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Feature TYLA Affiliate

Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association         

          The 2011-2012 year has been one of changes and new challenges for the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association. We added a number of new programs to our yearly events calendar. 

          In October, we held two new public service events as part of "Celebrate Pro Bono Week."  FW-TCYLA partnered with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division of Fort Worth to host a Wills Clinic.  Our team of young lawyer and paralegal volunteers were able to provide basic wills and other estate planning documents to lower income families.  This event rewarded all those involved knowing that we were providing long-term peace of mind to those families who could not otherwise afford these basic legal services. 

          That same week the FW-TCYLA hosted a Pro Bono Bootcamp, which is a four hour CLE that is free to our members and to members of the Tarrant County Bar Association.  The CLE took a practical approach to pro bono education, providing advice and resources for attorneys on issues that they would likely encounter when accepting a pro bono case.  The 50+ attorneys who attended received CLE on Consumer Law Issues, Resolution of Landlord/Tenant Disputes, Wills and Estate Planning, and Family Law Practice in Tarrant County.  Representatives from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas were also on hand to explain the resources available to attorneys who accept pro bono cases and how they could sign up to take a pro bono case in Tarrant County.  These events were added to our already busy annual public service schedule, including our: Casino Night scholarship fundraiser; Christmas toy drive and celebration for underprivileged children; golf and softball tournaments that raised over $8,000 for LegalAid of Northwest Texas; and, the TYLA Healing the Wounds presentation advising women affected by abuse about their legal rights. 

          We are increasing our social calendar of activities beyond our monthly happy hours, Spring Fiesta and Fall Fête.  Last Fall was the inaugural Family Fun Day.  The picnic was open to all members and their children, spouses, significant others and four legged friends.  Everyone had a lot of fun and new friendships were sparked for all who attended.  FW-TCYLA added two recreational activities for our members - a kickball team and a running group.  The "Bad News Barristers" competed for two seasons in the local WAKA Kickball League. "The Running Objections" just completed the Cowtown 10k race, and are making plans to train and compete in more local charity races this spring and summer. 

          The addition of so many new projects is often challenging at times, but are rewarding when we increase participation by new members who have previously not been involved in our organization.  Many of these new projects are made possible by generous grants from the TYLA. 

          With all of these new events, our members voted to expand our Board of Directors to create two additional board positions.  This provides the opportunity for greater leadership and involvement by more of our members.  It also allows us to keep our eye to the future as we consider additional ways our organization will serve our members and our community. 

          Looking ahead to 2012, we plan to continue our successful existing projects while adding new events, including a local roll-out of The Unconscious Truth, an updated salary survey, and participating in a Habitat for Humanity project in conjunction with our local bar association.