A free continuing legal education course Thursday in Houston will focus on the rights of unaccompanied children crossing the Texas border and the duties of federal, state, and local governments in handling the cases.… Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas has launched a new webpage to keep attorneys informed of ways they can volunteer to help serve the legal needs of unaccompanied minors who are arriving in our courts system.… Continue Reading
The Law Practice Management Committee of the State Bar of Texas has launched a website, available at texaslawpracticemanagment.com, that features the popular how-to brochures used by solo and small firm practitioners. While much of this content previously was available through the TexasBarCLE website, the LPM website serves as its new home and gathers other relevant … Continue Reading
Gene Cavin was hired in 1963 to develop a program for the continuing education of Texas lawyers. “Education is to law practice as fertilizer is to agriculture.” —Lee Turner A lawyer’s legal education cannot end with passing the bar examination. It must continue for as long as he or she practices, and there is no … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas has captured some of the highlights from the 2014 Annual Meeting in Austin and posted videos from the event to its Texas Bar TV YouTube channel.… Continue Reading
In 1984, on the Haffjardara River in Iceland, Ralph Duggins cast a line against 30-mile-per-hour gusts, working to catch an Atlantic salmon. “I had to forget the wind and get with it pretty quickly if I was going to be able to get my fly out there,” Duggins said. It was his first time fly-fishing—and … Continue Reading
On August 9, 2014, dozens of Dallas attorneys will be available at three different locations around the city to provide free one-on-one legal advice and to lead legal seminars for members of the public. Titled the “Big Give Back,” this event is jointly sponsored by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, the Dallas Asian-American Bar … Continue Reading
In the increasingly wired world in which we live, it comes as no shock that 72 percent of all adult Americans have a presence on at least one social networking site. But would you—and should you—be surprised if you received a Facebook friend request from a judge or if you learned that an opposing counsel … Continue Reading
The Houston Bar Association has completed the annual update of its 40-page Elder Law Handbook, which is now available at no charge to individuals and organizations. The revised handbook features helpful information on numerous legal topics relevant to senior citizens and their families, including social security, Medicare and Medicaid, wills and probate, guardianship, burial provisions, … Continue Reading
The Montgomery County Bar Association, the Woodlands Bar Association, and the Houston Bar Foundation’s Veterans Legal Initiative are teaming up to host a free legal clinic for veterans in Conroe on July 19. No appointment is necessary for the clinic, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon at the Conroe VA Outpatient Clinic, 800 Riverwood … Continue Reading
Preema, a suburban housewife (whose name has been changed), allegedly earned extra spending money by acting as a “personal service provider” for male clients. Paul, her husband, was suspicious of her behavior. During their divorce proceedings, Paul’s private investigator—on stakeout at the local apartment brothel—watched Preema’s attorney arrive at her room wearing shorts, a T-shirt, … Continue Reading
Justice Eva M. Guzman has been appointed liaison to the Texas Access to Justice Commission and the foundation that supports the commission's work to provide civil legal services to the poor.… Continue Reading
Legal publisher Fastcase has announced its 2014 list of “Fastcase 50” winners—and three are from Texas. The award “recognizes 50 of the smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in the law.” Legal prose expert Bryan Garner, State Bar of Texas Immediate Past President Lisa M. Tatum, and Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett … Continue Reading
The Texas Bar Foundation recently welcomed several new members and officers to its board of trustees and fellows in a ceremony at the 2014 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in Austin on June 27, 2014. Melinda Wycoff with Wycoff Development and Construction took office as a public member of the Texas Bar Foundation Board … Continue Reading
Linda A. Brandmiller, chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Laws Related to Immigration and Nationality and director of ASI, Asociacion de Servicios Para el Inmigrante, recently answered questions via email from the Texas Bar Journal about the current humanitarian crisis on the Texas-Mexico border. Any opinions featured in this article do not … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas recently welcomed new members to its board of directors at the 2014 Annual Meeting held in Austin on June 26-27, 2014. These included 2014-2015 State Bar President-elect Allan Dubois, Texas Young Lawyers Association President-elect Barrett Thomas, 13 new directors, two liaisons, and two section representatives. Above: Texas Supreme Court Justice … Continue Reading
Editor's note: This is the sixth story in our Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program "Stories of Recovery" series, featuring attorneys in their own words on how they have overcome mental health or substance abuse problems. The State Bar's TLAP program offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527, and find more information at texasbar.com/TLAP.… Continue Reading
As panelists for the Bench Bar Breakfast readied for a discussion on Lyndon Baines Johnson’s role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Lynda Johnson Robb, eldest daughter of the former president, reminded the audience of Texas lawyers that “nobody can understand Lyndon Johnson’s mind.” Then she and fellow panelists, in commemoration of the act’s … Continue Reading
The Supreme Court of Texas has appointed nine members to serve staggered terms on the newly created Judicial Branch Certification Commission. Beginning Sept. 1, 2014, certification, registration, licensing, and compliance functions for court reporters and court reporting firms, professional guardians, process servers, and licensed court interpreters will be combined, fitting into the JBCC. The Court … Continue Reading
Inside: We examine ethics and the law, from dealing with the intersection of judges and social media to encountering an impaired colleague. Plus: recalling the early days of the State Bar’s CLE program, making Texas more competitive in international law, and dealing with managing the income, output, and upkeep of your solo practice or small … Continue Reading
