TYLA eNews, June/July 2008

Clint Eastwood's film Letters from Iwo Jima is a modern masterpiece. This World War II war drama focuses on the tribulations of the Japanese from the Japanese perspective. In the film's most revealing moment, a Japanese officer, Baron Nishi, finds a letter on a dying American P.O.W. The letter is from the young man's mother. Nishi reads it to the troops under his command shortly after the young American dies. He later remembers the mother's stirring quotation when he realizes he is about to die. (Cont.)

Sylvia Cardona Sworn in as the 82nd President of TYLA
By Clay B. Scheitzach

On June 27, 2008, Chief Justice B. Wallace Jefferson swore-in Sylvia Cardona of San Antonio as the 82nd president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association. Ms. Cardona, a partner at Langley Banack in San Antonio, becomes only the 6th woman president since the organizations creation in 1930. The ceremony took place during the TYLA's Annual Meeting and reception held at the Hilton Americas in Houston, TX. (Cont.)

Feature TYLA Affiliate

AYLA Brings Resources to Homeless and Battered Families
By Kat Hinson

The Austin Young Lawyers Association welcomed almost 200 women and children to the first annual Women's Resource Fair on May 3 at the Schmidt-Jones Family Life Center in downtown Austin. Attendees were able to utilize onsite child care services and take advantage of the following resources: (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, Ken Riney or Rebecca Vela.

Feature TYLA Project

A TYLA Snapshot of 2007-2008
By William W. Miller, Jr., President 2007-2008

The Texas Young Lawyers Association is composed of uncommon leaders — young lawyers who are outstanding, unstoppable, dedicated. During this bar year, these uncommon leaders from across the state worked tirelessly to provide public service to their fellow Texans. The lawyers of TYLA gave of themselves by representing those in need through pro bono activities, such as volunteering with the FEMA natural disaster hotline, participating in their communities and their schools, and by aiding their fellow attorneys. TYLA's uncommon leaders show that when TYLA decides to take on an issue, nothing is too large. (Cont.)

Tips for Young Lawyers

Reflections on a First Jury Trial
By Jaime Cooper

Life is filled with firsts – first dance, first car, first day of school, first love, first job, first baby. I admit that I hoard those memories in dusty boxes filled with ticket stubs, wine bottle corks, hospital wrist bands, old business cards, and (of course) pictures. Even the not-so-good firsts, like my first broken arm or first car accident, have a place. (Cont.)

Articles of Interest

No Duty to Warn Independent Contractors of Open and Obvious Defects
By Kenneth C. Riney

Recently, a divided Texas Supreme Court issued a landowner-friendly opinion, ruling that landowners have no duty to warn the employees of independent contractors of open and obvious defects about which the employees already know. In General Electric Co. v. Mortiz, 51 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1030, 2008 WL 2404966 (Tex. June 13, 2008), the Texas Supreme Court majority of five justices not only reversed the Fort Worth Court of Appeals decision that held the landowner owed the employee of an independent contractor such a duty, but rendered a judgment that the plaintiff take nothing. (Cont.)

ABA YLD

If you have any questions about ABA YLD conferences or projects, please contact: Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25 Representative or Chris Rogers, ABA YLD District 26 Representative through these email links.

Upcoming Events

2008 Bar Leaders Conference
July 18-19, 2008 - The Woodlands

Take Note

Texas Tech Wins TYLA State Moot Court
Competition
By Natalie Cobb Koehler

TYLA conducted its annual State Moot Court competition last month during the State Bar Annual Meeting. As in the past, the competition was a success. This year the problem was drafted by 3rd Court of Appeals briefing attorney, Zachary Hall, of Austin. The problem centered around a slip and fall accident at a law school. Many justices judging the competition commented that this was the best problem written in several years. (Cont.)

TYLA Annual Report 2007-2008
Want to know how TYLA is serving its members and the community? Then be sure to read the 2007-2008 annual report, which details the activities of TYLA during the 2007-2008 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 2008, you will need to sign up for your committees again. Committee memberships are reset each year on June 1.

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.

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

Make New Connections with Texas Bar Circle
Nearly 5,000 of your peers have joined Texas Bar Circle - our new 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 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.

LIAISONS

Justice Dale Wainwright, Texas Supreme Court

Jeff Edwards, Access To Justice

Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25

Christopher Rogers, ABA YLD District 26

Dean Charles E. Cantú, Law School

Ian Pittman, Law Student

Sylvia Cardona Sworn in as the 82nd President of TYLA
By Clay B. Scheitzach

LIAISONS Justice Dale Wainwright, Texas Supreme Court Jeff Edwards, Access To Justice Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25 Christopher Rogers, ABA YLD District 26 Dean Charles E. Cantú, Law School Ian Pittman, Law Student

Sylvia Cardona Sworn in as the 82nd President of TYLA By Clay B. Scheitzach

LIAISONS

Justice Dale Wainwright, Texas Supreme Court

Jeff Edwards, Access To Justice

Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25

Christopher Rogers, ABA YLD District 26

Dean Charles E. Cantú, Law School

Ian Pittman, Law Student

Sylvia Cardona Sworn in as the 82nd President of TYLA
By Clay B. Scheitzach