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Week of October 28, 2008
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Volunteers Needed for Immigration Clinics, October 21 - December 18
American Gateways (formerly The Political Asylum Project of Austin) needs Spanish speaking volunteers to assist its clients from Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service has extended the designation of Temporary Protected Status and these clients need assistance with re-registration.
If you have always wanted to learn more about immigration law and work directly with clients, please volunteer. Training will be provided and attorneys with TPS experience will be on site, so this opportunity is appropriate for both attorneys and paralegals.
The clinics will run through Dec. 18. They take place every Tuesday, and Thursday evening from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., every Friday afternoon from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., and every Saturday from 9:00 - noon and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
For more information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Edna Yang at Ednay@papais.org or Brenna Troncoso at BrennaT@papais.org.
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Free Halloween Mediation CLE for AYLA Members, October 31
Date: Friday, Oct. 31
Time: noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: Free (please bring a brown bag lunch)
Topic: Mediation Advice For Young Lawyers - Including 25 Ways To Torpedo Your Mediation
AYLA members are invited to a free lunchtime CLE to learn how to keep their next mediation from becoming a Halloween horror story. The presenter is well-known local mediator Greg Bourgeois of Lakeside Mediation Center, who will provide an overview of the mediation process, share insights about how to achieve successful results for your clients, and discuss common mistakes that could torpedo your mediation.
Don't let yourself or your clients get spooked by mediation this Halloween -- come join AYLA this Friday! RSVP to Julie Wright at 536-4580 or jwright@fulbright.com today.
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There's Still Time to Join a Race for the Cure Team, November 2
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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Get Involved in Your Community, November 5
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Location: Vinson & Elkins, 2801 Via Fortuna, #100
Speaker: Sylvia Acevedo, Founder, President, and CEO of CommuniCard
Cost: $35
Register by visiting www.greenlights.org, or contact Laraine Johnston at johnstonl@greenlights.org, 512/477-5955 x252.
Have you wondered how you can become more involved and use your skills to better the community we call home? Greenlights for NonProfit Success, Leadership Austin, and The Junior League of Austin present the 2008 Board Summit to help you place your talents where they are most needed.
This energizing event is designed to introduce you to nonprofit organizations that can use your skills and enthusiasm. Come mingle with more than 100 other business professionals and listen to business and community leaders discuss
nonprofit board service. The more than 20 diverse nonprofits attending are looking for talented professionals like you to serve on their boards!
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Fifth Federal Circuit Dinner, November 11
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 11
Time: Cash bar opens at 6:00 p.m. and dinner begins at 7:00 p.m.
Location: The Stephen F. Austin Hotel, 701 Congress Ave.
Federal Judges Attending: Judge Emilio M. Garza, Judge Fortunato P. Benavides, Judge Priscilla R. Owen, and Judge Charles R. "Fritz" Fulbruge III
Cost: $65 on or before Friday, Nov. 7 and $75 for all reservations made after that date
Join the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, the Austin Bar Association, and the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin for drinks, dinner, and conversation concerning the workings of the Fifth Circuit.
Make checks payable to Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit and mail them to 600 Camp St., Room 206, New Orleans, LA 70130. Call 504/586-8185 to use a credit card. All questions should be directed to mary@baffc.org.
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Federal Court Practice Seminar, November 14
Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
CLE: 7.0 hours and 1.0 hour of ethics credit
Cost: $150; add $15 for checks and applications postmarked after Friday, Oct. 31
Questions? Please contact Bradley Coburn at coburn@fr.com.
The Austin Chapter for the Federal Bar Association and Austin Bar Association invite you to attend the Federal Court Practice Seminar. Judges and Austin attorneys will conduct presentations covering an array of issues including Pretrial Matters/Injunctive Relief, Introduction to Bankruptcy Practice, and Electronic Discovery. A CD with rules, forms, and case discussion outlines will also be provided at the seminar.
Click here for a schedule of events and registration form. Registration may be available at the door, but seating is limited. Please send your registration materials no later than Friday, Oct. 31. Later registrations will incur a $15 administration fee.
Please contact the U.S. District Clerk's Office at 916-5896 with any questions relating to admission requirements for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
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Constable 5 Wants to Hear from You!
Every two years, the office of Constable Bruce Elfant, Precinct 5, asks for feedback from the legal community.
This is your chance to let the Constable’s office know where services can be improved and what is currently working. The survey can be completed at Constable5.com. Hard copies are available at the constable’s office, and surveys can be mailed upon request.
“This feedback serves as a road map to help improve our services,” said Constable Elfant. “I look forward to hearing about what we are doing well and what we should be doing better.”
Attorneys, paralegals, and anyone else who has utilized the services of the Constable Precinct 5 office are encouraged to participate.
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Federal District Judgeship Posts Open in Texas
Texas will soon have one vacant federal district judgeship post open for nomination in the Southern District in Laredo, and two vacant federal district judgeship posts open for nomination in the Western District in San Antonio and El Paso. Qualified attorneys are invited to seek appointment to these positions.
Those interested in applying should submit a resume and completed questionnaire to both Texas Senate offices at the following addresses no later than Friday, Nov. 7:
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Attn: Matthew Acock
Senator John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Attn: Matthew Johnson
For a full application and more information, click here.
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Join AYLA in Supporting Capital Area Food Bank
On average, nearly one in five adults and one in four children in Texas are hungry. 41,000 children under the age of 18 in Travis County are confronted with food insecurity on a daily basis. In its 27th year of service, the Capital Area Food Bank provides food and grocery products to 350 partner agencies in 21 central Texas counties. In 2007 alone, the CAFB distributed more than 15 million pounds of food.
In the wake of Hurricane Ike, the CAFB needs your help more than ever. The Austin Young Lawyers Association has arranged exciting opportunities in October and November for you to donate time, money, and/or food to help the CAFB combat hunger. The CAFB needs 30 volunteers on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. to work in the product-recovery division and ensure that donations are safe for consumption. To sign up to volunteer and to receive additional information, please contact Kennon Peterson at
kennonpeterson@hotmail.com or 463-1353.
In addition or in the alternative, please participate in the AYLA Food & Fund Drive between Oct. 27 and Nov. 8. You can donate food or money at the Austin Bar office located at 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700. Please make all checks payable to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas and indicate that it is for the AYLA Food & Fund Drive.
For more information about donating, please contact Kennon Peterson. You can also donate money by going to http://cafbtx.convio.net/ayla and following the simple directions. Thank you!
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Donate and Help Celebrate Austin Adoption Day 2008
On Thursday, Nov. 20 approximately 40 children will find the Forever Families they have been wishing for and so deserve. You can help them celebrate through a monetary gift or by helping the committee to solicit donations.
Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center will be transformed into the mythical land of Oz complete with a yellow brick road in recognition of the theme "There's No Place Like Home." However, this cannot happen without the hard work of and donations from Austin Bar members.
Members can donate by themselves or participate in the One Billable Hour Program. The One Billable Hour Program asks that law firms donate the amount equal to one billable hour of a senior partner's rate. These donations will help provide decorations, food, and gifts that make the day all the more special.
The Austin Bar hopes that you will consider giving to this great cause, and that you will join us Thursday, Nov. 20 at Gardner Betts to celebrate the creation of more than 30 new families.
Contact Brooke Williams at Brooke@austinbar.org or 472-0279 x108 to donate or see how you can help solicit donations.
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Houston Bar Association and Hurricane Ike Victims Need Your Help
The Houston Bar Association continues to coordinate programs to help lawyers and citizens affected by Hurricane Ike. Please review the below initiatives to see where you can help. Don't forget to visit the HBA Web site for daily alerts on ways you can be a part of the relief effort.
- The HBA hosted two programs to train more than 200 attorneys on legal issues related to Hurricane Ike, including FEMA matters. These volunteers will assist with legal advice booths at Disaster Recovery Centers, at legal clinics, and at other venues to provide advice to those affected by the storm. You may download the training materials from CLE Online.
- FEMA now has 10 Disaster Recovery Centers in Harris County to provide face-to-face assistance to those affected by Hurricane Ike. The Houston Volunteer Lawyer Program, in partnership with Lone Star Legal Aid, will staff a legal advice booth at each DRC, as well as others that will open in the future, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week. If you would like to volunteer at DRC legal advice booth, please fill out the form found at here.
- Finally, monetary donations can be made payable to the Houston Bar Foundation and sent to the HBA at 1001 Fannin, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002. Please note that the donation is for Hurricane Ike Relief.
All inquiries about HBA's projects to help victims of Hurricane Ike must be directed to HBA by calling 713/759-1133.
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Featured Member Discount: Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance can help you both on an individual basis and with employers. With over 20 years of experience they are aware of the importance of quality benefits for business owners and their employees. For more information contact Peter Berardino at 482-9026.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Wednesday, November 5 - Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting
Thursday, November 6 - Environmental 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, November 6 - Bench Bar Committee Meeting
Thursday, November 6 - Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers Attorney Training
Friday, November 7 - Adoption Day Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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