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Week of October 12, 2009

Bar & Grill Tickets Now on Sale!

Buy your tickets TODAY for the 2009 Bar & Grill show on Nov. 6 and 7 at the Rollins Theatre at the Long Center. Tickets are available online or stop by the Long Center box office during normal business hours. This year's Bar & Grill show, "Adventures in Downsizing," is an original musical comedy about the trials and tribulations of these turbulent economic times. But hurry! Seating is limited and this promises to be one of the best Bar & Grill shows yet. All proceeds benefit the AYLA Foundation. For more details (and to see the show poster), please click here.

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Come to Legal Build Home Dedication, Oct. 14

It is finally time: Tamika Nobles has applied for a Habitat home, put in the required hours of sweat equity, taken the classes required of all Habitat homeowners, signed the mortgage papers requiring her to pay for her home, and is preparing to move into a Habitat home that will soon be done! Please join the Legal Build Committee and Austin Habitat for Humanity to dedicate Tamika's home on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 3:00 p.m. at 2411 Towbridge Circle. This is sure to be a memorable occasion, as it will forever change the life of a local family that has worked long and hard to get out of substandard housing.

Even though Tamika's home is nearly complete, it is still not paid for. We still need to raise nearly $19,000 to complete the pledge the Austin Bar made to Habitat when starting this project. Tax deductible donations (large and small) can be made online or by cash or check. Contact Mishell Kneeland at 970-0681 for more information on donating.

Tamika has kept her promises; please donate anything that you can to help us keep our promise to Tamika and Habitat. Thank you!

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Breakfast with the Judiciary, Oct. 15

Date: Thursday, Oct. 15
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: $10 for breakfast and parking validation if you choose to park in the 816 Congress Ave. garage

After a brief hiatus, Breakfast with the Judiciary is back with Judge Rhonda Hurley. Rise and shine a little earlier this Thursday to make sure you attend this event. RSVP today to Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279, x111.

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CAFA Advanced CLE, Oct. 15

Date: Thursday, Oct. 15
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Location: State Bar of Texas, 1414 Colorado St., First Floor, Auditorium
CLE: 7.5 hours including .75 hours of ethics
Cost: $100 for Section members; $125 for non-members

The CAFA Section of the Austin Bar invites you to spend a day with them covering eight topics including Obtaining Protective Orders, Substituted Judgment, and Voir Dire in CPS Cases. Both members and non-members of CAFA are welcome. Click here for a registration form with a full list of topics and speakers. For more information, contact Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279, x111.

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Ultimate Trial Notebook Seminar, Oct. 15

Date: Thursday, Oct. 15
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. with happy hour to follow
Location: Jackson Walker, 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 1100
CLE: 5.5 hours
Cost:$125 for Civil Litigation Section members; $150 for Austin Bar Association & AYLA members; $160 for non-members

This yearly event brings you the tools to prepare for and be successful at your next trial. Join the Civil Litigation Section for this all-day event and earn 5.5 hours of invaluable CLE. To register for this year's seminar, contact Jim Richardson at 499-8879 or jrichardson@bankrichlaw.com.

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ABA Webcast Learning Series Promotes Removing Bias from Evaluations, Oct. 16

As law firms balance personnel decisions in light of the economic downturn, removing potential bias from performance evaluations becomes even more critical to both law firm managers and those being evaluated. That process is the subject of the lead program in the new American Bar Association Presidential Diversity Program Series, "Strategies for Success," to be webcast live Oct. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.

"Removing Bias from Attorney Evaluations" is sponsored by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, and will launch a series of three webcast programs under the Presidential Diversity Commission. This highly interactive program will include a discussion of the current research, provide case studies to demonstrate the subtle ways in which hidden bias can affect evaluations, and include concrete and useful suggestions and strategies for implementing fair and neutral evaluation systems. This program is designed for law firm managers, partners involved in the evaluation process, and associates.

For a flat fee of $250, an unlimited number of attendees can observe the program and obtain continuing legal education credit at a viewing station. Individuals also can register to view the program from their own computers, and obtain CLE credit for a $25 fee for ABA members or a $45 fee for non-members of the ABA. A full description of the program and registration information are available online.

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18th Annual Spring People's Law School Preparation Begins Oct. 19

Date: Monday, Oct. 19
Time: noon
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700

An event doesn't last this long without the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers. The People's Law School Committee invites you to attend their first meeting next Monday as they prepare for the February event. Join them as they work to provide free legal education to the public. Please RSVP by noon this Friday, Oct. 16, to Brooke Williams at 472-0279, x108 or Brooke@austinbar.org to attend.

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Domestic Violence Survivor Support Network: Pumpkins and Poker, Oct. 22

Date: Thursday, Oct. 22
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: The Belmont, 305 W. 6th St.
Cost: minimum $15 buy-in per person which includes a t-shirt and drink ticket

The Domestic Violence Survivor Support Network is a UT Law School student-run organization, mentored by Professor Sarah Buel, which actively aids survivors of domestic violence in the Austin area by helping to re-establish victims after they have left their abusers. Because economic dependence is one of the main reasons individuals stay in abusive relationships, the organization's goal is to give survivors the tools to be self-sufficient. Proceeds from Pumpkins and Poker funds DVSSN clients in a variety of ways, such as: emergency utility bills, medical expenses, and other necessities.

This poker tournament provides you and the members of your firm, office, or practice a wonderful way to interact with current UT Law students, other local attorneys, and other community members committed to ending domestic and family violence. Make this event a success, by attending, recommending it to your peers, or through a sponsorship! All proceeds will benefit DVSSN clients. Tickets will be sold online until Tuesday, Oct. 20. Contact Kendra Davitt at 614-668-6667 or the.dvssn@gmail.com with questions.

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Members Only Networking Happy Hour, Oct. 22

Date: Thursday, Oct. 22
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress, Ave., Suite 700
RSVP to Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279, x.111.

The Austin Bar is doing all we can to make sure you are receiving the return you deserve on your membership dues. This free members only happy hour lets you blow off a little end-of-the-week steam while networking with new faces and enjoying some old friends. RSVP today and make sure you don't miss this fun benefit of Austin Bar membership.

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Members Only Free Fourth Friday CLE, Oct. 23

Date: Friday, Oct. 23
Time: noon
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress, Ave., Suite 700
Topic: Immigration
Speaker: Paul Parsons
RSVP to Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279, x.111.

Immigration is a hot topic right now and Paul Parsons will be delivering a timely CLE presentation on it for this month's Free Fourth Friday. Join him at the Austin Bar office for this monthly members only event. RSVP and reserve your spot today! Thank you to T-Mobile for sponsoring this month's event. For more information about T-Mobile, please contact Joe Howard at 464-8045 or Joseph.Howard45@T-Mobile.com.

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Callers Needed for Volunteer Legal Services Phone-A-Thon 2009, Oct. 26 - 30

Is your superpower one of persuasion? If so, please use that power for good and help make calls during VLS annual fundraising phone-a-thon. During the week of Oct. 26, supporters and staff of VLS will "go to the phones" to invite every Austin attorney to make a contribution to VLS. The more calls made, the more money raised to support pro bono legal services for the poor. Shifts can be as short as 1 hour and you will be provided with an easy script.

To volunteer to make calls, please contact Trish McAllister at 476-5550, ext. 303 or tmcallister@vlsoct.org. Alternately, you can keep our phone-a-thon short and successful by donating in advance of our call. A suggested donation amount is one billable hour. Visit www.vlsoct.org to donate online. Thank you, Austin lawyers, for 28 years of support.

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Let Your Voice Be Heard, Nov. 9

The State Bar of Texas has scheduled a series of public hearings on whether Texas should require lawyers to disclose if they have professional liability insurance. The Austin hearing will take place at Texas Law Center in the Hatton W. Sumners Conference Room (1414 Colorado) on Monday, Nov. 9, at noon. For those unable to attend, hearings will also be held Oct. 14 in San Antonio, Oct. 15 in Harlingen, Oct. 16 in Houston, Oct. 27 in El Paso, Oct. 28 in Dallas, Oct. 29 in Lubbock. For more information on this issue and public hearings taking place outside of Austin, please click here.

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Federal Court Practice Seminar, Nov. 13

Date: Friday, Nov. 13
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Topic: Productivity Solutions for Litigators
Cost: Free for Federal Bar Association members if registered before Friday, Oct. 16; $150 for all other attendees (Add $15 if checks/applications are postmarked after Saturday, Oct. 31.)
CLE: 7 hours including 1 hours of ethics credit

The Austin Chapter for the Federal Bar Association has been serving the Austin federal practitioner since 1985. Today, the Austin Chapter is growing fast, and presently has more than 130 members. The Austin chapter is committed to providing a community forum for all of the participants in the federal courts in Austin, and invites Austin Bar members to attend their Federal Court Practice Seminar.

All instructors are judges or prominent Austin attorneys, and each will be appearing live. A CD with rules, forms, and case discussion outlines will also be provided at the seminar. This course not only satisfies MCLE requirements, but also meets the federal practice seminar requirement for admission to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. To register, click here.

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Upcoming Meetings

SECTIONS:
Tuesday, Oct. 13 - Real Estate Law Section Meeting

Wednesday, Oct. 14 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 15 - Construction Law Section Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 15 - Business, Corporate & Tax Law Section Meeting

Wednesday, Oct. 21 - Administrative Law Section Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 22 - Solo/Small Firm Section Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 22 - Technology & Computer 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 by noon the previous day to Mollie@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.

Thursday, Oct. 15 - Adoption Day Committee CLE

Monday, Oct. 19 - People's Law School Committee Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 22 - Law Day Committee Meeting

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