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Week of September 22, 2008
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Austin Bar Foundation Kicks - Off Donations to Gulf Coast Attorneys
In the few hours that Hurricane Ike spent sprawled across the Gulf Coast, it devastated entire communities including homes and offices. Many Gulf Coast attorneys are now in desperate need of your help to get back on their feet.
The Austin Bar Foundation has decided to get the ball rolling by donating $1,000 for needs such as office space, housing, and office supplies and equipment. If you can offer to help in any of these areas, please email ikeresponse@texasbar.com and the State Bar of Texas will match your offer with a request for help from an attorney in need. Donations are also being accepted at www.texasbar.com.
Thank you for your generous support as we help our colleagues along the Gulf Coast meet the challenges that Hurricane Ike has posed.
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Texas Supreme Court Issues Orders on Cases Affected by Hurricane Ike
Last Wednesday, The Texas Supreme Court issued an order providing for extended deadlines to file pleadings and other matters because of courthouse closures and other affects of Hurricane Ike. In a separate order the Court allowed Louisiana attorneys displaced by hurricane damage to work from Texas to serve clients in their home state.
In the order providing greater time for certain filings, accompanied by a per curiam opinion, the Court provided that good cause can exist if a clerk’s office is closed and that courts should consider an attorney’s dislocation and hardship when considering requests to expand time limits set by court rules. It noted that statutes allow alternative locations within the same judicial district to conduct judicial proceedings outside counties affected by disaster. Proceedings at these alternative locations must be by the parties’ agreement and trials on the merits are excluded.
The Court’s order, in effect until Friday, Oct. 31, cautions that statutory deadlines cannot be extended if a statute does not provide for extension by rule.
In the second order, the Court permitted Louisiana lawyers to practice law from makeshift Texas locations for the next 30 days. It also allowed out-of-state legal-aid attorneys to practice law with Texas legal-aid programs for 30 days.
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Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next President, September 25
Date: Thursday, Sept. 25
Time: 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Eidman Courtroom, CCJ 2.306, UT School of Law
Speakers: Lee H. Hamilton, President and Director of Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Lee Hamilton will discuss world affairs and the challenges ahead for the next presidential administration, including trade and globalization issues, as well as Iraq, Afghanistan, China, and Russia.
Hamilton is president and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., and the director of The Center on Congress at Indiana University. He represented Indiana's 9th Congressional District for 34 years and served as chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and chair of the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East.
For more information and to register, visit the Robert S. Strauss Center Web site.
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Members Only Free Fourth Friday CLE, September 26
Date: Friday, Sept. 26
Time: 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Topic: Litigation & Enforcement - A Year into the Credit Crisis
Speakers: Todd Lester, Michael King, David Woodcock, Jennifer Pope, and Geoffrey Harrison
CLE: 2 Hours
Cost: Free for Austin Bar members, lunch will be provided by Navigant Consulting
RSVP to Mollie Gallagher by noon Thursday, Sept. 25 at (512)472-0279 or Mollie@austinbar.org
Navigant Consulting, Vinson & Elkins, Susman Godfrey, and the Securities and Exchange Commission will jointly discuss the rapidly changing landscape and continuing turmoil in the financial markets. The panelists will provide an overview and analysis of historic and current market trends and players, regulatory and enforcement initiatives and priorities, and emerging litigation matters and their impact more than a year after the start of the credit crisis. This will be an interactive session with time for questions and discussion with the panelists.
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16th Annual Land Development Seminar, September 26
Date: Friday, Sept. 26
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Omni Austin Hotel, 700 San Jacinto Blvd
Cost: $135 for Section Members, $150 for Austin Bar/AYLA Members, $160 for Non-Members
CLE: 6.5 hours
RSVP to Michelle McFadyen (512) 472-0279 or Michelle@austinbar.org
The Land Development Seminar hasn't been around for 16 years for nothing! Join the Austin Bar for 6.5 hours of CLE and networking. Click here for more information on topics and speakers.
Already interested? Click here to register now online!
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Dial for Good, October 13 – 17
Volunteer Legal Services needs YOU to call your fellow attorneys during their annual week-long Phone-a-Thon fundraiser from Oct. 13 – 17. Prizes to callers who raise the most money! Contact Trish McAllister at tmcallister@vlsoct.org or 476-5550 x303 for more information.
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Get Moving with the Fitness Committee
The Austin Bar's Fitness Committee is looking for members. We are looking for walkers, runners, cyclists, unicyclists, triathletes, yogis, swimmers, pogo stick jumpers, martial arts participants, jumpers to conclusions, whatever your activity, we want YOU! If you would like to be on the Fitness Committee or if you would just like to receive notices of fitness related events, contact Fitness Committee Chair, Brad Houston, at Brad@BradHoustonLaw.com. We will be the fittest bar in the World! See below for the Fitness Committee's first "get fit" event.
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Join a Race for the Cure Team Today!
Come out and walk, run, or skip for a cure at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday, Nov. 2. With two great teams to join, you have absolutely no excuse to not partake in the fun for such a worthy and necessary cause.
Participate with other Austin Bar members and join the Fitness Committee's team to help make it the largest team of any other non-corporate organization. Contact Fitness Committee Chair, Brad Houston, at Brad@BradHoustonLaw.com.
You may also join or donate to the team of President of the Susan G. Komen Austin affiliate George Noelke, the Cure Happens Today, by clicking here. The team is made up of Komen Austin board members and our community leaders who are inspired to end breast cancer. If you have any questions, please contact George Noelke at noelke@noelked.org.
Make a difference this year by donating, participating as an individual, or creating your own firm team at www.komenaustin.org.
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AYLA Brings the Second Annual Women's Resource Fair to Austin
AYLA is excited to bring the Second Annual Women's Resource Fair to Austin, and they need your help! The Women's Resource Fair is a comprehensive all day event that will provide to homeless and battered women a variety of free resources and services, including legal assistance, medical services, job skills and educational counseling, social services and veteran's assistance, shelter referrals, mental health counseling, spiritual care, child care, breakfast, lunch, and transportation.
AYLA is currently seeking volunteers to help provide needed services and plan this worthwhile community outreach event. Their first meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the Austin Bar offices at noon.
If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Debbie Kelly at 512/472-0279 x105 or Debbie@austinbar.org.
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Do You Have a Home and Business Disaster Plan?
As Hurricane Ike slammed into the Gulf Coast, it made all of us wonder about our own home and business disaster plans to protect our belongings and, most importantly, loved ones.
The American Red Cross and FEMA Web sites each offer information on preparing for and recovering from natural disasters. When disaster strikes, use these resources to prepare you and your family.
Natural disasters also bring many legal problems and questions. If you or someone you know needs legal or government help, the State Bar of Texas Web site offers information and links to state agencies.
Please pass along this useful information to your friends and family.
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Featured Corporate Partner: Pro Doc
Pro Doc saves you many hours of valuable time each week with easy-to-use products especially created to automate your document drafting and help you master your law practice. Pro Doc's eFiling fee is just $1. Pro Doc can generate firm-wide reports in all firm eFiling and eService activities. Visit www.prodoc.com. For more information call Tom Schoolcraft at 800-759-5418.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Thursday, September 25 - Solo and Small Firm Section Meeting
Tuesday, September 30 - CAFA Section Meeting
Wednesday, October 1 - Family Section Meeting
Wednesday, October 1 - Labor & Employment 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.
Wednesday, September 24 - Women's Resource Fair Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 24 - Adoption Day Committee Meeting
Thursday, September 25 - Bench Bar Committee Meeting
Friday, September 26 - Gala Auction Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 30 - Judicial Affairs Committee Meeting
Wednesday, October 1 - Law Day Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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