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Week of March 8, 2010
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Acknowledge the Best and Brightest of Austin's Legal Community
Austin-area attorneys often put their hearts on the line for others in our community without asking for recognition or even thanks. To honor this selflessness and integrity, the Austin Bar Association is seeking nominations for two awards that will be presented on Friday, April 30 at the combined Law Day/Bench Bar Conference luncheon. Nominate a co-worker to show your appreciation for what they are doing to better the city and lives of those who reside here.
Regina Rogoff Award
The Regina Rogoff Award is given annually to an attorney in Travis County that has demonstrated outstanding service in the public/non-profit sector. This award was created as a lasting tribute to the career achievements of Regina Rogoff, who started with Legal Aid in 1973 and was Executive Director for 19 years.
The Professionalism Award
The Professionalism Award is presented by the Austin Bar Association and Texas Center for Professionalism to a local lawyer who best exemplifies, by conduct and character, truly professional traits, who others in the bar seek to emulate, and who all in the bar admire.
Please send nominations by Friday, March 12 to DeLaine Ward at Delaine@austinbar.org or Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700, Austin, Texas 78701.
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Registration for Civil Courts Online, March 12
Date: Friday, March 12
Time: noon
Location: Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe St.
The Travis County Court Administrator’s Office is introducing a new online service that allows users to submit Settings Requests and Ready Announcements 24 hours a day! Ready Announcements are still subject to the timing requirements set forth in Travis County Local Rules 3.1 and 3.2, but this new service allows users to submit their requests and announcements outside the normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. operating hours of the Court Administrator’s Office. Please join them at one of their informative seminars on Friday, March 12; Friday, March 26; or Friday, April 2 at noon in the 250th Judicial District Courtroom. You will have the opportunity to register to use the new service at each of these sessions!
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Petition for AYLA Board Nominations Due THIS FRIDAY, March 12
AYLA is seeking attorneys interested in serving on its board of directors for the 2010-2011 bar year. Serving on the board is a great way to gain leadership skills, increase your network, and become more active in the community.
To be eligible for a board position, you must be a current AYLA member and be 36 years of age or under as of July 1, 2010, or licensed to practice law in Texas for less than three years. If you would like to be placed on the ballot, submit a nominating petition signed by five current AYLA members to Debbie Kelly at Debbie@austinbar.org or fax to 473-2720. Nomination petitions are due Friday, March 12.
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AYLA Award Nominations due, Friday, March 12
Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recognizes a young attorney (36 years of age or less on July 1, 2010) who has shown exemplary professional proficiency, service to the profession, and service to the community. AYLA's Immediate Past President is not eligible for the award, and neither are current AYLA or TYLA officers or directors.
Liberty Bell Award
The Liberty Bell Award is given to recognize community service that promotes better understanding of the principles of American government and strengthens the effectiveness of the American system of freedom under law. The nominee cannot be an attorney.
The Outstanding Alumnus Award
The Outstanding Alumnus award is given to an attorney over the age of 36 who was actively involved in the AYLA as an officer, director, committee chair, or committee member, and who has significantly distinguished himself or herself in the profession as an alumnus of our organization.
The Outstanding Mentor Award
The Outstanding Mentor award is an attorney of any age who has consistently demonstrated a firm commitment to successfully mentoring young lawyers in the Austin area legal community.
For a nomination form, please visit www.ayla.org. Please send nominations by Friday, March 12 to Debbie Kelly at Debbie@austinbar.org or Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700, Austin, Texas 78701
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Prepare Now for March 15 E-filing Switch at 5th Circuit
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has announced that effective March 15, attorneys must file pleadings electronically. An attorney must be admitted to practice in the 5th Circuit, have registered as an electronic case filing user, and filed an appearance form in a case before filing electronically.
Attorneys can register at no charge through the PACER Service Center Web site. Because there can be a delay between the time the attorney registers and the time the registration is complete, attorneys are urged to register on PACER prior to the need to file a pleading.
For more information on how to register through PACER and other requirements for filing electronically, please visit the 5th Circuit Web site. The 5th Circuit has been offering electronic filing on a voluntary basis since Dec. 7, 2009.
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Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers, March 23 - April 16
The award-winning program is back this spring! We are looking for judges and lawyers who would like to volunteer their time to aid in educating high school students about the jury system. The response by the teachers, students, lawyers, and judges has been overwhelmingly positive. Two attorneys and one judge are needed for each classroom to conduct a mock voir dire.
Volunteers are needed for March 23 through April 16 for a variety of class times. Click here to sign up to volunteer. For more information or questions, please contact Brooke Williams at 472-0279 ext. 108 or Brooke@austinbar.org.
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Get Your Game On, April - June
Do you have ball handling skills that would make Steve Nash jealous? Are you the big man under the basket? Maybe you're just looking for some friendly competition on the court with your colleagues. Either way, the Lawyers' Basketball League is back for the second year and you're being recruited to show off your mad game.
The league will run from April through June of this year and be comprised of practicing attorneys and law students (don't be intimidated by their younger legs). All teams will play at least six regular season games and be able to participate in a single-elimination tournament at the end of the season.
Click here for pricing information and to see how to register your team or yourself as a free agent.
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Changes to MCLE Regulations and Accreditation Standards
Changes to the MCLE Regulations and Accreditation Standards for CLE Activities, which become effective June 2010 and June 2011, affect how attorneys will meet MCLE requirements. To view these changes, please click here.
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Featured Corporate Partner: LexisNexis® Coffee Break Webinars - March 2010
The LexisNexis September Coffee Break Webinars are up! These Webinars have provided quick complimentary 20-minute to one-hour 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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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Tuesday, March 9 - Real Estate Law Section Meeting
Thursday, March 11 - Financial Institutions 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 Marissa@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.
Thursday, March 11 - Women's Resource Fair Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 16 - Publications Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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