Posted inTexas Young Lawyers Association

TYLA Director Spotlight: Russell Shrauner

By Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) on

Editor’s Note: In this blog series, we are getting to know the members of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors. TYLA, commonly called the “public service arm” of the State Bar of Texas, works to facilitate the administration of justice, foster respect for the law, and advance the role of the legal profession in serving the public. All TYLA programs are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of its board and committee members, with the cooperation of local affiliate young lawyers associations. Learn more at tyla.org.

Name: Russell Shrauner

Employer/Organization: The Carlson Law Firm

Practice Area(s): Personal Injury
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Posted inNewsTexas Board of Legal Specialization

Texas Board of Legal Specialization names Cynthia Graham board chair

By Will Korn on

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization, or TBLS, announced the appointment of Cynthia Graham as its new board chair on November 17. Graham will lead the board, which is responsible for overseeing the administration of the board certification program, enhancing the value of board certification, and increasing its public awareness.

“Welcoming Cynthia as board chair of our organization is an honor as she brings more than 30 years of experience across various family law areas,” said TBLS Executive Director Leo Figueroa in a press release. “Her experience serving on several large and influential boards, such as the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors and the State Bar of Texas Family Law Council, will bring tremendous value to TBLS.”

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Posted inGuest BlogState BarTexas Lawyers' Assistance ProgramTLAP

Stories of Recovery: What it was like then. What it’s like now.

By Guest Blogger on

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 use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) and find more information at tlaphelps.org.

I had my first drink when I was 16 years old, and I was in heaven. That feeling of escape came almost immediately, taking me away from the problems I could not confront at home. Growing up, I was often told I was too sensitive expressing my feelings was never permitted. In fact, I was shamed when my feelings came out. So, I internalized my feelings for years, wanting to please others—particularly my family of origin—when that was impossible, because they were sick too! The more I internalized, the more I drank. A couple of doctors and counselors in my undergrad and law school years advised me I had a drinking problem. No matter, I thought, because I could not imagine my life without alcohol.
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Posted inNewsState Bar

Texas Bar Association minutes from 1930-1940 added to State Bar of Texas digital archives

By Will Korn on

Prior to the establishment of the State Bar of Texas in 1939, the Texas Bar Association, or TBA, was the primary professional organization for attorneys in the state of Texas.

The complete TBA meeting minutes from 1930 to 1940 are now available in the State Bar of Texas digital archives. These minutes reflect the actions of the legal community in Texas in the early 20th century and document the dissolution of the TBA when the State Bar was created.

To access the SBOT archives page, go to texasbar.com, hover over the “About Texas Bar” tab and select “Archives.” There is a link to the digital archives near the top of the next page.

For more information on these additions or on the State Bar of Texas archives, contact the archives department via email at archives@texasbar.com.

Posted inNewsPro Bono

Free virtual pro bono summit for corporate counsel and law firm pro bono leaders scheduled for December 6

By Will Korn on

The Texas Access to Justice Commission and the State Bar of Texas Pro Bono Work Group will be sponsoring a free pro bono summit for corporate counsel and law firm pro bono leaders via Zoom, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday, December 6.

The program, titled “Balancing the Scales of Justice: Creating Pro Bono Opportunities and Partnerships,” will feature two panel discussions introduced by Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby and moderated by David R. McAtee II, senior executive vice president of and general counsel to AT&T, Inc.

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Posted inTexas Young Lawyers Association

TYLA Director Spotlight: Rosalyn Lark

By Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) on

Editor’s Note: In this blog series, we are getting to know the members of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors. TYLA, commonly called the “public service arm” of the State Bar of Texas, works to facilitate the administration of justice, foster respect for the law, and advance the role of the legal profession in serving the public. All TYLA programs are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of its board and committee members, with the cooperation of local affiliate young lawyers associations. Learn more at tyla.org.

Name: Rosalyn Lark

Employer/Organization: The Lark Law Firm, PLLC

Practice Area(s): Family Law
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Posted inSponsored Content

Sponsored Content: Mastering Time Management for Lawyers

By Guest Blogger on

If you’ve ever watched the clock turn over at midnight and found yourself still at the office, you’ve likely wondered where all your time went. As a lawyer, time management is critical for maximizing your billable hours and avoiding burnout.

While the right technology can enhance time management, attorneys should also be mindful of the habits they practice. It may be easy to slip into unproductive routines, but with a little strategy, it’s entirely possible to re-establish good time management habits and get the most out of your day.
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Posted inAbout The BarCLEEthicsState Bar

Free CLE Opportunity: What Every Lawyer Should Know About the Attorney Grievance System

By Guest Blogger on

Laura Gibson

Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas President Laura Gibson sent the following message to members on Wednesday.

It is the duty of the State Bar of Texas to improve and advance the quality of legal services to the public, and foster integrity and ethical conduct in the legal profession. The attorney grievance system is vital to these efforts; however, the workings of the system aren’t always well understood.

In an effort to provide our members more information, I recently moderated a CLE webinar titled “What Every Lawyer Should Know About the Attorney Grievance System.” It is now available to all members to watch on demand, for free, at texasbarcle.com for 1.25 hours of MCLE ethics credit. Continue Reading

Posted inNews

Houston Bar Association and Houston Young Lawyers Association Fire Team Relay to benefit veterans

By Eric Quitugua on

The Houston Bar Association and Houston Young Lawyers Association military and veterans committees are hosting the 2022 Fire Team Relay on Saturday, November 12, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Rice Stadium in Houston, 6100 Main Street. Continue Reading

Posted inSponsored Content

Sponsored Content: 4 KPIs Any Law Firm Can Use to Measure Success

By Guest Blogger on

Headline: You know how to practice law, but do you know what other factors influence your firm’s success?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have become commonplace in today’s business landscape, so much so that some may think of it as merely a buzzword. While the term may sound like nothing but jargon, it essentially refers to the business metrics that evaluate a company’s performance.

Why is it important to track law firm KPIs?:

Tracking KPIs takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it when you see a big difference in your revenue and client acquisition processes. Law firm KPIs should be measurable, specific, and targeted to the particular goals of your business to give you relevant data and information.
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