Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, February 12.

Dear Member,

This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar of Texas information. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy.

Supreme Court of Texas Emergency Order

The Texas Supreme Court issued its 35th Emergency Order of the pandemic on Thursday. The order extends until May 12 the force of pleading requirements to forestall evictions for certain tenants behind on rent. The state’s voluntary eviction-diversion program now reaches statewide after a limited pilot program. Eligibility for rental assistance under the Texas Eviction Diversion Program will be determined by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Details for assistance can be found here and from Texas legal aid providers.

Vote Now! 2021 Rules Vote is Underway

The 2021 rules vote is underway—please exercise your right to vote! Paper and electronic ballots were distributed February 2 to all lawyers who are active and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas. Lawyers can vote via paper ballot, online ballot, or through the State Bar website at  texasbar.com  (by clicking the “Vote Now” button). Online voting ends at 5 p.m. CST on March 4, and paper ballots must be received by that deadline.

You can learn about the proposed disciplinary rule changes and earn free MCLE ethics credit by watching a recording of the January 5 rules vote forum on the TexasBarCLE website—learn more here. For more information about the proposals, go to texasbar.com/rulesvote or read the January and February issues of the Texas Bar Journal.

This is your State Bar. Your vote helps guide the bar in the direction you desire. Even if you don’t think certain ballot items affect you, they are important to many of your fellow Texas lawyers and deserve your attention.

Take Care of Yourselves

In this challenging time, it’s important to take care of yourselves. We invite you to take advantage of the well-being resources for remote living collected by the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program and to attend TLAP’s monthly Remote Well-Being Wednesday program that will be held at noon CST on February 24. The topic is First Generation Lawyer Challenges and Tools. The panelists are:

  • Carlos Calderon, clinical teaching fellow at South Texas College of Law Houston
  • David Grenardo, professor of law at St. Mary’s University School of Law
  • Rudy Metayer, Pflugerville city council member and attorney

Sincerely,

State Bar of Texas

Resources to Keep You Informed: The State Bar of Texas continues to updatetexasbar.com/coronavirus with the latest resources and information to help you stay informed of the changes affecting our profession. You can also sign up for the State Bar’s Daily News Briefing attexasbar.com/dailynews to receive the latest legal news updates in your inbox every weekday.