There is a strong likelihood that you, as an attorney, have daily interaction with survivors of sexual violence. Sexual violence knows no boundaries, and your clients, your fellow attorneys, your employees, and your judges may be survivors. A 2015 prevalence study by the University of Texas found 40% (2 in 5) of women and 20% … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on September 22, 2015. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. My first experience with clinical depression was at 13. It wasn’t called … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I had been a licensed attorney and member of the State Bar of Texas since 1984, almost 35 years. Then, in March 2019, I … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I remember a number of years having terrible experiences with New Year’s Eve and drinking too much, doing something that was humiliating or that … Continue Reading
Is it possible, in 2020, to carry on the age-old U.S. tradition of gathering with family and friends during the holidays? As new cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in record numbers across the U.S. and abroad, health experts like Isaac Bogoch, infectious disease expert, fear that since “[w]e know that the vast majority of … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally posted on July 25, 2018. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. A little over four years ago, I believed my life was over. Not … Continue Reading
Let’s face it—lawyers are not the most comforting individuals. We can be intimidating. This stereotype has never been truer than when it comes to clients who are survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. The area of sexual assault litigation is still in its nascent stages, especially within the state of Texas, and … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. A DWI is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m not saying I would do it over again if I had the … Continue Reading
In 2018, Texas made great strides in increasing voter turnout, increasing voter participation by 18 percentage points since the previous midterm election in 2014. However, even with that increase, Texas still ranked in the bottom half of states in terms of voter turnout by state. In fact, fewer than 50% of Texans exercised their right … Continue Reading
The simple answer is a definite “yes.” For many people, a house is their most valuable asset, so adding one to your estate will affect many aspects of how your estate plan should be structured. As with any major alteration to your property holdings, or to any life-altering events—such as a birth, marriage, death, or … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I attended my first recovery group meeting on January 27, 1968. I was 10 days past my 27th birthday. I had been an attorney … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. Every Friday, I drove thirty minutes to the liquor store to purchase my week’s libations: a handle (1.75-liter bottle) of Johnnie Walker Black Label … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. As I write this on July 28, 2020, at 7:30 a.m., I am at the courthouse square in a small central Texas … Continue Reading
Created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act, the Payroll Protection Program, or PPP, is a federal relief program intended to provide small businesses with forgivable loans to keep workers employed during the COVID-19 crisis. Since its inception in late March, millions of businesses have applied for PPP loans. … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I spent my whole life before law school achieving great things academically and trying to be perfect—and to somehow prove to myself … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I have always struggled with the feeling of “not enough.” Not smart enough. Not nice enough. Not worthy enough. I could go … Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court recently provided pointed guidance to litigants seeking attorney’s fees in a fee-shifting setting. “In short, to secure an award of attorney’s fees from an opponent, the prevailing party must prove that (1) recovery of attorney’s fees is legally authorized, and (2) the requested attorney’s fees are reasonable and necessary for legal … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on June 29, 2018. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I started drinking in high school and immediately liked the way … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I am a trial lawyer. When I started practice 46 years ago, trial lawyers “were required” to work hard, play hard, and … Continue Reading
Contrary to popular belief, remote depositions are not a new thing. What is new is the temporary suspension of the requirement that the deposition officer, aka certified shorthand reporter, be in the physical presence of the witness. As COVID-19 keeps us all at home, here are some important tips to remember when conducting a remote … Continue Reading
Brief Background and Introduction As a Texas commercial litigation and business lawyer, and clinical professor of business law, I am consistently advising clients and educating students as to the vast depth and complexities of the Texas Business Organizations Code and Texas Business and Commerce Code. However, business laws, both statutory and common law in nature, … Continue Reading
Lawyers, especially collection lawyers, are always looking for new creditor clients. Deceptive criminals have been preying on lawyers for years. Some “scammer detection” tips follow: Typically the “scammer” will contact you by phone or via email. The email will state that the “scammer creditor” company has a debt to collect from a debtor company in your area. Often the … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on October 15, 2014. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I’ve been given the precious gift of life three times; when … Continue Reading
Despite a criminal statute banning gambling in Texas, approximately 30 establishments have taken advantage of perceived loopholes in the law to operate openly as private poker clubs. Until recently, there has been little pushback from law enforcement. Perhaps realizing the potential for lucrative seizures, several of these private clubs recently came under the scrutiny of … Continue Reading
