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
Former Judge L. Clifford Davis, the oldest living African American attorney in Texas, received a Presidential Commendation from the State Bar of Texas on October 12, in celebration of his lifelong dedication to public service and integrity in the law. Davis celebrated his 100th birthday on the same day he received the commendation. State Bar … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas took home two awards at the 2024 Communications Section Workshop of NABE: The Association for Bar Professionals. Texas Bar Journal Managing Editor Patricia McConnico received the 2024 Anne Charles Award for Distinguished Service, one of the section’s top honors. The award is presented to a section member who has made … Continue Reading
Update 11/4/2024: Due to popular demand, vLex Fastcase has added a second webinar to demonstrate the platform’s new features to members of the State Bar of Texas. Webinar Details: Date: December 9 Time: Noon to 1 p.m. CST Register here Original post 10/21/2024: Since 2014, Fastcase’s legal research has been one of the most important … Continue Reading
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
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet at 8 a.m. on September 27 at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center in Lubbock. 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 and the board packet materials … Continue Reading
State Bar of Texas President Steve Benesh will provide remarks during the University of Houston Law Pioneers Heritage Celebration scheduled for 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on September 20 in the John M. O’Quinn Law Building at the University of Houston Law Center. The event will also be held virtually. The event will feature a … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Executive Committee will meet at 10 a.m. CDT on September 5 at the Texas Law Center in Austin. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live on the State Bar of Texas YouTube page. The agenda can be viewed here. The meeting materials are available here. Among … Continue Reading
State Bar of Texas Past President Guy N. Harrison, 77, of Longview, died August 4. He received his J.D. in 1974 from Southern Methodist University School of Law and began his service to the State Bar of Texas in the 1990s. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors from … 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. At the ripe age of 41, my entire life has been leading up to the moment I hear welcome to the Bar of Texas. … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet on June 19-20 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The meetings are open to the public and will be broadcast live on the State Bar of Texas YouTube channel. June 19 Board Meeting The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. View the agenda here and the … Continue Reading
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
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
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
State Bar of Texas president-elect candidates Denise Scofield and Santos Vargas will participate in a live, virtual candidate forum from noon to 1 p.m. CDT on March 26. This is your chance to submit questions to the candidates and hear about their platforms during a lively discussion moderated by State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky … 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 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
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting January 26 in San Antonio. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Hilton Palacio Del Rio (Salon B & C) at 200 S. Alamo. The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live on the State Bar of Texas … Continue Reading
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
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting September 29 in Fort Worth. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel (Fort Worth Ballroom 5-8) at 1300 Houston St. The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live on the State Bar of … Continue Reading
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
The State Bar of Texas Executive Committee will meet at 10 a.m. CDT on September 7 at the Texas Law Center in Austin. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live on the State Bar of Texas YouTube page. The agenda can be viewed here. To sign up to speak remotely … Continue Reading
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 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
Frank Stevenson, of counsel to Locke Lord in Dallas, was honored with the 2023 Fellows Justinian Award by the Dallas Bar Foundation, or DBF. The award recognizes a lawyer who excels in the practice of law and who has shown a commitment to volunteer and professional service. Stevenson will receive the award during the DBF’s … Continue Reading