The Texas Bar Foundation donated a grant of $10,000 to the State Bar of Texas Diversity in the Profession Committee for its Bar Exam Preparation Scholarships. The Diversity in the Profession, or DIP, Committee aims to help defray the financial burden of preparing for the bar exam. In doing so, the DIP Committee awards vouchers … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas’ Membership Department was informed in September 2019 of the deaths of these members. We join the officers and directors of the State Bar in expressing our deepest sympathy.… Continue Reading
On the eve of World Mental Health Day, the State Bar of Texas released a video on Wednesday highlighting the importance of lawyers seeking help for anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health issues. “We are here to send a strong message to our legal community that it’s time that we recognize one thing: … Continue Reading
In 2009, the Texas State Senate adopted Proclamation No. 1144, which recognized October 23 of each year as Texas Paralegal Day to honor the paralegal community. The State Bar of Texas encourages everyone to honor paralegals by celebrating Texas Paralegal Day. The State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division was founded in October 23, 1981, and … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or TEAJF, will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a dinner on October 25 at the Fairmont Austin Hotel. Bestselling author and attorney John Grisham will deliver the keynote address at the event.… Continue Reading
The American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession recognized Judge Lora Livingston and Richard Pena as two of its five recipients of the Spirit of Excellence Award. The two will be presented with the award during the ABA Midyear Meeting in Austin on February 15, 2020.… Continue Reading
The Austin Bar Association took home two Luminary Awards from the National Association of Bar Executives, or NABE, Communications Section Workshop held in late September in Cleveland, Ohio. The Austin Bar won Best PR/Marketing/Social Media Campaign for its 2019 “Fly Me to the Moon” Austin Bar Foundation Gala and Best Special Projects Campaign for the … Continue Reading
Now that the October issue of the Texas Bar Journal is out, what are your favorite articles? Here are some of ours. Take a look for tips on representing youth clients, updates from the 2019 Bar Leaders Conference, and the El Paso law community’s response to the city’s recent tragedy. Don’t forget to stay on … 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
The Council on Legal Education Opportunity, or CLEO, honored Leonard M. Baynes, dean and professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center, with a CLEO EDGE Award in Education. Baynes will be honored at the awards reception on November 7, 2019, in Washington, D.C.… Continue Reading
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, an initiative of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, is hosting 11 free legal clinics for county residents who meet financial guidelines. The clinics, which will be held throughout October, will offer legal advice and consultation in civil matters.… Continue Reading
In a report released by the Legal Services Corporation’s private attorney involvement, or PAI, section, Texas was named 2018’s top state for combined pro bono and compensated cases closed at 7,365. LSC, an independent corporation created by Congress to fund legal assistance to low-income individuals, examined the services of legal aid programs it assists nationwide … Continue Reading
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), which celebrates the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States, the Texas Bar Blog connected with Donald Delgado, a College Station-based attorney focused on civil litigation and vice president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association. A first-generation attorney and Texan, the Bryan … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors voted unanimously September 20 to approve Pablo Almaguer of Edinburg and Sylvia Borunda Firth of El Paso as candidates for 2020-2021 president-elect. Almaguer and Borunda Firth will appear on the ballot in April 2020 along with any certified petition candidates. There are currently no additional president-elect candidates, … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas and Lone Star Legal Aid seek to alert residents that free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by severe storms and flooding spawned by Tropical Storm Imelda. Lone Star Legal Aid operates a toll-free disaster legal hotline — 866-659-0666— that can help with issues such as replacing lost documents, … Continue Reading
The Houston Bar Association, or HBA, and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers, or HVL, have named Michael Hofrichter as executive director of HVL. Hofrichter previously served as HVL’s operations and compliance director, interim executive director, and interim low income tax clinic director. He joined HVL in 2010 upon graduating from the University of Houston Law Center. … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or TEAJF, and Texas Legal Services Center, or TLSC, announced David Insley as the first recipient of the Randall Chapman Fellowship. Insley is a recent graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law. During the two-year fellowship, he will focus on serving economically disadvantaged families struggling to navigate the … Continue Reading
About 100 volunteers from the Houston Bar Association will read to classes in 103 Houston-area elementary schools on Tuesday, September 17, in commemoration of Constitution Day.… Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting September 20 in Corpus Christi. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown Marina (Texas Riviera Ballroom), 797 N. Shoreline Blvd. Members of the public are welcome to attend. The agenda includes a vote on the Nominations and Elections Subcommittee’s nomination … Continue Reading
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch administered the ceremonial oath of office to Brett Busby September 6 at the Texas House chamber. Selected to the Texas Supreme Court by Gov. Greg Abbott, Busby was previously a U.S. Supreme Court clerk, in private practice, and a judge on the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston from … Continue Reading
The Association of Women Attorneys, or AWA, Foundation in Houston is seeking nominations for its Premier Woman in the Law and Rising Star awards for 2020. The Premier Woman in the Law award and Rising Star award are presented to women attorneys who have contributed to Houston’s legal community through their professional achievement and community … Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court welcomed Jane Bland to the bench in a ceremony September 11 at its chambers in Austin. Administering the oath was Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed Bland to the bench, describing her previous work in the judiciary as “extraordinary.” Her experience includes 15 years as a judge on the 1st Court of … Continue Reading
Kelsey Erickson, general counsel to Sen. Kirk Watson, and Katy Aldredge, capitol director for Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, are this year’s recipients of the James Madison Award presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Erickson and Aldredge were chosen for their efforts to create and pass legislation that makes important repairs to Texas’ open … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas’ Membership Department was informed in August 2019 of the deaths of these members. We join the officers and directors of the State Bar in expressing our deepest sympathy.… Continue Reading
