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Week of March 19, 2007
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Probate and Estate Planning Seminar - March 30
The Austin Bar's Probate and Estate Planning section is holding an all day seminar on Friday, March 30.
Topics covered will be:
- Estate and Gift Tax Law Update
- Legislative Update
- Asset Protection, Piercing of Spendthrift Trusts, and the Bankruptcy Act
- Planning for the Blended Family
- Marital Property Agreements Still Crazy After All These Years
- Securities Laws Affecting Planning
- Common Drafting Mistakes
- Practicing in Probate Court No. 1 of Travis County
To view a more detailed schedule for the seminar,
click here.
Time: 8:40 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; followed by a reception sponsored by JPMorgan Chase Bank
Location: Austin Bar Seminar Room, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
CLE Credit: 6.0 hours (0.5 hour ethics)
Cost: $125 for section members, $135 for other Austin Bar/AYLA Members, $150 for nonmembers, $100 for students
RSVP: To Michelle McFadyen at michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279.
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Austin Bar Announces Board Candidates for 2007-2008 and Proposed By-Law Amendment
The Austin Bar Association Nominating Committee has approved the following 2007-2008 Board of Director Candidates:
President-Elect
Bob O'Boyle (uncontested)
Secretary
Ann Greenberg (uncontested)
Treasurer
David Whittlesey (uncontested)
Directors (four with two-year terms)
David Chamberlain
Judge Elisabeth Earle
Katherine Howard
Lauren Mathews
Chris Oddo
Jeff Rose
Lance Sharp
Jo Ann Merica will assume the role of President of the Austin Bar Association on July 1.
Any qualified member not receiving a nomination by the committee may be included on the ballot by submitting
a written petition signed by 75 members of the Austin Bar Association to the Austin Bar office by Friday,
April 6, 5:00 p.m.
The May officers/directors e-ballot will also include an amendment of the Austin Bar by-laws to create non-voting
positions on the Bar's board of directors for one representative each of the local associations of legal
administrators, legal secretaries, legal assistants, and court reporters (a total of four non-voting positions).
This request is by unanimous vote and recommendation of the Bar's board of directors.
These additions to the Board will enhance the communication and coordination of efforts among our organizations
and will provide opportunities for members of those associations to participate in the charitable and civic
activities of the Austin Bar.
Voting will be held online starting on April 10. You may also vote at the Austin Bar Association
office or at the Annual Meeting of the association which will be held Tuesday, May 1, 11:45 a.m.,
at the Omni Hotel.
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CAFA DVDs Offered at Austin Bar Office March 20
Topics: 9:00 a.m. Myth of Best Interests (4 hours); 2:00 p.m. Representing Children in CPS Cases (3 hrs)
Location: Austin Bar Board Room, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
CLE Credit: 7.0 hours
Cost: $25 members; $30 nonmembers
RSVP: To Karen Langsley at
klangsley@austin.rr.com
or Tina Amberboy at
tamberboy@austin.rr.com.
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Austin Bar Members-Only Free CLE This Friday, March 23
The Austin Bar Association is offering free CLE opportunities now on the fourth Friday of each month for
members of the Austin Bar.
Join us this Friday, March 23 for:
Title: E-Filing Process and Demonstration
Speaker: Tom Schoolcraft, ProDoc
Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Seminar Room, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: Free; Pizza and drinks will be served for $5.00 or you can bring a lunch
To RSVP, e-mail receptionist@austinbar.org
or call Michelle or Mollie at 472-0279. Please specify whether or not you would like lunch; no shows who reserve
lunch will be billed.
For those of you who attended last month's Fourth Friday, you heard about the importance of the new local rules
from Warren Vavra, especially of Chapter 15, which consists of e-filing for court documents.
This month's CLE is a great way to find out more about the implications of Chapter 15. Don't miss out on this
opportunity!
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Law Day Essay and Poster Contest - Entries Due March 30
Channel your children's creativity into something educational - and that might also make them a little extra cash.
As a part of Law Day, the Austin Bar Association holds a poster contest and an essay contest based on the
Law Day theme. This year's theme is "Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy" and will give
your children a chance to think about their role in our nation's future.
There are two categories, K-2nd grade or 3rd-5th grade, for the poster contest, and students in grades
9 through 12 are eligible for the essay contest.
In addition to a prize for the contest winners, the winners will be recognized at the Austin Bar Law Day
Luncheon and in Austin Bar's monthly publication and will advance to the State Bar of Texas' contest to
compete with children from around the state.
For a flier on the poster contest, click here.
For a flier on the essay contest, click here.
All entries are due on Friday, March 30, at the Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 700,
Austin, Texas 78701.
For more information, please contact Kat Hinson or Jenny Mitschke at 472-0279.
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Put Your Paws Together for Austin Bar/AYLA's Newest Committee
The Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association have jointly created the new Animal
Welfare Committee, which will utilize community service and other activities to promote the welfare of animals.
Many Austin Bar & AYLA members have advocated for such a committee, similar to other bar associations around
the state and nation.
The committee's first meeting will be held March 29 at noon at the Austin Bar offices;
lunch will be provided. Take this opportunity to help formulate the mission of this new and exciting joint
committee.
Date: Thursday, March 29
Time: Noon
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
RSVP to Debbie Kelly at debbie@austinbar.org
by noon, Wednesday, March 28.
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Court Reorganization Bill
A court reorganization bill has been filed by Sen. Robert Duncan and Rep. Dan Gattis. Under the bill,
all County Courts-at-Law will be abolished and new District Courts will be created in their place.
Additionally, the bill creates a mechanism for cases to be designated as "complex" and reassigned from the judge
in whose court the case resides.
To view the proposed bill, please click here.
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LexisNexis Webinar Series
LexisNexis is now offering LexisNexis Coffee Break Webinar Series, available to existing subscribers to the
LexisNexis services.
Take a break from the daily grind and improve your practice at the same time. Each webinar is a 20-minute
session provided at no cost - and participants receive a $5.00 Starbucks card for each session they attend!
Coffee Break Webinar Series:
- Get Your Litigation Mojo Working
- Uncover Hidden Assets and Other Juicy Information
- Busted! Using Facts as Your Secret Weapon
- Who Says Tax Law Research is Taxing?
- Search, Find, Validate: Top Tips for Case Law Research
Current sessions are now scheduled for March and April. To register and for more information,
click here.
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Save the Date - Law Day, May 1
Mark your calendars for the Annual Law Day Luncheon to be held on Tuesday, May 1, at the Omni Hotel.
Best-selling author and lawyer James Grippando will be the guest speaker.
The Austin Bar Association will also be honoring District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who recently celebrated his
65th birthday, for his years of public service and support of the Austin Bar.
Individual tickets are on sale now for $50 per person. To purchase your ticket, send a check made payable to
Austin Bar Association to Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700, Austin, Texas 78701.
Watch your mail for the invitation and Bar Code for more information.
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New Austin Bar Member Benefits
To continue providing members of the Austin Bar Association with important services and benefits, the
following companies have become corporate partners with the Austin Bar Association:
Major, Lindsey & Africa
Major, Lindsey & Africa is the world's largest and highest rated legal search firm. Austin Bar member
Berry Crowley is their new managing director and can be reached at 276-5077.
Click here for a job announcement from the firm
for an Assistant General Counsel position.
To learn more about Major, Lindsey & Africa, visit www.mhaglobal.com.
American Bar Association Retirement Fund
The American Bar Association Retirement Fund was established by the ABA in 1966, and provides full-service,
cost-effective retirement plan solutions to law firms of all sizes - 401k's & profit sharing plans plus
one-on-one investment advice services.
If you are interested in this opportunity or would like more information, contact Joe DiBello at
1-800-826-8901 or jrdibello@citistreetonline.com.
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Electronic Filing Ordered for Designated Cases
Judge John Dietz has issued a standing order mandating electronic filing and electronic service for designated
cases filed in the District Courts of Travis County. The case types that Judge Dietz designated as TexasOnline
eFile cases are: Asbestos Related Injury, Home Equity Foreclosures, and Negligence.
Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza, Travis County District Clerk, said that her office will not accept any filing documents
in paper form for the designated case types, unless from pro se parties or parties granted a waiver by the court.
The Travis County District Clerk's office also plans to send notices to attorneys who have pending cases impacted
by the order informing them of the new filing process.
To meet the requirements of this mandate, filers may register for electronic filing and electronic service via the
TexasOnline eFiling for Courts Web site at
www.TexasOnline.com/eFiling.
eFiling for Courts is the official electronic filing solution for the State of Texas.
For more information, please visit
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/district_clerk/default.asp
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Tuesday, March 20, Business, Corporate and Tax Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, March 21, Administrative Law Section Meeting
Thursday, March 22, Solo/Small Firm Section Meeting
Thursday, March 22, Civil Appellate Law Section Meeting
Friday, March 30, Bankruptcy 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.
Publications Committee Meeting - March 21
Time: Noon
Judicial Affairs Committee Meeting - March 26
Time: Noon
Legal Build Committee Meeting - March 29
Time: Noon
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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