Austin Bar Blog

In the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar, talks to Samantha McCoy, an Austin attorney who successfully lobbied the United Nations to pass the first resolution addressing justice for victims of sexual violence. Please note: This episode deals with sensitive topics like sexual assault and rape. For more information about how to get involved with the organizations Samantha discussed, you can visit RAINN,  RISE, Inc., NDVC, Equitable Access, and AYLA.

YouTube

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

The United States Department of Justice, Office of the United States Trustee, seeks applications from persons wishing to be considered for inclusion in a pool of trustees who may be appointed on a case-by-case basis to administer cases filed under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (Subchapter V), which amended chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (Bankruptcy Code). Click here to read the full list of qualifications. 

Travis County’s Civil and Family Courts Facility (CFCF), located at 1700 Guadalupe St., will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, due to water damage from a burst water valve. All in-person and remote court proceedings will be postponed and will need to be reset with Civil Court Administration.  

The Travis County Facilities Management Department is assessing and repairing the damage. Members of the public and attorneys involved in cases being heard at CFCF can check the CFCF website at https://www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/tccfc for the latest information.

The Gala is sold out, but you can still help the foundation!

Kendra Scott is holding a virtual shopping event to benefit the Austin Bar Foundation.

For one day only, January 26, 2024, shop online and use code GIVEBACK-FTWJA. 20% of each sale supports the Austin Bar Foundation.

Date: Jan. 26, 2024

Time: 12 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.

Location: https://www.kendrascott.com/

Code: GIVEBACK-FTWJA

If you are interested in running for a position as a director or officer of the Austin Bar Association, please fill out and submit this form by Jan. 31.

Officer positions, treasurer, secretary, and president-elect are one-year term; director positions are for two years. Nominees for the office of president-elect shall have served at least two years on the board of directors prior to assuming office. For a full rundown of duties and expectations, click here. 

The Nominating Committee’s decision will be announced on or before March 15. Any qualified member not receiving the nomination of the committee may be included on the ballot by submitting a written petition signed by 75 members of the Austin Bar. Such petitions must be submitted by April 10. Voting will run until 4 p.m. on May 1.

Voting will be conducted via electronic ballot. If you have any question about the nomination or election process, please contact DeLaine Ward at delaine@austinbar.org; 512-472-0279 ext 104.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the Austin Young Lawyers Association will coordinate its 15th annual Day of Service project on Jan. 20, 2024. This project is modeled after the national Martin Luther King Day of Service, which is intended to transform Dr. King's life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems.

Please be on the lookout for more information and a sign-up link.

You're invited to help judge the 2024 Austin Area High School Mock Trial Competition!

See the best high school mock trial teams in the state, be a role model for high school students, network with other attorneys, and earn 3.0 self-study CLE credits and 1.0 ethics credit!

DATE: Friday, Jan. 26, 2024

Location: CFCF, 1700 Guadalupe Street

Sign up here!

by Judge Brandy Hallford, William County Court at Law #1

In partnership with the Supreme Court Children’s Commission, I would like to invite you to a one-day training on Friday, January 12, 2024, which is designed to meet the three-hour education requirements in Texas Family Code Sections 107.004 and 107.0131 for attorneys to qualify for court appointments on the Williamson County child protection docket or to qualify to remain on the Williamson County court-appointed attorney list. 

This CLE will take place at the Williamson County Courthouse from 8:30 am to 3:45 pm. Lunch will be provided. Six hours of MCLE is anticipated. The program will include presentations on a statutory overview of a child welfare case; nuts and bolts of representing parents and children in child welfare cases; preventing burnout; evidence and preserving the record for appeal; as well as a child welfare legislative and case law update. Additional details regarding the agenda and venue will be provided closer to the event. 

Please plan to join us for this important MCLE by submitting your RSVP through this event landing page. The deadline to register is midnight on January 4, 2024. I look forward to seeing you on January 12, 2024! 

Thank you, 

Judge Brandy Hallford, County Court at Law One 

The Austin Bar will be closed Dec. 25 - Jan. 1. Normal office hours will resume on Jan. 2, 2024. From everyone at the Austin Bar, we wish you the happiest holidays. 

Ana Isabel Mejia-Dietche passed away on Feb. 24, 2024. Read her obituary here.