Posted inAccess to JusticeTexas Supreme Court

Texas Access to Justice Foundation honors Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht

Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht with Texas Access to Justice Foundation Board of Directors Chair Deborah Hankinson. Photo courtesy of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) celebrated 40 years of access to justice for low-income Texans at a luncheon on December 2 with the Supreme Court of Texas. TAJF also honored Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht for his years of leadership and contributions to access to justice with the Kleinman Award, its highest honor.

“Chief Justice Hecht is passionate about justice and has been a tremendous advocate, in Texas and nationwide, for closing the justice gap impacting those who cannot afford legal services,” said TAJF Board of Directors Chair Deborah Hankinson in a press release. “He cares deeply about providing legal services for all and has demonstrated his commitment as a leader on our state’s highest court by expanding resources for the legal aid delivery system.”
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Posted inPodcast

State Bar of Texas Podcast: A justice’s legacy—a conversation with Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht

State Bar of Texas PodcastIn this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht to learn about his many years of service to the Texas legal system. Hecht is the longest serving member in the history of the Supreme Court of Texas and the longest tenured Texas judge in active service. They discuss his career path, the behind-the-scenes work judges do within the courts, his efforts to improve access to justice, his advice for lawyers, and much more.
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Posted inLaw Firms and Legal Departments

Scams continue to target Texas attorneys

Update 12/5/2024: We received a report of another scam. A Texas attorney was the target of a similar scam to one we reported on June 28, 2022. The attorney received an email from a company purporting to be “Tradicion 925 Sa De Cv” seeking to engage their law firm in a matter involving HBS Systems, Inc. In the initial email, the scammer stated, “I am Martin Arturo and I am the CEO at TRADICION 925 SA DE CV .My company would like to have a discussion with your firm about a potential business pre-litigation regarding a breach of license agreement, kindly respond if this is something in your wheelhouse and I will send a more detailed description about the case. I await your response.” The attorney replied and then received a more detailed follow up email along with a license agreement and settlement agreement. The attorney did some research and found that we had reported on a similar scam in which the scammer referenced needing help dealing with a legal issue regarding an “HBS Systems” and let us know that that scam appears to still be active in some form.

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Posted inNews

State Commission on Judicial Conduct releases annual report

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has released its fiscal year 2024 annual report, covering activities from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024. It is available online at scjc.texas.gov/about/annual-reports/.

The State Bar of Texas Annual Report for 2023-2024 and the State Bar of Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline Annual Report, covering activity from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, can be found at texasbar.com/annualreports.

 

Posted inLaw SchoolsNews

Baylor Law’s Chris Jaeger named co-winner of AALS Scholarly Papers Competition

Baylor Law School Professor Chris Jaeger has been named a co-winner of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Scholarly Papers Competition for his research paper titled The Hand Formula’s Unequal Inputs, according to a press release. This honor is awarded annually to junior faculty members at AALS member schools who have demonstrated remarkable scholarship, with selections made anonymously by a committee of established scholars.

This award also highlights the role of research at Baylor Law School, where faculty scholarship bridges theory and practice. By examining how jurors perceive legal arguments, Jaeger’s work equips Baylor Law School students with a deeper understanding of effective advocacy in real-world cases.

“I am pleased to congratulate Professor Chris Jaeger on being named co-winner of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Scholarly Paper Competition,” Baylor Law School Dean Jeremy Counseller said in a press release. “The AALS is a leading organization in legal education with a long history of recognizing exceptional scholarship. This recognition by the AALS highlights the quality and impact of Professor Jaeger’s work and underscores his substantial contributions to the legal academy. It also reflects the intellectual rigor and strength of Baylor Law School’s faculty, of which I am immensely proud.”

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Posted inSponsored Content

Sponsored Content: Legal-Specific vs. Generic Software: What Law Firms Should Consider Before Buying

In today’s fast-evolving tech landscape, industries are transforming rapidly, and the legal sector is no exception. For smaller practices, embracing legal-specific technology is no longer just advantageous—it’s essential to stay relevant.
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Posted inNews

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program hosts free legal clinics in December

The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, an initiative of the Dallas Bar Association, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and local lawyers, is hosting free virtual and in-person legal clinics for eligible Dallas County residents throughout December. Continue Reading

Posted inNewsTexas Bar Foundation

Texas Advocacy Project receives $25,000 grant from Texas Bar Foundation to empower victims of power-based abuse

The Texas Advocacy Project (TAP) will use a $25,000 Texas Bar Foundation grant to create a series of short-form legal education videos designed to help survivors navigate the Texas legal system. The videos will show victims their legal rights and responsibilities. The project, accessible through TAP’s online platform over the next 12 months, is “expected to make a significant impact on accessibility to legal resources for underserved populations,” a TAP press release said. Continue Reading

Posted inGuest BlogState BarTexas Lawyers' Assistance ProgramTLAP

Stories of Recovery: Honesty is the best policy

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 happy to have found an easy way to receive both. However, there was another side of me that wanted to have fun, regardless of whether that resulted in any positive benefit. From a young age, I learned that a “little white lie” confidently told could keep me out of trouble and allow me to maintain the appearance of a good student, no matter what fun trouble I got myself into. This, of course, was completely unsustainable. A continued succession of new schools and personal misery might have been enough to encourage new behavior in most people, but it was not enough for me. I have a peculiar mental twist that always tells me, “This time, it’ll be different. This time I’ll get it right.”
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