TYLA Officers
   

Rebekah Steely Brooker, President
   

Dustin M. Howell, Chair
   

Sam Houston, Vice President
   

Baili B. Rhodes, Secretary
   

John W. Shaw, Treasurer
   

C. Barrett Thomas, President-elect
   

Priscilla D. Camacho, Chair-elect
   

Kristy Blanchard, Immediate Past President

TYLA Directors
   

Amanda A. Abraham, District 1
   

Sharesa Y. Alexander, Minority At-Large Director
   

Raymond J. Baeza, District 14
    Aaron J. Burke, District 5, Place 1
   

Aaron T. Capps, District 5, Place 2
   

D. Lance Currie, District 5, Place 3
   

Laura W. Docker, District 10, Place 1
    Andrew Dornburg, District 21
    John W. Ellis, District 8, Place 2
    Zeke Fortenberry, District 4
   

Bill Gardner, District 5, Place 4
   

Morgan L. Gaskin, District 6, Place 5
    Nick Guinn, District 18, Place 1
   

Adam C. Harden, District 6, Place 6
   

Amber L. James, District 17
   

Curtis W. Lucas, District 9
    Rudolph K. Metayer, District 8, Palce 1
   

Laura Pratt, District 3
    Sally Pretorius, District 8, Place 2
   

Baili B. Rhodes, District 2
   

Alex B. Roberts, District 6, Place 3
    Eduardo Romero, District 19
    Michelle P. Scheffler, District 6, Place 2
   

John W. Shaw, District 10, Place 2
    Nicole Soussan, District 6, Place 4
    L. Brook Stuntebeck, District 11
   

C. Barrett Thomas, District 15
    Judge Amanda N. Torres, Minority At-Large Director
   

Shannon Steel White, District 12
    Brandy Wingate Voss, District 13
    Veronica S. Wolfe, District 18, Place 2
   

Baylor Wortham, District 7
    Alex Yarbrough, District 16

   

Justice Paul W. Green, Supreme Court Liaison
   

Jenny Smith, Access To Justice Liaison
   

Brandon Crisp, ABA YLD District 25 Representative
   

Travis Patterson, ABA/YLD District 26 Representative
   

Assistant Dean Jill Nikirk, Law School Liaison
   

Belashia Wallace, Law Student Liaison

 

 
TYLA Office

Tracy Brown, Director of Administration
Bree Trevino, Project Coordinator
Michelle Palacios, Office Manager
General Questions: tyla@texasbar.com

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 12487, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-2487
(800) 204-2222 ext. 1529
FAX: (512) 427-4117

Street Address

1414 Colorado, 4th Floor
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 427-1529

 

Views and opinions expressed in eNews are those of their authors and not necessarily those of the Texas Young Lawyers Association or the State Bar of Texas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2013

Editor's Column
Editor's Column

By: Laura Hale

I am writing this column a few days after the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. It devastates me that events like this happen in our society. While I did not have any connection to the tragedy, my heart still aches for those who did. It’s difficult to find the positive in such a horrible situation, but I think it can be found if we look hard enough. For instance, I believe we were once again shown that humanity at its very core is still good. This was evidenced by the people in Boston who ran towards the flames and carnage to provide aid and move barricades. These people selflessly put the needs of others before their own, and they embody the very definition of the word hero. Undoubtedly, they give us all something to aspire to.

Top Story
Top Story

April 30th is your deadline to vote for State and Bar President-Elect

This year, there are three candidates for State Bar of Texas President-elect – Trey Apffel of League City, Steve Fischer of Rockport, and Larry Hicks from El Paso. The lawyer chosen will serve a one-year term as president-elect from June 2013 to June 2014, and then will serve as president of the State Bar of Texas from June 2014 to June 2015.  The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Feature TYLA Project
Feature TYLA Project

Catch up on Recent TYLA Projects
By:  C.E. Rhodes

The end of the TYLA Bar Year is quickly approaching. Here is a quick review of recent TYLA projects benefiting our members and the public.

Slavery Out of the Shadows:  Spotlight on Human Trafficking

Slavery Out of the Shadows: Spotlight on Human Trafficking seeks to build awareness of human trafficking, a global epidemic affecting the lives of tens of thousands of victims within our own borders. Through a combination of expert analysis defining the scope and operation of the crime and inspiring personal tales of human trafficking survivors.  Project SOS includes pamphlets for the general public, lawyers, and medical professionals. Additional information will be added online soon.

Feature TYLA Affiliate
Feature TYLA Affiliate

Collin County Young Lawyers Association Teams with Other Local Bars to Match Mentors with Mentees
By:  Kimberly Killebrew

Collin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas and we have a large number of solo practitioners.  Many of whom don’t have a resource to go to when they have questions about how to handle a situation or something as simple as how to get a certain document admitted into evidence. To help out these new lawyers or even a lawyer who decides to change the area of law he or she practices in, the Collin County Young Lawyers Association, Plano Bar Association, Collin County Bar Association and the Curt B. Henderson American Inn of Court have teamed to develop a mentor program for Collin County lawyers.

Tips For Young Lawyers

No Clients, No Problem. Tips on Starting your Own Law Practice
By:  Jeremi K. Young, The Young Law Firm, Amarillo, Texas

Six years ago, I left the firm job where I had been working since law school and started my own practice. Having come from a firm that did exclusively contingency-fee work, I did not have a single paying client when I opened shop. The first couple of years were pretty lean, but each year has been better than the last. After much trial and more error, I thought I would share some tips I wish I had known (or knew but didn’t fully appreciate) when I struck out on my own, with a focus on the practical details of opening and keeping open the doors of a fledgling law practice.

Texas Access To Justice Commission Update
Texas Access To Justice Commission Update

Champions of Justice Gala benefiting Texas Veterans
The Texas Access to Justice Commission with its co-sponsor, the State Bar of Texas, honored veterans throughout the state at the Champions of Justice Gala on Tuesday, April 23, at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center in Austin, Texas. More than $338,000 was raised to help provide civil legal services to low-income Texas veterans.

“Veterans bravely risk their lives serving our country. Legal aid can help low-income veterans obtain health benefits they deserve for injuries obtained during military service,” Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Hecht, the Court’s liaison for access to justice issues, said. “These courageous men and women should not be without legal assistance and deserve access to justice.”

Important Dates To Remember

April 26, 2013
TYLA Local Affiliate Grant Reports due to the TYLA office

April 30, 2013
Deadline for receipt of SBOT and TYLA President-elect and director ballots - 5 p.m., Texas Law Center, Austin

April 30, 2013
Election results announced for SBOT and TYLA President-elect and director races

Take Note



   Click here to view the Texas Bar Journal's Questions with the TYLA Candidates

 

We would like to thank our Platinum Sponsor FTI Consulting

 

We would also like to thank our Gold Sponsor Scientific Expert Analysis™

Disaster Response
The State Bar of Texas has established a disaster legal hotline to assist people with basic legal questions following the devastating plant explosion in West, Texas. The hotline, which is answered in English and Spanish by Lone Star Legal Aid, is intended to help low-income persons affected by the disaster with such issues as replacing lost documents, insurance questions, landlord-tenant issues, and consumer protection issues such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process. For  help, call (800) 504-7030.

A partnership between the State Bar of Texas, Texas Young Lawyers Association, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Lone Star Legal Aid, local bar associations, and other legal services providers throughout Texas is making a range of assistance available. To access additional resources, please visit texasbar.com/disasterresponse and texaslawhelp.org.

  

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting is June 20-21 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. 
Register online now at texasbar.com/annualmeeting  for a year’s worth of CLE! 
Choose the courses best suited to your practice.  Breakfast and lunch included both days. 

Keynote Speaker U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito
Thursday, June 20, Bar Leaders Recognition Luncheon

Keynote Speaker Alan Lowe, Director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Friday, June 21, Bench Bar Breakfast

Keynote Speaker U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Friday, June 21, General Session Luncheon

The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald
Friday, June 21, Probate Court No. 1 in the Old Criminal Courts Building, followed by a reception at the Sixth Floor Museum

 

Savings through the State Bar Member Discount Program
Visit texasbar.com/discounts to take advantage of the State Bar Member Discount program. Save money on vacations, computers, clothing, gourmet chocolate, televisions, and more! Visit often – the site is updated regularly with new deals!



Friday Update
The State Bar of Texas is committed to keeping its members informed on proposed legislation that might be of interest to the legal profession as the legislative session progresses. The Friday Update is a weekly e-newsletter which includes summarized information and links to relevant bills. To subscribe, please click here.

 

The Texas Bar Journal wants to hear from you!
Have you received an honor or recognition? Have you recently accepted a new position or moved? Keep the Texas legal community informed by submitting your news at texasbar.com/tbjsubmissions. Your news could appear in an issue of the Texas Bar Journal.

 

2013 National Trial Competition
The top 28 teams out of more than 300 competed in the 38th Annual National Trial Competition Championship Rounds on April 4-6, in San Antonio, Texas.  Congratulations to the 2013 NTC Champion Team, Georgetown University Law Center! Click here for a full list of the results.

 

TYLA Local Leader Directory
Please email the TYLA office if there are any changes to your local affiliate's contact information.

If your affiliate has an upcoming event that you would like featured in eNews, please forward the information to Bree Trevino or contact eNews Co-chairs Robert E. Booth and Leif Olson.




Ten Minute Mentor
Ten Minute Mentor debuted in 2004 to share concise and practical advice that is always accessible online. Since then, it has proven its enduring appeal as one of TYLA's most successful projects. More than 50,000 people have visited the site, and we continue to average more than 2,000 segments viewed each month. You can visit the site at www.tenminutementor.com.



Support Pro Bono Legal Services and Let Everyone Know It!
TYLA 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 costs only $35.00 per year, or $70.00 for a personalized plate.

$25.00 from the purchase of each plate will go to support legal services to the poor.  To buy your plate, simply fill out an application and send your check, payable to the Texas Department of Transportation, to:

Vehicle Titles and Registration Division (SPB)
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin, TX 78779-0001
To pay online click here.

Make New Connections with Texas Bar Circle
More than 15,000 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 here.

TYLA Annual Report 2011-2012
Want to know how TYLA is serving its members and the community? Then be sure to read the 2011-2012 Annual Report, which details the activities of TYLA during the 2011-2012 Bar year. Click here for a copy or call 800-204-2222, ext. 1529 and we'll send one.