October 2023: Houston Bar Bulletin - Houston Bar Bulletin

Ashley Gagnon Steininger has been named the HBA’s Associate Executive Director, effective as of September 1, 2023. Ashley received her B.A. from Trinity University in San Antonio. After several years of working in education, Ashley joined the HBA and has held various positions in her twenty-three years with us.  She is responsible for a wide range of HBA operations, including direction of the Education Department, her role as Section Liaison, and coordinating the fundraising efforts of the Houston Bar Foundation.

Alli Hessel was recently promoted to Education Coordinator. Alli is a 2021 graduate of the University of Houston and joined the HBA in June, 2021 as our Education Assistant and Receptionist. Among her many responsibilities, she is currently leading the development of an enhanced online CLE video library, which will remain free to HBA members. More information on the new CLE video library will be coming soon.
 
Congratulations to Ashley and Alli!

Finally, HBA Executive Director Mindy Davidson has announced her intention to retire from the HBA following an orderly transition to a new Executive Director. The search process is in the early stages. 

If you or someone you know would like to discuss becoming the next leader of the fantastic HBA Team, please email Mindy at mindygd@hba.org or call her directly at (346) 471-3448. If emailing, please put "HBA Executive Director Search" in the subject line.

The 2023 HBA Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire opens on Monday, October 30. HBA members will receive an email from BallotBoxOnline.com (noreply@ballotboxonline.com) with an invitation to complete the questionnaire.  

This poll is a service of the HBA conducted during non-election years asking members to evaluate all elected and appointed judges on a number of professional and ethical questions. The results of the Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire are not a Houston Bar Association opinion or endorsement. The poll closes on Friday, November 17.  

Only active HBA members are eligible to vote. Questions about your membership? Email membership@hba.org.

If you have questions about the questionnaire or do not see your ballot invitation, please email HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.  

We would appreciate your feedback on the HBA’s bimonthly legal publication, The Houston Lawyer, and the companion podcast, Behind the Lines. Click the link below to take this brief survey. 

Questions? Email HBA Marketing and Communications Director and Houston Lawyer Managing Editor Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.  

Please note: A general HBA Membership Survey is coming soon! 

You are invited to attend the Fall Ethics Program titled 'Trauma Toolkit - Managing Clients and Parties with Trauma' on November 1 at 12:00 p.m. Don't miss this FREE opportunity to enhance your professional skills! Lunch will be provided.

SECURE YOUR SPOT

The HBA Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards are now accepting nominations. If you've made a difference through pro bono work or know someone who deserves recognition, click here to submit an online form.

The HBA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee welcomes all Houston area legal employers to join our 2024 HBA DEI 1L Summer Clerkship program. Sign up by October 20 to be a participating employer and support the HBA’s mission to serve the needs of the legal community through a vibrant and inclusive local bar. 

Employer Sign Up

Mark your calendars for the 39th Annual HBA John J. Eikenburg Law Week 8K Fun Run benefiting The Center for Pursuit! Join us at Sam Houston Park downtown on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Questions? Contact Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org or (346) 471-3418.

If you joined us last year and had a blast, encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to participate! See photos from last year's Fun Run here.

Join the HBA for our first-ever multi-practice Bench Bar Conference, "Bridging the Bench & Bar: Forging Connections," on Friday, April 12 at the Hotel ZaZa Museum District. Following the conference, we would love for all attendees to join us for our first-ever 'Bites and Beverages at the Bar.'

More details to follow. Click here to stay updated and to learn about sponsorship opportunities.

Sign up to join us for a boxing class on Monday, October 16 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is $20 per person for wraps and gloves. Space is limited so don't wait long to register! 

Register here.

To learn more about HBA Wellness programming, contact Samantha Torres at storres@okinadams.com.

These CLE programs are FREE for HBA members to attend. Non-members may also attend most programs for $26 per person (unless otherwise noted). Register by noon the day of the program (unless otherwise noted) via the HBA website calendar.  

HBA members can also instantly access our free online video library - accessible to HBA members only - by clicking the image below!

Watch for news of our new and improved free online video library coming soon.

If you have a question about courses available, or a specific course number, please contact Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org or (346) 471-3293. 

 If you have good news you would like to share in the HBA Bulletin, please email HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.

William Hotze has joined Kane Russell Coleman Logan PC’s (KRCL’s) Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Creditors’ Rights practice as a senior attorney. 

Polsinelli announced the addition of another Private Equity Shareholder, Monica Diddell, in the firm's Houston office.

Mayer Brown has announced that international arbitration lawyer David Weiss has joined the firm as a partner in Houston, further expanding the Houston office’s international arbitration bench.

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce that Jeffrey Phillips has joined the Intellectual Property practice group as a partner, while Jayme Partridge and Brian Strand have joined the Patent Litigation practice as partners in the firm’s Houston office.

September 15 was National Thank You Day! We want to say THANK YOU to these volunteers, and for all of the HBA members, committee members, and volunteers who partner with us to give back to our profession and the Houston community all year long. Thank you! 

See more photos from the Constitution Day Readings here.

Constitution Day Readings

Special Olympics of Texas Events

A big thank you to all of our Special Olympics of Texas volunteers! See more photos here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

You're invited to attend the Special Olympics of Texas' 2023 Breakfast with Champions event on Friday, October 6, 8:00-9:30 a.m. at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria Hotel. Email Jessica Lauer at jlauer@sotx.org to secure a free reserved table for nine guests. Registration is free and includes breakfast for all attendees. Click here to register.

The LGBTQ+ Committee invites you to join their Halloween Party on October 26 at Lawless Spirits & Kitchen. Tickets are $25 per person. Open to all! If you are interested in sponsoring this or other LGBTQ+ Committee events, please contact Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org. 

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

You are invited to join us in the fight against hunger on October 28 at the Houston Food Bank Portwall location from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Guests ages 6 and up are welcome!

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

Ready to make a difference for a family this holiday season?  

The HBA AIDS Outreach Committee invites you to “adopt” a local, low-income, HIV/AIDS-impacted family for the 2023 holiday season.  

Adoption entails purchasing, wrapping, and delivering gifts from a wish list provided in late October for delivery in mid-December. Families are referred by local social service agencies the HBA works with and has children or a senior adult in the home with a member of the family affected by HIV/AIDS.  

Sponsor a family by October 6. To adopt a family, visit www.hba.org/adoptafamily.

Contact Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org or (346) 471-3418 for more information. 

Help the HBA HAY Center Committee provide a holiday party for current and former foster youth in Harris County. Funds cover food, Santa, decorations, gifts, stockings, home goods, and pantry food.  

If you would like to contribute to the HAY Center Amazon Wishlist, click here. To make a monetary donation, click here (Please make a note that the donation is for the Holiday Party & Other Needs). Contact Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org or (346) 471-3418 for more information. 

The Jung Center will host a conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton, who lived on Alabama's death row for 30 years for a crime he did not commit.

Hosted at The Jung Center (5200 Montrose Blvd.), the general reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Anthony Ray Hinton's lecture at 7:30 p.m. 

Click here to learn more.

If you seek civil attorney ad litem appointments (not applicable to guardian ad litem or family division appointments), please attend the upcoming CLE event, "Fundamentals of Serving as Attorney Ad Litem", hosted by the Harris County Civil District Courts. Mark your calendars to attend a video presentation on October 13 or October 18 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. at 201 Caroline, 17th Floor, Houston, TX 77002.

No late entry will be allowed. Expected approval for 3 hours of CLE credit. Registration links and the application may be found at www.justex.net under the “Civil Ad Litem Info” tab. Note that those seeking appointments must apply each year to be considered. The deadline to submit the application is November 6.

"The 31st Texas Minority Counsel Program" is a 3-day event offering client development, networking, and CLE October 25-27 at the Westin Memorial City.  

Learn more about the event schedule and register at TexasBar.com/TMCP.

The National Association of Women Judges will host their "Houston Color of Justice Program" on Saturday, October 28, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Law student scholarship applications are currently open and will be accepted until Wednesday, October 18, at 5 p.m. If you're a law student or know someone who might be interested, click here to apply.

Get ready for a sizzling showdown at the "9th Annual Chili and Pie Cook-off", as teams compete for the best chili or pie in the Houston legal community. Hosted by the Houston Bar Association Auxiliary, this event is on Saturday, January 27, at St. Jerome's Catholic Church, 8825 Kempwood Dr, Houston, TX 77080. Doors open at 5:00 pm. 

This event is family friendly and benefits the HBAA Charitable Fund which provides scholarships to students from the three local law schools. Click here to learn more!

The HBA, HVL, HLRS and DRC recently presented to Harris County court coordinators to share ways the HBA and its ancillary organizations can assist the courts and the public.  

Click here to see the information provided.

Houston Lawyer Referral Service

The Houston Lawyer Referral Service is looking to continue to educate the general public through short legal information videos. Click here to view the videos available. If you are interested in starring in a video or just want more information, contact Kramsey@hlrs.org for more information.

Dispute Resolution Center 

Still Seeking Volunteers!
 
Interested in volunteering with the DRC? Send a copy of your mediation certificate and resume (or bio) for their files to email@drchouston.org (please type “Volunteer” in the subject line) or mail them to: Dispute Resolution Center, 49 San Jacinto, Suite 220 Houston, Texas 77002.
 
To mediate in their Community-Based Program, all volunteers must have successfully completed a 40-hour DRC or DRC-approved mediation training. Volunteers in this program come from all work and educational backgrounds.
 
To mediate in their Litigation Program, all volunteers must have successfully completed a 40-hour DRC or DRC-approved mediation training.  In this program, they use only attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Texas for a minimum of five years.  
 
To mediate in their Family Program, all volunteers must have successfully completed a 40-hour DRC or DRC-approved mediation training and a 24-hour DRC or DRC-approved family mediation training. This program uses only mediators who possess a J.D.
 
Once the DRC receives your information, they will contact you about volunteer opportunities. While many of the mediations are conducted virtually, there are opportunities to mediate in-person at most JP courts throughout Harris County and limited opportunities at the DRC office.

Houston Volunteer Lawyers

In honor of recent Pro Bono month and in recognition of the accomplishments of 2022-2023, Houston Volunteer Lawyers is excited to share the 2023 Year in Review. Click here to explore the achievements, stats, and heartfelt messages from HVL leaders, members, and clients. Here's to another successful year and it is always the right time to take a pro bono case!

Thank you to these firms and companies who have agreed to assume a leadership role in providing equal access to justice for all Harris County citizens. Each has made a commitment to provide representation in a certain number of cases through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers.

The Houston Bar Association 100 Club is a special category of membership that indicates a commitment to the advancement of the legal profession and the betterment of the community. The following law firms, government agencies, law schools and corporate legal departments with five or more attorneys have become members of the 100 Club by enrolling 100% of their attorneys as members of the HBA (as of August 1, 2023).

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