TMM and TMMGTLS - All Day Filming
By Brooke A. Ulrickson

On January 22nd approximately fifty attorneys from all over the State will join the TYLA Board members to film new segments of Ten Minute Mentor and Ten Minute Mentor Goes to Law School. Filming will be at the Westin Galleria in Houston from 9am until 5pm. Spaces are still available if you are interested in filming a segment. TMM and TMMGTLS are short instruction videos designed to assist lawyers and law students in all aspects of practice and law school. (Cont.)

Tips for Young Lawyers

Spinning Your Web
By Kelly Spradley

Inbound Marketing
Gone is the age of outbound marketing where consumers were forced to listen to TV and radio commercials. Now people are choosing the messages they want to listen to, and so inbound marketing is more effective. The premise of inbound marketing is to make yourself available on the web, and let interested parties come to you. People are using the internet to find lawyers every day. Develop your web presence, and you will have qualified leads knocking on your virtual door. (Cont.)

Article of Interest

The Texas Supreme Court Limits A Successful Party's Ability To Obtain Attorney's Fees
By David Johnson

Litigation is expensive. Traditionally, the "American Rule" provides that parties to a lawsuit pay their own attorneys. Unless the parties contract otherwise or there is an applicable statute that allows for an award of attorney's fees, even a successful party must pay its own fees and expenses, the cost of which may outweigh any benefit to the litigation. The Texas Supreme Court has recently issued three opinions that further limit a successful party's ability to obtain an award of attorney's fees. (Cont.)

ABA YLD Update

The voice of the profession: The ABA House of Delegates and the ABA YLD General Assembly
By Brian C. Miller, State Bar of Texas young lawyer delegate to the ABA House of Delegates

If you search for “American Bar Association” and “House of Delegates” on the New York Times website, you will find 733 articles about the policymaking body of the ABA. Over the years, the House has been the voice of the legal profession on major legislative issues at the state and federal levels on changes to court practice and on the future of the profession. From admiralty law to labor law, election law to family law, criminal law to patent law, and much more, the ABA has had an influential voice because of the recommendations passed by the House. (Cont.)

Access To Justice Commission Update

Pro Bono: billable hours for the soul
Submitted By Hannah Silk Kapasi

Approximately 5.1 million people live below the federal poverty level in Texas, making this state's poverty population the second largest in the United States. As officers of the court, attorneys have a moral and ethical obligation to assist those in need with their legal problems by doing pro bono work. Performing pro bono helps the court more efficiently process cases, it helps communities thrive, and it helps individual attorneys give back to those less fortunate than themselves. (Cont.)

Important Dates to Remember

January 12
TYLA deadline to receive third committee report

January 18
Holiday - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Texas Law Center closed)

January 22-23
TYLA Board of Directors meeting - Westin Galleria, Houston

January 27
TYLA Officer ballots are mailed to the TYLA Board of Directors

February 1
TYLA director nomination petitions appear in the Texas Bar Journal and are mailed to outgoing TYLA Directors and Local Affiliate Presidents

February 1
TYLA notice of Minority At-Large Director Place 2 election mailed to all TYLA Board of Directors, Local Affiliates, Minority Bar Associations and Texas Bar Journal

February 10
TYLA Officer election results are announced

February 12
TYLA Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas Award, Liberty Bell Award and Outstanding Mentor Award rules and criteria are mailed to TYLA Local Affiliate Presidents, Local Bars, and Minority Bar Associations

February 15
Holiday-Presidents' Day (Texas Law Center closed)

Take Note

TYLA Minority Scholarship Program
Annually, a $1,000 scholarship is awarded to one minority student at each Texas law school. The scholarship promotes diversity in the legal profession by assisting members of minority populations within the bar to: (1) enter the legal profession; and (2) participate in the programs and activities of TYLA and the State Bar of Texas. The application deadline is in October. The scholarship awards are distributed prior to the Spring semester. Please click here to view the winners for 2009.

State Bar 2010 YouTube Contest - Call for Entries
What if our state, and our country, had no lawyers? Or no judges? What would happen to our society then? Would we see a return to the lawlessness of the Wild West? This year's State Bar of Texas YouTube contest theme is the "Importance of the Legal System."

We want you to think about these questions:
1. Why are lawyers important to our society?
2. How is the court system important to our society?

Choose one of the questions and create a 30-second video similar to a public service announcement. You must be a Texas resident or an attorney licensed to practice in Texas. Watch State Bar President Roland Johnson's call for entries video and get the complete contest rules at www.texasbar.com/texansonjustice. We encourage local bar associations to submit their own video entry. It's also a fun and creative school project for your children, so encourage them and their classmates to enter as well! The deadline for entries is April 1, 2010.

2010 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting
The 2010 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting will be held in Fort Worth June 10-11, 2010. Earn all of your CLE credits for the entire year, including ethics! Featured tracks include Legal Innovations, Family Law, Business Law and Corporate Counsel, Bench Bar CLE, and Diversity Forum. The State Bar Sections will sponsor various CLE tracks to ensure there is something for everyone. Don't miss keynote speeches from former U.S. Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, NFL Referee Walt Coleman, and legal analysts Roger Cossack and Jeffrey Toobin.

Click here for updated information and conference registration.

Texas Off-Campus Recruitment Program

The Texas Off-Campus Recruitment Program will be held February 26, 2010 at South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas.

Employer Registration
The registration deadline is January 8, 2010. The fee is $150 per interview room ($75 for government and nonprofits), which includes a continental breakfast and lunch for interviewers.

( Registration Information )

The Texas Off-Campus Recruitment Program is a collaborative effort between TYLA and the nine Texas law schools to provide a unique recruitment opportunity for employers seeking to hire law students for summer clerkships and/or associate positions. It is the ideal forum for employers with diverse or infrequent hiring needs, and for those who want to supplement annual, formalized recruitment efforts with a minimal investment of time. Participating employers are able to interview students from all Texas law schools at one location.

20th Anniversary of the Texas Lawyer's Creed
20 years ago, the Texas Supreme Court promulgated the Texas Lawyer's Creed. As a challenge to the aggressive lawyering techniques that drive up fees for clients and harm the reputation of the profession, The Creed announced principles applicable to all Texas lawyers for civility and courtesy between lawyers and honesty in statements to judges and lawyers.

Please join members of the original drafting committee for a discussion of the Creed's development, their reflections on the state of the profession at its inception, and its ongoing impact on legal professionalism. Please click here to view the free class and earn .5 hours of ethics MCLE credit.

Hurricane Ike Response Continues
The storm may be gone, but the need for volunteers and donations to provide legal services to victims of Hurricane Ike continues. Please see the State Bar of Texas's 2008 Hurricane Response page for details on hurricane relief efforts and resources, including information on donations and volunteer opportunities. The State Bar of Texas has a disaster hotline, (800) 504-7030, to help assist with basic legal questions following a disaster. Hundreds of attorney volunteers are needed to help answer basic legal questions of those affected. Read more.

View This Month's TYLA President-Elect's Opinion

Jennifer Evans Morris
TYLA President-Elect 2009-2010

Ten Minute Mentor has more than 20 free videos for attorneys about disaster response and recovery. Click "view index by category" and choose "disaster response." Click here for more disaster resources for attorneys.

The Texas Young Lawyers 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.

TYLA Annual Report 2008-2009
Want to know how TYLA is serving its members and the community? Then be sure to read the 2008-2009 annual report, which details the activities of TYLA during the 2008-2009 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 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 2009, you will need to sign up for your committees again. Committee memberships are reset each year on June 1.

TYLA Local Leader Directory
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 Kristy Piazza , Ken Riney or Brooke Ulrickson

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.
$22.00 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
To pay online click here.

Make New Connections with Texas Bar Circle
More than 12,000 of your peers have joined Texas Bar Circle - our social and professional network for Texas lawyers. Join today and reconnect with colleagues, find jobs, explore opportunities, and have fun. The power of Texas Bar Circle is in the connections you will make. Visit https://texasbar.affinitycircles.com/sbot/auth/login.

Member Benefits Program
Are you looking for ways to save this fall? Take advantage of 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 .

LIAISONS

Justice Paul W. Green, Texas Supreme Court

Clint Harbour, Access To Justice

Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25

Chip Brooker, ABA YLD District 26

Dean Donald J. Guter, Law School

Jessica Alexander, Law Student

TYLA Local Affiliates Make Christmas Merrier
By Brooke A. Ulrickson

TMM and TMMGTLS - All Day Filming
By Brooke A. Ulrickson

LIAISONS Justice Paul W. Green, Texas Supreme Court Clint Harbour, Access To Justice Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25 Chip Brooker, ABA YLD District 26 Dean Donald J. Guter, Law School Jessica Alexander, Law Student

TYLA Local Affiliates Make Christmas Merrier By Brooke A. Ulrickson

TMM and TMMGTLS - All Day Filming By Brooke A. Ulrickson

LIAISONS

Justice Paul W. Green, Texas Supreme Court

Clint Harbour, Access To Justice

Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25

Chip Brooker, ABA YLD District 26

Dean Donald J. Guter, Law School

Jessica Alexander, Law Student

TYLA Local Affiliates Make Christmas Merrier
By Brooke A. Ulrickson

TMM and TMMGTLS - All Day Filming
By Brooke A. Ulrickson