TYLA eNews, November 2006

I write this column to share a few thoughts on what I have learned from a fairly nomadic career path, and how valuable bar service has been in my various transitions. I started out with Haynes and Boone's Austin office. After practicing there for two years, I decided to pursue opportunities in our Dallas office. And then, after two years in the Dallas office, I found myself unexpectedly moving up to Haynes and Boone's New York City office (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a London office!) (Cont.)

Feature TYLA Affiliate

Affiliate Holiday Activities

This installment of affiliate project highlights centers on holiday projects sponsored by TYLA local affiliates. We begin with the West Texas town of El Paso . The El Paso Young Lawyers Association is organizing its first Cancer Society Christmas Party. They have discovered that the children of low to middle income cancer patients are often overlooked during the holidays. Cancer patients, in addition to battling cancer, must battle significant medical expenses. These medical expenses often take away from the ability of families to participate in holiday festivities. The EPYLA is teaming with the American Cancer Society and the Las Palmas Medical Center . Together, they are planning a festive holiday party where they will provide gifts to the children of cancer patients. They also hope to raise sufficient funds to provide the families with groceries for a month. The American Cancer Society will identify families in need and the Las Palmas Medical Center will provide space for a holiday party as well as financial support. (Cont.)

SAYLA, FBA and TYLA Celebrate Constitution Day at Fox Tech High School

Hotchkin, Diaz and Cardona

To commemorate the day our Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution, the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association (SAYLA), in conjunction with the San Antonio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA), presented a program entitled "Constitution Day: The American Juror" to Constitutional Law students at Fox Tech High School on October 5 th . The program was made possible through a grant funded by TYLA. Judge Rene Diaz (224 th Judicial District Court of Bexar County ) spoke to the students with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation entitled, “The History and Importance of Our Jury System” to impart to our future leaders how unique and vital are the liberties guaranteed by our Constitution. (Cont.)

Meet the Affiliates

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 Kendyl Hanks or Brad Allen.

Feature TYLA Project

Treat Your Members to Dinner AND Dialogue


	Dallas - Diversity Dinner

Dialogue requires much from its participants: A willingness to suspend assumptions. To participate equally, without judgment. To listen for understanding.

TYLA's Dinner & Dialogue program offers members that magical space to discuss important issues of inclusion and
diversity within and without the legal community. The pilot Dinner and Dialogue program, hosted in Dallas on March 16, 2006, drew more than one hundred Dallas lawyers and judges. (Cont.)

Tips for Young Lawyers

What You and Your Client Need to Know About Small Claims Court


Darla Snead

An experienced lawyer once told me that people only need an attorney to handle their disputes about one-third of the time – the problem is that most folks have no idea how to identify those times when an attorney really is needed. These days clients typically call their lawyers to discuss every problem that comes across their plate, whether large or small.

As an attorney, one of your many jobs is to effectively represent your client. Oddly, an attorney can effectively represent someone by not representing them. (Cont.)

Article of Interest

Texas Supreme Court Rules Mold Claims Not Covered in Texas
by Christopher W. Martin & Brad A. Allen

On August 31, 2006 the Supreme Court of Texas issued its long-awaited mold coverage decision and held that the Texas HO-B policy does not cover mold damage sustained by a dwelling. In Fiess v. State Farm Lloyds , Cause No. 04-1104, -- S.W. 3d --, 2006 WL 2505995 (Tex. 2006) the insureds contended that their homeowners' policy covered mold damage caused by plumbing leaks, although the policy included a mold exclusion. The federal district court were the case was originally pending granted State Farm's Motion for Summary Judgment and concluded there was no coverage for mold damage regardless of the cause. On appeal, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals certified the coverage question to the Texas Supreme Court so the issue could be decided with finality. (Cont.)

ABA/YLD Update

On October 19-21, young lawyers from around the country gathered in Baltimore, Maryland for the ABA Young Lawyers Division's Fall Conference . The Conference included three-track programming covering substantive law CLE, bar leadership and helpful general sessions, in addition to many opportunities to mingle and share ideas with young lawyers from other affiliates.

The leadership programs included an Affiliate Leaders' roundtable, and past affiliate leaders presented a program in which they identified tips for leading your affiliate. Other bar leadership seminars included programs about how to bring more diversity to your young lawyer organization, how to make the law schools your organization's best friend, how to ask for increased funding from the senior bar and how to strengthen your organization by using the YLD affiliate assistance team. (Cont.)

Take Note


	2006 Triple Play Charity Softball Tournament

2006 Triple Play Charity Softball Tournament hosted by South Texas College of Law, University of Houston and Thurgooh Marshall School of Law. The SBOT Law Student Division and TYLA sponsored the event which benefited the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston. The event took place on Saturday, October 14, 2006.

Upcoming Events

November 10th, from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m: TYLA/ProBAR Unaccompanied Children's Project Training (co- sponsored by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers) at Hermes Sargent Bates, LLP, 901 Main St., Ste. 5200 in Dallas.For more information about the TYLA/ProBAR Unaccompanied Children's Project, please contact Sylvia Cardona.
November 10-11th: TYLA Board of Director's Meeting at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas.
November 13th: New Lawyers Induction ceremony, 10:00a.m., The Frank Erwin Center, Austin.
November 16th, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: The ABA Youth at Risk Commission is holding a National Youth at Risk Roundtable at the Sam Houston Club at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on November 16. Civilian and military lawyers and other leading professionals will participate.
December 1st, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m: TYLA/ProBAR Unaccompanied Children's Project Training (co- sponsored by the Houston Association of Young Lawyers) at South Texas College of Law, 1303 San Jacinto St. in Houston. For more information, please contact Wendy Miller.
January 11th and 16th, 2007 from 12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m.: Cordell Parvin's Rainmaking 101: Keys to Effective Business Plans and Goals Settin. Click here to view the flyer.
January 27-28, 2007: Joint TYLA/State Bar of Texas Board of Directors Meeting at the Camino Real Hotel in El Paso.

TYLA Annual Report 2006

Want to know how TYLA is serving its members and the community? Then be sure to read the 2006 annual report, which details the activities of TYLA during the 2005-2006 Bar year. Click here for a copy or call 800-204-2222 x 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 2006, you will need to sign up for your committees again. Committee memberships are reset
each year on June 1.