|
Week of May 5, 2008
|
Drum Roll Please: Winners of the Austin Bar and Austin Young Lawyers Associations’ Elections
The Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association announce the results of the recent elections:
Austin Bar Association:
President-Elect: Ann Greenberg
Secretary: David Whittlesey
Treasurer: David Chamberlain
Directors:
Leslie Dippel
Brad Houston
Lauren Mathews
Chris Oddo
Bethann Eccles will fill the unexpired director term left open by David Chamberlain.
The new Board along with incoming President Bob O'Boyle will take office July 1, 2008.
Austin Young Lawyers Association:
President-Elect: Chris Popov
Treasurer: Mari Robinson
Secretary: Adam Schramek
Directors:
Elizabeth Branch
Kristin Etter
Michael Golden
Peter Stokes
Leslie Bollier will fill the unexpired director term left open by Adam Schramek.
The new Board, along with incoming President Amy Welborn, will take office July 1, 2008.
Top of Page
|
|
Pick Me! Jury Project – We Need Your Help, Deadline May 6
The award-winning program begins next week, May 12. We still need many judges and lawyers who would like to volunteer their time to aid in educating high school students about the jury system. Two attorneys and one judge are needed for each classroom to conduct a mock voir dire.
Volunteers are needed for the weeks of May 12 for a variety of class times. Click here to sign up to volunteer. There will be a training tomorrow, May 6 at noon at the Austin Bar office to cover your role in the classroom.
The response by the teachers, students, lawyers, and judges has been overwhelmingly positive.
For more information or questions, please contact Brooke Williams at 472-0279 ext. 108 or Brooke@austinbar.org
Top of Page
|
|
Lawyer Referral Service Needs Your Help
The Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas was created by the Austin Bar Association as a non-profit, public service program to help those who needed a lawyer and did not know how to find one. The service offers a 30-minute consultation with an attorney for $20, has a reduced fee family law program, and acts as an information service for other bar-related groups and social service agencies.
One of the main methods of advertising the referral service is by purchasing advertising in the local AT&T Yellow Pages (formerly Southwestern Bell). The Lawyer Referral Service has always been listed under the heading "Attorney Referral Service" which comes prior to the "Attorneys" heading in the directory.
In November 2007, AT&T notified the State Bar of Texas that a decision had been made to change the heading in all Texas directories, and the Lawyer Referral Service would be listed under "Attorneys."
Changing the location of the heading will have a great impact on the Lawyer Referral Service's ability to provide service to the public. At its April 30 meeting, the Austin Bar Association Board of Directors passed a resolution urging AT&T to reconsider its decision. Similar efforts are underway by referral services in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and at the State Bar of Texas. Please take a moment to voice your support of the Lawyer Referral Service by sending an e-mail to dale.hartung@att.com and linda.legg@att.com.
For more information contact Jeannie Rollo at jeannie@austinbar.org.
Top of Page
|
|
Igniting Passion for Leadership, May 6
Date: Tuesday, May 6
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall – Mayor’s Balcony, 301 W. 2nd St.
Become an integral part of the Austin community’s leadership. Join Leadership Austin at a reception to learn more about the Leadership Austin Essential Class. Meet other potential applicants as well as Leadership Austin Essential Class Alumni and learn more about how to “Ignite Your Passion for Leadership” in the greater Austin community.
Already interested in applying? You can find a Leadership Austin application here.
Top of Page
|
|
Capital Punishment: Conversations, May 8
Date: Thursday, May 8
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: The First United Methodist Church of Pflugerville, 500 E. Pecan
“Capital Punishment: Conversations” will be moderated by former Austin news
anchor, Dick Ellis. The presenters will include District Court Judge
Charlie Baird, Assistant District Attorney Gary Cobb, and defense attorney
Keith Hampton. The legal process of capital punishment in the state of
Texas will be explained and these three representatives of our legal system
will share their perspectives. The biblical perspectives will also be
presented by Rev. Terry Dowdy. There will be ample opportunity for
questions, and audience participation will be encouraged.
There is no agenda to support any particular stance on this issue. The desire
is to only provide information that will better enable persons to form their
own positions on this very difficult subject.
Top of Page
|
|
Estate Planning & Probate Section All Day Seminar, May 9
Date: Friday, May 9
Time: 8:15 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Location: Wells Fargo Tower, 400 W. 15th Street,3rd Floor
CLE: 7 hours including 2.5 hours of Ethics CLE
Cost: Section Members $125, Austin Bar Association & AYLA Members $135, Students $100, and Non-Members $150
The Estate Planning & Probate Section is offering an all day CLE seminar covering eight different topics.
Speakers include:
William J. Chriss
Glenn Karisch
Tom Watkins
Don Totusek
Jennifer Failla
Patrick Keel
Doug Dodds
Judge Guy Herman
To RSVP for this seminar, contact Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279 ext. 111.
Top of Page
|
|
Breakfast with the Judiciary, May 15
Join the Bar for a great way to start your day! A delicious breakfast with other members of the Austin Bar never disappoints.
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Top of Page
|
|
Smile and Say Cheese, May 19 - 21
Date: May 19 - 21
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Professional photographer Matthew Lemke is taking photos for the 2008 - 2009 Membership Directory May 19 – 21 at the Austin Bar office. He will schedule sessions for these three days before filling the rest of the week.
Matthew specializes in corporate headshots and executive portraits, as well as family portraits. For examples of his work, click here.
Each 15 minute session will cost $15 and is payable upon arrival with cash, check, or credit card. Also, although there is no obligation, participants will have a range of options for purchasing digital files for their own use.
Though we will try to accommodate walk-ins, it cannot be guaranteed and scheduling an appointment is highly recommended. Call Matthew Lemke Photography at 512/970-2633 or e-mail Matt@MatthewLemke.com to schedule your sitting.
Top of Page
|
|
Can the Legal Profession Prevent Lawyer Misconduct?, May 28 - 31
Date: May 28 - 31
Location: Seaport Hotel, Boston
Deadline for accommodations at the Seaport Hotel is Tuesday, May 6.
Can the legal profession prevent the kind of prosecutorial abuse committed by Michael B. Nifong, who brought false sexual abuse charges against Duke University lacrosse players? What is the best way for courts to deal with situations like that which prompted a federal judge in Philadelphia to fine a lawyer and his client more than $29,000 in March for the client being "hostile, uncivil and vulgar" during a deposition, and the lawyer for doing nothing to control his client's behavior?
These questions represent the kinds of challenges to be addressed at the 34th National Conference on Professional Responsibility.
Some programming will focus on the concerns facing law firm management, like creating a culture that supports compliance with ethics rules, competence and best practices in client relations, instead of simply avoiding liability for shortcomings. Other sessions will target individual needs, such overcoming psychological factors that induce young lawyers to obey instructions from a superior that may be unethical or illegal. Substantive legal topics on the table include changes in lawyer duties to organizational clients and ethical implications of lawyer adversaries collaborating to solve problems.
Click here for more information and to register for the conference.
Top of Page
|
|
Exclusive Austin Bar CLE Course Book Sale
Did you miss a beneficial CLE or seminar but want to access the information that was presented? Here’s your chance to buy the CLE or seminar course book at the low price of $12.50.
Available course books include:
15th Annual Land Development Seminar
Administrative Law Seminar
Bench Bar 2008
Contact Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279 ext. 111 to take advantage of this low price.
Top of Page
|
|
The Year’s Best in Law Office Management and Technology
The Law Firm Merchant Account™, compliant credit card processing for attorneys, tops Jim Calloway’s list of law office management & technology developments for 2007. Endorsed by bar and legal associations nationwide, the Law Firm Merchant Account was added as a benefit of Austin Bar membership in 2006.
To date, more than 40 Austin Bar members have opened a Law Firm Merchant Account for their practice.
The Law Firm Merchant Account resolves the ethical issue of credit acceptance by properly safeguarding and separating client funds into their trust and operating accounts. Fees are never commingled because all service charges or charge backs come only from the operating account and never the trust account.
To confirm you are accepting credit cards the right way, please call at 512/366-6974 or visit http://austinbar.affiniscape.com.
Top of Page
|
|
Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Wednesday, May 7 - Family Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, May 7 - Labor & Employment Section Meeting
Thursday, May 8 - Finanacial Institutions Section Meeting
Friday, May 9 - Estate Planning & Probate Section Meeting
Tuesday, May 13 - CAFA Core DVD Viewing
Tuesday, May 13 - Real Estate Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, May 14 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section Meeting
Thursday, May 15 - Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Meeting
Thursday, May 15 - Civil Appellate Section Meeting
Thursday, May 15 - Constuction Law Section Meeting
COMMITTEES:
The following Austin Bar Committees are meeting at the Austin Bar office, 816 Congress, Suite 700.
Parking is available in the adjacent garage, accessible from 9th Street. Please feel free to attend any that interest you.
Since lunch is provided, please RSVP to receptionist@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.
Tuesday, May 6 - Pick Me! Volunteer Training
Thursday, May 15 - People’s Law School Committee Meeting
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
|
|
|
|