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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2013

Editor's Column
Editor's Column

What next?
By:  Leif Olson, eNews Editor-in-Chief

No matter how time seems to fly, the question always remains: What next? The calendar seems to have barely turned to 2013. What next? Planning for the kids’ break on MLK Day. What next? Already we have passed Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. What next? My wife has been planning how I will spend the children’s Spring Break for weeks. What next? Briefing and scheduling-order deadlines keep arriving with the regularity of an Outlook calendar reminder (of which I have set more than my share).

Top Story
Top Story

TYLA Welcomes New Officers
By:  Sally Pretorius, Andrae Law, PLLC

The Texas Young Lawyers Association is proud to announce its 2013–14 Executive Committee, elected by the members of the TYLA Board of Directors. The 20,000+ members of TYLA will vote on a President-elect in April. President-elect candidates Rebekah Steely Brooker and Alfonso Cabañas will begin campaigning in March; profiles of them will appear in the March eNews and Texas Bar Journal.

Feature TYLA Project
Feature TYLA Project

New TYLA Video on Human Trafficking Debuted at South Texas College of Law in January
By:  Patrice Childress, Beck Redden L.L.P.

Under the leadership of C.E. Rhodes, the Texas Young Lawyers Association has undertaken a campaign to raise awareness about the growing problem of human trafficking. The modern slave trade of men, women, and children across international borders and within the United States is a thriving illegal enterprise perpetrated through an underground network. TYLA has committed to cast a spotlight on this problem and bring this form of modern slavery out of the shadows.

Tips For Young Lawyers
Tips For Young Lawyers

Dress For Success, And For Fun
By:  Lindsey Griffin, Cobb Martinez Woodward, PLLC; Editor, poshandpoised.com

The practice of law seems to have a set of unspoken fashion rules such as “always dress conservative,” “wear neutral colors,” and “stick with suit separates.” With the fairly recent business-casual phenomenon, the rules seem to be changing. As lawyers, we are challenged to be creative, forward-thinking, problem solvers. Why then, have we resolved to be boring with fashion whether wearing business professional or business casual?

ABA YLD Update

American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division held its first CareerLine LIVE! event at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Dallas, with more than 70 YLD volunteers offering one-on-one support and guidance. The event also featured an online component with volunteers tweeting vital job-seeking information through the hashtag #ABACareerLine. With some conversations stretching 20 to 40 minutes, volunteers really made the effort to offer one-on-one counsel while lending an ear to those who were struggling.

Texas Access To Justice Commission Update

Texas Access to Justice Commission seeks nominees for awards
By:  Georgia Nolan, Texas Access to Justice Commission

The Texas Access to Justice Commission is seeking nominees for three awards. Read on to discover how you can nominate your organization.

Important Dates To Remember

March 1, 2013
Filing deadline for nominating petitions for SBOT and TYLA Director and President-elect positions.

March 1, 2013
TYLA notice of ABA YLD District 26 Representative election mailed to all ABA YLD District 26 affiliate presidents

March 1, 2013
SBOT and TYLA President-elect nominees' campaigns begin outside of their offices

March 4, 2013
TYLA notice to all TYLA Local Affiliate Presidents announcing deadlines for the TYLA and the ABA YLD Award of Achievement Competitions

Take Note



Click here to view this month's TYLA President's Opinion
C.E. Rhodes, TYLA President

 

We would like to thank our Platinum Sponsor FTI Consulting

 

Insurance and Member Benefits Update
The State Bar of Texas Insurance and Member Benefits Subcommittee continues to study ways for the State Bar to better serve members. The State Bar is recasting a free CLE webcast, Affordable Care Act: Important Information About Your Choices,  on March 6 to educate members about health insurance and the Affordable Care Act. To register, visit texasbar.com/insurancetraining and click here to watch now. Participants will receive 1.5 hours of CLE credit.

Recently, solo and small firm practitioners received a survey from the State Bar in order to gauge their interest in participating in a group plan to try to get lower cost health insurance. The survey results will determine if there is enough member interest for group coverage. As an incentive to complete the survey, an iPad Mini will be given away for every 5,000 returned surveys.

Visit texasbar.com/insurance to take advantage of current options available through the State Bar of Texas Insurance Trust and eHealthInsurance.

  

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.

 

Oyez, Oyez, Oh Yay!
State Bar of Texas Past President Bob Black worked with the State Bar Law-Related Education Department to create Oyez, Oyez, Oh Yay! Civics Resources for Texas Students and Teachers, an interactive web-based project to assist Texas teachers and their students in preparing for the new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards, which took effect August 1, 2011. The website includes links to landmark court decisions that students are required to learn, case studies, videos and multimedia tools, teaching strategies, and other online resources. For a printed toolkit contact Blair McBride or call (800) 204-2222, ext. 1726.

 

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.

 

TYLA is Co-Sponsoring the Following CLE Courses.  Register now to save $50! TYLA members can save $75!  New lawyers can attend for $95!  Please see below for more information:

Success Strategies and Key Lessons for Young Lawyers
Houston - Live Presentation - March 1, 2013, Crowne Plaza River Oaks (713-523-8448)
More Info or Register

Handling Your First (or Next) DWI Case 2013 
Austin - Live Presentation - March 1, 2013, Texas Law Center 
MCLE Credit: Approximately 6.5 hours, including .75 hr ethics expected.
More Info or Register

Can't make it to Austin? Watch via Live Webcast in the comfort of your own home or office!
LIVE WEBCAST - March 1, 2013 - From 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
More Info or Register

17th Annual Choosing & Courting a Jury Course: Legends in the Courtroom
Houston - Live Presentation - March 8, 2013, Westin Galleria Hotel (713-960-8100)
MCLE Credit: 6.5 hrs (including 1 hr ethics) which applies to the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Appellate, Civil Trial, Criminal Appellate, Criminal, Family, Juvenile and Personal Injury Trial Law.
More Info or Register

Nuts and Bolts of International Law
Houston - March 20, 2013, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, L.L.P.
In conjunction with the International Law Section’s 25th Annual International Law Institute, TYLA and the International Law Section have teamed up to present the inaugural “Nuts and Bolts of International Law.” The CLE seminar will take place on March 20, 2013, at the Houston office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, L.L.P.  For more information, please contact the TYLA office.