26th Law & the Media Program, January 28

The 2012 Law & the Media Program will explore the legal, ethical and practical implications of WikiLeaks for journalists, lawyers and the people and institutions affected by "antisecrecy vigilantes" (New York Times). The program will feature Geoffrey Robertson, the London-based lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (via Skype) and New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt, who interviewed Mr. Assange and assessed the first trove of diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks. The program also will include a panel discussion featuring Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press, Washington, D.C.; Don DeGabrielle of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas; David Adler, federal criminal defense attorney; and Tom Forestier, media attorney and managing shareholder, Winstead PC.

Law & the Media is co-sponsored by the HBA, the Society of Professional Journalists and The Press Club of Houston. The program is set for Saturday, January 28, 2012, at South Texas College of Law. It has been approved for 3 hours of MCLE credit, including 1 hour of ethics credit. Click here to register.

HBA Habitat for Humanity Drive: Now Through Jan. 31

The HBA/HBF annual construction fund drive for a 15th Habitat for Humanity house will run through January 31, 2012. Donations can be made online at www.houstonhabitat.org. Click the "Donate" link on the left and choose "Houston Bar Association 2012 Home Build" as the recipient under "Donation Details." To donate by check, make checks payable to the Houston Bar Foundation and send to the Foundation at 1001 Fannin, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002. For more information, contact Claire Nelson at 713-759-1133 or clairen@hba.org.

HBA/CLE Survey - Give us your Feedback!

The HBA/CLE Committee would like your feedback on CLE program preferences. Click here for the HBA/CLE Survey. Please click on the link, complete the HBA/CLE survey and fax it back to 713-759-1133 or save the form on your desktop and email it to survey@hba.org. Our goal is to better serve Harris County attorneys, and your input is greatly appreciated. The survey deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact the HBA/CLE Department at 713-759-1133 or Lucyf@hba.org.

Free Legal Advice - LegalLine Program February 1

The HBA's LegalLine program will be held on Wednesday, February 1, with attorneys answering calls from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The public may call 713-759-1133 and speak to volunteer attorneys who will answer their legal questions. Click here for more information on the program and upcoming LegalLine dates.

The HBA would like to thank Gotham Pizza, 2204 Louisiana, Suite E, for providing dinner for our LegalLine volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer in the HBA LegalLine Program and make a difference in our community, please contact Natasha Williams at natashaw@hba.org.

Lunch & Learn - HBA/CLE Monthly Program Feb. 8

The HBA/CLE Committee invites HBA members to participate in one of the HBA's newest CLE offerings, Lunch & Learn. Because of space limitations, only the first 20 HBA members who RSVP are invited to come to the HBA office from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. and listen to a selected speaker give an hour-long CLE presentation on various topics that are useful in today's legal practice. There is no charge to attend and members are encouraged to bring a lunch to take full advantage of their lunch hour and CLE experience!

The February 8 presentation will be "Horse Law in Texas: What Every Cowboy's Lawyer Needs to Know," presented by Rebecca Pennington, Attorney at Law. Program includes .25 hours ethics credit. Click here for RSVP information.

Veterans in 14 counties in southeast Texas will have increased access to legal services through a new coalition of bar associations and legal communities, made possible by a grant from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. The HBA, the Jefferson County Bar Association and Fort Bend Lawyers Care are part of the coalition.

In addition to Harris, Jefferson and Fort Bend counties, the coalition will encompass Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Liberty, Montgomery, Orange, San Jacinto, Walker and Waller counties. The area is home to nearly 350,000 veterans. The program will be modeled on the Houston Bar Association's successful Veterans' Legal Initiative, which is entering its fourth year and has served 4,500 veterans.

"We are grateful to receive these funds from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation that will enable us to assist many more veterans in southeast Texas," said Lowrey. "I urge HBA members to volunteer for this new coalition to help men and women who have sacrificed and served our nation." Read More. Click here to volunteer.

UPCOMING VETERANS LEGAL CLINICS

•January 28, VFW Post 4709, 1303 W. Semands, Conroe, TX 77301
•February 4, American Legion Post 490, 11702 Old Galveston Road, Houston, TX 77034
•February 25, VFW Post 5400, 11230 Hwy. 6, Santa Fe, TX 77510
9:00 a.m. until noon. No appointment is necessary.

Save the Date! HBF Annual Luncheon February 23

The Houston Bar Foundation will hold its Annual Meeting and Luncheon on Thursday, February 23, 2011, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at The Houston Club. Bob McAughan of Locke Lord LLP will become the 2012 chair of the Foundation, succeeding William C. (Bill) Lowrey. The keynote speaker will be Ronald DePinho, M.D., president of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The Foundation also will present its 2011 awards for pro bono service, volunteerism and legal writing at the luncheon.

Tickets are $60 per person. Click here to print a ticket order form. The deadline to purchase tickets is February 21.

Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards Nominations

The deadline for the fourth annual Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards is Friday, March 2, 2012. The awards are sponsored by the Harris County Judiciary, in conjunction with the Houston Bar Association, to encourage lawyers to volunteer direct legal services for low-income residents.

A committee of Harris County judges will select the recipients. Awards will be presented by the judiciary at a special luncheon in the spring. Each winner will receive a custom-designed award for their office, and the winner's names will appear on permanent plaques on display in the Civil, Criminal, Family and Juvenile courthouses. Please click here for rules and eligibility. Click here for the nomination form.

Save the Date! Criminal/Appellate Bench Bar Conference April 19

The next Criminal/Appellate Bench Bar Conference will be Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the 1910 Courthouse, 301 Fannin, Houston, Texas 77002. Check back soon for agenda and registration. Contact Lucy Fisher at 713-759-1133 or lucyf@hba.org for more information.

2011-2012 Fall/Winter Seminar Schedule

The 2011-2012 Fall/Winter Seminar Schedule is available to download as a PDF or view as an up-to-date list of scheduled seminars on the HBA/CLE Seminars web page. Click here to see the schedule.

The HBA is partnering with the radio program "Our Military Heroes" to provide legal information to veterans, military personnel and their families during a bi-monthly segment. It airs on the second Sunday every other month, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on KKHT 100.7 FM and KNTH 1070 AM. Pictured is Judge Marc Carter of the 228th District Court, right, who discussed his Veterans Court on the October 9 program, along with host, Capt. Jim Mehrmann. Listen to the show here.

The HBA's Adopt-A-School Committee is seeking attorney volunteers to tutor 6th grade students in math and reading at the HBA's adopted school, B.C. Elmore Middle School in the North Forest ISD. Tutoring sessions are held on six Wednesdays in the fall and six Wednesdays in the spring. The time commitment for volunteers is approximately one and a half hours per tutoring session, including drive time from downtown. The school is located at 8200 Tate (77028). Click here if you would like to volunteer as a tutor, or if you would like more information, please contact Claire Nelson at 713-759-1133 or clairen@hba.org.

The Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas passed anti-bullying resolutions that support school anti-bullying policies, appropriate government and private anti-bullying measures and programs, and include cyber-bullying in the definition. The resolutions are based on a model drafted by the Anti-Defamation League. Read the HBA's Resolution. Read article on ADL website.

As part of its program to combat bullying in schools, the HBA and HYLA have teamed up to provide students and their parents with information on cyberspace safety through the distribution of the DVD, "R U Safe? Protecting Yourself in Cyberspace." The award-winning DVD was developed by the Texas Young Lawyers Association through a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. "R U Safe?" includes components for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as parents, that cover topics including cyber bullying, social networking, chat rooms, "sexting" and online predators. Read more about it. View/download video.

HBA members can take advantage of discounts on tickets and/or priority seating for performances by the following organizations:

•Houston Ballet: 25-50% Off in Feb and March - HBA members, family and friends can recieve up to 50% off select performances of Cinderella and Rock, Roll & Tutus in February and March. Please click here for available dates and information

•Alley Theatre Discount Partnership Program - HBA has partnered with the Alley Theatre and members can now save up to 26% on select seats to its 2011-2012 productions. To receive this special offer, please use promotion code ALLEYPARTNER. Tickets can be purchased online. Click here for more information. Click here to purchase tickets.

•GlobalFit 12-Week Challenge - It takes 12 weeks to create a habit, the experts say. And 2010 research confirms that, for most people, a new healthy behavior feels automatic by week 12. That's why GlobalFit just issued a 12-week challenge - so you can start exercising and stick with it! Please click here for more information on GlobalFit's 12-week challenge and how to join a participating gym.

•ClubCorp Offers Houston Young Executive Membership - Under 40 and love golf? ClubCorp, an HBA member benefit provider, is offering a special until membership reaches 500. The $1,000 initiation fee is reduced to $100 for HBA members and dues are $275 per month. The membership gives you access to nine Houston area clubs featuring over 150 holes of golf, eight swimming pools, over 50 tennis courts, racquetball, cardio, strength training, group exercises and dining privileges. For more information click here.

•Da Camera of Houston offers HBA members a 20 percent discount on tickets to any concert. To purchase tickets, call 713-524-5050 and ask for the HBA discount.

Join the 7th Annual "Paul E. Stallings Blood Drive" the HBA's continuing partnership with the Blood Center. Please give The Blood Center the HBA code, QM07, to have your donation credited to the HBA drive. Visit www.giveblood.org to learn more about a drive in your area.

36 firms have signed a commitment statement that pledges an increase in various actions that promote gender fairness. To find out more about the Gender Fairness Initiative, please contact Tara Shockley or call 713-759-1133.