View This Month's TYLA President's Opinion

Jennifer Evans Morris
TYLA President 2010-2011

Registration is ready. Are You?
Where can you earn two full days of CLE all for one price? Why at the State Bar Annual Meeting of course! Join us in San Antonio June 23 – 24, 2011 (Thursday – Friday) for a variety of lectures, panels, and discussions on a wide range of topics by leading experts. With more than 80 top-notch learning sessions you can earn all your CLE and ethics credit for the year. From sessions on law practice management to ethics to legislative updates, there is something for everyone. For a program schedule and to register, visit www.texasbar.com/annualmeeting.

Sign up today for Partnering for Pro Bono and win an IPAD!
If you sign up on the website, find a partner and take a case by June 15, 2011, you will be placed into the drawing for an IPAD at the annual meeting. Plus, you can earn 5 hours of continuing education credit FREE while assisting with legal service to the poor. Many companies and law firms have already joined the cause and recently we invited more than 7,500 corporate counsel to participate. Currently, Texas attorneys are only addressing 25% of the legal needs of the poor - Partnering for Pro Bono is a great way to make a difference!  Click here for more information. 

Local Bars Offer Veterans and Military Law Seminars
As part of the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans initiative, El Paso Lawyers for Patriots, an arm of the El Paso Bar Association, is holding a two-day CLE aimed at preparing legal professionals to better address the legal needs of the military community. The course will be held May 20-21, 2011, at Fort Bliss in El Paso, with topics ranging from initial military client interview to jurisdiction and service of process and from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to military retirement issues, family law issues, and more. Featured speakers include Capt. Evan Seamone of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Prof. Kyndra R. Rotunda of UC Berkeley School of Law and Executive Director of AMVETS Legal Clinic, and LTC George McHugh, Liaison Officer from the Department of Defense to the ABA's Military Pro Bono Project. In addition, Brian K. Walker, a partner in Walker & Walker in Burleson who assisted in preparing TYLA’s veterans resource pamphlets, will be speaking on Saturday, May 21, on the VA claims and appeals process. For more information, visit http://www.elpasobar.com.

The Tarrant County Bar Association is holding a half-day CLE, “Veterans and the Law,” on May 12 at the Tarrant County Bar Center in Fort Worth. The course is designed as a topic overview to help lawyers who are interested in volunteering through a veterans legal clinic. Speakers include Texas Supreme Court Justice Phil Johnson, a Silver Star recipient; Judge Brent Carr of the Tarrant County veterans court; and James O. Richman of the Texas Veterans Commission. For more information, visit http://www.tarrantbar.org.

TYLA Seeks Spanish Translators
Are you fluent in Spanish? Do you want to become more involved in TYLA? If your answer to both of these questions is “si,” TYLA is looking for your help. TYLA is currently in the process of translating several of our educational pamphlets into Spanish. These pamphlets are distributed throughout our communities and TYLA wants to expand the impact of these pamphlets to the Spanish-speaking communities. If you are interested in helping, please contact Michelle Palacios at mpalacios@texasbar.com.

Support Pro Bono Legal Services and Let Everyone Know It!

The Texas Young Lawyers Association needs your help to support and promote free legal services for indigent Texans by purchasing a specialty license plate. The license plate proudly states that you support "Justice for All" and can be purchased for only $35.00 per year.
$25.00 from the purchase of each plate will be deposited into an account
supporting legal services to the poor. If you would like that plate personalized, you can get your plate for $70.00 per year. To purchase your plate today, simply fill out an application and send your check, payable to the Texas Department of Transportation, to the following address:
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division (SPB)
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin, TX 78779-0001
To pay online click here.

Win a Free iPad with State Bar Member Discounts Program
The State Bar of Texas Member Discounts Program can help put a little spring in your step with savings on everything from computers and office supplies to vacation packages and tickets. Own a pet? This month, State Bar members can win a free iPad simply by requesting a quote on pet insurance from PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance. And don’t miss the special offers available in May through the Member Discounts website! Click here for details.

Make New Connections with Texas Bar Circle
More than 14,000 of your peers have joined Texas Bar Circle - our social and professional network for Texas lawyers. Join today and reconnect with colleagues, find jobs, explore opportunities, and have fun. The power of Texas Bar Circle is in the connections you will make. Visit https://texasbar.affinitycircles.com/sbot/auth/login.