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Week of February 2, 2009
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Judicial Evaluation Poll Launches Today
The Austin Bar Association's 2009 Judicial Evaluation Poll was deployed this morning. The Austin Bar conducts the evaluation poll every two years to give attorneys the chance to evaluate the performance of county, state, and federal judges in Travis County that have been on the bench 18 months or longer.
If you have not received your ballot, please ensure that your spam filter is set to allow e-mails from BallotBox@BallotBoxOnline.com.
Voting continues through Friday, Feb. 13, at 5:00 p.m. You may also vote in person at the Austin Bar Association office at 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700. Please take a few minutes to participate in this poll.
Please contact the Austin Bar at 472-0279 with any questions.
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Project Salute: Veterans' Disability Law Training, February 4 and 5
Date: February 4 and 5
Time: 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. on both days
Location: online here
Topic: Veterans' Federal Disability & Pension Benefits Law
Cost:free
Project Salute, a program designed by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law to assist Veterans in Federal Disability and Pension Benefits matters, invites you to participate in a free attorney webinar training. Visit their Web site at www.law.udmercy.edu to view the outreach and impact of the Project.
The training is designed to teach attorneys how to assist Veterans with legal issues regarding disability and pension benefits. It will cover the process for obtaining veterans benefits, explain the reasons why claims are often denied, and discuss methods of obtaining evidence in support of the claim and appealing a claim denial at the Board of Veterans Appeals and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Attorneys will also learn effective advocacy strategies for dealing with the Veterans Administration system, as well as information on recent developments in Veterans Law.
Attorneys attending the free webinar are asked to take at least one pro bono Veterans benefits matter for a Veteran. Paralegals are welcome to participate only if their supervising attorney attends the same training. Click here to see the training agenda and the materials regarding VA accreditation requirements.
Attorneys are required to attend both days to receive CLE credit and to be referred a case.
Please register by clicking here, click on February 2009 online attorney training seminar.
You will be mailed training materials and webinar access information prior to the training. Should you have questions, please contact Regina Martin, Project SALUTE Assistant Pro bono Coordinator, at martinrl@udmercy.edu or at 313/596-0252.
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BookSpring Read-a-thon, January 26 through February 6
BookSping loves to give books to low-income children and get them excited about reading. With this year's Read-a-thon, which begins today, they hope to do both.
Children at 25 Austin area schools will read books over the next two weeks and will seek financial donations to BookSpring for the pages they read. Your children, if they do not attend any of these schools, can also help. Hey, even adults can read and join the effort! (And isn't this a good time to relax for a while with a good book?!) Please go to their Web site and you'll find information about registering to participate in the Read-a-thon.
If you would prefer to volunteer to help distribute books at any of the schools, pre-school programs or medical clinics through which BookSpring currently serves 45,000 low-income children, you can also do that on the Web site .
BookSpring was launched from the merger of Reading is Fundamental of Austin and Capital Area Reach Out and Read. They thank you for your time and support!
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TIPJL at The University of Texas School of Law 10th Annual Symposium, February 6
Date: Friday, Feb. 6
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. with happy hour following
Location: University of Texas School of Law, Eidman Courtroom, 727 E. Dean Keeton St., Room 2.306
Topic:Intellectual Property Law
CLE:7 hours including 1 hours of ethics
Cost: $200
The Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal at The University of Texas School of Law invites Austin Bar members to its 10th Annual Symposium. Please visit the Symposium's Web site to register and view the schedule of events.
TIPJL is very excited about this year's line-up of speakers. Continental breakfast will be provided as well as lunch catered by Primizie. In addition, there will be a happy hour hosted by TIPLJ immediately following the Symposium at 219 West.
Please contact symposium@tiplj.org with any questions.
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Managing Partner Breakfast, February 12
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
Time: 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Location: Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd.
Topic: How the Declining Economy is Changing the Legal Profession
Speaker: Blaine Prescott, Consultant and Vice President with Hildebrant International
Cost: Free
RSVP by Thursday, Feb. 5 to aalk@aaplaw.com.
The Austin-Central Texas Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is hosting its Annual Managing Partner Breakfast and invites both members and non-members to join them. Due to the relevant topic of the breakfast, the Chapter wishes to extend the invitation to firms who do not have an Administrator and to other attorneys in management positions.
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Fit Bar Challenge Event Kickoff, February 13
Date: Friday, Feb. 13
Time: 5:20 p.m.
Location: Castle Hill Fitness, 1112 N. Lamar
Cost: Free
It's time to get moving! Motivate yourself and your staff at next week's kickoff event while learning your way around Castle Hill Fitness.
All fitness levels are welcome and you may choose your Kickoff style. Each class will be led by one of Castle Hill's best instructors:
Health - Fitness Walk & Stretch in the Neighborhood
Fitness Level - Total Body Target Tone Class
Competitive Level - Super Charge Spin Class (*come early to secure a bike)
Contact celeste@castehillfitness.com if you have questions. For more information on the Fit Bar Challenge, click here.
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Gala and Auction Benefitting CASA of Travis County, February 21
Date: Saturday, Feb. 21
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd.
CASA of Travis County recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteers to provide “guardian ad litem” representation for abused and neglected children to help them reach a safe and permanent home. The proceeds from this year's Casablanca inspired gala will provide funding to keep this essential program running for years to come.
You are invited to join them in celebrating and supporting CASA's unique opportunity to help children in need and honor Judge W. Jeanne Meurer’s outstanding support of CASA and the children of Travis County. For more information such as event pricing, click here. Please RSVP by Saturday, Feb. 14.
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Settlement Week, March 16 - 20
Travis County Settlement Week is a partnership between the Dispute Resolution Center, the Travis County Judges, and the Austin Bar Association. This spring's Settlement Week will be held March 16 - 20.
Settlement week packages are available below and at the following locations:
- on the Dispute Resolution Center website at www.austindrc.org;
- at the Dispute Resolution Center, 5407 North IH-35, Suite 410, Austin;
- on the Austin Bar Association website at www.austinbar.org;
- at the Austin Bar Association, 7th Floor, Suite 700, 816 Congress Avenue, Austin;
- at the information desk on the first floor of the Courthouse;
- from Jason Snell, Chair of Settlement Week Committee, The Snell Law Firm, 818 West 10th Street, Austin.
For questions about Settlement Week forms, please contact Rita Rancken at the Dispute Resolution Center at 512/371-0033.
The completed case submission sheet must be submitted to the Dispute Resolution Center (5407 North IH-35, Suite 410, Austin, TX 78723) no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2009. The forms must be received by 4:00 p.m. to be assigned.
Settlement Week package: Click here for Informational Letter and Click here for Submission Sheet.
If you would like to serve as a mediator for Settlement Week, please click here for a sign-up form. Please submit mediator forms to the Dispute Resolution Center no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2009.
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Women's Resource Fair Clothing Drive, Deadline March 27
The Women's Resource Fair Committee is seeking donations for this year's event. Women of all backgrounds attend the event looking for help pursuing a fresh start usually beginning with a job.
Business attire and children's clothes are needed most. Please bring all donations by Friday, March 27 to the Austin Bar Association office at 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700.
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Featured Member Benefit: Belvederes Men's Day Spa
This male-friendly day spa is offering 10 percent off all products and services between now and Tuesday, March 31. Relax within their lounge-type environment and enjoy a wide variety of treatments, including shoe shines and barber services. They accept appointments and walk-ins. Belvederes aims to be the finest gentlemen's salon & spa retreat in Austin.
Their full service salon includes treatment rooms for face and body de-stressing, whole body muscle massage therapies, a signature luxury barbershop galley with shave treatments and spa manicure/pedicure regimens for the detail oriented man.
Whether for the executive on the go, or for full-scale service pampering, Belveders' refined haven for the sophisticated male will provide every gentleman their own polished distinction.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Wednesday, February 4 - Family Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, February 4 - Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting
Thursday, February 5 - Environmental Law Section Meeting
Friday, February 6 - Bankruptcy Law Seminar
Tuesday, February 10 - Real Estate Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, February 11 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section Meeting
Thursday, February 12 - Financial Institutions 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 by noon the previous day to Mollie@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.
Tuesday, February 10 - Women's Resource Fair Committee Meeting
Tuesday, February 10 - Animal Welfare Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 12 - People's Law School Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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