Austin Bar Blog

Jack Woodville London will speak in Normandy, France, June 6-7, 2024 - the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

London is a former director and executive director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and former president and Trial Lawyer of the Year of the Capitol Area Trial Lawyers Association,

Additionally, London is the author of the World War II trilogy French Letters. for which he won the Author of the Year Award and for which the final novel, Children of a Good War, was named best historical military fiction of 2018-2019.

Join AYLA for Docket Call!

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024

Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Location: Cosmic Beer Garden, 121 Pickle Road

RSVP here.

Sponsored by Dorsett Johnson & Cisneros LLP

Join the Austin Bar for 3 hours of ethics while you travel to William Chris Winery and back. 

Date: May 31, 2024

Time: 12 - 4:30 p.m.

Location: 712 W. 16th St.

Cost: $75

CLE: 3.0 Ethics Hours

Register here.

This experience will feature a curated selection of five wines, each accompanied by engaging stories and insightful wine education, as well as charcuterie. 

This presentation will consist of three different sessions:

• Patrick Keel, Mediator Arbitrator - “Ethics, Advocacy, and Mediation: They’re not mutually exclusive”
• Dirk Jordan, Jordan Law Firm - "Aggressive Civility: A unique approach to dealing with opposing counsel"
• Claude Ducloux, Affinipay - “Implementing the New Disciplinary Rules in a Real Law Office”

The April 2024 Austin Lawyer is now available! In this issue:

2024-25 Austin Bar Board Candidates Announced

Don’t Miss Bench Bar 2024!

Briefs April 2024

TLAP Stories of Recovery: Be Compassionate

The Arduous Case of Myra Clark Gaines

2024-25 AYLA Board Candidates Announced

Federal Civil Update April 2024

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update April 2024

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update April 2024

Civility and Professionalism: The Eras Tour

Lawyers Urged to Defend Constitution, Democracy

Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation to Award Approximately $90,000 in Grants

Texas Prisons to Get Some Relief from Summer Heat

Austin Bar Member Pete Reid’s Social Media Alter Ego Earns Nomination for Scottish Influencer Award

Austin Bar Member Hon. Rudy Metayer Named Leadership Austin’s 2024 Outstanding Alum

Report Deems Solitary Confinement in Texas a Humanitarian Crisis

The Serious & The Salty: States Try to Keep Their Laws Unpublished and the Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2023

Texas Access to Justice Commission Votes “No” on Allowing Limited Legal Services by Non-Attorney-Owned Entities

What’s With a Trust? (Part One)

FY2023 Texas Medicaid Fraud Investigations Recover Over $730 Million

Access the full article archive here.

Thank you to everyone who helped us SELL OUT this event! The Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy will host A Night at the Library Gala Fundraiser in support of the Center for Child Protection! This legal-literary crossover event will include dinner, an open bar, entertainment, a silent auction, and a costume contest for those who came dressed as their favorite literary characters! Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Center for Child Protection, a local charitable organization that aims to end the cycle of child abuse throughout Travis County. 

Date: May 10, 2024

Time: 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Location: Austin Central Library, 710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

The Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy invites you to their Night at the Library Gala Fundraiser in support of the Center for Child Protection! This legal-literary crossover event will include dinner, an open bar, entertainment, a silent auction, and a costume contest for those who came dressed as their favorite literary characters! Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Center for Child Protection, a local charitable organization that aims to end the cycle of child abuse throughout Travis County. 

Date: May 10, 2024

Time: 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Location: Austin Central Library, 710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

Click here to purchase tickets and view sponsorship and advertising opportunities. There is also an option to donate to the cause if you are unable to make the event. 

Sponsorship Levels (with legal literary themes!) are:

To Kill a Mockingbird
$5,000 - Title Sponsor listing at event + 10 tickets to event

The Pelican Brief

$2,500 - Sponsor listing at event + 8 tickets to event

The Lincoln Lawyer

$1,000 - Sponsor listing on event site + 4 tickets to event

The Firm

$500 - Sponsor listing on event site + 2 tickets to event

Husch Blackwell Associate Dominic Castillo recently sat down with our Veteran Legal Assistance Program (VLAP) to discuss the process of volunteering at VLAP's monthly legal advice clinics. 

Spoiler: You don't need to be an expert in VA law; you just need to be willing to listen.

Watch the video below.

This month the DEI Committee is spotlighting TCWLA/TCWLF members in honor of Women’s History Month. This week’s spotlight member is Gabrielle C. Smith.

Gabrielle C. Smith is a Principal at Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. where she represents clients in litigation matters in state and federal courts, often involving issues of administrative, environmental, employment, and business law.  She is the President-Elect of the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, and will serve as the President for 2024-25 beginning in June.  In addition to her local bar work through TCWLA, Gabrielle is also an active member of the Austin Black Lawyers Association, as well as the Austin Bar Association’s Law-Related Education and DEI Committees. 

She is a life member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., an organization focused on service and scholarship and works in the community through events such as Operation Big Book Bag which provides school supplies to local students, and Big Pink Bus, a free event providing mammograms and information to the community during October in support of Breast Cancer awareness.  Prior to returning to Austin, Gabrielle practiced in Dallas, Texas, where she was involved in the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and served as Co-Chair for the Law Student Assistance Committee. Thank you, Gabrielle, for your commitment to the profession and to the community we serve

Attorneys licensed five years or less are invited to have lunch with Judge Maya Guerra Gamble.

Date: April 9, 2024

Time: 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

Location: CFCF, 1700 Guadalupe St.

Tacos from All Natural Veracruz will be provided, or feel free to bring a brown-bag lunch.

Limited to first five attorneys to sign up - email delaine@austinbar.org to reserve your spot.

Join AYLA for a free lunchtime CLE on trusts and estate law featuring Melissa Pina, VP, Trust & Estates Officer, Cadence Bank.

This CLE is approved for 1.00 general CLE and .25 Ethics

Lunch sponsored by Veritext. 

Date: April 9, 2024

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

Location: McGInnis Lochridge - 1111 W. 6th St. Bldg. B Ste. 400

RSVP here.