Year in Review
By: Jennifer Morris, Partner, Carrington Coleman

This year’s Texas Young Lawyers Association Annual Meeting will celebrate a year focusing on those we serve – young lawyers, the public, students, and children. TYLA worked hard this year to provide practical resources to help with a challenging economy. Together, we created Office in a Flash – everything you need to know to open your own law practice, all on a flash drive. We initiated Partnering for Pro Bono, a sustainable web-based program matching in-house counsel with law firm lawyers to support equal access to justice by increasing the provision of pro bono services. Finally, we produced The Little Voice – Recognizing Child Abuse and Your Duty to Report It, which serves as a reminder and educational tool about our obligation to report child abuse. Of course, we also continued to support our existing projects and resources.

Teen Talk
By: Leif Olson

The Houston Young Lawyers Association taught nearly 400 students about legal issues affecting teenagers in two film festivals presented through its Teen Talk committee.

Teen Talk volunteers presented four TYLA programs to the students and led discussions about those programs to increase the students’ understanding of the materials. Each session of Teen Talk featured TYLA’s video programs “R U Safe?” on Internet safety and privacy; “They Had a Dream Too,” on the young leaders of the civil-rights movement; “Vote America,” on voting rights and responsibilities; and “American Juror,” on the importance of juror service.

More Resources for Young Lawyers and the Community
By: Brooke Ulrickson Allen

Throughout the Bar year, you hear about the many great projects TYLA completes such as Partnering for Pro Bono and the Little Voice. However, there are also some “lesser known” resources available for young lawyers, clients, and the community in general. These are the plethora of pamphlets TYLA produces and updates each year.

Identifying and Dealing With a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
By Chip Brooker

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.
— Matthew 7:15-16 (New International Version).

It’s 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning, and the Defendant just served you with its Original Answer. You’re relieved to see that Harvey Dent is representing the Defendant. You have a long history with Harvey, who was a law school classmate of yours. Although more of an acquaintance than a friend, you generally like and respect Harvey and have had lunch with him on more than one occasion. You believe that he is a good attorney based on your service together on bar committees and one prior experience where he represented a co-defendant. You’re immediately convinced that this case will be more enjoyable with Harvey on the other side.

5 Things Associates Need to Know Before Preparing Clients for Depositions
By: Chris Simmons

You are sitting in a conference room. The court reporter diligently transcribes the record. The videographer has your client’s image on screen. The tape is rolling. Opposing counsel has been deposing your client for 30 minutes. You think to yourself, “I’ve got this under control.” The next instant, opposing counsel asks your client a question and your heart instantly repositions itself from its customary location on the left side of your chest to somewhere in your esophagus. As your client flounders to answer the question, you think to yourself, “Why did I not prepare my client for that question?” You spend the remainder of the deposition, and possibly the remainder of the litigation, trying to undo what has just occurred.

Spring Conference Report
By: Chip Brooker and C.E. Rhodes

Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted more than 300 young lawyers, including many of our international affiliate friends, at the ABA YLD Spring Conference May 12-14, 2011 at Caesars Palace.

Spring Conference Council Meeting

The ABA YLD Council met on Thursday, May 12, 2011. The highlights of the Council meeting included:

• Announcement of 2012-13 conference sites: Charleston, SC (Fall Conf., Oct 2012); Dallas, TX (Midyear, Feb. 2013); Minneapolis, MN (Spring Conf., TBD); Francisco, CA (Annual, Aug. 2013).
  
• Secretary-Treasurer, Chris Rogers, reminded all council members to donate to the Fund for Justice and Education to continue the YLD council’s tradition of 100% participation.