State Bar of Texas

Justice Judy C. Parker was presented a resolution during the September 27 board meeting in Lubbock. Justice Parker is a 38-year member of the State Bar of Texas and a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. For the first nine years of her legal career, Justice Parker undertook private practice in Lubbock. She later served as judge of Lubbock County Court at Law #3 and presided over the Lubbock County Recovery Court, a drug court involving child abuse and neglect cases. Justice Parker then served as administrative judge for the Lubbock County Courts at Law. During this time, the State Bar’s Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee honored Justice Parker with the Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award in recognition of her exemplary work to increase access to justice. In 2017, Governor Abbott appointed Justice Parker to the Seventh District Court of Appeals, where she continues to serve. Justice Parker has a long history of volunteer service to the legal profession, including as a past director of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, as chair of the TYLA board, and as a past president of both the Lubbock Area Bar Association and the Lubbock County Young Lawyers Association. The State Bar of Texas honors Justice Judy C. Parker with this resolution for her outstanding efforts on behalf of the people of Texas, her dedication to the Lubbock community, and her unwavering commitment to the legal profession as a whole. #Judge #Lawyer #Legal

💬 “Unfortunately, few non-lawyer clients are aware of the parallel duties that attorneys simultaneously owe to their clients and to the legal system. And this misunderstanding can sometimes lead to frustration and confusion when clients’ desires and requests diverge from our required standards of ethical conduct. So, it is wise for attorneys to inform clients, at the inception of an engagement, that we are legally bound by a duciary duty to undertake our client representations in compliance with our disciplinary rules and ethical standards…” In the October issue of the Texas Bar Journal, State Bar President Steve Benesh discusses lawyers’ ethical obligations in instances where their dual duties of serving clients and the legal system appear to diverge. Read the President’s Page, “Lawyers as Officers of the Court— A Privilege Burdened with Conditions,” here: https://lnkd.in/gfFrRAR3 #LegalReads #Lawyers

❗️ Texas lawyers can temporarily register with the North Carolina State Bar to provide pro bono legal services to victims of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene, following an order by the North Carolina Supreme Court. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dcDDkseD

As the Supreme Court of Texas prepares to finalize rules that would allow licensed legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to provide limited legal services for low-income individuals, the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors has approved a series of comments on the preliminary rules for the court’s consideration. https://lnkd.in/g7ikiphz

In the October issue of the Texas Bar Journal, Executive Director Trey Apffel informs members of the bar that from now through November 1, Texas lawyers have a chance to provide comments on proposed rules that would allow licensed legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to provide limited legal services to low-income Texans.   💬 “The State Bar of Texas is reviewing the proposed rules and looks forward to providing its input during the comment period.”   Read the Executive Director’s Page here: tinyurl.com/edoctober24   #LegalReads

➡️ The month of September was filled with board meetings, honoring members of the Texas legal community, benefitting legal aid, and much more. Here is a recap of some State Bar activities that transpired in September. 🖼 September 6 – The Supreme Court of Texas honored the legacy of former Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson with an official portrait unveiling. 👢 September 13-14 – The Texas Young Lawyers Association held their quarterly board meeting in Amarillo. TYLA past presidents and executives sat on a panel to share stories about the positive impact TYLA made on them both personally and professionally. 🎓 September 20 – The University of Houston Law Center held their UH Law Pioneers Celebration, where they honored early UH Law Center graduates. State Bar of Texas President Steve Benesh spoke at the event and shared insights on the lasting impact of the graduates. 👩🏫 September 20 – The 2024 – 2025 LeadershipSBOT class had their first meeting in Austin. This program is designed to recruit, train, and retain Texas lawyers for leadership positions in the legal community and the State Bar of Texas. 🎩 September 21 – The San Antonio Bar Association held their annual San Antonio Bar Foundation Gala. State Bar President Steve Benesh, Executive Director Trey Apffel, and other officers of the State Bar attended and connected with members of the San Antonio Bar Association. 🃏 September 24 – The Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas and the TEXAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION held their annual Lawteria event. Lawteria consists of joining Hispanic legal leaders throughout the state in a fun game night benefitting legal aid. ⚖️ September 27 – The State Bar of Texas board of directors held their quarterly board meeting in Lubbock. Check out our social media channels for a recap of the meeting’s highlights. The VOD of the meeting can be watched on our YouTube at https://lnkd.in/dV7BFj5. Stay tuned to the State Bar of Texas in the month of October as the Office of Minority Affairs - State Bar of Texas will be hosting their annual Texas Minority Counsel Program, new Texas lawyers will be welcomed into the legal profession during the New Lawyers Induction Ceremony, and much more will be taking place. 📸 (Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson portrait unveiling) – courtesy of Will Korn 📸 (UH Law Pioneers Celebration) – courtesy of Savannah Martinez 📸 (LeadershipSBOT) – courtesy of Jennifer Reames 📸 (San Antonio Bar Foundation Gala) – courtesy of Steve Benesh 📸 (Lawteria) – courtesy of Steve Benesh

The Texas Bar Career Center is a great tool for both employers and job seekers. Post open positions or search online for Texas legal-related jobs. Every other week, State Bar of Texas members receive a job flash email, featuring the latest jobs posted to the Career Center. https://lnkd.in/gdE35xqR #MemberBenefitMonday #Ad #Sponsored

“When the opportunity to run for director came to my attention I jumped in again. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew I wanted to be more involved.” Spicewood attorney Matthew J. Hill speaks on lawyers engaging with the State Bar, how he found out he wanted to work in the legal profession, and more in the State Bar Director Spotlight column in the September issue of the Texas Bar Journal. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gYPZdcYm #TXLawyer #Lawyer

The September issue of the Texas Bar Journal includes a recap of the 2024 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, including President Steve Benesh’s swearing-in, summaries of the keynote presentations and many other CLEs, and much more. Read the highlights here: https://lnkd.in/g4naDtDx #sbot24

The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors met on September 27 in Lubbock. Highlights from the meeting include: ➡️ The board approved, as amended, the Administration Committee’s proposed comments regarding the Supreme Court of Texas’ Preliminary Approval of Rules Governing Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals and Licensed Court-Access Assistants to be submitted to the court on behalf of the board. ➡️ The board approved authorizing State Bar staff to move forward with design and construction planning for the 1415 Lavaca project and approved the Building Planning Special Committee’s recommendation to select an owner’s representative for the project. ➡️ The board approved the MCLE Committee’s recommendation to change Section 2.1.2 of the Texas MCLE Regulations on accredited CLE activities to include credit for attorneys’ participation in moot court/mock trial competitions. ➡️ The State Bar’s free CLE program for solo and small firm practitioners continued in advance of the board meeting. Topics in the CLE included: the new Texas Business Court and 15th Court of Appeals, and updates on family law, PI litigation, and employment law. ➡️ The 17th LeadershipSBOT class had their first meeting last week in Austin. LeadershipSBOT is designed to recruit, train, and retain Texas lawyers for leadership positions in the legal community and the State Bar of Texas. ➡️ State Bar President Steve Benesh presented resolutions honoring Roger Key and Justice Judy C. Parker. ➡️ Member Benefits Inc. is anticipating an early 2025 effective date to expand the Members Health Plan eligibility to solo practicing members. ➡️ The Budget Committee held its first meeting on September 3. The committee discussed the State Bar’s budget process and the timeline for preparing the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget. ➡️ This November marks the 35th anniversary of the Texas Lawyer’s Creed. As part of the anniversary celebration, the State Bar Professionalism Committee, with assistance from our staff, distributed brochures to attendees at the Annual Judicial Education Conference earlier this month in San Antonio. 🏆 Congratulations to Texas Bar Journal graphic designer David Espinosa on receiving the quarterly Staff Excellence Award! 📖 Read the November issue of the Texas Bar Journal for more coverage of the meeting. 🗓The next board meeting is scheduled for January 24.