Wishing you a bright and prosperous 2026!

Join us on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel for the 2026 Houston Bar Foundation Annual Luncheon! Outgoing Chair Sara Keith will share the Foundation’s accomplishments from the past year and welcome Incoming Chair Benny Agosto Jr., who will introduce the 2026 HBF Board and hear from guest speaker Johnny Carrabba, restauranteur and philanthropist.

There will be a reception held 11:00–11:30 a.m. honoring award winners and HBF Fellows.

Net proceeds will benefit the Houston Bar Foundation Scholarship Fund, established in memory of Alistair Dawson.

Get Your Tables Now!

For questions, contact Ashley Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org or Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org.

Join us for our HBA Spring Days of Service on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28.

Whether you’re passionate about pro bono work, supporting local nonprofits, or looking to volunteer alongside family and friends, there’s a way for everyone to make a positive impact. Choose from a variety of hands-on projects — including options perfect for all ages!
The volunteer portal opens Tuesday, January 27. Stay tuned for sign-up details and event highlights.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Kick off your New Year’s resolutions with purpose at the 41st Annual HBA Eikenburg Fun Run! Join us at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston on Saturday, February 21, 2026, for a fun and meaningful way to stay active while giving back.

All net proceeds benefit Pursuit Center, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism through housing, education, and employment opportunities.

Start the year strong, move your body, and make an impact—one step at a time.

REGISTER HERE

BECOME A SPONSOR

Questions? Contact Georgina Peña at georginap@hba.org or (346) 471-3310.

Dive into the critical issues shaping journalism and law at the 38th Annual Law & the Media Seminar, “The Importance of Journalism and Free Press to U.S. Democracy.” Join us on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hear from leading experts as they discuss the real-world challenges journalists face, recent landmark cases shaping media law, and practical strategies for protecting press freedom. Accredited for 3 hours of CLE, including 1 hour of ethics.

REGISTER HERE

BECOME A SPONSOR

Thank you to these generous sponsors for your support: 

The Publisher

Cogdell Law Firm

The Editor

The Producer

Houston Public Media

Judge Josefina M. Rendón

Wyly & Cook, PLLC

For questions or more information, contact Maggie Martin at 346-471-3428 or maggiem@hba.org.

Justice Eugene A. Cook Professionalism Award

The Justice Eugene A. Cook Professionalism Award is presented by the Houston Bar Association to a lawyer or judge who exemplifies the highest level of professionalism and legal ethics. A nominee must have demonstrated, by conduct and character, a longstanding commitment to professionalism and a record of exemplary service in the areas of professionalism, legal ethics, and legal excellence. The nominee must be a role model for younger or less experienced lawyers who make the bar proud of the legal profession. Lawyer nominees may be from a transactional or litigation practice, and nominees must be a member of the HBA.

VIEW PAST RECIPIENTS

Please send the nominee's resume and three to five letters of support by 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 13, 2026 to HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.

Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award

The Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award is presented by the Houston Bar Association to a woman lawyer or judge for exceptional achievement and leadership in the law. This award recognizes a record of outstanding accomplishments by a woman attorney. The award was established in 2019 and is named in honor of Justice Sondock, the first recipient, who was a trailblazer in the legal profession as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Texas and the first woman District Court Judge in Harris County. A nominee must have demonstrated, by conduct and character, a record of exceptional service as a role model, mentor, and advocate in the legal profession, and a lifelong commitment to professionalism. Nominees may be from a transactional or litigation practice, and nominees must be a member of the HBA.

VIEW PAST RECIPIENTS

Please send the nominee's resume and three to five letters of support by 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 13, 2026 to HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.

Petitions for nomination to the HBA Board of Directors are now available, with a filing deadline of Friday, February 27, 2026.

There are both officer and director positions. Each petition must designate the officer or director position sought by the candidate and must be signed by at least 10 current members of the Houston Bar Association. A biographical form and a current photograph must accompany each petition. Biographical data will be limited to 200 words. Each candidate will be asked to read and sign the HBA guidelines governing campaigns for officer and director positions.

To request a petition, please email HBA Executive Director Vinh Ho at vinhh@hba.org.

Start the new year by helping the HBA lay the foundation for a Houston family’s future. The HBA Habitat for Humanity Committee is kicking off the 2nd Annual Bar Builds Campaign, partnering with Houston Habitat for Humanity to raise funds for the 28th Habitat home build for a family in need of affordable housing.

Since 1998, the Houston Bar Association has helped build 27 homes, strengthening families and communities across Houston. As we turn the page on a new year, we’re inviting you to be part of the next home.

Create a team—or join one—and take part in a little friendly competition for a powerful cause. Every dollar raised brings us closer to opening the door to stability, opportunity, and hope for a local family.

For more information, contact Georgina Peña at georginap@hba.org or (346) 471-3310.

GET INVOLVED TODAY

Sponsor the Solo & Small Firm Summit on March 6, 2026, at Hotel ZaZa Memorial City. This full-day conference will include networking opportunities, vendors, and a happy hour. Join us for this inaugural event bringing solos and small firms together to learn, build better business, and thrive!

VIEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

For questions, contact Ashley Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org.

As we kick off 2026, please take a moment to visit your HBA membership profile to ensure your information is up to date. Keeping your profile up to date helps you stay connected to the HBA's digital communications, The Houston Lawyer magazine, and more. You can also update your online payment information. 

Visit the MyHBA today to log onto your HBA membership profile. 

The HBA office will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Are you starting off the new year with a job hunt? Or an employer looking to fill a job opening? Visit the HBA Career Center to learn how you can make connections today. 

We want to see what you’re up to! Follow along, tag us, and show us your HBA moments. You might just get featured!

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.

2026 LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras Party - Wednesday, February 25, 2026

2026 Golf Tournament - Monday, May 4, 2026

2026 Houston Bar Association Annual Dinner - Thursday, May 7, 2026

VISIT THE HBA ON-DEMAND CLE LIBRARY HERE

Questions? Contact HBA CLE & Technology Platforms Coordinator Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org. 

The HBA Tech Law Series returns with two virtual lunchtime webinars focused on practical, ethical uses of AI in the legal profession.

On Thursday, January 15, 2026, from noon to 1:00 p.m., join Wayland Radin of Innovative Driven for Finding Real AI Efficiency in Legal Review, a virtual webinar offering 1 hour of CLE credit (no ethics). This session goes beyond theory, sharing real case studies and practical frameworks that show how legal teams are using AI to improve consistency, reduce review time, and manage growing data volumes more effectively.

REGISTER HERE

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, from noon to 1:00 p.m., Stephen Walther, Founder of EmpowerLawyers.ai, presents ChatGPT for Texas Lawyers, a virtual webinar offering 1 hour of CLE credit, including 0.25 hours of ethics. Learn how Texas lawyers are saving time with ChatGPT while staying compliant with ABA Formal Opinion 512 and Texas Ethics Opinion 705, with simple, repeatable workflows you can implement immediately.

REGISTER HERE

Questions? Contact Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org or Ashley Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org
.

Explore the rule of law in a FREE webinar on Thursday, January 22, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Earn 1 hour of CLE credit and 1 hour of ethics while gaining valuable insights into the criminal justice system. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and credentials!

RSVP HERE

Join us for an insightful discussion on Conflict Resolution: How Colombia and Ireland Seek the Rule of Law and Reconciliation After Decades of Political Violence on Wednesday, January 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Brennan’s of Houston. Hear from Terry Lorde, retired U.S. Department of Justice prosecutor, as he shares perspectives on reconciliation, justice, and lessons learned from decades of political conflict.

REGISTER NOW

Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce two Houston attorneys have been promoted to partnership: Shannon R. McKay and Kenni C. Wilkinson.

Susman Godfrey elected Ryan Weiss as partner in their Houston office. 

Volunteers are needed for HBA's LegalLine Powered by HVL to provide legal advice to low-income individuals. Whether you choose to sign up individually or as part of a group, your help is invaluable.

Volunteer attorneys will be assigned 4-8 consultations to call. Each volunteer will be  matched with an HVL Staff Attorney for guidance and mentorship, as needed. Volunteer attorneys will have access to online legal resources and telephonic language interpreters, if needed. Volunteers will be able to discuss the cases with their HVL mentor attorney prior to and/or during their calls. 

Opportunities to volunteer are available on certain Wednesdays from 5-8 pm or Fridays from 1-5 pm. Click the link below to learn more and sign up. 

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

For questions, please email probono@hvlp.org.

Start your new year by reading, connecting, and leveling up! Join the HBA Gender Fairness Committee on Thursday, January 15 for the Winter Book Club with Melanie Bragg, author of Defining Moments: Insights into the Lawyer’s Soul. Discover how top lawyers’ pivotal experiences shaped their leadership and resilience.

Explore the LEAD Line framework—Legacy, Excellence, Authenticity, Determination—and see how these stories connect to the duty of competency and the Preamble to the Disciplinary Rules.

RSVP

We are grateful to the HBA Campaign to End Homelessness and Hunger Committee, along with our dedicated volunteers and generous donors, for making the 2025 Veterans Gift Bags Campaign possible. Thanks to your incredible support, we were able to donate to three local shelters this year. Your generosity helped brighten the holiday season for those who have given so much. Thank you!

Volunteers passing out holiday gift bags in Midtown Houston, December 16, 2025. 

Thank you to the HBA AIDS Outreach Committee and the incredible adopters who helped support a local, low-income, HIV/AIDS-impacted family during the 2025 holiday season. Your generosity made a meaningful difference. 

The Fifteenth Court of Appeals is currently hiring a Clerk of Court. This senior-level position involves overseeing the Court’s administrative operations and serving as a primary liaison between the Fifteenth Court of Appeals and the Texas Office of Court Administration. The Clerk of Court works under minimal supervision, with significant latitude for initiative and independent judgment, and may supervise the work of others.

Interested? Click here to learn more and apply.

Houston Lawyer Referral Service

Grow Your Practice with the Houston Lawyer Referral Service!

Join HLRS and connect with pre-screened clients actively seeking legal help. HLRS members earn an average of $20,000 annually from referral-generated business, making it a smart, cost-effective way to expand your practice. Annual dues start at just $175 and are prorated. HLRS has a strong need for bilingual attorneys and for attorneys who office outside Beltway 8, offering even greater opportunities to receive referrals in these high-demand areas.

Discover whether 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 to get started today.

Dispute Resolution Center  

In 2025, the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center experienced significant growth in its volunteer mediator base, welcoming 155 new mediators over the course of the year. This growth strengthens our ability to provide accessible, high-quality mediation services across Harris County and reflects the continued commitment of the legal community to alternative dispute resolution. We are grateful to the Houston Bar Association and our dedicated volunteers for their ongoing support and partnership.

Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Access to justice isn’t a one-size-fits-all issue. Many low-income Texans face a range of civil legal issues without means to hire an attorney. This means that litigants must navigate the complexities of divorce and custody cases alone. Mishaps in pro se cases result in difficulties for families as well as courts, with inefficient use of time and resources. Houston Volunteer Lawyers has recently expanded services to provide meaningful pro se assistance to low-income Texans who need help with civil legal matters. LAWPods and ScribeHELP are innovative remote, limited scope representation opportunities to assist pro se family law litigants with drafting documents. Click HERE to sign up today or email HVL Senior Staff Attorney Elliott Tucker.

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.