SBOT’s Vision: A Look at State Bar and TYLA Initiatives

By State Bar of Texas Staff on April 9, 2026

In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes two leaders: State Bar of Texas President Santos Vargas and Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) President Alyson A. Martinez. They discuss their goals for the 2025-2026 bar year, highlighting projects aimed at strengthening access to justice and expanding public service. Vargas provides an update on the “Stand With Santos” campaign, which raises awareness and funding to support the civil legal needs of low-income Texans. Martinez discusses TYLA’s For the Public, which showcases lawyers working in public service roles and aims to increase understanding of these vital career paths.

Posted inLaw Schools Mock Trial

University of Texas School of Law wins TEX-ABOTA’s 2025 Best in Texas Voir Dire Competition

By Les Hatch on April 2, 2026

In September 2025, law students from all 10 Texas law schools came together for three days at the Lubbock County Courthouse to crown one “Best in Texas.”

Conceived through a partnership between the advocacy directors of the state’s law schools and TEX-ABOTA, the Best in Texas Voir Dire Competition is a one-of-a-kind mock trial tournament that focuses on the undertaught art of jury selection.

Posted inLaw Firms and Legal Departments Law Practice Management News Technology

Attorneys with AI questions can ‘Ask a Human’ in State Bar of Texas webinar April 15

By Rebecca Johnson on March 31, 2026

The State Bar of Texas is hosting a free webinar for attorneys interested in learning about the use of artificial intelligence in the practice of law. The event, titled “Ask a Human: A Q&A Session on AI,” will take place April 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. CDT and requires advanced registration. To sign up, visit texasbarpractice.com and click the “Register Now” button at the top of the page. All attorneys and other legal professionals are welcome — Texas bar membership is not required to participate.

Ask a Human is a project of the State Bar’s Law Practice Management Committee and staff from its Law Practice Management Department. Trish McAllister, staff attorney for the department and liaison to the committee, will moderate the webinar. Panelists Alex Shahrestani and Patrick Wright, attorney members of the committee with deep knowledge on AI in the law, will answer questions. Attendees can submit questions in advance at registration as well as live during the webinar via chat.

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program hosts free legal clinics in April

By Eric Quitugua on March 27, 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 April.

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

DVAP and St. Mary’s University School of Law—Thursday, April 2
DVAP and Hunton Andrews Kurth—Thursday, April 9
DVAP and Haynes and Boone—Thursday, April 16
DVAP and St. Mary’s University School of Law—Thursday, April 23
DVAP, Capital One, DLA Piper, Haynes and Boone, and McGuireWoods—Thursday, April 30

Posted inNews State Bar Uncategorized

State Bar of Texas holds election April 1-30

By Rebecca Johnson on March 25, 2026

Texas attorneys will choose new leaders in an election beginning April 1. Voting will continue throughout the month, with results announced April 30.

Voting will take place electronically. Attorneys should look for an email April 1 from the State Bar’s election service provider, Election Services Corporation, with voting instructions. Alternatively, they can visit the bar’s homepage at texasbar.com and click “Vote” to login and cast their ballot starting April 1.

In the race for State Bar president-elect, attorneys will choose between Sarah Clower Keathley, of Corsicana, and Ray Thomas, of McAllen. Members of the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) will also pick a president-elect, choosing between David R. “Dave” Hagan, of Longview, and Claire Harbert, of Waco. The winners will serve as president-elect in 2026-2027, as president in 2027-2028, and as immediate past president in 2028-2029.

Additionally, attorneys in some districts of both the State Bar and TYLA will elect new members to their boards of directors. More information on the election and the candidates is available at texasbar.com/elections.

Posted inNews State Bar Uncategorized

State Bar of Texas Executive Committee to meet March 31

By Rebecca Johnson on March 24, 2026

The State Bar of Texas Executive Committee will meet at 10 a.m. CDT on March 31 at the Texas Law Center in Austin. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live on the State Bar of Texas YouTube page.

The agenda can be viewed here. Among other agenda items, the committee will hear updates on the SBOT 2026-2027 proposed budget and the president-elect and district director elections.

Those who wish to address the Executive Committee in-person during this 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, please email boardofdirectors@texasbar.com or call 512-427-1400 or 800-204-2222 (toll free) before 5 p.m. CDT on Monday, March 30. Please provide the agenda item number you wish to speak on.

Written comments regarding agenda items must be received by 5 p.m. CDT on Thursday, March 26, for timely distribution to the Executive Committee members before the meeting. Please submit written comments by email to boardofdirectors@texasbar.com and indicate the agenda item you are referring to.

Posted inMock Trial News

Booker T. Washington High School wins 47th annual State High School Mock Trial Competition

By Will Korn on March 23, 2026

The team from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts from Dallas won the 47th annual Texas High School Mock Trial Competition on March 7 at the George Allen Courthouse in Dallas.

Booker T. Washington’s team will represent Texas at the 2026 National High School Mock Trial Competition in Des Moines, Iowa, May 7-9, 2026.

The competition included more than 25 high school teams from across the state to argue a hypothetical civil court case written by local attorneys with the Dallas Bar Association. These teams, which emerged as the best among their school districts and regions, were matched against one another, culminating in the final championship round. Judges and attorneys served as “jurors” and selected the teams that were best prepared and demonstrated exceptional presentation skills. Students portrayed prosecution and defense attorneys, as well as “witnesses.” The “case” is tried by students from approximately 170 Texas schools annually, according to a press release.

Posted inPodcast

Beyond the Game: Inside Texas Pro Sports Law

By State Bar of Texas Staff on March 19, 2026

In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes two attorneys from the Texas professional sports scene: Eunice Nakamura, executive vice president, general counsel for the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team, and James O’Sullivan, general counsel for the Major League Soccer team FC Dallas. They provide an inside look at the dynamic day-to-day experiences of lawyers specializing in the business of sports. Nakamura and O’Sullivan candidly share their professional paths, detailing the opportunities and career choices that led them to their current roles.

Posted inSponsored Content

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program hosts free legal clinics in March

By Eric Quitugua on March 5, 2026

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