The Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA) has awarded TexasBarCLE one of only 16 annual awards granted to competitors representing more than 300 organizations. ACLEA members are professionals in the fields of continuing legal education and legal publishing. The annual ACLEA’s Best Awards are highly competitive, and winning projects represent the highest level of achievement … Continue Reading
FRIENDLY REMINDER: Membership fees are due on June 1 but must be received by August 31 to avoid suspension of an attorney’s law license and application of a late payment penalty. To check your balance due, pay your fees, and/or claim a Legal Services Fee exemption, go to texasbar.com, log in to your My Bar … Continue Reading
The Nominations and Elections Subcommittee voted today to recommend the nomination of Jeanne Cezanne “Cezy” Collins of El Paso and Larry P. McDougal Sr. of Richmond as candidates for 2019-2020 State Bar of Texas president-elect, after interviewing six potential nominees in Austin. The State Bar Board of Directors will consider the recommendations at its next … Continue Reading
The mission of the State Bar of Texas Professionalism Committee is to increase professionalism and improve the development of new lawyers. The committee was revitalized in 2012 by State Bar President Buck Files, and it has striven to accomplish its mission by tackling four key subjects: mentoring, promoting professionalism through CLE and different events, providing … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Joe K. Longley sent the following message to members on August 23. The Bar’s 2019-2020 budget “season” is now upon us—and I seek your help for further cost saving ideas to achieve my goal of a 10 percent overall reduction1 off the Bar’s 2017-2018 $45 million general fund budget. … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post is part of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Stories of Recovery blog series. TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) and find more information at tlaphelps.org. My ideal resume would read as the antithesis of conventional resumes. I’d memorialize both … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas’ Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program has taken the innovative step of adding a sitting judge to its staff of experts to reach out to fellow jurists about issues such as stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, and other mental health matters. The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP) has always served judges as well … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post is part of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Stories of Recovery blog series. TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) and find more information at tlaphelps.org. A little over four years ago, I believed my life was over. Not because … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas is seeking public input on its communications and transparency efforts. Members of the public are invited to take a short survey, available at texasbar.com/publicsurvey through August 6, where they can evaluate the State Bar’s public communications and provide feedback on areas for improvement. The State Bar Board of Directors voted … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Joe K. Longley sent the following message to members on July 19. Dear Member, I am writing to let you know that the Board of Directors is seeking candidates for the 2019 president-elect race, which will take place April 1-30. Whether you are interested in running as a … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post is part of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Stories of Recovery series. TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) and find more information at tlaphelps.org. I started drinking in high school and immediately liked the way it made me feel. … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Joe K. Longley sent the following message to members on Thursday. This week I traveled to the border to learn how we can promote access to justice and the rule of law related to the separation of immigrant families. I met with a number of dedicated attorneys and … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Tom Vick sent the following message to members on Thursday. I am writing with a quick update on the recent events occurring on our southern border. Although the Trump administration signed an executive order to end family separations, the need for volunteer attorneys remains strong—particularly Spanish-speaking immigration lawyers. … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Tom Vick sent the following update to members on Thursday. I am writing to update you on yesterday’s State Bar of Texas Board of Directors meeting in Houston that precedes our 2018 Annual Meeting. We have two days of informative CLE sessions starting today. Learn more at texasbar.com/annualmeeting. Transparency … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will meet June 20-21 in Houston. The meetings will take place at the Marriott Marquis, 1777 Walker St. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Click here to view the agendas and other meeting materials.… Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Tom Vick sent the following message to members on Thursday. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of Texas amended Article IV of the State Bar Rules to implement changes to the bar’s election process designed to ensure fairness and a level playing field among all candidates. The rules … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post is part of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Stories of Recovery series. TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) and find more information at tlaphelps.org. What’s it like living with bipolar II disorder? It’s been a while since I’ve had … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Tom Vick sent the following message to members on Monday. The State Bar of Texas General Counsel Search Committee voted by acclamation Monday to recommend to the State Bar board Ross Fischer of Austin as general counsel. The State Bar Board of Directors, which elects the general counsel by a … Continue Reading
Since 1949, May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. For the legal profession, mental health has become an increasingly important topic. A report released in 2016 by the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation brought to light some staggering statistics: lawyers … Continue Reading
Texas attorneys have elected Randy Sorrels of Houston as president-elect of the State Bar of Texas. Sorrels received 58 percent of the 32,445 votes cast during the month-long voting period that ended May 1. His opponent, Lisa Blue of Dallas, received 41 percent of the votes. The 32,445 votes set a record for the highest total … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The following message was sent to State Bar of Texas members on Tuesday. In an effort to encourage voter participation and educate members on the 2018 State Bar president-elect candidates, the State Bar is sending periodic emails with messages submitted by the candidates addressing topics of their choosing. The seventh and final messages are … Continue Reading
By Kaci Singer As Texas celebrates its third annual Jury Appreciation Week starting today, we pause to honor those citizens who give of their time to participate in our judicial system. Jury Appreciation Week was created by the 84th Legislature and was first celebrated in 2016. To mark the occasion, the State Bar of Texas has … Continue Reading
Houston attorney Laura Gibson was chosen to be chair-elect of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors during the board’s meeting in Fort Worth on Friday. Gibson will take office during the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting to be held June 21-22 in Houston. She will serve as chair until June 2019. Read … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Tom Vick sent the following message to members on Friday. I’m writing with an update on today’s State Bar of Texas Board of Directors meeting in Fort Worth, which included action on transparency, the budget, and president-elect task forces; an update on possible advertising review changes; a next … Continue Reading
