Austin Bar Blog

The Austin Bar Foundation’s Veterans Legal Assistance Program WINS a $1k grant from Austin Community Foundation through its Community Grant Program. The grant will be used for new equipment to aid the program. Kudos to Veterans Legal Assistance Program staff Doug Lawrence and Leslie Spatola on submitting a great application to make this happen. They, along with our members, spend countless hours ensuring the program is impactful in the community.

The time is NOW! Do you know an attorney making a difference in the legal profession and the community? The Austin Bar is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Lawyer Award.  The deadline is Friday, September 30, 2022.  View the award nomination form and make your submission. The award(s) will be given at our annual gala on January 28, 2023.

Congratulations to new Life Fellows, Patrice Arnold, David Courreges, and Gavin Villareal and new Fellows: Lea Brigtsen, Jeff Lilly, and Zachary Wiewel. Your commitment to the foundation and its charitable work is appreciated.

Attorney volunteers will provide brief legal advice in their preferred practice area(s) to veterans in need. Walk-ins are welcome or veterans may pre-register online.  Sign up starts at 1:30 p.m. and please sign in before 3:30 p.m.

Austin VA Outpatient Clinic | 7901 Metropolis Drive | Austin, Texas, 78744

Veterans can also complete an intake application via phone.  Call 512.472.0279 x110 to see if you qualify.

Volunteers may select a specific timeslot or attend the entire duration of the clinic to provide advice. Sign up here.

We welcome Belinda Arambula of Burns Anderson Jury Brenner, Sandy Bayne of Steed Dunnill Reynolds Bailey, Clint Harbour of Texas Attorney General’s Office, and Jeff Lilly of Latitude Legal. These skilled attorneys provide a wealth of experience as the Bar Foundation continues its charitable work in our community.

The Austin Bar invites you to join a committee or two! Use your skill to enhance the legal community! Plus, you’ll learn best practices, collaborate with your peers, plan initiatives to better the legal community, and more. Take a look at what we’re offering for 2022-2023 and let’s get started! Contact Membership Director Carol Tobias to make your committee selections.

AYLA has a (super) team! Please join us as we run/walk/cheer and fundraise for CASA of Travis County, CASA of Williamson County & CASA of Central Texas (Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe & Hays Counties).
When: September 18, 2022 | 7:00 a.m.
Where: Circuit of the Americas
What to wear: your favorite superhero costume! (optional, but encouraged)
Join the AYLA team here.
Not interested in running/walking that ok! You can support the AYLA team by donating to CASA here.

Joe Latting passed away on August 9, 2022. The former Austin Bar member practiced law for 35 years. Read his obituary here.

Congratulations to Austin Bar member W. Stephen “Steve” Benesh. The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors’ Nominations and Elections Subcommittee voted to recommend Benesh as a candidate for 2023-2024 State Bar president-elect. If the board approves the nomination, Benesh will appear on the ballot in April 2023. Benesh served as president of the Austin Bar Association in 2006-2007 and is a partner at Bracewell, LLP. Read more about his career and accomplishments here.

Make the most of our your membership with us. Check your member profile settings to ensure you’re receiving our award-winning publication, Austin Lawyer. Here’s what to do:
 

1. Log in to your Austin Bar Association member profile
2. Click on  My Austin Bar
3. Click on “My Austin Bar Dashboard”
4. Go to Update Profile
5. Scroll down to Update My Communication Preferences
6. Set your Austin Lawyer setting to your desired preference
7. Click Save Changes

If you need assistance, please contact our membership director, Carol Tobias. Plus, we now have website tutorials online for your convenience to learn more and make the most of your membership.