Posted inLaw SchoolsNews

Houston Bar Foundation awards $30,000 in scholarships to Houston law schools

The Houston Bar Foundation (HBF) awarded $10,000 scholarship grants to each of Houston’s three law schools, South Texas College of Law Houston, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and University of Houston Law Center, to support law students who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to public interest law, public service, and pro bono work. The scholarship funding will be distributed during the 2026-2027 academic year and may be awarded to one or more students selected by the law school, according to a press release. “The Houston Bar Foundation is proud to invest in the next generation of lawyers who are committed to expanding access to justice,” HBF Chair Benny Agosto Jr. said in a press release. “These scholarships help support students whose dedication to serving others reflects the foundation’s mission and values.” Scholarship recipients will be selected by their respective law schools based on financial need and demonstrated interest in public interest law through academic achievement, volunteer activities, clinical programs, internships, or career goals. The grants are part of the HBF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the legal profession and promote service to the community through charitable giving and educational support. For more information about the HBF, go to hba.org.

Posted inLocal BarsNews

Texas local bar associations celebrated for improving access to justice for low-income Texans 

Awardees from the Jefferson County Bar Association pose with presenters at the Local Bar Leaders Conference. Photo by Will Korn/Texas Bar Journal

The Texas Access to Justice Commission honored four Texas local bar associations July 24 for their commitment to access-to-justice issues. Senior Justice Debra Lehrmann of the Supreme Court of Texas presented the Deborah G. Hankinson Awards on behalf of the commission during the State Bar of Texas’ Local Bar Leaders Conference in Houston. 

The Hankinson Awards honor local bar associations and young lawyer affiliate associations that demonstrate a commitment to access to justice by creating initiatives that increase access to civil legal services, increase awareness of access to justice issues, or raise funds for legal aid providers on a local and statewide basis.

For details on the awards and winners, see the press release.

Posted inNews

Scammers posing as legal aid target individuals seeking legal services 

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) was made aware of a scam involving scam callers calling and texting individuals seeking legal services. Scammers claim they need to discuss details about legal services and demand payment. Scam calls come from fraudulent numbers not associated with TRLA.

Those contacted by a number claiming to be legal aid whether through text message or phone call are being reminded by TRLA that the organization does not charge for legal services and does not ask for bank account details or credit card information.

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Posted inNews

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program hosts free legal clinics in August

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 August.

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

  • DVAP and Sidley Austin—Thursday, August 6
  • DVAP, DLA Piper, and O’Melveny & Myers—Thursday, August 13
  • DVAP and Hunton Andrews Kurth—Thursday, August 20
  • DVAP and St. Mary’s University School of Law—Thursday, August 27

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Posted inSponsored Content

Sponsored Content: 2026 Immigration Law Update: Key Trends for Attorneys

Many immigration attorneys are working from playbooks that looked very different from just a year ago. As lawful pathways narrow, backlogs grow, and federal policies change, attorneys are adapting their strategies to help clients navigate a more complex immigration system.

The 2026 State of U.S. Immigration report from 8am provides a data-driven look at the policies and trends affecting the practice of immigration law. Below are some developments attorneys should be watching closely.

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Posted inNewsparalegals

Registration open for TAPS 2026

The 27th annual Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (TAPS) is scheduled for September 30-October 2 at the Westin San Antonio North in San Antonio. Sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, “TAPS CLE 2026—A Lone Star Legend” is set to include three days of programming with five tracks, 60-plus speakers, up to 13 hours of CLE, networking opportunities, and a keynote luncheon featuring Hon. Kirsten Cohoon, of the 451st District Court in Kendall County.

Additionally, a panel of paralegals certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) will be available to answer questions about preparing for and taking the TBLS certification exam.

For more information or to register for the seminar, go to txpd.org/TAPS-home. Online registration closes on September 18. For sponsorships, go to txpd.org/TAPS-sponsorships-home.

Posted inPodcast

Law-Backed AI: Aligning Artificial Intelligence With Human Values

State Bar of Texas Podcast

In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes lawyer and technologist Damien Riehl to discuss what lawyers need to consider as artificial intelligence continues to evolve. AI is on track to surpass the intelligence of humans, promising significant impacts worldwide—and certainly within the legal profession. Riehl addressed legal professionals at the 2026 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting about the progression of artificial intelligence and the need for wisdom, morals, and discernment in the deployment of AI tools.

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Posted inNews

Dallas Bar Association hosts e-clinics in July

Volunteer attorneys will be available to answer legal questions on Wednesdays in July through the Dallas Bar Association’s LegalLine E-Clinic. The clinics are free of cost to participants.

A volunteer attorney will call a participant for up to 15 minutes of legal advice. No attorney-client relationship will be established. Individuals may receive referrals to local, legal, or social service agencies.

Calls from the clinic will remain anonymous. Participants should expect a call from an unknown number labeled “No Caller ID” or something similar. To participate, an online form is available at https://shorturl.at/borO4. Registration for e-clinics closes at noon on the Tuesday prior.

Clinics are scheduled for July 8, July 15, July 22, and July 29, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, go to dallasbar.org/?pg=LawyerReferralService.

Posted inSponsored Content

Sponsored Content: You Bought a Malpractice Policy but Are You Covered for Everything You Might Do? Common Misunderstandings That Put Lawyers at Risk

One of the most problematic misconceptions I encounter is the belief that simply having a malpractice policy means you are covered for anything that might go wrong in your practice. Unfortunately, that’s just not the way it is. As with every other type of insurance, a malpractice policy is a contract with specific terms, conditions, exclusions, and triggers. A misunderstanding of any of those details can leave you exposed at the worst possible moment. With this in mind, here are a few common incorrect assumptions lawyers make about their coverage coupled with how to avoid being blindsided by them.

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Posted inNews

Texas attorneys’ AI use more than doubled since 2024, State Bar of Texas survey finds 

The State Bar of Texas has released the results of its 2026 AI in the Practice of Law Survey. Chief among these, the survey found that AI use among Texas attorneys rose significantly from the bar’s last such survey in 2024, from 30% to 62%. 

The complete survey report, including all questions and answers as well as all attorney comments, is available at texasbar.com/2026AISurvey

Among attorneys who reported using AI, the survey found that ChatGPT is the most widely used AI tool, used by 63%, while Westlaw/CoCounsel is the most widely used legal-specific AI tool, at 30%. The most common use of AI was for legal research (53%). For attorneys who choose not to use AI, ethical concerns were the most commonly cited reason (59%). 

For more details, read the press release

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