The State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, and legal aid providers across the state remind Texans that a toll-free legal assistance hotline is available to low-income individuals and families affected by the Texas winter storm that began February 11. The hotline—800-504-7030—is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese and connects low-income individuals affected by … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, February 19. Dear Member, We know many of you have been dealing with extended power outages, water service disruptions, and other emergencies. This time of hardship is stressing our families and our livelihoods. Warmer temperatures are coming, but recovery from this hardship may … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, February 12. 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 The Texas Supreme … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on February 5, 2021. 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 The Supreme Court … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas has partnered with Paladin, a justice tech company, to create a statewide online portal designed to help lawyers find volunteer opportunities and assist Texans with their legal needs. Through the free statewide portal at pbtx.joinpaladin.com, volunteer lawyers and law students have a centralized location to search and sign up for pro … 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
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
In an event many called “historic,” the El Paso Bar Association on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with two Mexican bar associations to work together to strengthen the rule of law in the U.S. and in Mexico, to facilitate cross-border educational and networking opportunities, and to expedite transactional legal services on both sides of … 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: 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 set a special meeting for September 10 to consider a tabled motion to restrict the duties of the bar’s president. The meeting will occur via videoconference and be publicly viewable live on the State Bar’s YouTube page. The scheduling of a special meeting was part of a … Continue Reading
Investigations that examined intellectual disability and the death penalty in Texas and why so many sexual assault cases in one of the state’s largest counties went unpunished are among the winners of the 2020 Texas Gavel Awards. Journalists representing The Texas Tribune, Austin American-Statesman, and Austin’s NPR station—KUT 90.5, were selected as winners of the … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members today. The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors held a special meeting on July 27 to discuss and consider action regarding online commentary made by State Bar of Texas President Larry McDougal and other directors. The board heard from 61 speakers and accepted hundreds … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will hold a special public meeting at 9 a.m. on July 27 to accept comments, discuss, and consider action regarding online commentary posted by State Bar of Texas President Larry McDougal and other officers and directors. The board also will discuss the creation of a State Bar … Continue Reading
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas will host its 20th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards in two online events featuring conversations with four Texas legal all stars. On June 11, former State Bar of Texas President Harriet Miers, Locke Lord LLP partner and former counsel to President George W. Bush, and Shonn Evans … Continue Reading
Texas attorneys elected Sylvia Borunda Firth of El Paso to be president-elect of the State Bar of Texas. Borunda Firth received 49.31 percent—9,515—of the 19,298 votes cast during the voting period that ended May 29. Her opponent, Pablo Almaguer of Edinburg, received 49.11 percent or 9,478 votes. Write-in candidates accounted for 1.58 percent of the … Continue Reading
Attorneys living within a 100-mile radius of Beaumont, Waco, Laredo, El Paso, Weatherford, or Lubbock and who are willing to pick up two pro bono cases from the state’s legal aid providers are eligible for a 4.5-hour online CLE on “Family Law Essentials” without charge. The CLE—Family Law Essentials: Giving Back to Your Community—is made … Continue Reading
G. Allan Van Fleet, who served on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors from 2005 to 2008, will be awarded a 2020 Pro Bono Publico Award by the American Bar Association at its upcoming virtual ABA Annual Meeting. The Pro Bono Publico Awards are the top honors given by the ABA Standing Committee on … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Commission and the State Bar of Texas honored veterans throughout the state at the Virtual 2020 Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans. More than $422,000 was raised to help provide civil legal services to low-income Texas veterans. Proceeds are distributed by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and dedicated to the … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community. Important links State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community. Important links State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources … Continue Reading
