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CLEAR Law Student and Lawyer Survey open through March 7

The Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) want to hear from law students and practicing attorneys across the country about their law school and legal experience. Your perspective will help inform the Committee on Legal Education and Admissions Reform (CLEAR) as it works to develop recommendations to improve bar … Continue Reading

State Bar board to meet January 24 in Austin

The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet at 9 a.m. on January 24 at the Texas Law Center in Austin. The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live on the State Bar of Texas YouTube channel.  The meeting agenda is available here. Among the agenda items, the board … Continue Reading

ABA Hispanic commission announces inaugural Impacto Award

Betty Balli Torres, executive director of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, and civil rights attorney Danny Ortega are the 2025 recipients of the inaugural Impacto Award, sponsored by the American Bar Association Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities. The award will be presented January 31 at the Diversity Awards Reception during the ABA … Continue Reading

Justice Jimmy Blacklock appointed 28th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Jimmy Blacklock as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas on January 6, and appointed James P. Sullivan as the court’s Place 2 justice, filling Blacklock’s previous spot, according to a press release. Blacklock becomes the court’s 28th chief justice, replacing former Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht, who retired at … Continue Reading

Nominations Sought for Pro Bono Awards

The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee and the State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters Committee are seeking nominations for their annual awards. The Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee Pro Bono Excellence Awards include the Frank J. Scurlock … Continue Reading

State Commission on Judicial Conduct releases annual report

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has released its fiscal year 2024 annual report, covering activities from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024. It is available online at scjc.texas.gov/about/annual-reports/. The State Bar of Texas Annual Report for 2023-2024 and the State Bar of Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline Annual Report, covering activity from June 1, … Continue Reading

Baylor Law’s Chris Jaeger named co-winner of AALS Scholarly Papers Competition

Baylor Law School Professor Chris Jaeger has been named a co-winner of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Scholarly Papers Competition for his research paper titled The Hand Formula’s Unequal Inputs, according to a press release. This honor is awarded annually to junior faculty members at AALS member schools who have demonstrated remarkable scholarship, … Continue Reading

Texas Advocacy Project receives $25,000 grant from Texas Bar Foundation to empower victims of power-based abuse

The Texas Advocacy Project (TAP) will use a $25,000 Texas Bar Foundation grant to create a series of short-form legal education videos designed to help survivors navigate the Texas legal system. The videos will show victims their legal rights and responsibilities. The project, accessible through TAP’s online platform over the next 12 months, is “expected … Continue Reading

Texas Municipal Courts Education Center celebrates 40th anniversary

This fall, the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC) is celebrating 40 years of providing judicial education to municipal judges and court personnel throughout Texas, according to a press release. In 1984, the Texas Municipal Courts Association created TMCEC to provide continuing education to municipal judges as well as specialized training for municipal court staff, … Continue Reading

Professional Ethics Committee seeks public comments on proposed ethics opinion

The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2024-6 (comment deadline 1/18/2025): What ethical issues are raised under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct by a lawyer’s use of generative artificial intelligence in the practice of law? Go here to … Continue Reading

Professional Ethics Committee seeks public comments on proposed ethics opinion

The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2024-5 (comment deadline 1/7/2025): May a Texas lawyer practicing in Texas join a District of Columbia law firm partnership that lawfully includes a nonlawyer partner? Go here to read the proposed opinion and … Continue Reading

November 11-15 is Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week

Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week is a statewide effort honoring Veterans Day and coordinated by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and legal aid programs across the state. From November 11-15, legal aid programs, local bar associations, law schools, and pro bono attorneys will provide civil legal services for qualified Texas veterans.… Continue Reading

Professional Ethics Committee seeks public comments on proposed ethics opinions

The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion: Proposed Opinion 2024-4 (comment deadline 1/07/2025): (1) If a lawyer engages a nonlawyer-owned company to provide a platform of support services, may the lawyer pay fees to the company based on a percentage of the revenues … Continue Reading

Fifth Circuit adopts rule change

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit adopted a change to its rules in October. The approved amendment is as follows: FIFTH CIRCUIT RULE 27.3  27.3 Emergency Motions and Urgent Filings Requiring Action by a Date Certain in Cases Other Than Capital Cases. 27.3.2 Urgent Filings Requiring Action by a Date Certain. If … Continue Reading

Statue of Charlye O. Farris unveiled in Wichita Falls

The Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture unveiled a bronze statue of the late Charlye O. Farris, Texas’ first licensed African American female attorney, on October 26 on the lawn of the Wichita County Courthouse, according to a press release. The alliance commissioned Farris’ statue as part of its “Legends Project,” an effort to … Continue Reading
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