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Week of February 12, 2007
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2007 Judicial Evaluation Poll Results Are In
The Austin Bar Association has completed the 2007 Judicial Evaluation Poll. Members were asked to
evaluate those area judges who have been in office for at least 18 months. Respondents were asked to rate
many traits, such as fairness, temperament, and work ethic, among others.
For results of the Evaluation Poll,
please click here.
For questions regarding poll procedures, please contact the Austin Bar at 472-0279.
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We The Jury Needs Volunteers Like You
Crockett High's Street Law class needs your help! Wendy Abel's street law class needs a civil plaintiff's
attorney and a defense attorney to conduct a voir dire for several of her classes for the civil trial portion
of the We The Jury program.
This week she needs two volunteers each day for her classes on Wednesday,
February 14, and Friday, February 16.
Also, anyone with civil litigation/tort experience is welcome to speak to the class this semester.
If you would like to volunteer or would like more information, please contact Leslie L. Strauch at
leslie.strauch@co.travis.tx.us
or Wendy Abel at
wabel@austinisd.org
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Rise and Shine! Austin Bar's Breakfast with the Judiciary, February 15
Judge Eric Shepperd will be this month's guest for Breakfast with the Judiciary.
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Austin Bar Seminar Room, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: $20 (includes breakfast and parking validation)
RSVP: Advance reservation and pre-payment are required. Reserve your spot by contacting Debbie Kelly at
debbie@austinbar.org or 472-0279.
Please send your check to Debbie Kelly at the Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700,
Austin, Texas 78701.
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AYLA February Docket Call and Movie Night, February 15
This Thursday, February 15, kick back, and join AYLA for its February Docket Call. AYLA invites Austin Bar
members as well as AYLA members to come for happy hour with free drinks and appetizers - not a bad way to unwind at the
end of the week.
And after that, stick around and watch a first-run movie - Notes on a Scandal - for free!
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. - movie begins
Location: Alamo Draft House South, 1120 South Lamar
Thank you to sponsors Alamo Draft House, Commercial Texas, RLS, and Bates Investigation!
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Learn the Basics of CPS Cases, February 15
Join Judges Darlene Byrne, Jeanne Meurer, John Hathaway, and Rhonda Hurley as they present a free CLE on
"The Basics of CPS Representation."
Date: Thursday, February 15
Time: Noon
Location: Travis County Courthouse, 126th District Court, 4th Floor
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour pending (no ethics)
Cost: free brown bag CLE (lunch is not provided)
RSVP: No RSVP needed
For more information, contact Sara Foskitt at 854-4915 or
sara.foskitt@co.travis.tx.us
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AYLA Members Invited to Free CLE, February 17
The Continuing Legal Education department at The University of Texas School of Law is joining the
Texas State Bar Association to present a day-long program titled "What All Good Law Firms Have in Common:
The Basics of Establishing, Organizing, and Operating a Successful Law Practice."
This program brings distinguished Texas attorneys from around the state to the UT Law School where
they will discuss the culture, challenges, rewards, and operational practices of successful law firms
of all sizes.
Location: Eidman Courtroom, University of Texas School of Law
CLE Credit: 6.0 hours (including 1.25 ethics credit)
Cost: Free; continental breakfast and lunch will be provided
For a complete program schedule and details, please visit
http://www.utexas.edu/law/conferences/lawpractice.
This program is open to members of the Austin Young Lawyers' Association and the Texas Young Lawyers'
Association.
Please RSVP by sending an email to
jlarson@law.utexas.edu
with your name, firm, and bar card number.
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Members-Only Free CLE, February 23
The Austin Bar Association is offering free CLE opportunities now on the fourth Friday of each month for
members of the Austin Bar.
Title: Warren's World and the New, New Local Rules
Speaker: Warren Vavra
Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe
Cost: Free; no pizza will be offered this month, but brownbaggers are welcome
RSVP: Not necessary this month
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E-Filing in the Travis County District Courts, February 23
The way you file your court cases is about to change - within the next few months, e-filing will
become mandatory in Travis County District Court cases.
Plans currently call for a phased plan for e-filing to become mandatory according to filings types
(and in this order):
- Asbestos litigation
- Foreclosures
- Personal Injury
- And the remainder
If you need to learn the basics, we've got your chance to do so.
The Travis County District Courts, along with the District Clerk's office, will be co-sponsoring a CLE
course titled "E-Filing in the Travis County District Courts" on Friday, February 23.
The general session will last one hour and will be followed by breakout sessions by two electronic
service providers, Case File Express and Pro Doc. The District Clerk's office will also demonstrate
how they process an E-filed document when it arrives in their inbox.
Hosted by: Judge John K. Dietz, 250th District Court, and Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza, District Clerk
Time: 9:00 am to Noon
Location: Travis County Courthouse, 250th District Court, Room 314
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour
Attorneys, legal assistants, and any other legal support staff are encouraged to attend.
To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please contact Lydia Garcia at 854-9737.
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Sign Up for Settlement Week for Travis County by February 23
The Austin Bar Association, in collaboration with the Travis County district judges, the County Court at Law
judges, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center, brings people a chance 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 Dispute
Resolution Center no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 23.
There is a $25 administrative fee for participation in Settlement Week. Checks should be made payable to the
Austin Bar Association and delivered to the Dispute Resolution Center with the case submission sheet.
You may obtain a settlement week package at the following locations:
- Information desk on the first floor of the Courthouse
- The Dispute Resolution Center, 5407 North IH-35, Suite 410
- The Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
- The Austin Bar Association Web site at www.austinbar.org
The Austin Bar is looking for attorney volunteers to participate in this public service project as mediators.
Please visit our Web site at www.austinbar.org
to sign up for this important cause.
For specific questions regarding Settlement Week, please call Settlement Week Chair, Lisa Magids, at 225-5815.
For administrative questions, please call Kris Donley of the Dispute Resolution Center at 371-0033.
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People's Law School is Back February 24 - Spread the Word to Family and Friends
People's Law School is a day that offers free legal information to the public. This event, held at the UT
Law School on Saturday, February 24, features discussion of basic legal issues covering more than
30 subjects including small business issues, identity theft, wills & estate planning, constitutional law,
and more.
This is an extremely valuable event to those who attend. Pass this on to family and friends and give them a
chance to learn a little about the law - all for free!
A list of topics and times, as well as online registration and directions to the event, are available at
www.PeoplesLawSchoolAustin.com
For more information, contact Jenny at 472-0279 or jenny@austinbar.org
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Tuesday, February 13, Real Estate Law Section Meeting
Tuesday, February 13, Business Law Section Meeting
Tuesday, February 13, Civil Litigation Section Meeting
Wednesday, February 14, Oil & Gas Law Section Meeting
Thursday, February 15, Construction Law Section Meeting
Friday, February 23, Solo/Small Firm 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.
Publications Committee Meeting – February 21
Time: Noon
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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