TYLA eNews, September 2008

Call for Volunteers to Assist Hurricane Ike Victims TYLA has received numerous inquiries seeking attorneys willing to volunteer their time or expertise to assist victims of Hurricane Ike. If you are willing to help, please click here and fill out the 2008 Disaster Response Volunteer Form for the State Bar of Texas.

A training program for attorneys who would like to help answer legal questions, including FEMA-related questions, will take place Monday, Sept. 22, from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Baker Botts, Houston, TX 32nd floor of One Shell Plaza, 910 Louisiana. The training is free and approved for 3.5 hours of MCLE credit. Please RSVP to mariar@hba.org.

When the TYLA eNews editorial board met last month to discuss the content of the September issue of eNews, it was decided this issue would focus on mentoring in our profession. Specifically, the articles would emphasize the importance of young lawyers mentoring other young lawyers, as well as law students, and feature mentoring opportunities for young lawyers. In other words, the theme of this issue was going to be “helping others.” (Cont.)

Hurricane Ike Update
By Brad Allen

Brad Allen

Dear Texas Young Lawyers:

Hurricane Ike made a direct hit on Galveston and Houston early Saturday morning as a strong Category 2 hurricane. Parts of the Houston metro area, especially Galveston and many communities between Houston and the Gulf, experienced catastrophic damage. Many of the other surrounding and coastal communities also experienced significant damage. Wide spread power outages are expected to last for up to 4 weeks. While Ike was devastating to many, millions consider themselves blessed because their families are safe and their property damage was not severe. Please join us in praying for our entire community in Southeast Texas as we begin the hard task of cleaning up the mess and returning to work. (Cont.)

Feature TYLA Affiliate

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match – DAYL's Mentor Match
By Laura Benitez Geisler

Ask any successful person about the secret to their success and almost all will give credit to a role model or mentor that was influential in their lives. Why do you think that most award acceptance speeches start with a heartfelt thanks to those who have helped the recipient on their path to success? Quite often, people have different mentors for different phases of their lives. The mentor who influenced your decision to practice law may be different from the person who mentors you in your specific practice area or in managing work-life balance. (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

Ten Minute Mentor Goes to Law School
By Kelly L. Burris

Kelly L. Burris

In the spirit of continuing to improve and expand on already great service projects, the Texas Young Lawyers Association is pleased to announce the addition of “Ten Minute Mentor Goes to Law School ” to its Ten Minute Mentor website. The new section will be specifically geared toward the concerns and questions of law students and those planning to attend law school. (Cont.)

Did you know there are approximately 70,000 licensed attorneys in Texas? With approximately 22,859,968 people in Texas, that ratio of attorneys to the population is 1:328. (Cont.)

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.

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.

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

2008-2009 YouTube Contest: Ideals that Unite Us
What are the ideals that unite us as citizens of this country? That's the theme of the State Bar's new YouTube video contest. To enter the contest, create a video no longer than three minutes that captures your vision of the ideals that unite us as Texans. You must be a Texas resident or an attorney licensed to practice in Texas.

Online entry forms will be available by October 1, 2008. The deadline for entries is March 16, 2009. You can enter the contest as an individual or as part of a group. We encourage local bar associations to submit their own video entry. The call for entries video and additional contest details can be found at www.texasbar.com/texansonjustice.

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 this summer? 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 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

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