|
Week of April 23, 2007
|
National Lawyer Novelist to Speak at Law Day Luncheon, RSVP by April 25
The Austin Bar Association's Law Day Luncheon takes place next Tuesday, May 1 - and tickets
are going fast! Reserve yours by this Wednesday, April 25, to make sure you don't miss out
on special guest speaker, national lawyer novelist James Grippando.
James is a best-selling author of legal thriller When Darkness Falls and has recently written
his first book for young adults, Leapholes, a story that leads its reader through monumental
legal cases throughout history. His insight, experience, and humor promise to be extremely
entertaining combination.
In addition, the Austin Bar will be honoring Ronnie Earle in honor of his 65th birthday, as well
as several outstanding contributors to the legal community.
Time is running out - get your tickets today! To RSVP, please call 472-0279.
Date: Tuesday, May 1
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Location: Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, 700 San Jacinto, Capital Ballroom
For more information, please call 472-0279.
Top of Page
|
|
Pictorial Directories Have Arrived - Pick Yours Up Today!
The Austin Bar's 2006-2007 Pictorial Directories are here and ready for your viewing pleasure.
Directories are available for pick up at the Austin Bar office, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you are an attorney at a firm with more than 15 attorneys, then
yours will be delivered to your office.
For questions, please call 472-0279.
Top of Page
|
|
CPS: Structure of the Organization and its Role in Court - This Thursday, April 26
Join CPS representatives to learn about how CPS cases work in our court system.
Date: Thursday, April 26
Time: Noon
Location: 1000 Guadalupe, 126th District Court, 4th Floor
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour
FREE Brown Bag CLE (Lunch is not provided)
No RSVP needed. For more information, contact Sara Foskitt at 854-4915 or
sara.foskitt@co.travis.tx.us
Top of Page
|
|
Austin Bar Members-Only Free CLE - This Friday, April 27
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, April 27 for:
Title: Discovery of Electronic Information – The Rules and Their Impact
Speaker: John Loveland, Navigant Consulting
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 by noon on Thursday, April 26. Please specify whether or not you would like lunch;
no shows who reserve lunch will be billed.
The new rules and amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure took effect on December 1, 2006.
The changes were designed specifically to address the unique challenges of electronic discovery and
to ensure that parties have a plan in place at the very early stages of litigation to address:
- The disclosure and production or discovery of electronically stored information
- Asking for the right information, including types of formats, and searching the
right places
- The preservation of potentially relevant and discoverable information
- Disclosure of data sources that are not reasonably accessible
This course highlights these new rules and the challenges and burdens that may befall counsel and
their clients. Topics for the program include:
- Overview of the specific electronic discovery amendments
- Practical impact of amendments on counsel and clients
- How to help your clients understand and work with the changes
Click here for a brochure.
Not only will attendees benefit from a valuable CLE, but they will also have the chance to win a
set of law books complete with new rule changes. The set, which includes books on Federal Civil
Practice, Evidence, Federal Criminal Practice, and Bankruptcy, will be raffled off for $5 per ticket.
Top of Page
|
|
Summary Jury Trial is Back - Cases Wanted Now Through May 1
The Austin Bar Association, in partnership with the Travis County District Courts and the University
of Texas Law School, created the Summary Jury Trial Project in the spring of 2006.
A summary jury trial combines the information from a condensed trial-complete with witnesses and a
jury-with a mediation between the two parties. It allows the parties to try their case in front of a
jury and hear their findings. Although the outcome of the trial is non-binding, the information
provided by the jury is invaluable in helping the parties understand the probable outcome of proceeding
to a full, binding trial.
This year, the project will be conducted from May 21 through June 1 in the Eidman Courtroom at the
UT Law School.
Cases can be submitted now through May 1, 2007. Case Submission Forms are available at
www.austinbar.org/SummaryJuryTrialApplication.pdf
or can be e-mailed to you by contacting Randy Howry at
rhowry@hermanhowry.com.
Completed forms should be faxed to Geoff Weisbart at 482-6891.
For additional information, contact Judge Darlene Byrne, Judge Joe Hart, Tracy McCormack, Geoff Weisbart,
or Randy Howry.
Top of Page
|
|
Bankruptcy Section Seminar - May 4
Join the Austin Bar's Bankruptcy Section as they present a day-long seminar titled "Red Flags: An
Overview of Non-Bankruptcy Laws to Help Your Clients' Welfare and Your Income Stream."
Topics include: Texas Deceptive Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Act, Defective
Construction/Repairs, Home Equity Issues, Landlord/Tenant, Predatory Lending, Truth-in-Lending/
Installment Loans/Payday Loans, Debt Collection Practices, Credit Reporting, and Insurance Scams
and Other Red Flags.
Date: Friday, May 4
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Seminar Room, 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 700
CLE Credit: 5.5 hours (0.75 hour ethics)
Cost: $110 for section members; $115 for nonmembers; $95 for legal assistants
RSVP: To Lisa C. Fancher at 322-4708 or lfancher@fbhh.com
For more information contact Lisa Fancher at 322-4708 or
lfancher@fbhh.com
Top of Page
|
|
E-Filing in the Travis County District Courts, May 4
As most lawyers in the Austin area have heard by now, 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.
To help you learn about this topic of growing importance, Travis County District Courts are
holding an informative CLE on e-filing, hosted by Judge Dietz and District Clerk Amalia
Rodriguez-Mendoza.
The timely CLE will be presented by CaseFileXpress, One Legal, Inc., Law Place, TexasOnline eFiling
for Courts, MyFileRunner, Forms Workflow, and ProDoc.
Date: Friday, May 4
Time: 9:00 a.m. to Noon (guided tours by service providers and district clerk staff)
Location: Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe, Room 314
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour
RSVP: To Lydia Garcia at 854-9737 or
Lydia.garcia@co.travis.tx.us
Top of Page
|
|
SB 1204 Poll for Civil Litigation Section - Tell Us What You Think
An electronic poll regarding Senate Bill 1204 was sent to all members of the Austin Bar's Civil
Litigation Section who have provided e-mail addresses to the Austin Bar. The goal of the poll is
to determine the opinion of the section in regards to SB 1204.
Leaders of the Civil Litigation Section want to know what their members think of this legislation.
If you are a member of this section, please share your opinion of this legislation through the e-mail
you received last week.
If you received the poll and had trouble voting, please contact Scott at
scott@austinbar.org
or 472-0279.
If you did not receive the poll, but are a member of the Civil Lit Section, please contact Carol at
carol@austinbar.org
or 472-0279.
Top of Page
|
|
Cast Your Ballot for Austin Bar Board Positions and Proposed Bylaw Change
This is your last week to vote in the Board election. E-mail ballots for the 2007 Board elections
have been sent out to all Austin Bar members who provided their e-mail addresses. If you have not
received the e-mail or choose to vote in person,
you may visit the Austin Bar office at 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday, April 10 through April 30 and 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. on May 1 or cast your ballot
at the annual Law Day Luncheon Tuesday, May 1 at 11:45 at the Omni Hotel.
Bios of the Board Candidates can be viewed on the Austin Bar Web site at
www.austinbar.org/austinboardcandidates.shtml.
A proposed amendment to the bylaws is also on the ballot. Please visit
www.austinbar.org/2007amend.shtml
for more information.
If you have provided your current e-mail address and have not received an electronic ballot, or if you have
any questions, please contact the Austin Bar Association at 472-0279.
If you received the poll and had trouble voting, please contact Scott at
scott@austinbar.org
or 472-0279.
Top of Page
|
|
Say Cheese! 2007-2008 Membership Directory Photos
RCL Portrait Design will again be taking photos for the Austin Bar's 2007-2008 membership directory during
the month of May. If you have never been photographed or would like a new photo taken, please call RCL at
266-8921 to arrange an appointment. There is a $7 sitting fee.
You may also submit a photo for the directory to jenny@austinbar.org.
Submitted photos must be at least 300 dpi at a size of 2" by 3".
Top of Page
|
|
Help for Working Caregivers
Working a full-time job and participating in numerous outside activities can be stressful enough.
Add to that caring for an aging parent, relative, or friend and the stress can be overwhelming.
Workingcaregiver.com was created just for you to help with the challenges you face every day.
Workingcaregiver.com, designed for family caregivers who work full time and care for an aging
relative, lessens the challenges and frustrations of elder care by providing up-to-date information,
resources, and services for the ones you love. Access informative articles, post your questions on
the forum, and "Ask the Elder Care Expert" on their easily accessible Web site.
For more information, please visit
www.workingcaregiver.com.
Watch Austin Lawyer for more details.
Top of Page
|
|
Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Thursday, April 26, Solo/Small Firm Section Meeting
Friday, April 27, Bankruptcy Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, May 2, Family Law Section Meeting
Thursday, May 3, Environmental 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.
Judicial Affairs Committee Meeting - April 23
Time: Noon
People's Law School Committee Meeting - May 2
Time: Noon
Animal Welfare Committee Meeting - May 4
Time: Noon
Top of Page
|
|
Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
|
|
|
|
