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Editor's Column
Time
By Brad Allen
“You may delay, but time will not.” -- Benjamin Franklin
“Time is always against us.” -- Morpheus (from The Matrix)
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Brad Allen |
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Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock. The ever-constant methodical march of time slows for no one. Yet, most of us learn early in our legal careers that time is our most valuable commodity, and the most challenging to control. For each of us that are blessed with the opportunity to breathe from dawn till dusk, we have the same amount of this commodity worth more than diamonds or platinum. Yet, how we use (or fail to use) this precious resource varies tremendously. (Cont.)
Top Story
The party primaries for the presidential election may have passed, but for Texas young lawyers the election season is still in force. Voting for State Bar of Texas candidates began April 1, 2008 and continues until 5 p.m. on April 30, 2008. For TYLA members, the ballot includes candidates for the President-Elect position and various director positions on the Texas Young Lawyers Association. (Cont.)
Ready, Set, Go Green!
By Gindi Vincent
The Houston Young Lawyers Association Environmental Challenge HAS BEGUN!!! The Challenge kicked off March 1st and will end on May 1st. The project is off to a great start but could always use more participants in the Houston area (or you can take the exact same program to YOUR local community). The Challenge takes minimal time, but pays big dividends. Not only can you shape the environmental consciousness of your office, but you can show those you work with that the changes are for the good of the planet AND for business. Everyone looks to see if businesses are "environmentally responsible" now more than ever, and this is just one way to help your office say, "we are!" As noted in the Environmental Challenge FAQs below, all participating offices will be recognized, but the most significant contribution/change made by a small, medium, and large office will win an award at the end of May. ( Cont.)
Please email the TYLA office if there are any changes to your local affiliates contact information.
If your affiliate has an upcoming event that you would like featured in eNews, please forward the information to Bree Trevino or contact eNews Co-Chairs Brad Allen, Rabecca Cross or Connie Pfeiffer.
Feature
TYLA Project
33rd Annual National Trial Competition
By David Courreges
Earlier this year, over three hundred law schools competed in regional competitions across the country.
Teams from those law schools hoped to advance to the finals of the most prestigious mock trial competition in the United States. For the second consecutive year, Chicago-Kent College of Law stood alone at the top of the law school advocacy mountain as the champions of the National Trial Competition. (Cont.)
Tips
for Young Lawyers
Eminent Domain 101 – The Nuts and Bolts of How the Condemnation Process Works
By
Luke Ellis
The extensive news coverage of the Border Fence, the Trans Texas Corridor and related legislative initiatives have fanned the flames of the eminent domain debate and made condemnation a hot topic. Regardless of whether you agree with the concept of eminent domain, which allows the state and federal government to condemn and force the sale of private property for public purposes, one thing is certain—eminent domain will significantly impact Texas property owners in the future. As Texas' population continues to grow, the need for basic infrastructure—highways, roads, rail lines, electric transmission lines, water pipelines—will continue to be in high demand. While some of this growth may be accommodated by updating existing infrastructure, there will be a need for new projects.(Cont.)
Article of Interest
Meet the Ladies of the Texas Young Lawyers Association
By Holly Wilkerson, State Bar of Texas
By now you may have met or heard about Tracy Brown, Bree Trevino and Denny Sheppard, also known as the Ladies of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, but how well do you really know them? Recently, Tracy, Bree and Denny were presented with four questions about their hobbies, family, and favorite things. (Cont.)
ABA/YLD
The 2008 ABA YLD Midyear Meeting (Los Angeles, CA)
The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division recently held its Midyear Meeting in Los Angeles, California. The meeting featured the ABA YLD Assembly, CLE programming, and many other opportunities for professional development and training.
Justin Goldstein, Claudine Jackson, and William Neukom |
During its Assembly, the ABA YLD gave out the first National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award and debated resolutions including Resolution 113, which proposed to change the way bar passage rates are considered as a factor in law school accreditation. (Cont.)
If you have any questions about ABA/YLD conferences or projects, please contact: Kimberly Burke, ABA/YLD District 25 Representative or Chris Rogers, ABA /YLD District 26 Representative through these email links.
Upcoming Events
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April 4, 2008: Legal Advocacy for Cancer Patients
The Texas Young Lawyers Association, the ABA Breast Cancer Task Force and the South Texas College of Law Health Law Society will present "Legal Advocacy for Cancer Patients" on Friday, April 4, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at South Texas College of Law. Lawyers will discuss topics that touch the lives of those dealing with cancer, such as employment law, insurance matters and estate planning, both from a
patient's and an attorney's perspectives. The program is free and approved for 3.5 MCLE hours in Texas. To RSVP, contact Kimberly Burke
at 713-831-6933.
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April 24, 2008: Justice 101:A Client's Guide to Litigation
We will be co-host a screening of the video at the TSU (Thurgood) School of Law on April 24th at 3:00pm. This video and discussion will be a part of a series hosted by TSU about the nuts and bolts of starting a law practice. Featured speakers for the afternoon include Rabeea Sultan of the Sultan Law Firm and Robert Whitley of Baker Botts. Please mark your calendars.
Take Note
The Texas Young Lawyer Association is adding new segments to the Ten Minute Mentor library. Ten Minute Mentor is a TYLA project that debuted in 2004 as a means for sharing concise and practical advice that is always accessible online. Since that time, it has proven its enduring appeal as one of TYLA's most successful projects. More than 50,000 people have visited the site, and we continue to average more than 2,000 segments viewed each month. You can visit the site at www.tenminutementor.com.
Our upcoming taping session will be in:
- Houston at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting on June 26, 2008 from 9am to 5pm.
If you are interested in presenting a topic, please contact Connie Pfeiffer (Houston); David Courreges (Austin); or Chris Rogers (Dallas).
Support Pro Bono Legal Services and Let Everyone Know It!
The Texas Young Lawyers Association needs your help to support and promote free legal services for indigent Texans by purchasing a specialty license plate. The license plate proudly states that you support "Justice for All" and can be purchased for only $30.00 per year.
$25.00 from the purchase of each plate will be deposited into an account
supporting legal services to the poor. If you would like that plate personalized, you can get your plate for $70.00 per year. To purchase your plate today, simply fill out an application and send your check, payable to the Texas Department of Transportation, to the following address:
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division (SPB)
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin, TX 78779-0001
The State Bar of Texas President-elect Candidates Nominated
Candidates for 2008-2009 State Bar of Texas President-Elect are Claude Ducloux of Austin and Roland K. Johnson of Fort Worth. Votes can be cast either via paper ballot or voting online from April 1- April 30. Learn more about the candidates.
Make New Connections with Texas Bar Circle
Join the world's first social and professional network by a bar association, exclusively for Texas lawyers. Reconnect with colleagues, find jobs, explore opportunities, and have fun. The power of Texas Bar Circle is in the connections you will make. Join today at www.TexasBarCircle.com.
Member Benefits Program
Are you looking for ways to save money in 2008? Start the New Year off with exclusive money-saving offers from the State Bar of Texas Member Benefits Program. Bar members are eligible for discounts on products and services including car rental, clothing, computer hardware and software, office supplies, and more. For details on the State Bar Member Benefits Program, visit www.texasbar.com/benefits.
2008 Annual Meeting
George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas
Your Registration Includes:
- Admission to all CLE programs
- A flash drive that contains all CLE materials
- Admission to all Annual Meeting sponsored breakfasts and luncheons: Thursday's continental breakfast, the Bar Leaders Recognition Luncheon, the Bench Bar Breakfast, and the General Session Luncheon
Don't Miss These Exciting Educational Events!
- Bench Bar Breakfast and CLE – This seminar features The Art of Oral Advocacy with speaker David Frederick (who has argued 21 cases in front of the U. S. Supreme Court) and How Television Impacts Jurors with communications guru Marty Kaplan.
- Future of the Profession CLE – Learn from the experts what is in store for the future of the legal profession. This track includes a panel discussion, The Future of Texas Cities, with San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, and Houston Mayor Bill White.
- Joint CLE tracks by the Business Law and Corporate Counsel Sections
- Section-sponsored CLE with top-notch speakers from a variety of legal practice areas
- Diversity Forum – A lively discussion about the issues facing minority and women attorneys and how law firms, corporations, and the State Bar of Texas are addressing these concerns.
- General Session Luncheon and Debate – This luncheon offers the opportunity to bid farewell to State Bar President Gib Walton, welcome Incoming President Harper Estes, and listen to a Litigation Section sponsored debate about immigration Mark Krikorian, David A. Martin, and Cecilia Munoz.
- Open Government Seminar sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Public Affairs Committee
Remember the Social Aspect!
- Enjoy a variety of receptions sponsored by law schools and sections.
- Dance the night away at the black tie optional Presidents' Gala featuring live music from the 10-piece show band, The Rockets.
- Celebrate a successful year at the TYLA Annual Meeting/Reception.
Register Now! www.texasbar.com/annualmeeting.
TYLA Annual Report 2007
Want to know how TYLA is serving its members and the community? Then be sure to read the 2007 annual report, which details the activities of TYLA during the 2006-2007 Bar year. Click here for a copy or call 800-204-2222, ext. 1529 and we'll send you a copy.
Get Involved and Sign Up Today!
If you want to be involved as an active volunteer in TYLA, now is the best time. The new Bar year is just getting underway, and you can get in on the ground floor and really help shape the work of our public or member service committees of your choice. Visit our website to find out more about TYLA committees and their focus ... then sign up online!
Please note: if you signed up for a committee prior to June 2007, you will need to sign up for your committees again. Committee memberships are reset each year on June 1. |
