Legal matters generally involve parties who have different versions of the story and the facts. Cases may be complex and involve legal terms unfamiliar to the public. Understanding the basics of the legal system, the differences in the types of courts, and the meaning of legal terms is important to accurately reporting on legal proceedings. … Continue Reading
The Texas Bar Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to the State Bar of Texas Law-Related Education Department and Law Focused Education, Inc. to fund their newest project: Jury Service: Your Call of Duty. The project is designed educate students and the public about the role of jury service in our democracy and will debut in … Continue Reading
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program has created a one-hour video and educational program that seeks to educate the legal community about the signs that someone may be suffering from depression and vulnerable to suicide. Lawyers can earn one hour of free ethics continuing legal education credit for watching the film Just Ask: How We Must … Continue Reading
Several legal services organizations are sponsoring a free online CLE to teach Texas attorneys how to assist with FEMA appeals. The program, FEMA Appeals 101: How to do a Common FEMA Appeal, will take place at noon on April 9 via Zoom. It is designed for pro bono attorneys interested in helping those affected by … Continue Reading
The team from Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas won the 42nd Annual Texas High School Mock Trial Competition on March 6 at a virtual competition. Booker T. Washington High School’s team will represent Texas at the 2021 Virtual National High School Mock Trial Competition from May 13 to May 15. Twenty Texas high … Continue Reading
The Texas Young Lawyers Association is preparing to launch an online learning platform designed to educate school students about iconic women in our nation’s legal history who have promoted and protected civil rights, fought for equality, and ultimately shaped our present culture. The project—Iconic Women in Legal History—is TYLA’s signature public service project for 2020-2021. … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet for its next quarterly meeting at 9 a.m. CST on January 22. Among items on the agenda, the board will receive: an update from the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda on the upcoming 2021 Rules Vote and committee activities; a report from the Discipline & … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members on December 18. I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. I am writing to share information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to remind you about the upcoming public forums on the 2021 … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, November 13 regarding Supreme Court emergency orders and other items related to the pandemic. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas … Continue Reading
The Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator (TOJI) has a new director and is building on its successes as it prepares to accept its sixth cohort of attorneys. Joshua Weaver, an attorney and entrepreneur, took the helm of the State Bar of Texas program, which expands access to justice opportunities by helping Texas lawyers build sustainable … Continue Reading
Come bring your cup of coffee and join TMCP 2020 on October 28-30, virtually! Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, will be the conference’s keynote speaker on October 30. Register here. Participants can earn up to 6.75 MCLE hours, including 2 ethics hours. Caste is a New … Continue Reading
The “Lady Justice: Women of the Court” podcast will feature Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood, Chief Justice Bridget McCormack of Michigan, and Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia. In a press release, Justice Guzman describes the podcast as “an exciting opportunity to enhance the public’s understanding about the … Continue Reading
The Harris County Law Library will offer a virtual 19th Amendment Centennial Symposium from 2 to 4 p.m. on August 18. The “Votes for Texas Women” event will focus on the history of women’s suffrage and the importance of inclusion in law and government. Registration is open and free to all. “We are thrilled to offer … Continue Reading
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s “Remote Well-Being Wednesdays: A Coronavirus Series” will take place weekly through April 15, offering attorneys a resource for tending to their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs will take place from noon to 1 p.m. CDT via Zoom on the following dates. April 1 “Being at Home Boot Camp”—TLAP … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels and Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members on Friday. We hope this message finds you safe and well. We are writing to share the latest updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Orders and Travel Authorization for Lawyers Many … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Law-Related Education (LRE) department has released a new video series resource “Texas Civics: A Student’s Guide” to all Texas educators and students. The videos highlight the Texas judicial, legislative, and executive branches and explain through easy-to-understand graphics how each branch works. The three videos are ready for view at texaslre.org. … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community. Important links State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community. Important links State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community. Important links Frequently Asked Questions — Coronavirus safety measures at … Continue Reading
Houston Bar Association attorneys and Houston area medical professionals are joining forces to educate fifth graders about the consequences of drug and alcohol use through the Interprofessional Drug Education Alliance, or IDEA, Program. Teams consisting of an attorney and a medical professional will provide information to nearly 1,000 students at 10 different schools in Houston, … Continue Reading
The popular, 30-year-old legal education program known as the “People’s Law School” is halting its in-person classes on the campus of the University of Houston Law Center and moving its program online. This is the final year that people can attend the “People’s Law School” in person. The final live program will be from 9 … Continue Reading
Bishop Lynch High School, of Dallas, finished 10th out of 46 teams at the 2019 National High School Mock Trial Competition from May 16 to May 19 in Athens, Georgia. This is the second time in the past five years that a Texas team has placed in the top 10.… Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Law-Related Education Annual Conference will be held on January 25-26, 2019, at the Commons Conference Center in Austin. The theme for 2019 is “Free Speech, Free Press, Free Society, and Free Enterprise,” which expands on the 2019 Law Day theme.… Continue Reading
More than 100 Houston Bar Association volunteers are expected to read to classes in 100 elementary schools in the Houston area today for Constitution Day. Attorneys and judges are reading and discussing the book Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio to elementary school students at 21 school districts at designated times throughout the day. Constitution Day commemorates … Continue Reading