Top Story
Meet Your TYLA President-elect Candidates:
Karin Crump (Austin) and Greg Jackson (Fort Worth)

Karin Crump Brochure: front / back

Greg Jackson Brochure

Nominees for TYLA President-elect hit the campaign trail beginning March 1, 2005. All Texas young lawyers will receive a ballot for State Bar President-elect candidates, TYLA President-elect candidates, and any State Bar or TYLA district representative candidates in your district.

The electronic voting period runs April 1 - April 10, 2005. Paper ballots will be distributed April 15 to those attorneys who do not vote online. Paper ballots must be returned by 5:00 pm on May 2, 2005.

(See State Bar President-elect candidates
Dan Boulware, Cleburne and Martha Dickie, Austin)

Feature TYLA Project
Ten Minute Mentor
By Clay Scheitzach -

Have you ever had a legal question that you felt embarrassed to ask? Have you ever handled a case that involved an area of the law in which you were not fully familiar? On your way to your first deposition and not exactly sure what to do? Would you like to have answers to your legal questions available free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then Ten Minute Mentor is the answer for you! The Texas Young Lawyer Association, in conjunction with TexasBarCLE, is proud to announce the online debut of Ten Minute Mentor. Ten Minute Mentor is an online library accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week where you can view short (approximately ten minute) video segments presented by experienced practitioners covering a wide variety of relevant legal topics. (continued) ... See also: Feature story - TBJ March 2005

Denise Russell - President of SAYLA
By Kelly-Ann Clarke -

Denise Russell

Attorney. President. Wife. Expectant Mother. So much work, so little time; but somehow Denise Russell manages to do it all with a beaming smile. Born and raised in Fort Worth, she is the first member of her family to graduate college. A proud Mexican-American, Russell knew from second grade that she wanted to be a lawyer. To realize that dream she attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minor in government in 1996. In addition to her studies, she was active in Alpha Phi Omega, a national volunteer organization. Alpha Phi Omega provided an outlet for Russell’s love of volunteerism through programs such as the annual blood drive on the UT campus and regularly calling bingo numbers at a local Austin nursing home. (continued)

Hedwig Village Teen Court Volunteers
Receive Special Guest Speaker, Rusty Hardin

Rusty Hardin addresses Hedwig Village Teen Court students

Between obtaining Calvin Murphy’s acquittal, and preparing for upcoming trials, Rusty Hardin found time to address the teen volunteers in the HYLA-sponsored Hedwig Village Teen Court Program on February 2nd. During his one and a half hour speech, Hardin spoke to the students about how he became interested in the practice of law, his journey through law school including the admission process, and his love for the legal practice. However, Hardin’s main theme was the old adage “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” (continued)

The Pitfalls of Pre-Suit Settlement Agreements
By Todd B. Baker -

Todd Baker

In an era when alternative dispute resolution is part and parcel in seemingly every legal dispute, commercial litigators often find themselves involved in pre-suit settlement negotiations. Unique issues arise when counsel participate in these negotiations on behalf of foreign corporations that are in bad shape. In many instances, the corporation may have failed to pay franchise taxes, resulting in the corporation’s loss of corporate privileges. This loss can create a myriad of pitfalls for the now unauthorized foreign corporation seeking to avoid costly litigation.

One particular area of concern involves the entry into settlement agreements by these foreign corporations. Counsel must be aware that the Tax Code makes officers and directors personally liable for the debts of a corporation incurred after the loss of corporate privileges. (continued)

UPDATE

TYLA Officers for FY '05-'06
TYLA proudly announces its officers for the 2005-2006 bar year!

President: Lee Ann Reno (Amarillo)
Chair of the Board: Bill Miller (Texarkana)
Vice President: Mary Reveles (Richmond)
Secretary: Bob Stokes (Webster)
Treasurer: Tal Hammock (Texas City)
Chair-elect: Gindi Eckel (Houston)
Immediate Past President: Marshall Wood (Texarkana)

The TYLA President-elect will be elected from the general membership of TYLA. This year's candidates are Karin Crump (Austin) and Greg Jackson (Fort Worth).

Finalists Advance in National Trial Competiton
Twenty-six teams from law schools around the country are advancing to the NTC national finals, which will be held this year in San Antonio. Texas schools advancing to finals are: South Texas College of Law and Texas Tech University School of Law.
Click here to view complete listing of NTC finalist teams

Choosing and Courting a Jury

TYLA and TexasBarCLE present the 6th annual Choosing and Courting a Jury institute, focusing on voir dire and selection tips. Approved for 6.5 Hours MCLE credit.

Live: April 29, 2005 - Dallas (Hyatt Regency)
Video: June 29, 2005 - Houston (Westchase Hilton)