• AYLA Looking for Six Volunteer Mock Trial Judges, Feb. 6
• TYLA National Trial Competition, Feb. 4 - 6
• Labor & Employment Section Day-Long CLE, Feb. 5
• Austin Municipal Judges Swearing-in Ceremony, Feb. 5
• Legislative Committee Meeting, Feb. 12
• Phones for Haiti, Deadline Feb. 12
• Austin Bar Association's Fit Bar Challenge, Deadline, Feb. 15
• Save the Date: Administrative Law Section's Anatomy of an Administrative Hearing, March 5
• Spring Settlement Week, March 15 to 19
• Featured Corporate Sponsor: Primus Networks
• Upcoming Section/Committee Meetings

AYLA Looking for Six Volunteer Mock Trial Judges, Feb. 6

Austin Young Lawyers Association is seeking six more volunteers willing to serve as judges for the Central Texas High School Mock Trial Competition this Saturday, Feb. 6. This competition allows teams of high school students from area schools to prepare and present all aspects of a mock trial (opening argument, closing argument, direct and cross examination of several witnesses). The winning team advances to the State Mock Trial Competition in Dallas with possible advancement to the national competition.

Mock trial experience is not necessary to serve as a judge. There is virtually no advance preparation needed (all judges will receive information describing the relevant issues). The time commitment is minimal--each round lasts approximately two hours--and CLE credit is available. The competition will take place in the Travis County Courthouse at 1000 Guadalupe.

If you can volunteer a couple of hours this Saturday, Feb. 6 to help some potential future lawyers, please contact AYLA Mock Trial Committee co-chairs Nicki Glauser nglauser@velaw.com or Brad Compere bradleycompere@yahoo.com.

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TYLA National Trial Competition, Feb. 4 - 6

The University of Texas School of Law is hosting the regional rounds of the National Trial Competition. The National Trial Competition is sponsored by the Texas Young Lawyers’ Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious mock trial competitions in the nation. Every ABA-accredited law school in the country is invited to participate.

They're currently recruiting volunteers to serve as witnesses for the rounds. No experience or special knowledge is necessary. Over 150 witnesses are needed for this competition; mostly in the three preliminary rounds. The first preliminary round will be held on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the second Friday, Feb. 5 from 9:00 a.m. until noon., and the third on Friday afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. There will also be rounds on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and the final round on Saturday afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The competition rounds last approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. There will be a meeting to prepare the witnesses approximately 45 minutes prior to the round. Witnesses should plan on a total time commitment of approximately 3.5 hours.

Your participation in this event is greatly appreciated. If you’re interested in serving as a witness or would like more information, contact Cheryl Brandt at 232-1257 or cbrandt@law.utexas.edu and they'll get you scheduled.

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Labor & Employment Section Day-Long CLE, Feb. 5

Date: Friday, Feb. 5
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
CLE: 6.5 hours
Cost: $49 for Labor & Employment Law Section members, $79 for Austin Bar Association and AYLA Members, $149 for nonmembers. Austin Bar Association members who are not members of the Labor & Employment Section may join for $20.
RSVP to Michelle McFadyen at 472-0279, x111.

The Labor & Employment Law Section invites you to join them for a day-long CLE worth 6.5 hours of CLE. With 11 topics offered, you are sure to learn something new and helpful. Click here for a list of topics.

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Austin Municipal Judges Swearing-in Ceremony, Feb. 5

Date: Friday, Feb. 5
Time: noon
Location: City Hall Building, City Council Chambers, 301 W. 2nd St.

You are invited to celebrate the swearing-in of Austin Municipal Judges for the 2010 to 2013 term. Join us this Friday in the City Council Chambers.

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Legislative Committee Meeting, Feb. 12

Date: Friday, Feb. 12
Time: 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: Free. You may purchase a lunch or bring a brown bag.
CLE: 1.5 hours of CLE
RSVP to Marissa Lara-Arebalo at 472-0279, x0 and indicate if you need a lunch.

Join the Austin Bar Legislative Committee Meeting at the Austin Bar offices Feb. 12. They will discuss the legislative process and key issues impacting the profession and the civil justice system. Local senators and representatives will be invited and attendees will be led in a discussion by Dicky Grigg, Jay Harvey, and David Courreges among others.

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Phones for Haiti, Deadline Feb. 12

There are an estimated 130 million phones retired in the United States every year. If even a small percentage of them are donated to Phones for Haiti, it would contribute millions of dollars towards relief from the devastating earthquake. ReCellular will give 100 percent of the phone value as a contribution to the American Red Cross.

The Austin Bar has partnered with American Red Cross to help with this effort. Drop your old phones off at the Austin Bar office by Friday, Feb. 12 to make a difference.

Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief efforts to help those affected by this earthquake. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers, and providing financial resources. In addition, qualifying phones will be refurbished and supplied to aid groups working in Haiti. All phones are accepted, though newer phones will provide the most value to the charity — in some cases $100 or more.Don’t wait. Donate your used cell phones today.

The local Red Cross has also suggested the following actions:
1. Make a Gift to the International Response Fund through local chapter: here. Be sure to designate on check/credit card with "International Response Fund.
2. Text "HAITI" to 90999 to make a $10 donation to Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti
3. Hold a Fund Red Fundraiser for Haiti Relief. For information on how to do that, please click here.

The Austin legal community has shown great generosity during past disasters. Please help us make a difference in the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this tragedy.

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Austin Bar Association's Fit Bar Challenge, Deadline, Feb. 15

The Austin Bar's Fitness Committee wants to help you run, bike, walk, or swim your way to a new and healthier you in 2010. The Fit Bar Challenge is a personal challenge geared toward helping you be the best you can be this year.

Through July 30, participants will log their points after participating in different activities. And if you are one of the many who haven't worked out since resolution time last January, don't fret! You may pick a challenge level that best suits your lifestyle and fitness needs: Competitive, Fit, Health, or Miscellaneous.

So grab a colleague or even your boss because it's time to jumpstart the new year with a new you! Click here for more information on the challenge and to register. You may also join the Fit Bar Challenge list serve by e-mailing fitbarchallenge@yahoogroups.com. The groups home page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fitbarchallenge.

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Save the Date: Administrative Law Section's Anatomy of an Administrative Hearing, March 5

Date: Friday, March 5
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700

Join the Administrative Law Section for a day of training and CLE covering an administrative hearing. Topics include Informal Settlement Conferences, Evidence, and Ethically Dealing with Pro Se Litigations. Look to future Bar Codes for registration and cost information.

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Spring Settlement Week, March 15 to 19

The Dispute Resolution Center, in collaboration with the Austin Bar Association, the Travis County district judges, and the County Court at Law judges, is holding Settlement Week from March 15 to 19. During two weeks each year, Settlement Week provides an opportunity for parties to settle their cases in a cost-effective manner with the aid of a trained, neutral mediator.

If you would like to submit a case, please fill out and submit the case submission sheet to the DRC no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26.

A $25 administrative fee is required for participation in Settlement Week. Checks should be made payable to the DRC and delivered to the DRC with the case submission sheet.

You may obtain a settlement week package at the following locations:

• DRC Web site at www.austindrc.org;
• DRC, 5407 North IH-35, Suite 410 ;
• Austin Bar Association Web site;
• Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700;
• Information desk on the first floor of the Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe; and
• Jason Snell, The Snell Law Firm, 818 W. 10th St.

Featured Corporate Sponsor: Primus Networks

As a proud sponsor of Austin Bar, Primus Networks, a technology provider managing I.T. infrastructure for Texas law firms, invites you to take advantage of a free network assessment. Valued at $500.00, this network assessment is offered at no charge to ABA members!

The Primus Networks' assessment will help you:

• Better understand your entire network system: security, data and data backup, e-mail, mobile devices, and more;
• Learn how to leverage your network more effectively;
• Address existing and potential technology challenges;
• Set your technology goals to meet your business needs.

Upcoming Meetings

SECTIONS:
Wednesday, Feb. 3 - Family Law Section Meeting

Thursday, Feb. 4 - Environmental Law Section Meeting

Friday, Feb. 5 - Labor & Employment Law Section Day-Long CLE

Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Real Estate Law Section CLE

Wednesday, Feb. 10 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section CLE

Thursday, Feb. 11 - Financial Institutions Section CLE

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 by noon the previous day to Marissa@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 - Bench Bar Sponsorship Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 2 - Law Day Committee Meeting

Monday, Feb. 8 - People's Law School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Women's Resource Fair Committee Meeting

Wednesday, Feb. 10 - Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers Committee Meeting

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