The 75th Annual Harvest Celebration is just days away! Join us on Monday, November 11 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the River Oaks Country Club. Don't forget to purchase your tickets to the signature networking event of Houston's legal community! This is your chance to reconnect with old friends and make new ones as we enter the holiday season. All net proceeds benefit Houston Volunteer Lawyers. Don't miss it! It will be an evening to remember under the stars.

We look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate access to justice and the power of our Houston legal community.

PURCHASE TICKETS OR UNDERWRITE

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM HBA PRESIDENT DAVID HARRELL

Questions about the Harvest Celebration? Contact Ashley Gagnon Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org. 

HBA President David Harrell explores the new Texas Business Court—including the courts' powers, the types of claims within the court's powers, and how cases reach the court—in the latest issue of The Houston Lawyer. 

The September/October issue also covers how the Loper Bright case significantly impacted the Chevron Doctrine and what happens next, as well as interviews with the founders of Hicks Davis Wynn, P.C. and Vasquez Waite about starting their own firms. 

Plus, don’t miss the newest companion episode of Behind the Lines, now available for download. This episode includes conversations about the Texas Business Court, transitioning from Big Law to a solo practice, and how the "Sneaker Lawyer" crafted his brand.

READ THE LATEST ISSUE HERE

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE HERE

We extend our sincere appreciation to the judiciary and our Harvest Celebration sponsors (Silver and above) for your generous support and for attending the 2024 Harvest Celebration VIP Judicial Reception on October 10.

A HUGE THANK YOU to AZA for hosting and underwriting this event. And a big THANK YOU to ALL UNDERWRITERS — your contributions are making a significant impact on our community.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the 75th Annual Harvest Celebration on November 11. It is truly special to see the legal community come together in support of Houston Volunteer Lawyers and their essential pro bono services. Over 1,100 members of our great Houston legal community are expected to gather on Monday, November 11, and we hope you will join us. Together, we are making a meaningful difference.

Get ready for an enriching experience at the upcoming HBA Senior Lawyers Forum: Today's HBA – What the HBA Can Do for You and Your Practice, on Thursday, November 14, at Brennan’s of Houston! Learn how the HBA can enhance your practice with insights from HBA Executive Director Vinh Ho, HBA President David Harrell, and HBA President-Elect Daniella Landers. Network with colleagues and gain valuable knowledge while earning 1 hour of MCLE credit.

In the holiday spirit, we’re collecting new, unwrapped toys for children of current and former foster youth to support the HBA HAY Center Holiday Party at the event. Donations are optional, but your generosity will help brighten a child’s season.

SECURE YOUR SPOT

Do you know a Houston-based individual, law firm, or organization who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and achieved significant progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession? 

Submit your nominations for the 2025 HBA Diversity Awards by clicking the links below.

Individual Attorney Nomination Form

Organization Nomination Form

View Past Recipients

Nominations are due Thursday, March 20, 2025. Recipients will be recognized at the HBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee's 2025 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon in June.  

For questions or additional information, please contact HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org or at 346-471-3428.

Calling all summer employers! Looking for your next summer associate? Sign up as a participating employer through the HBA DEI 1L Summer Clerkship Program by October 31.

New this year! Large law firms and federal judges who have earlier hiring deadlines will receive a resume book in November. 

EMPLOYER SIGN UP
 

HBA Executive Director Vinh Ho attended the State Bar of Texas New Lawyers Induction Ceremony in Austin on October 28 to congratulate and welcome the new class of lawyers into the profession. We can't wait to see what's in store for the next generation of attorneys!

Did you know as soon as new lawyers pass the Texas State Bar Exam, they're eligible to become an HBA member? 

Download our flyer here to learn more about how new licensees can take advantage of their free, one-year HBA membership!

A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors and everyone who joined us on October 24 for the inaugural 2024 Criminal/Appellate Bench Bar Conference, hosted by the HBA Criminal Law & Procedure Section at Hotel ZaZa Memorial City. It was a day filled with insightful discussions, learning opportunities, and valuable connections, all capped off with a lively post-event happy hour.

Missed out on the event? Watch for the video in SeminarWeb in the upcoming months.

Thank you to our amazing planning committee for putting this event together!

Harris County Probate Court No. 5 welcomes prospective candidates to apply to court appointments for various probate matters. Click here for the application and email it to diana.sanchez@prob.hctx.net.

Considering your next opportunity, or where your career can take you in the next 5-10 years? The HBA Career Center's "Career Insights" includes data to help you make informed decisions, and includes information from job demand to expected salary/hourly pay of your desired career, and a day-in-the-life look into your dream career. 

Visit Career Insights Here

Visit the HBA Career Center Here

Join us on social media! Share your HBA activity with your network by tagging us on any of these platforms

 See How Our Members Are Getting Involved with the HBA! 

Stay engaged and informed with your legal community! Visit the HBA's online events calendar for upcoming CLEs, section and committee programming, and more. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

HBA ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR

Mark you calendars for these upcoming events! Click on the events for more details.

2025 Houston Bar Foundation Annual Luncheon - Thursday, February 13, 2025

2025 HBA Fun Run - Saturday, February 15, 2025

2025 LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras Party - Wednesday, February 26, 2025

2025 Golf Tournament - Monday, May 5, 2025

2025 Houston Bar Association Annual Dinner - Thursday, May 15, 2025

2025 Civil/Appellate Bench Bar Conference - Friday, April 11, 2025

VISIT THE HBA ON-DEMAND CLE LIBRARY HERE

Questions? Contact HBA Education Coordinator Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org. 

If you’re seeking Civil Attorney Ad Litem appointments (not applicable to Guardian Ad Litem or Family Division appointments), you are invited to join the Harris County Civil District Courts for a CLE program titled Fundamentals of Serving as Attorney Ad Litem on Thursday, November 7 from 1:00 to 4:15 p.m., with a replay presentation on Friday, November 15 from 1:00 to 4:15 p.m. at 201 Caroline, 17th Floor, Houston, TX 77002. Please note that no late entry will be allowed. Accredited for 3 hours of MCLE credit.

For registration and to access the application, visit justex.net under “Civil Ad Litem Info” on the Attorney tab. Applicants seeking appointments must apply each year; the deadline for submission is November 22.

 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.

Partner Kevin Powers joined Spencer Fane in the firm's Houston office. 

Crain Caton & James welcomed J. Stephen (Steve) Green as of counsel and mediator.

Principle Recruiting welcomed Nicole Kennedy to its team of expert legal recruiters.

Scott Rozzell will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Lone Star Flight Museum at its annual gala on Nov. 16.

Siblings Macey Reasoner Stokes and Barrett H. Reasoner will receive the 2025 Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award at the Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award Luncheon on April 1, 2025 at the Hilton Americas Houston.

Patterson + Sheridan LLP is pleased to welcome four attorneys and one patent agent to the firm. Tyler Burdon, Tyler Southern, Tyrrell Ufot, and Blake Wiseman joined as first-year associates. Dalgis Barras joined as a patent agent. 

Deborah E. Ransom joined the Houston office of Kane Russell Coleman Logan as an associate.

Sorrels Law is thrilled to announce the addition of new attorneys Shalon Allen and Dakota Johnson to their practice.

The HBA Habitat for Humanity Committee invites you to join them in the 2024 HBA & Houston Habitat Bar Builds Campaign — a fun, competitive way to make a real impact and help the HBA build the 27th and 28th homes. The top fundraising team will take home the traveling Bar Build trophy!

5 easy steps to join the competition:
Step 1: Click the button below to visit our Bar Builds page.
Step 2: Select Become a Fundraiser
Step 3: Select Create a Team
Step 4: Create an account with your contact information and name your team and goal.
Step 5: Invite your team members to join your team!

GET INVOLVED

Sign up to help the HBA Campaign to End Homelessness & Hunger Committee provide gift bags for veterans living in local shelters. Let's make their holiday season brighter!

LEARN MORE

Breathe, stretch, and unwind with the HBA and HYLA Wellness Committees at Yoga in the Park on Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the H-E-B Gorilla Forest in Hermann Park.

SPACE IS LIMITED! SECURE YOUR SPOT

Make Houston greener with the HBA Lawyers for a Beautiful Houston Committee! Join us at Mickey Leland Memorial Park on Saturday, November 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to plant trees and beautify the community. Volunteers 16+ are welcome to join. 

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

The HBA Campaign to End Homelessness & Hunger Committee welcomes volunteers (adults only) to join us at the Houston Food Bank on Monday, December 2. Volunteers answer calls from families in need of food for the holidays and schedule pickups. Refreshments are provided. 

SIGN UP

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

We are also accepting monetary donations! If you choose to do so, please make a note that the donation is for the Holiday Party & Other Needs.

AMAZON WISH LIST

MAKE A MONETARY DONATION

On October 20, members and guests embraced the Halloween spirit at the HBA LGBTQ+ Committee's 4th Annual Halloween Party with a Beetlejuice twist. Held at the new Norton Rose Fulbright Tower, the night was filled with incredible costumes, delicious food, cocktails, mocktails, and endless dancing and fun!

Thank you to our attendees, and of course, our dedicated committee members for making this night a real treat!

The Southern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference will be held on Thursday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Ballroom at Bayou Place.

Participants will earn 6.5 hours of MCLE credit and 1.5 hours of ethics. 

VIEW THE PROGRAM AGENDA AND REGISTER

Save the date for the 7th Annual University of Houston Law Center Denney L. Wright International Energy Tax Conference and 25th Annual Houston Business and Tax Law Journal Symposium. This year's theme is "Investment Challenges."

February 28, 2025
9:00 am – 6:00 pm Central | Conference
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Central | Reception
In-person and Virtual

John M. O’Quinn Law Building
Danny M. Sheena Courtroom
4170 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77204

Click here for more information

The Houston Bar Association Auxiliary (HBAA) is accepting nominations for the 2025 Leon Jaworski Award to honor a Houston attorney for a lifetime of volunteer service. The Leon Jaworski Award is to be presented to an HBA member who is civic-minded, professionally capable, socially and culturally concerned, family-oriented, morally and spiritually aware and who has demonstrated these qualities over a significant number of years. 

NOMINATION FORM

Houston Lawyer Referral Service

Houston Lawyer Referral Service Attorney Spotlight: Anis Damani

What are your practice areas?
Bankruptcy Law, Consumer Litigation, and Business Litigation.

How long have you been an HLRS member?
5 years.

What are some benefits of being an HLRS member?
HLRS provides leads to clients specifically seeking help in our area of practice. This saves a lot of time, effort, and money in marketing to these potential clients.

Do you recommend HLRS, and if so, why?
Yes, I highly recommend HLRS to all attorneys looking to expand their client base and save time and money on marketing through traditional means.

Thank you, Anis, for your dedication to serving the Houston community!

Join Anis and become an HLRS member! For more details or to see if HLRS is the right fit for you, contact Executive Director Karen Ramsey at kramsey@hlrs.org, call (713) 650-0470, or visit www.hlrs.org/for-attorneys today! HLRS members typically earn an average of $20,000 annually from referrals. Membership dues start at just $175 per year and are prorated.

Dispute Resolution Center 
 
Interested in volunteering with the DRC? Send a copy of your mediation certificate and resume (or bio) to email@drchouston.org (please type “Volunteer” in the subject line). You can also mail your materials 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

Register for HVL's Upcoming CLE: The Basics of Representing Veterans 2024

Join HVL for "The Basics of Representing Veterans 2024," a virtual CLE designed to equip attorneys across Texas with the essential skills and knowledge to serve veterans. This course will be held on Monday, November 11 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. via Zoom, and will be accredited for 3 hours of MCLE and 1 hour of ethics credit. (We hope to see you later that evening at the 75th Annual Harvest Celebration!)

This course meets VA accreditation requirements for attorneys accredited by the VA before attending. The CLE is co-sponsored by HVL, Lonestar Legal Aid, The Beacon, and South Texas College of Law Houston. 

Expand your expertise, fulfill VA accreditation standards, and make a difference in the lives of veterans. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity — register today!
 

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 100 Club

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 percent of their attorneys as members of the HBA.