Editor's Column
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Connie H. Pfeiffer |
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It's Election Time!
By Connie H. Pfeiffer
The hype and buzz of a presidential election year is upon us. The last two elections have been nail-biters, and it looks as though we may be in for one more. With close races and endless news coverage, this year's build up to a November election promises to be a fascinating look at a democracy in action. (Cont.)
Election Timeline -
April 1-April 30, 2008
Votes for State Bar and TYLA presidents-elect and district directors can be cast either via paper ballot or voting online from April 1-April 30, 2008.
Attorneys will have the entire voting period to vote using either paper ballots or online balloting. The voting process will occur as follows: (Cont.)
Deadlines are approaching!
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
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Natalie Koehler |
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TYLA's New Pamphlets
By Natalie Cobb Koehler
A woman is in a physically abusive relationship and she does not know who to call for help. A man is worried his elderly father is making bad financial decisions and that he may be a victim of exploitation by a neighbor. A family is worried about their daughter who is bi-polar because she is refusing to take her medication.
Members of the TYLA Family Law Committee had these scenarios in mind when they created three new pamphlets for the 2007-2008 year. The new pamphlets focus on protective orders, guardianship, and involuntary commitment procedures. (Cont.)
Tips
for Young Lawyers
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C.E. Rhodes |
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To Pay Or Not To Pay: A Brief Introduction To The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
By C.E. Rhodes
Today, more and more U.S. individuals and companies are looking for business opportunities beyond our country's borders. With greater opportunities for profits and increased competition, however, come increased risks. Young lawyers will be wise to understand the legal risks that their clients may face when doing business abroad. One of the primary risks is corruption. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1, et. seq. (“FCPA”), is a U.S. statute designed to deter individuals and corporations from offering or paying anything of value (i.e., bribes) to foreign officials in connection with business activities. (Cont.)
Article of Interest
Being a Voice in Court: Volunteer your Advocacy Skills for CASA
by Katherine W. Howard
The preamble to the Texas Lawyers Creed states:
“I am a lawyer; I am entrusted by the People of Texas to preserve and improve our legal system. I am licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. I must therefore abide by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, but I know that Professionalism requires more than merely avoiding the violation of laws and rules. I am committed to this Creed for no other reason than it is right.”
I read those words during my second year of law school and before taking the MPRE a number of years ago, and I liked that last sentence. (Cont.)
ABA/YLD
2008 ABA YLD Subgrant Program
Deadline: Thursday, February 28, 2008
The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD), with support from the ABA Fund for Justice and Education, supports initiatives by young lawyers organizations around the country every year through subgrants. The subgrants are awarded on a project-by-project basis and are intended to promote quality projects developed by affiliated young lawyer organizations. The subgrants are awarded in two categories: Public Service Project and Bar Leadership / Membership Service Project. (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.
Take Note
The following slate of officer candidates was approved by the TYLA board of directors on January 19th at the quarterly board meeting in Corpus Christi:
- President-Elect: Cori A. Harbour (El Paso) and Kristie Wright (Texarkana)
- Chair-Elect: C. Davis Chapman (Fort Worth) and C.E. Rhodes (Houston)
- Vice-President: Kirsten Barron Cohoon (Houston) and Jennifer Evans Morris (Dallas)
- Secretary: Natalie Cobb Koehler (Meridian) and Jaime S. Rangel (Corpus Christi)
- Treasurer: David Anderson (Dallas) and David C. Courreges (Austin)
Under TYLA bylaws, this year's president-elect candidates were required to be from small cities in Texas. President-elect candidates are elected from the general membership of TYLA. They may begin outside campaigning on March 1, 2008, and will be featured in the March issue of the eNews.
Candidates for 2008-2009 State Bar of Texas president-elect are Claude Ducloux of Austin and Roland K. Johnson of Fort Worth. The election will take place this spring, and the winner will serve as State Bar president from June 2009 through May 2010.
Are You A Candidate for One of the Minority At-Large Director Positions?
By C.E. Rhodes
For the past four years, I have had the pleasure of serving on the Texas Young Lawyers Association (“TYLA”) Board of Directors as one of the four Minority At-Large Directors. As Minority-At Large Directors, we have several goals that we strive to meet each year. For example, we seek to facilitate and encourage minorities to enter the legal profession, and promote increased participation by minority lawyers in the activities, programs, and projects of the TYLA and the State Bar of Texas. (Cont.)
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 sessions will be in:
Austin at the Texas Law Center on February 6th and 19th, 2008 from 9am to 5pm.
Dallas at the Adolphus Hotel on March 27, 2008 from 9am to 4pm.
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
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
Join us in Houston June 26-27, 2008, for the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, the only meeting where all attorneys in Texas are invited to join together to celebrate the profession. Don't miss our fantastic keynote speakers!
Thursday, June 26
The Bar Leaders Recognition Luncheon features keynote speaker Karen Hughes, former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. “The Future of the Legal Profession” CLE program on Thursday features special guests Mayor Phil Hardberger from San Antonio, Mayor Tom Leppert from Dallas, and Mayor Bill White from Houston on a special panel on the future of three of Texas’ major cities, moderated by Emmy-winning Houston journalist Melanie Lawson.
Friday, June 27
The Bench Bar Breakfast honoring the judiciary includes guest speaker Jeffrey Toobin, CNN legal analyst and author of The Nine. Also don’t miss these special CLEs: “How Television Impacts Jurors” with Martin Kaplan, sponsored by the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism and the Litigation Section, and "The Art of Oral Advocacy," with David Frederick, sponsored by the Litigation Section.
Online registration begins February 19th at www.texasbar.com/annualmeeting.
Upcoming Events
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. |
