA legislation and its implications for the practice of law.

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