Austin Bar Blog

Join us for the Equity Summit, the premier gathering for legal professionals committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in Central Texas. This year’s theme, "The Case for Inclusion," moves beyond theory to focus on the tangible skills and relationships needed to foster belonging in law firms, courtrooms, and boardrooms.

Over four hours, we will explore how trauma-informed practices, de-escalation techniques, and intentional collaboration with affinity bars can transform the way we practice law and serve our communities. The summit concludes with the presentation of the prestigious Rev. Joseph Parker Diversity Award and an invitation to network with peers and leaders in the field.

Date: March 26, 2026

Time: 1-5 p.m.

Location: Travis County Civil & Family Courthouse

View the agenda and register here

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Bench Bar Conference brought to you by the Austin Bar and Austin Young Lawyers Association.

Date: Friday, May 1, 2026

Location: Austin Country Club, 4408 Long Champ Dr.

The Austin Bar is excited to host its second-annual Golf Tournament! Last year's inaugural event was a great success, and we hope you'll come out this year and help us make it even bigger and better!

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026

Time: 8 a.m. shotgun start

Location: Lions Municipal Golf Course, 2901 Enfield Road

Player registration and sponsorships available here.

The Austin Bar DEI Committee is cohosting a joint book club with TCWLA, Sisters in Law, and the Austin Black Lawyers Association to celebrate Black History Month. 

The group will discuss the book "Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America’s Most Powerful Mobster" by Stephen L. Carter. The discussion will be led by Professor Tracy McCormack and Heather Coffee. 

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

Location: Civil and Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe St., 6th floor conference room

RSVP today! 

The deadline for nominations for the Regina Rogoff Pro Bono Award and the Professionalism Award has been extended to Friday, March 13, at 5 p.m.

Please submit your nominations here.

The Mentorship Committee of the Austin Bar is hosting a mentor lunch with 460th District Judge Selena Alvarenga. 

Date: Jan. 21, 2026

Time: 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

Location: 460th District Court, Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center

Brown bag lunch. RSVP to delaine@austinbar.org.

Judicial Perspectives on Insurance Coverage Cases

Hear from Judge Mangrum (state court) and U.S. Federal Court magistrate Howell about how to best present a coverage case including tips and common mistakes that lawyers make in their courtrooms.

Date: January 6, 2026

Time: 12 -1 p.m.

Location: Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility, 1700 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701, Multi-purpose Room, First Floor

Speakers: Judge Jessica Mangrum and Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell

Register here.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Austin Young Lawyers Association will coordinate its 16th-annual Day of Service project in Austin on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

AYLA invites the Austin legal community to sign up for one or more of the events available for the Day of Service. In addition, please encourage family and friends to volunteer as well. This year, we are back volunteering in the community at multiple local nonprofits, as well as accepting donations at Hilgers House, 712 W. 16th St., that should be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will be boxes labeled for the different types of donations being collected.

Sign up here.

Join us for the first Docket Call of 2026!

Date: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Location: Industry East Side, 1211 E. 5th St.

Sponsored by Eunice Garza, Ph.D., and Sean Nayebi-Oskoui, Licensed Real Estate Sales Agents

Register here.

We invite you to become an Austin Bar Foundation Fellow, Life Fellow, or Sustaining Fellow!

In addition to helping sustain the Foundation's mission of improving the delivery of legal services in Central Texas, you also get:

- Invitations to exclusive Austin Bar events;

- Discounted Hilgers House rental rates;

- Featured in the annual Austin Bar Foundation Gala program.

The deadline to be featured in the program for the 2026 Austin Bar Foundation Gala is Jan. 9, 2026. Click here to become a Fellow or upgrade to Life or Sustaining Fellow, or contact marissa@austinbar.org.