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Week of NOvember 3, 2008
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Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers Training this Thursday, November 6; Volunteer Dates Now Available
Date: Thursday, Nov. 6
Time: noon
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
The award-winning project, Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers, is back this fall. The project continues to build momentum since it first began in 2004 and has garnered much enjoyment and praise from all of its participants - teachers, students, lawyers, and judges alike.
The program involves a three-day curriculum which includes the history of the jury system on Day 1, a mock voir dire conducted by attorneys and judges on Day 2, and a video trial on Day 3. We are looking for attorney and judge volunteers for the weeks of November 11 through December 12 for the Day 2 mock voir dire.
Sign up now! A list of class dates, times, and locations can be found here. Please email Brooke Williams at Leslie.dippel@co.travis.tx.us and Robert Robinson robert.robinson@oag.state.tx.us.
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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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Travis County E-Courtroom System Training, November 7
Date: Friday, Nov. 7
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse, 250th District Court on the 3rd Floor
Speaker: Mark Harrill
Learning new technology while balancing your current workload can sometimes prove to be difficult. Mark Harrill wants to ease this process for you on Friday, Nov. 7 as he presents a training session covering the Travis County E-Courtroom System. The training will last about an hour and will cover how to use the system and provide an opportunity to ask questions about using the system.
There's no need to reserve a space. Just show up ready to learn! Contact Mark at 854-4702 with any questions about the training.
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Investiture Ceremony for the Honorable Carlos Barrera This Friday, November 7
Date: Friday, Nov. 7
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: 331st District Court, Criminal Justice Center
Please join us for the investiture ceremony to honor newly elected Judge Carlos Barrera, County-Court-at-Law #8. A reception will follow the ceremony.
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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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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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Annual Conference Sheds Light on Diversity in Legal Community, November 13 - 14
Date: Nov. 13 - 14
Location: Marriott – Dallas Las Colinas Hotel, 223 West Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, TX
Who: National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms
Continuing to promote true diversity in the legal industry, the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms will gather in Dallas for its Annual Meeting and Law Firm Expo. Highlights of the meeting will include career development and legal education seminars, a diversity awards luncheon, networking opportunities, and an expo highlighting the minority and women-owned law firm members.
The association’s fourth annual meeting will focus on promoting the inclusion of minority and women-owned law firms as outside legal counsel and more than 100 law firms and corporations are expected to attend. Every year the conference attracts some of the top legal minds in the country and panelists from a variety of firms from corporations and the public sector.
For more information or to register for this event, click here. or visit events@namwolf.org.
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AYLA Government Coffee is Back, November 14
Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Time: 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Location: Starbuck's, 10th St. and Congress Ave.
Who: All young lawyers, government and non-government, both young and young at heart are invited.
It's been missing for a few months – possibly even a year – but the Austin Young Lawyer’s popular free coffee event honoring our hard working government lawyers is indeed back and just as good as ever! Come join your fellow Austin young lawyers for morning coffee, hot chocolate, and a Danish or two. Meet new friends, see old ones. We look forward to seeing you there!
As always, if you would like more information on this, or any other AYLA event, please contact Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org.
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New Attorney Orientation CLE, November 17
Date: Friday, Nov. 17
Time: noon to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
CLE: 4 hours
Cost: Free for members of the Austin Bar Association and AYLA; $50 for nonmembers
You graduated from law school. Now what? Entering the legal community can often be an intimidating process. The Austin Bar wants to help you with this transition and bridge the gap from law school to lawyer.
Topics will include:
- State, Federal, and Local Rules
- Legal Ethics
- Criminal Law: What You are Assumed to Know
- Community Involvement
- New Attorney Expectations: What You Need to Know to Shine
A beneficial resource fair and tour of the Travis County Courthouse will follow. Contact Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279 x111 to RSVP for this great event.
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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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Featured Corporate Sponsor: Waddell & Reed
Waddell & Reed is a foremost financial advising service. They offer full service financial advicing services through providing personal, comprehensive financial planning, and solid investment and insurance products delivered to you by skilled, well trained financial advisors. Austin Bar Members are eligible for a 20 percent discount on financial plannng services. Click here to visit their Web site. For more information contact Mark Callahan at 453-1555 ext.128.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Wednesday, November 5 - Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting
Thursday, November 6 - Environmental Law Section Meeting
Tuesday, November 11 - Real Estate Law Section Meeting
Wednesday, November 12 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section Meeting
Thursday, November 13 - Financial 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 - Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers Attorney Training
Friday, November 7 - Adoption Day Committee Meeting
Monday, November 10 - Bench Bar Committee Meeting
Monday, November 10 - Financial Committee Meeting
Tuesday, November 11 - Austin Bar Foundation Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 12 - CLE Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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