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Week of December 10, 2007
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Adoption Day Family Needs YOUR Help This Holiday Season!
The Bar staff has developed a tradition over the years of adopting a family during the holiday season. This year, the Bar would like to show it's appreciation to a family that has done some adopting of their own.
On Austin Adoption Day, this family welcomed their four nephews, ranging from 18 months to 9 years of age, into their home. The three school-age boys are making great strides in the classroom now that they have a stable, loving home. The oldest son has even changed his name to match that of his adoptive father because he would like to grow-up to be just like him!
The Bar wants to make this holiday season a special one for a family that has so generously welcomed these four boys at a time of year that is often financially difficult. You can help by making a cash or gift donation.
The boys' clothes sizes are as follows:
Nicholas (9 years old) - jeans size 16 husky, shirts small to medium mens
Josh (8 years old) - jeans size 6 to 7, shirts medium
Jeremiah (7 years old) - jeans size 5 to 6, shirts small to medium
A few gift ideas include:
Nicholas (9 years old) - art supplies
Josh (8 years old) - musical instruments
Jeremiah (7 years old) - spider man and video games
John (18 months old) - toddler toys and stuffed animals
Nicholas's wish to Santa was that his brothers and adoptive parents have the best Christmas. The Bar hopes to make that happen with your help.
All donations can be brought to the Austin Bar Association office at 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700. Checks can be made payable to the Austin Bar Foundation and can be either delivered or mailed. Please identify that the donation is for the adopted family.
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Sign American Bar Association's Petition for Justice in Pakistan by December 13
Evidence mounts that pressure brought by bar associations in the U.S. and abroad is forcing Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf to soften his assault on the rule of law. But, he has failed to address some of his most destructive actions, and the legal community must continue to show its support for justice in Pakistan.
On Dec. 13, William H. Neukom, President of the ABA, will present a petition signed by concerned lawyers and judges to Pakistan's Ambassador in Washington, D.C. The Austin Bar asks you to add your name to that petition and encourage those in your office to sign it, too. You can "sign" it electronically by clicking here.
In recent weeks, attorneys have responded in extraordinary ways to support our colleagues in Pakistan. We must build on this momentum. Please send this petition to friends and colleagues, with your own thoughts about why the rule of law matters.
Speaking together, the lawyers and judges of America will be heard.
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Breakfast with the Judiciary, RSVP by December 18
Date: Thursday, Dec. 20
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Location: Austin Bar office, 816 Congress, Suite 700
Cost: $20 will cover the cost of breakfast and parking
RSVP: Advance reservation and pre-payment are required. E-mail your RSVP notice to Debbie Kelly at Debbie@austinbar.org. Send your check to: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700, Austin, Texas 78701.
Join Justice Don Willett of the Texas Supreme Court and other Bar members over a hot breakfast. Don't miss this chance to start your day off right!
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A Message from Sen. Kirk Watson on the Interim Charges
House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) recently released interim charges for several House committees, including Civil Practices and the Judiciary Committee.
The various topics may greatly affect the workings of the Texas justice system. As attorneys, it is our responsibility to learn about these issues and speak out in support or opposition of the resulting impact on the courts and the entire justice system.
Visit the Austin Bar Web site to read the charges for the Civil Practices and Judiciary Committees. Please contact Susan Nold in Senator Kirk Watson's office at Susan.nold@senate.state.tx.us and/or DeLaine Ward of the Austin Bar at DeLaine@austinbar.org to voice your opinions on these issues.
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American Bar Association's 2008 Legal Opportunity Scholarship, Deadline March 1, 2008
This American Bar Association Scholarship Fund is intended to encourage racial and ethnic minority students to apply to law school and to provide financial assistance to the scholarship recipients.
The Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000.
The application may be downloaded here. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the American Bar Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity at 312/988-5137.
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8th Annual Minority Hiring Report Card
The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, the Austin Black Lawyers Association, and the Austin Asian Bar Association have released the 8th Annual Minority Hiring Report Card. Now in its eighth year, the Minority Hiring Report Card grades the 25 largest law firms in Austin on the percentages of minority attorneys in the firms. This year, the report card shows that minority attorneys comprise 11.4 percent of the attorneys in Austin's 25 largest firms, an increase over last year's 10.7.
In a change from previous years, this year's Minority Hiring Report Card is weighted in favor of law firms that have minority partners and hire minority law clerks, an issue that the Joint Committee debated for quite some time.
According to this year's report card, seven law firms earned an "A" grade for exceptional minority hiring and recruitment efforts. The report card is accompanied by a Progress Report showing minority hiring grades earned by Austin law firms over the past eight years.
Click here to view the press release, report card, and progress report.
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The Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity Fund
The Bar asks you to join us in contributing to the Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity
Fund, an endowed charitable fund of the Austin Community Foundation. Our contributions to this fund will help memorialize Jack, who tragically died last summer at age 17, and will help economically disadvantaged central Texas high school debaters in perpetuity.
Established by Jack's parents, Scott and Sarah Jenkins, the goal of the Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity Fund is to reduce the economic barriers for high school students who demonstrate an aptitude for debate but who are otherwise unable to participate meaningfully in competitive debate because they are financially disadvantaged.
Scott and Sarah Jenkins have contributed the initial $50,000 to start the Fund. We hope to raise an equal or greater amount. With an endowment of $100,000, the Fund should generate interest of at least $5,000 per year to contribute to debate programs.
You may make a tax-deductible contribution online by clicking here or you may mail a contribution to the Austin Community Foundation address above, noting that it is for the Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity Fund. If you are willing to volunteer to be a mentor for an economically disadvantaged debater or debate team, please contact Jan Soifer at jan@lasfirm.com or (512) 583-0451.
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New Phone System at Court Administrator's Office
Due to the large volume of calls received at the Court Administrator's Office, a phone tree system was installed on October 1, 2007. The phone tree system is designed to enable the Court Administrator's Office to process your calls more efficiently.
The following is a summary of the menu options:
Press 3 for information concerning Visiting Judges or the Duty Judge
Press 4 for questions related to a Family Law or District Court Docket
Press 5 to make a "Ready Announcement"
Press 6 to make a setting, reset a case, or pass on a setting
Press7 for information concerning cases scheduled for DWOP (Dismissal for Want of Prosecution).
Press 8 for assistance with all other inquiries.
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Spread Holiday Cheer with Great Austin Bar Merchandise
Are you wracking your brain trying to come up a unique gift idea for a colleague, employee, or favorite lawyer? Visit the Bar Web site where you are sure to find great gifts for anyone with an interested in the law or history of the law in Travis County. Click here to avoid the holiday rush at the mall. You'll find anything from Bar & Grill CDs and DVDs to a book covering the history of the Bar.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Tuesday, Dec. 11 - Real Estate Law Section Breakfast CLE
Tuesday, Dec. 11 - Civil Litigation Section CLE
Wednesday, Dec. 12 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section CLE
Wednesday, Dec. 12 - Business, Corporate and Tax Law Section CLE
Tuesday, Dec. 18 - CAFA DVDs
Tuesday, Dec. 18 - Labor & Employment Law Section CLE
Wednesday, Dec. 19 - Construction Law Section Holiday Party
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.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 - Women's Resource Fair Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 13 - Bench Bar Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 18 - Publications Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 20 - Peopl's Law School Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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