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Stories of Recovery: Honesty is the best policy

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. Growing up, I had always done well in school. Good grades were an easy ticket to praise and affection at home, and I was … Continue Reading

State Bar board approves comments on Supreme Court’s preliminary rules governing paraprofessionals

As the Supreme Court of Texas prepares to finalize rules that would allow licensed legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to provide limited legal services for low-income individuals, the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors has approved a series of comments on the preliminary rules for the court’s consideration. Meeting in Lubbock for their quarterly … Continue Reading

Board approves budget, 10% dues increase to support bar’s financial security

The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting on April 19 in Galveston. Highlights of the meeting appear below. Watch video of the meeting on YouTube, and read the agenda and meeting materials at texasbar.com/bodmaterials. Proposed budget and dues increase The board voted to submit the bar’s proposed 2024-2025 fiscal year … Continue Reading

State Bar of Texas members elect Santos Vargas of San Antonio president-elect, approve rule amendments

In a combined election and referendum, Texas attorneys elected Santos Vargas of San Antonio to be president-elect of the State Bar of Texas and approved all 12 proposed disciplinary rule amendments. Vargas received 52.06%—10,925—of the 20,986 votes cast during the monthlong voting period that closed at 5 p.m. CDT today. His opponent, Denise Scofield of … Continue Reading

Stories of Recovery: You Can Get Better

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. It’s hard to remember a time when I didn’t feel uniquely awful growing up—where I felt deserving of happiness, friendship, and love. I was … Continue Reading

Stories of Recovery: Be Compassionate

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 was diagnosed with major depressive disorder when I was six years old. During my first year of law school, I experienced a significant … Continue Reading

Former State Bar of Texas President Richard Pena named National Conference of Bar Presidents 2024 Fellow

Austin attorney and former State Bar of Texas President Richard Pena has been named the National Conference of Bar Presidents 2024 Fellow, according to a press release. Pena, who served as State Bar of Texas president from 1998 to 1999, is the second Texas-based attorney to receive the award. The late James B. Sales, who … Continue Reading

State Bar accepting expressions of interest for 2024-2025 standing committees

The State Bar of Texas is accepting expressions of interest to serve on committees for the upcoming bar year, which begins June 1, 2024. The survey form to express interest is available at texasbar.com/committeeform and is due December 1. Information provided will be submitted to the president-elect for consideration. Standing committees are established by the board … Continue Reading

Denise Scofield, Santos Vargas recommended as State Bar president-elect nominees

The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors’ Nominations and Elections Subcommittee voted Monday to recommend the nomination of Denise Scofield, of Houston, and Santos Vargas, of San Antonio, as candidates for 2024-2025 State Bar president-elect. If the board approves their nominations, Scofield and Vargas would appear on the ballot in April 2024 along with … Continue Reading

State Bar of Texas President Cindy Tisdale receives 2023 Dan Price Award for outstanding contributions to Texas family law

State Bar of Texas President Cindy Tisdale was honored with the 2023 Dan Price Award by the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section. This award highlights her accomplishments within the realm of Texas family law as well as her impact on the Family Law Section over the past year, according to a press release. … Continue Reading
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