We revisit this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast in which host Rocky Dhir welcomes Nelson Ebaugh to discuss Ebaugh’s article in the May 2023 issue of the Texas Bar Journal titled “Texas Cryptocurrency Jurisprudence.” Ever since cryptocurrency made its debut, many have repeatedly questioned its validity. Is it legal tender? A scam? Well, in today’s digital ether, both exist en masse, and lawyers need to understand how to recognize the real thing and how it fits into our current legal framework.
Accurate bookkeeping and reporting are crucial for law firms, not only for internal clarity but also for maintaining compliance with IRS regulations. One key step is handling the IRS 1099 form series correctly. While it may seem like extra paperwork, properly managing 1099s ensures your records are accurate and helps you avoid tax issues.
Explore how a 1099 works for lawyers, the rules that matter most, and the best practices that simplify compliance and collections.
If a school’s lawyer attends an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meeting between a representative of the school and parents who are accompanied only by a nonlawyer advocate, and the school’s lawyer knows the parents are represented by a lawyer regarding the subject of the meeting, may the school’s lawyer communicate with the parents during the meeting without the consent of the parents’ lawyer?
Go here to read the proposed opinion and provide comments.
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors Nominations and Elections Subcommittee voted on November 20 to recommend Sarah Clower Keathley, of Corsicana, and Ray Thomas, of McAllen, as candidates for 2026-2027 State Bar president-elect. If the board approves their nominations, Keathley and Thomas would appear on the ballot in April 2026 along with any certified petition candidates.
Potential petition candidates could begin collecting signatures on September 1, 2025, and have until March 2, 2026, to submit their nominating petitions to the State Bar for certification. For information on how to run for president-elect, go here.
This year, the subcommittee considered candidates from any county of the state, in compliance with State Bar election rules. Click the names below to read the nominees’ interest letters and resumes as submitted to the Nominations and Elections Subcommittee.
Nominations and Elections is a subcommittee of the State Bar board co-chaired by Immediate Past President Steve Benesh and Immediate Past Board Chair Paul K. Stafford.
What are the ethical responsibilities of a lawyer who seeks to retain an unaffiliated lawyer to perform a discrete, temporary legal service on behalf of a client, such as appearing at a hearing in a distant city?
What are the ethical responsibilities of the lawyer who agrees to perform the temporary legal service?
Go here to read the proposed opinion and provide comments.
The Texas Advocacy Project (TAP) has received a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation (TBF) to support its new initiative titled Protect Texas Report: Promoting Best Practices for Victim Safety. The project will strengthen the administration of justice in Texas by analyzing protective order practices across the state, offering research-based recommendations, and providing guidance and resources to improve access for victims of dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, and human trafficking, according to a press release.
“Protective orders are one of the most effective tools to prevent further harm to survivors, yet many Texans face barriers in obtaining them,” TAP Chief Legal Officer Bronwyn Blake said in a press release. “By identifying those gaps and highlighting successful practices, we can help ensure equal access to justice and safety across the state.”
The Texas Bar Foundation (TBF) has awarded a $15,000 grant to the San Antonio Bar Foundation (SABF) to expand public awareness of SALawHelp.org, a free online hub that helps Bexar County residents better understand their legal issues and connect with trusted legal resources, according to a press release.
The site empowers residents to become informed consumers of legal services by helping them learn about their rights, understand how attorneys and courts operate, and determine whether they qualify for free or reduced-fee legal aid. The site also connects users with qualified local attorneys who practice in the specific area of law they need. By increasing public understanding of the legal process, the SABF aims to enhance access to justice, helping individuals manage expectations and navigate their cases with confidence and clarity.
Everything’s bigger in Texas—including its potential to redefine the future of legal practice.
According to a recent Smokeball survey on legal technology and wellness, Texas lawyers are ready for change. They’re more curious and less skeptical about adopting new legal technology than their peers across the country.
Roughly one in three Texas respondents identified as early adopters of new legal technology—roughly 10% higher than the national average. Additionally, only 12% described themselves as skeptics, roughly half the national rate. In a profession that resists change, that optimism stands out.
On Veterans Day, Gov. Greg Abbott delivered remarks and administered the New Lawyer Oath at the Governor’s Mansion to Texas veterans who will now begin their careers in law.
“All of us owe an extraordinary debt of gratitude for everybody who served,” Abbott said in a press release. “Without our military might, we wouldn’t have the economic might and freedom that we have today. Thank you for your service, and congratulations to you all for passing the bar exam.”
During the ceremony, Abbott swore in the veterans who recently passed the bar exam. He thanked those who served for their dedication in the military and who now serve in law firms and courts across Texas. Abbott also highlighted critical initiatives like Operation Welcome Home and Hiring Red, White and You! to ensure Texas veterans have support needed to be successful in their civilian lives.
Joining Abbott at the ceremony was former Supreme Court of Texas Justice Craig Enoch, University of Texas School of Law Dean Robert Chesney, and Haynes Boone Associate Alexander Clark.
PHOTO: Gov. Greg Abbott (center) poses with veterans sworn in as attorneys on November 11 at the Texas Governor’s Mansion in Austin. Photo courtesy of The Office of the Texas Governor.
Former State Bar of Texas President Terry O. Tottenham received the Austin Bar Foundation’s (ABF) Lifetime Achievement Award during the ABF’s “Teams for Tot” celebration on November 5 in Austin. Tottenham, of counsel to Norton Rose Fulbright in Austin, was honored for his career-long achievements and legal contributions, specifically his focus on improving the lives of and providing legal access for veterans. Funds from the event were dedicated to the ABF and its Veterans Legal Assistance Program.
The ABF started the Veterans Legal Assistance Program in 2010, following in the footsteps of Tottenham, who helped initiate the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans program that is modeled after a program started by the Houston Bar Association in 2008. For more information about the ABF, go to austinbar.org.
Photo:From left to right: Texas Access to Justice Foundation Treasurer and former State Bar of Texas President Roland Johnson, former State Bar of Texas President Richard Pena, State Bar of Texas President Santos Vargas, former State Bar of Texas President Terry O. Tottenham, former State Bar of Texas President Martha Dickie, former State Bar of Texas President Bill Whitehurst, State Bar of Texas Executive Director and former State Bar of Texas President Trey Apffel, and State Bar of Texas Immediate Past President Steve Benesh, during the “Teams for Tot” celebration on November 5 at the Austin office of Norton Rose Fulbright. Photo courtesy of the Austin Bar Foundation
