Editor’s Note: In this blog series, we are getting to know the members of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors. TYLA, commonly called the “public service arm” of the State Bar of Texas, works to facilitate the administration of justice, foster respect for the law, and advance the role of the legal profession in serving the public. All TYLA programs are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of its board and committee members, with the cooperation of local affiliate young lawyers associations. Learn more at tyla.org.
Name: Russell Shrauner
Employer/Organization: The Carlson Law Firm
Practice Area(s): Personal Injury
Why did you join the TYLA board? I joined the Texas Young Lawyers Association board because I wanted to get involved in the many service and education projects the Texas Young Lawyers Association takes on. Having volunteered on a project that addressed the challenges of substance use and mental health in the legal profession, I saw firsthand how meaningful the Texas Young Lawyers Association’s projects can be.
What advice would you give to other TYLA members who are looking for ways to grow professionally? I think TYLA members looking to grow professionally should get involved in the local legal community. The meetings and events hosted by your local bar and local TYLA affiliate are great opportunities to network.
Before joining the TYLA board, what is your favorite experience with community or public service? I think my favorite experience would be in 2019 when my office at the Carlson Law Firm took the entire Children’s Home of Lubbock—a foster care community—to see Aladdin at the movie theater as one of my favorite experiences was going to a movie in the summer. That relieving jolt of cold air after being in the hot sun, chugging lemonade, tossing pieces of popcorn up for your friends to see who could catch it—there’s just something really nostalgic about it. It wasn’t until we took those kids in foster care to see a summer movie that I realized how much I took that experience for granted. Seeing them be carefree and watching them have that experience—some of them for the first time—was really special.
What was your favorite movie, TV show, musical artist, or song from high school/college? Game of Thrones.