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Week of June 15, 2009
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Austin Bar Member Directory Goes Live!
The Austin Bar is happy to announce that our online Membership Directory has gone live today and is now open to the public. The directory is searchable by name, firm name, and Area of Practice. Also, beginning next week, Austin Bar members can download a PDF of the directory for free.
To view this exciting new addition to Austin Bar's Web site, click here. We hope you will take advantage of this member benefit and that it will even generate a bit of business for you and your firm.
To makes changes or additions to your profile, please contact Carol Tobias at 472-0279 x106. If you'd like to update your picture, please look to future Bar Codes for details on when you can set up a sitting with Matt Lemke at the Austin Bar office.
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Beware of Scam Targeting Law Firms
An internet scam targeting attorneys in states surrounding Alabama and across the country is prompting warnings from bar associations and federal authorities.
The scam works like this: a law firm receives a referral from someone posing as an out-of-state attorney to enforce a simple contract dispute or collect a debt from a local corporation owed to a foreign company. The firm, believing it is exercising due diligence, confirms that the prospective client is a real company and then enters into a fee agreement.
The firm sends a demand letter and later receives a cashier's check made payable to the law firm. The client is pleased and directs the law firm to wire the money after deducting its fees and costs. The law firm deposits the money in the client trust account, waits for the check to clear the local bank, and wires the money to the client.
Things fall apart when the bank on which the check is drawn notifies everyone that the check is a counterfeit fraud - by which time it is too late to stop the wire transfer, and the law firm's client trust account is now out the proceeds which the firm must replace. The scam works because the law firm erroneously believes that the check is good when it clears the law firm's bank. That is not the case. The first clearance is only provisional. The bank on which the check is drawn has additional time under the law to verify the check.
Beware of similar circumstances. The economic recession is exposing the practice of law to this type of fraud. Remember, those engaged in these schemes are devious and will use the names of actual companies, client contacts, and referring attorneys in an effort to sell the scam. Do not think it can't happen to you.
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Free 2009 Administrative Law Legislative Update & Happy Hour, This Wednesday
Date: Wednesday, June 17
Time: 1:15 to 5:00 p.m. with Happy Hour following
Location:Saengerrunde Hall (at Scholz Garten), 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.
Cost: Free for and open to Administrative Law Section members only
CLE: 3.25 hours
RSVP to rhenderson@tceq.state.tx.us by Monday, June 15.
With six topics being discussed, this is one seminar you do not want to miss. Not to mention it's being held at the self-proclaimed "Oldest Business in Texas," Scholz Garten. All Administrative Law Section members are invited to come out and enjoy some CLE and beer on us!
Join the Administrative Law Section and meet us at the biergarten.
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Full Day Family Law Seminar, This Friday
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: $135 for Family Law Section members, $150 for non-members, and $150 for everyone who RSVPs after Monday, June 15
CLE: 6.5 participatory hours including 1.25 ethics hours
Register by contacting Michelle McFadyen at 472-0279 x111.
The Family Law Section invites all Austin Bar members to a full day of CLE covering topics ranging from Marital Property Agreements to The New Frontier of Alcohol and Drug Testing. Better and broaden your practice on Friday, June 19, with a productive day away from the desk and office.
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Open House for New Travis County Offices, June 24
Date: Wednesday, June 24
Time: 10:30 a.m. to noon for coffee; 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for appetizers
Location: 209 W. 9th St., Suite 270 (Office of Parental Representation); 205 W. 9th St., Suite 240 (Office of Child Representation)
Travis County is launching two new offices: the Office of Parental Representation (OPR) and the Office of Child Representation (OCR). On June 24, each office will host a coffee in the morning and hors d'oeuvres in the afternoon. Please attend to meet the new staff and other community partners who will work with these offices.
Hosted by the Travis County Office of Parental Representation and the Travis County Office of Child Representation.
Please RSVP by clicking here. If you have questions about the events, please call JoAnn Vallejo at the OCR (854-7312) or Janie Carreon at the OPR (854-7305).
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AYLA and Austin Young Executives Docket Call, June 24
Date: Wednesday, June 24
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Belmont, 305 W. 6th St.
This month's Docket Call will not be on it's normally scheduled third Thursday of the month, but next Wednesday, June 24. Don't miss the food, fun, and a great opportunity to network with those inside and outside of the legal community. See you there!
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Members Only Free Fourth Friday CLE, June 26
Date: Friday, June 26
Time: noon
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Topic: U.S. Supreme Court Update
Speaker: Greg Coleman
Cost: Free
RSVP to Mollie Gallagher at 472-0279 or Mollie@austinbar.org.
Reserve your spot today for this month's Free Fourth Friday CLE! Join Greg Coleman and learn what's new with the Supreme Court and how it could affect you and your practice.
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Peace Maker Award - Nominate Someone by Aug. 31
Every two years, the Dispute Resolution Center's Board of Directors selects recipients for the Peace Maker Award given to individuals, groups, organizations, or other qualifying entities that have successfully engaged in peacemaking efforts; resolved a current or potential conflict peacefully or otherwise took steps to increase the presence of peaceful resolution in our community.
If you know of recognition-worthy efforts pertaining to managing conflict successfully, please fill out the nomination form and return to the Center per written instructions by Monday, August 31.
An award ceremony will be held in late October. If your nominee is selected, both you and the nominee and his/her guest will be invited to join the celebration.
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LexisNexis June Coffee Break Webinar Series
LexisNexis Coffee Break Webinars have provided quick complimentary 20-minute sessions to legal professionals for the last few years. All sessions are appropriate for both current LexisNexis users and non-users. And when an individual attends two Coffee Break Webinars in any one month, they will receive one $5 Gourmet Coffee Card. For more information on the Webinars such as topics and dates, click here.
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Capital Area Paralegal Association Intern Program
The Capital Area Paralegal Association has designated a committee to facilitate the placement of paralegal studies students from local colleges and universities into law firms or corporations with legal departments in the Austin area.
Most of the students will be required to work an average of 15 hours per week for 10 weeks; however, it can be more or less per week as long as that is the average. CAPA asks that the company that agrees to an internship provide an environment in which the student is performing or observing legal work which might represent the type of work he or she would do as a paralegal.
Though a salary is not required, it is asked that the company pay the $25 membership fee for the student to join CAPA and any parking fees.
If you have further questions regarding the program, please feel free to call or e-mail Jim Barringer at 750-9292 or jim@barringerlegalcopies.com.
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Featured Member Discount: CLE Online
CLE Online delivers convenient and high-quality online CLE seminars at a discount to Austin Bar Members. To easily satisfy all of your CLE online, visit www.cleonline.com. For more information contact Mike De La Rosa at 778-5665.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
There are no section meetings at this time.
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.
There are no committee meetings at this time.
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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