The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas is accepting public comments on the following proposed ethics opinion through March 22: Proposed Opinion 21-1: Under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, when may a lawyer represent a client adverse to a former prospective client of the lawyer or another lawyer in the lawyer’s … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet for its next quarterly meeting at 9 a.m. CST on January 22. Among items on the agenda, the board will receive: an update from the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda on the upcoming 2021 Rules Vote and committee activities; a report from the Discipline & … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, January 15. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar of Texas information. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas Emergency Order and OCA Guidance … Continue Reading
Texas lawyers are being called upon to exercise their right of self-governance by voting on proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. Voting will take place from February 2 to March 4 by paper and electronic ballot. The remaining public forums for the 2021 rules vote … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The following message was sent to all members on January 5. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar of Texas information. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas Emergency Orders The Texas Supreme Court … 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
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members on December 18. I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. I am writing to share information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to remind you about the upcoming public forums on the 2021 … Continue Reading
Congratulations to everyone who passed the October 2020 bar exam! A virtual New Lawyers Induction Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. CST on December 14. The public can watch the ceremony here.… 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
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, November 13 regarding Supreme Court emergency orders and other items related to the pandemic. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Public Affairs Committee virtually presented the 2020 Texas Gavel Awards on Tuesday. Due to the pandemic, the awards were presented as part of an online ceremony with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas annual awards. The Texas Gavel Awards awards recognize excellence in journalism that fosters public understanding of … Continue Reading
The Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator (TOJI) has a new director and is building on its successes as it prepares to accept its sixth cohort of attorneys. Joshua Weaver, an attorney and entrepreneur, took the helm of the State Bar of Texas program, which expands access to justice opportunities by helping Texas lawyers build sustainable … 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
The State Bar of Texas will host a CLE webinar titled “An SBOT Focus on Diversity Listening Session” from noon to 1:15 p.m. CDT October 28. In this moderated panel discussion, Texas lawyers and bar leaders will discuss the impact of systemic racism and recent events on the legal community; the role of the State … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors voted September 25 to petition the Supreme Court to order a vote of bar members on proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, as provided by Tex. Govt. Code 81.0877. On September 29, the court issued an order … 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: The State Bar of Texas sent the following message to members on September 25. The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting today by videoconference. Highlights of the meeting appear below. You can watch video of the meeting at youtube.com/statebaroftexas and read the agenda and meeting materials here. Referendum … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar updates was sent to all members on September 18. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other State Bar updates. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will receive an update from President Larry McDougal on the Presidential Diversity Plan as well as the Presidential Task Force on Criminal Court Proceedings among other items at the board’s quarterly meeting set to begin at 9 a.m. CDT September 25. Items on the agenda also include … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The State Bar of Texas sent the following message to members on September 10. The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors met September 10 to follow up on items pending from the July 27 special-called board meeting. Task Force and Workgroup Rosters The board approved rosters for two groups created at the … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas sent to following message to members on September 1. The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors’ Nominations and Elections Subcommittee voted to recommend the nomination of Sara E. Dysart of San Antonio as a candidate for 2021-2022 State Bar president-elect, after E. Leon Carter of Dallas withdrew … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet at 9 a.m. on September 10 in a special meeting to consider a tabled motion to restrict the spokesperson duties of the bar’s president among other matters. The agenda for the meeting also contains items to: Consider and discuss referral of ABA Model Rule 8.4(g) … 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: The following message was sent to State Bar of Texas members on August 21. This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other State Bar updates. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. 2021 State Bar of Texas Election The Nominations and … Continue Reading
