Posted inNews

Relief funds established for El Paso victims

By Adam Faderewski on

The El Paso Community Foundation and Paso Del Norte Community Foundation have established relief funds to accept monetary donations to support victims and their families affected by the tragedy on Saturday, August 3.

The El Paso Community Foundation has established the El Paso Shooting Victims’ Fund and donations can be made here. The foundation will waive all administrative fees and pay all credit card fees associated with this fund.

Paso del Norte Community Foundation has started the El Paso Victims Relief Fund and is accepting donations here.

Posted inNews

Flag lowered to half-staff; blood drives set

By Adam Faderewski on

Our thoughts are with the people of El Paso in the wake of the tragedy that transpired on Saturday.

In memory of those who lost their lives and in accordance with Saturday’s proclamation by Gov. Greg Abbott, the State Bar of Texas has lowered the Texas flag to half-staff. The flag shall remain at half-staff as a sign of honor and respect through sunset on Thursday, August 8.

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Posted inTLAP

Stories of Recovery: Fearing Discovery

By Guest Blogger on

Editor’s note: This post originally published on May 19, 2015.

Editor’s note: This is the 11th story in our Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program “Stories of Recovery” series, featuring attorneys in their own words on how they overcame mental health or substance abuse problems. The State Bar’s TLAP program offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527, and find more information at texasbar.com/TLAP.

I drank my first full beer at age 9. It was decades ago, but I remember it vividly. My parents were having a party and my childhood best friend and I stealthily looted two Coors Lights from the cooler and retreated to a back room. Fearing discovery at any moment, we drank those beers in about three gulps. Even now, I can feel the warmth and comfort that washed over me. I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular; I just felt good. I had never known such easy access to a euphoric feeling. It is not an overstatement to say I was hooked on that feeling from that day forward.

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Posted inAccess to JusticeSpecial Event

Free legal help available for people affected by flooding in 3 South Texas counties

By Amy Starnes on

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other organizations are partnering to provide legal and recovery assistance to people affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties on June 24 and 25.

A toll-free legal hotline (866-757-1570) is available to connect low-income individuals affected by the disaster with local legal aid providers who can help with:

  • Assistance securing government benefits as they are made available to disaster victims;
  • Assistance with life, medical, and property insurance claims;
  • Help with home repair contracts and contractors;
  • Replacement of wills and other important legal documents lost or destroyed in the disaster;
  • Consumer protection issues such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process;
  • Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems; and
  • Counseling on landlord-tenant problems

Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with Texas lawyers who can provide free, limited legal help. Requestors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.

For more information, read the full news release.

Posted inNewsparalegals

Register now for TAPS 2019

By Adam Faderewski on

The State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division will host the 2019 Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar from September 18 to 20 at the DoubleTree in Austin.

“There’s No Place Like TAPS” will include CLE, socials, a keynote luncheon, and the Paralegal Division Annual Meeting on September 20.

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Posted inNewsVeterans

Veterans can receive legal advice through HBF Saturday clinics

By Eric Quitugua on

The Houston Bar Foundation’s Veterans Legal Initiative continues its traveling Saturday legal clinics of the summer with a stop in Tomball on July 13.

The Veterans Legal Initiative hosts the clinic along with the Houston Northwest Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association. Continue Reading

Posted inNewsPeopleTechnology

Two Texas attorneys named to Fastcase 50 list of top innovators

By Adam Faderewski on

Two Texas attorneys were included in the annual Fastcase 50 list, which honors top innovators in the legal field.

Michael Dreeben, retired deputy solicitor general for the U.S. Department of Justice, and Shawn Tuma, a partner in Spencer Fane, were named to the list alongside other attorneys, professors, and entrepreneurs from around the world.

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Posted inGavel AwardsNewsPeopleSpecial Event

Winners of the 2019 Texas Gavel Awards announced

By Amy Starnes on

Stories that examined how Texas judges are elected and showed how law enforcement agencies are using the Texas Public Information Act to withhold information about deceased suspects are among the winners of the 2019 Texas Gavel Awards.

Journalists representing The Texas Tribune, KXAN-TV in Austin, KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, Super Lawyers Magazine, and the Victoria Advocate were selected as winners. The Texas Gavel Awards, hosted by the State Bar of Texas Public Affairs Committee, honor journalism that deepens public understanding of the legal system.

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