The countdown is on for the 2015 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting! Registration is now open for the conference, which will take place from June 18 to 19 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio. Along with the opportunity to earn a year’s worth of CLE, attendees … Continue Reading
H.P. “Mike” Berkley, 65, is a solo practitioner outside Forestburg, a community near the Texas-Oklahoma border with a population of about 250. He went to Southern Methodist University School of Law and practiced in Dallas until moving to the country about 25 years ago. Berkley talks about marrying the town vet, being a content attorney … Continue Reading
We have received a report of a scam from an attorney who received a request for assistance. Upon further searching, the attorney uncovered a scam.… Continue Reading
The American Bar Association's 2015 Midyear Meeting came to Houston this month, and it wasn't hard to find Texans in prominent roles.… Continue Reading
The Supreme Court of Texas will hear two cases in Tyler on Feb. 26. Oral arguments for JLG Trucking, LLC v. Lauren R. Garza and The Boeing Company and the Greater Kelly Development Authority N/K/A the Port of San Antonio v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in … Continue Reading
The National Association of Bar Executives held its 2015 Midyear Meeting in Houston this month, as did several related groups, including the American Bar Association, the National Conference of Bar Presidents, and the National Conference of Bar Foundations.… Continue Reading
By Michael Winters Part 1: All emotions are needed to be whole. Since Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, the words “the pursuit of happiness” have served as a motto for this nation. Essential to our culture is the belief that there is a fundamental urge—indeed, a right—to seek happiness. The field of … Continue Reading
Members of the Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas met Feb. 24 in Austin for a day of CLE. In addition to talks on wills and estates, the current business landscape, and civility in the practice … Continue Reading
By Katerina P. Lewinbuk Just as I finished answering a student’s question, another hand went up. When I gave that person the floor, he asked the exact same question I just answered. Some of his classmates giggled while others rolled their eyes. The student, however, gave me a surprised look, observed the class’s reaction, and … Continue Reading
Applause was in the air this afternoon as the Texas Board of Legal Specialization recognized 209 attorneys and 34 paralegals as certified in their respective specialty areas during an induction ceremony at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. To earn the distinction, applicants passed a comprehensive exam and met additional requirements including CLE courses and reference checks. … Continue Reading
Can an app help the vulnerable and powerless gain access to justice? During this weekend’s Tech for Justice Hackathon+, attorneys, law students, programmers, and concerned stakeholders will gather in Austin to develop technology that could serve those in need of legal services. On Feb. 21-22, Hackathon+ participants will focus on two problem sets—one addressing co-parenting … Continue Reading
At the invitation of Rep. Brooks Landgraf, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht delivered his 2015 State of the Judiciary on Feb. 18. Legislators, fellow judges, and citizens packed the House of Representatives to hear the address, which touched on judicial funding, truancy issues, and e-filing, among other topics. Access to justice was … Continue Reading
Nearly 50 years after its creation as part of the historic Civil Rights Act, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is taking stock of its objectives and the challenges that remain, Chair Jenny R. Yang told Texas attorneys Jan. 22 in Dallas.… Continue Reading
On Feb. 21, volunteer lawyers will be at the Tomball VA Outpatient Clinic to offer legal counsel to veterans at no cost. Veterans and spouses of deceased veterans can receive advice on any area of law, including disability and benefits, family, wills and probate, and consumer. If ongoing representation is needed, those who qualify for … Continue Reading
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization is accepting certification applications for 2015. You can find the specific requirements for each of the 21 specialty areas at the “Get Certified” section of tbls.org. Certification applications are only available until March 31, 2015, and the exam is Oct. 19, 2015, in Austin. If you have questions about … Continue Reading
Legal professionals will speak on grand juries, policing, use of force, and civil rights, among other topics, during a CLE event at the University of Houston Law Center this Friday. The program is part of a free series of CLE for alumni and is open to other attorneys in the greater Houston area. Attendees will … Continue Reading
The San Antonio LGBT Bar Association will hold its inaugural meeting with speakers, networking, and refreshments on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Radius Center at 106 Auditorium Cir. The newly created group was established to promote education on issues relating to LGBT law; study and report on laws, decisions, and governmental regulations as they might … Continue Reading
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit released the following notice about a proposed circuit rule change and is accepting written comments through March 16 at the address below or by email at Changes@ca5.uscourts.gov.… Continue Reading
The latest episode of the Voices of Recovery podcast is now available. In Episode 4, “No More Secrets,” a Texas lawyer tells of her struggles to achieve and maintain sobriety in spite of life’s worst challenges. The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program, part of the State Bar of Texas, created the podcast to let bar members … Continue Reading
Friday was a special homecoming celebration at the annual Native American Law Conference as members welcomed back leaders who founded the Native American Law Section of the State Bar of Texas almost 21 years ago. The conference took place at the Texas Law Center in Austin on Jan. 30. Above, from top: Original founders and … Continue Reading
By Katherine Cabaniss Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in The Examiner News and is republished with permission. Find resources for jurors at texasbar.com. Recently, a high-profile case was tried in my court. A jury heard evidence for more than two weeks. The media was highly interested and consistently present. The courtroom was packed. In … Continue Reading
The American Bar Association, along with its Commission on Immigration and Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, will host a free CLE on Executive Action in Immigration Law on Saturday, Feb. 7 in Houston. Panelists, including Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Michael A. … Continue Reading
