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Week of May 12, 2008
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Drum Roll Please: Winners of the Austin Bar and Austin Young Lawyers Associations’ Elections
The Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association announce the results of the recent elections:
Austin Bar Association:
President-Elect: Ann Greenberg
Secretary: David Whittlesey
Treasurer: David Chamberlain
Directors:
Leslie Dippel
Chris Oddo
Lauren Mathews
Brad Houston
Bethann Eccles will fill the unexpired director term left open by David Chamberlain.
The new Board along with incoming President Bob O'Boyle will take office July 1, 2008.
Austin Young Lawyers Association:
President-Elect: Chris Popov
Treasurer: Mari Robinson
Secretary: Adam Schramek
Directors:
Elizabeth Branch
Michael Golden
Kristin Etter
Peter Stokes
Leslie Bollier will fill the unexpired director term left open by Adam Schramek.
The new Board, along with incoming President Amy Welborn, will take office July 1, 2008.
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Pick Me! Jury Project – We Need Your Help This Week
The award-winning program began today. We still need several judges and lawyers able to volunteer their time to aid in educating high school students about the jury system THIS WEEK. Two attorneys and one judge are needed for each classroom to conduct a mock voir dire.
Click here for a list of the available time slots and to sign up to volunteer.
The response by the teachers, students, lawyers, and judges has been overwhelmingly positive in the past. However, we can’t repeat this success without the help of you and your colleagues.
For more information or questions, please contact Brooke Williams at 472-0279 ext. 108 or Brooke@austinbar.org
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Lawyer Referral Service Needs Your Help
The Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas was created by the Austin Bar Association as a non-profit, public service program to help those who needed a lawyer and did not know how to find one. The service offers a 30-minute consultation with an attorney for $20, has a reduced fee family law program, and acts as an information service for other bar-related groups and social service agencies.
One of the main methods of advertising the referral service is by purchasing advertising in the local AT&T Yellow Pages (formerly Southwestern Bell). The Lawyer Referral Service has always been listed under the heading "Attorney Referral Service" which comes prior to the "Attorneys" heading in the directory.
In November 2007, AT&T notified the State Bar of Texas that a decision had been made to change the heading in all Texas directories, and the Lawyer Referral Service would be listed under "Attorneys."
Changing the location of the heading will have a great impact on the Lawyer Referral Service's ability to provide service to the public. At its April 30 meeting, the Austin Bar Association Board of Directors' passed a resolution urging AT&T to reconsider its decision. Similar efforts are underway by referral services in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and at the State Bar of Texas. Please take a moment to voice your support of the Lawyer Referral Service by sending an e-mail to dale.hartung@att.com and linda.legg@att.com.
For more information contact Jeannie Rollo at jeannie@austinbar.org.
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Breakfast with the Judiciary, May 15
Join the Bar and United States Magistrate Judge Robert Pitman for a great way to start your day! A delicious breakfast with other members of the Austin Bar never disappoints.
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: $20, prepayment required
RSVP to Debbie Kelly at Debbie@austinbar.org.
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Smile and Say Cheese, May 19 - 21
Date: May 19 - 21
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Professional photographer Matthew Lemke is taking photos for the 2008 - 2009 Membership Directory May 19 – 21 at the Austin Bar office. He will schedule sessions for these three days before filling the rest of the week.
Matthew specializes in corporate headshots and executive portraits, as well as family portraits. For examples of his work, click here.
Each 15 minute session will cost $15 and is payable upon arrival with cash, check, or credit card. Also, although there is no obligation, participants will have a range of options for purchasing digital files for their own use.
Though we will try to accommodate walk-ins, it cannot be guaranteed and scheduling an appointment is highly recommended. Call Matthew Lemke Photography at 512/970-2633 or e-mail Matt@MatthewLemke.com to schedule your sitting.
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Robert W. Calvert Chapter, American Inn of Court, Accepting Applications, Deadline May 23
The Robert W. Calvert Chapter of the American Inn of Court is accepting applications for new members through May 23.
The American Inn of Court movement is modeled after the English Inns of Court system and is composed of over 30,000 members in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The Calvert chapter meets monthly to examine issues related to ethics and professional conduct in the field of law.
Applicants should send a letter requesting membership, along with a current resume and two reference letters, to the nominations committee c/o Jody Scheske, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, 300 West Sixth Street, Suite 2100, Austin, TX 78701 or by email to Jscheske@akingump.com.
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Members Only Free Fourth Friday, May 23
Time: noon
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 700
Topic: The Ins & Outs of Ethical Advertising
Speaker: Gene Rogers
CLE: 1 Hour including 1 Hour of Ethics
Cost: Free, lunch will be provided by Corporate Courier
RSVP to Mollie Gallagher at (512) 472-0279 or Mollie@austinbar.org.
Everything is better when it’s free; that includes CLE and lunch. Earn CLE for joining the Austin Bar for an afternoon of freebies!
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Can the Legal Profession Prevent Lawyer Misconduct?, May 28 - 31
Date: May 28 - 31
Location: Seaport Hotel, Boston
Deadline for accommodations at the Seaport Hotel is Tuesday, May 6.
Can the legal profession prevent the kind of prosecutorial abuse committed by Michael B. Nifong, who brought false sexual abuse charges against Duke University lacrosse players? What is the best way for courts to deal with situations like that which prompted a federal judge in Philadelphia to fine a lawyer and his client more than $29,000 in March for the client being "hostile, uncivil and vulgar" during a deposition, and the lawyer for doing nothing to control his client's behavior?
These questions represent the kinds of challenges to be addressed at the 34th National Conference on Professional Responsibility.
Some programming will focus on the concerns facing law firm management, like creating a culture that supports compliance with ethics rules, competence and best practices in client relations, instead of simply avoiding liability for shortcomings. Other sessions will target individual needs, such overcoming psychological factors that induce young lawyers to obey instructions from a superior that may be unethical or illegal. Substantive legal topics on the table include changes in lawyer duties to organizational clients and ethical implications of lawyer adversaries collaborating to solve problems.
Click here for more information and to register for the conference.
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Exclusive Austin Bar CLE Course Book Sale
Did you miss a beneficial CLE or seminar but want to access the information that was presented? Here’s your chance to buy the CLE or seminar course book at the low price of $12.50.
Available course books include:
15th Annual Land Development Seminar
Administrative Law Seminar
Bench Bar 2008
Contact Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279 ext. 111 to take advantage of this low price.
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Professor Roy Martin Mersky Passes Away at 82
Professor Roy Martin Mersky, 82, peacefully passed away Tuesday, May 6 evening at 5:23 p.m. surrounded by his wife, Rosemary, and his children.
For over four decades, Prof. Mersky served as director of the Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas in Austin, raising its rank among academic libraries from 120 to one of the top law libraries in the nation. He is also the co-author of The Fundamentals of Legal Research, and is the author of hundreds of articles, academic papers, and the editor of numerous books.
He was elected to the Board of Directors at the inception of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society in 1990 and remained active both on committees and as an officer.
His service to the community and the university lifted each to a higher level.
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Make Your Practice More Efficient with ProDoc
ProDoc and Tom Schoolcraft want help make your practice run more smoothly and efficiently. Austin Bar members can E-file for $1 per filing and the $1 is donated back to the Austin Bar Association for our program and services. Contact Tom Schoolcraft at 1-800-759-5418 and visit www.prodoc.com to learn more.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Tuesday, May 13 - CAFA Core DVD Viewing
Tuesday, May 13 - Real Estate Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, May 14 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section Meeting
Thursday, May 15 - Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Meeting
Thursday, May 15 - Civil Appellate Section Meeting
Thursday, May 15 - Constuction Law Section Meeting
Thursday, May 15 - Technology & Computer Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, May 21 - Administrative Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, May 21 - Business, Corporate & Tax Law Section Meeting
Thursday, May 22 - Solo & Small Firm 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.
Thursday, May 15 - People’s Law School Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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