People have gotten used to the convenience of electronic payments and online bills. Many studies show that the majority of people expect all types of businesses, including both retail and service providers, to offer a wide variety of electronic payment options.

If your practice is committed to providing a 21st century law firm client experience, you have to adopt frictionless billing payment processes. Not only is doing so necessary to give your clients the service they want and deserve, but if your firm doesn’t step into the modern era with electronic billing and payments, you’ll discover another firm already has, which can make them more attractive to your clients.

What Is Frictionless Billing?

Frictionless billing is a payment process that involves fewer steps and simpler interactions. Online retailers and service providers have pioneered the frictionless transaction process for the digital age by removing the need for customers to visit physical locations, implementing one-click purchasing, and offering automatic billing.

In the law firm context, frictionless billing involves making it easier for clients to pay by reducing the number of steps in the process. Like with online retailers, having electronic payment options is central to frictionless billing and a positive law firm client experience.

With frictionless billing, there is no waiting for a paper invoice to come in the mail, no need to get out a checkbook, no need to put a check in the mail, and no uncertainty about whether payment has been sent or received. Instead, electronic payment options eliminate all these steps and all the waiting, reducing the payment process to just one click in many cases.

How Electronic Payment Tools Reduce Friction for Clients

Electronic payment solutions simplify the billing process for your firm and increase the ease of submitting payment for your clients. Electronic payments can help remove difficulties and barriers for your clients and enhance the law firm client experience by doing the following:

Eliminating paper bills

Electronic payment solutions clean up the messy paper trail of old payment methods. Emailed invoices and online platforms that your clients can log into make it easier for clients to access invoices and payment records to see whether they need to make payments or to refer for information that they may need.

Offering instant confirmation

One of the keys to online retail’s success is the provision of instant gratification. Electronic payments offer this same feeling to clients, who can receive immediate automated payment confirmations to know that their payment has been received by their attorney. No more need for both lawyer and client to wonder where the client’s payment may be.

Facilitating preferred payment methods

Surveys of consumers show that the overwhelming majority of people prefer paying by credit or debit cards or other electronic means. This includes payments not only for consumer goods but for any bills they receive, including invoices from service providers like attorneys. If a law firm continues to require clients to pay by check, it only creates another point of friction in the payment process, especially for those clients who no longer use or own checks. In some cases, the friction may be too great for a client or prospective client, forcing them to look for another law firm willing to accept electronic payments.

Allowing clients to pay on their own schedule

The proliferation of electronic payments has taught us all the convenience of being able to pay our bills on our own schedule, at any time 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If clients can pay your invoices on their own schedule rather than during your business hours, it represents a small but noticeable improvement in the client experience.

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Hon. Jan Soifer, chair of the civil district judges’ ad hoc committee on revisions to the standing orders and local rules, would like to distribute these draft standing orders and redlines to members of the Austin Bar. The committee has opened a comment period for the month of May. Please note that there is not a redlined version of the standing order in family law cases as it has been completely rewritten in plain English, and a redline would not be helpful.

During this month, please send any comments on these drafts to Judge Soifer, jan.soifer@traviscountytx.gov with the subject line, “comments to revised standing orders.”

The current versions of the standing orders are available at https://www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/files/civil-district.

In addition, the committee has begun the process of reviewing and considering revisions to the Local Rules. The committee would appreciate your thoughts on potential revisions, additions, and deletions to the Local Rules by sending an email to Judge Soifer with the subject line, “Local Rules revision,” by August 30, 2019. The Local Rules are available on the civil district courts’ website linked above.

CLICK HERE to view draft of Standing Pretrial Scheduling Order
CLICK HERE to view redlined draft of Standing Pretrial Scheduling Order

CLICK HERE to view draft of Standing Order in Limine
CLICK HERE to view redlined draft of Standing Order in Limine

CLICK HERE to view draft of Standing Order for Family Law Cases

The National Association of Women Judges, in partnership with the Travis County Women Lawyers Association (TCWLA), held the fourteenth annual Color of Justice Program on March 25, 2021, where students from Akins, Travis, and Del Valle high schools were able to learn from and visit with lawyers and judges. The Color of Justice Program emphasizes the rule of law and provides the students with an opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with judges and lawyers that hopefully inspire them to enter the profession.

The event featured two panel discussions with speakers sharing their personal backgrounds, experiences, and their areas of practice. They also discussed the importance of personal commitment and perseverance, and the importance of lawyers and judges in our society. The first panel, “Law as a Career: Preparing the Way,” featured Hon. Delia Garza, Travis County Attorney; Hon. Rudy Metayer, Chamberlain McHaney and Pflugerville City Councilmember; and Chris Mugica, Jackson Walker. TCWLA board member and solo practitioner Emily Morris moderated the panel.

The second panel, “Making a Difference,” featured judicial panelists. Participating in the panel were Justice Gisela Triana of the Third Court of Appeals, Judge Carlos Barrera of Travis County Criminal Court #8, Judge Lora Livingston of Travis County 261st Civil District Court, and Judge Nick Chu, Travis County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 5. The panel was moderated by Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza, El Paso County 120th Civil District Court and NAWJ District 11 Director.

NAWJ granted a $1,000 Access to Justice scholarship to Laura Rativa for her demonstrated commitment to the achievement of equality of opportunity and access to justice. She gave a moving speech to the students emphasizing the importance of hard work and perseverance that was required to succeed as an immigrant from Colombia and first-generation college and law student.

The Color of Justice Program could not be as successful without the help of its sponsors, including the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Law, TCWLA, and Chris Mugica.

CLICK HERE to view the jury trial schedule at the HMS Courthouse for the week of April 8, 2019.

A text is sent to members on Mondays mornings of each jury trial week with a direct link to this schedule. To opt in, text “Austinbar” to 313131.

Elections to be held april 12 to may 3, 2021

The Austin Young Lawyer Association announces its candidates for the 2021-22 board of directors. A link to the electronic ballot will be sent in an email from BallotBox Online on Mon., April 12. The election will close at 5 p.m. on Mon., May 3. The new slate of officers and board members will begin their terms on July 1, 2021:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting will be available online only. Please add noreply@ ballotboxonline to your allowed email addresses so the message gets past your spam filter.

officers

The only contested officer race is for the office of secretary. Candidates are Ben Dower and Emily Morris.  The elected secretary will join the following officers who are running uncontested:

• Rachael Jones, President
• Blair Leake, President-Elect
• Sarah Harp, Treasurer

Ben Dower practices civil litigation at the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. He has been an ex-officio member of the AYLA board of directors since 2016 and a director since 2019. Last year, he was honored to accept AYLA’s Outstanding Director award. He is also involved in the Barbara Jordan Inn of Court and the Texas Law Mentoring Program. He has served on numerous AYLA committees, including the Runway for Justice and Leadership Academy Committees. He is currently chair of the AYLA Publications Committee and co-chair of the AYLA Rules Committee.

Emily Morris is the principal attorney of the Morris Law Firm, which focuses on corporate and real estate matters for small business owners. Morris is dedicated to the Austin legal community, demonstrated by substantial service to the Austin Bar, Austin Young Lawyers Association, and Travis County Women Lawyers Association.  She served for two years on the Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy committee before becoming the committee’s co-chair for two more years. She currently serves as co-chair of the AYLA CLE Committee.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Five candidates are vying for four two-year terms on the board of directors. The four elected board members will join directors Jessica MacCarty, Callie Haley, Ciara Parks, and Morgan Shell, whose terms expire in 2022.

Brian Aslin is an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General’s General Litigation Division. He currently serves as the OAG representative to the AYLA board of directors. Aslin graduated from Baylor Law School and Baylor University. Aslin is currently serving on the Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy Committee and has served on the AYLA Judicial Reception, Bar & Grill, and Rules committees.

Eric Cuellar is a litigation attorney at Ramos James Law. He is currently the solo/small firm representative to the AYLA board of directors. Cuellar’s AYLA committee involvement includes serving on the Docket Call, Speed Networking, and Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy committees.

Jenna Malsbary works for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.  She is completing a two-year term as a director on the AYLA board and is seeking re-election for another term.  She currently serves as co-chair of the AYLA Community Service Days and MLK Day of Service committees. She is also a member of the Membership and Pro Bono committees

Lena Proft works for the Texas Secretary of State. She has been a member of AYLA since moving back to Austin in 2018. She has served as the AYLA government attorney liaison to the AYLA board of directors for the past two years and was a member of the 2020 Leadership Academy class. Her current AYLA committee involvement includes the Rules Committee, Community Service Days Committee, and MLK Day of Service Committee.

Gracie Wood Shepherd practices family law at Friday Milner Lambert Turner. She attended Texas A&M University and Baylor Law School. Shepherd was a member of the Austin Bar/ AYLA Leadership Academy Class of 2019 and is currently serving on the Leadership Academy Committee.

Click on the links below to view each of the emergency orders issued by the Supreme Court of Texas in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Added Nov. 11, 2020:
The 29th Emergency Order extends a previous court order outlining limitations on jury trials to February 1 from December 1. The order requires courts to continue using all reasonable efforts to hold proceedings remotely and to follow the OCA’s Guidance for all Court Proceedings.

Added Nov. 9, 2020:
In The Twenty-Eighth Emergency Order  the court extended deadlines for procedures for tenants to apply for the Texas Eviction Diversion Program, a statewide assistance program intended to help tenants behind on rent avoid evictions. Learn more about the Texas Eviction Diversion Program at txcourts.gov/eviction-diversion. The State Bar has collected additional tenant/landlord resources to assist Texas lawyers and members of the public at texasbar.com/renterinfo.

Added Sept. 28, 2020:

The Twenty-Seventh Emergency Order establishes new procedures for tenants and landlords under a statewide housing-assistance program intended to avoid evictions for tenants behind on rent.

Added Sept. 18, 2020:
The Twenty-Sixth Emergency Order extends restrictions on in-person jury proceedings to December 1

Added Sept. 1, 2020:
The Office of Court Administration has issued its report, entitled Jury Trials During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observations and Recommendations. The report details the actions of the Texas Judiciary during the pandemic and observations from the twenty jury trials that have been conducted under the Court’s Emergency Orders.

Once the Supreme Court reviews the recommendations, it is anticipated that the Court will issue a new emergency order guiding the return of jury trial proceedings when the current emergency order suspending jury trial proceedings expires.

Added Aug. 21,2020:
The Twenty-Fourth Emergency Order that renews, as amended, the requirements of the Twentieth Emergency Order for certain statements in residential evictions proceeding pleadings.

Added Aug. 8, 2020:
Twenty-Third Emergency Order extending the deadline for payment of State Bar membership fees to October 31

Added Aug.6, 2020:
Twenty-second Emergency Order   renews, as amended, paragraphs 3-10 and 12-13 of the 18^th Emergency Order (which was set to expire August 31).
These two new amended orders are regarding jury trial delays and statute of limitations. (will expire Sept. 30, 2020, unless amended.)

Added July 31, 2020:
Twenty-first Emergency Order extends until September 15, 2020 any deadline for the filing or service of any civil case that falls on a day between
March 13, 2020, and September 1, 2020.  As with previous orders, the extensions do not include deadlines for perfecting appeal or for other appellate proceedings.

Added July 6, 2020:
Nineteenth Emergency Order cancels the July bar exam and outlines steps to ensure that the bar examination can proceed and that applicants have a safe and successful experience.

Added June 30,2020:
Eighteen Emergency Order amended existing provisions from the previous emergency May 26 order.  CLICK HERE for the practical guide to the Supreme Court of Texas’s 18th Emergency Order.

Added May 27, 2020:
Seventeenth Emergency Order  amended existing provisions from the omnibus emergency April 27 order.

Added May 15,2020:
Sixteenth Emergency Order addresses garnishment in consumer-debt collections
Fifteenth Emergency Order permits residential-evictions to proceed

Added April 29, 2020
Fourteen Emergency Order   amends and extends the 10th Emergency Order regarding the collection of consumer debt.
Thirteenth Emergency Order allows those registered for the July Bar Exam to withdraw and register for a future exam and directs the Board of Law Examiners to consider additional changes if the July Bar Exam cannot be held due to COVID-19.

Added April 27, 2020:
Twelfth Emergency Order has updated and clarified many of its emergency orders addressing Texas courts’ pandemic issues.

Added April 23,2020:
April 23 order 20-0291 In re Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, and Ken Paxton, Attorney General
Mandamus petition from Travis County
MANDAMUS RELIEF GRANTED, per curiam opinion
Opinion
Briefs

Added April 9, 2020
Eleventh Emergency Order expands all deadlines related to the Judicial Branch Certification Commission until May 31, 2020.

Tenth Emergency Order has delayed service for garnishment writs to collect consumer debt under Texas Finance Code Section 392.001(2) before May 8.

Added April 6, 2020
Ninth Emergency Order extends the fourth emergency order and extends evictions deadline to April 30.

Added April 1, 2020
Eighth Emergency Order delays limitations in civil cases from March 13 until June 1, subject to extension

Added March 27, 2020:
Fifth Emergency Order delaying all deadlines in attorney professional-disciplinary and disability proceedings until May 8.

Sixth Emergency Order ordering certain State Bar elections only by electronic balloting.

Seventh Emergency Order  existing court orders in child-possession cases shall control “in all instances” to determine rights to and access to children, regardless of so-called shelter-in-place mandates or other restriction on movement

Added March 13, 2020:
First Emergency Order  (jointly issued with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals): clears the way for video- and teleconference proceedings and to postpone certain deadlines affecting cases.

Second Emergency Order orders that child-custody schedules following school calendars shall follow the original school schedule as published despite school closings.

Third Emergency Order (amending the first emergency and jointly issued with the Court of Criminal Appeals): establishes court proceedings may be conducted “away from the court’s usual location with reasonable notice and access to the participants and the public,” eliminating the venue limitation to allow a judge assigned to an involuntary-quarantine challenge to preside from afar.

Fourth Emergency Order  addressing hearings, trials and other proceedings and deadlines for residential-property evictions.

The Austin Bar Association Nominating Committee met on March 15, 2021 and announced a slate of candidates for officers and directors for the 2021-22 bar year.

Currently, all races are uncontested. Any qualified member not receiving the nomination by the committee may be included on the ballot by submitting a written petition to DeLaine Ward signed by 75 members by Friday, April 9, 2021.

Electronic ballots will be emailed  to members on Monday, April 12 and will close on Monday, May 3. Due to the pandemic, there will be no voting in person.  If no one submits a petition, there will be no electronic voting, and the uncontested slate will stand.

The candidates for officers, who will join President David Courreges when he takes office on July 1, 2021, are:

• President-Elect: Amanda Arriaga
• Secretary: Justice Chari Kelly
• Treasurer: Mary Ellen King

There are four candidates for four open director positions.  Each director will serve a two-year term, expiring in 2023. The candidates are:

• Nadia Bettac
• Rob Frazer
• Leslie Hill
• Maitreya Tomlinson

They will join the following directors on the board whose terms expire in 2022:

• Leslie Boykin
• Judge Maya Guerra Gamble
• Amy Meredith
• Craig Moore

Austin Bar members can receive a 20% discount on COTA Bike Nights – tuesdays through june 25!

COTA Bike Nights return with a 15-week program!  Here’s your chance to push your pedals around COTA’s iconic twists, turns, and elevation changes as you ride the same track that challenges the world’s greatest drivers and motorcycle riders.  Ride along with Austin’s friendly cycling community, enjoy post-ride socializing and refreshments in the Paddock Biergarten, and take another lap with us on Tuesdays through June 25.

CLICK HERE to register online and use the discount code 2019aba to receive 20% off on a one-time ride, or a season pass.

ADVANCE ONLINE REGISTRATION – $15
REGISTER IN PERSON ON BIKE NIGHT – $20 – Cash & Credit Cards Accepted.
KIDS 10 AND UNDER – $10 – NEW

WHEN DOES REGISTRATION OPEN?
Registration opens at 5:15 p.m.  Everyone must check in and get a wristband to enter the track.

WHEN DO RIDES TAKE PLACE?
We hit the track from 5:30 p.m.(ish) to dusk each Bike Night.  After dark, the fun continues in the Paddock Biergarten until 9:30 p.m.

ARE FOOD AND DRINK AVAILABLE?
You bet. We’ll have food and drinks (yes, including beer!) available for purchase in the Paddock Biergarten.  Food and beverage service is available until 9:30 p.m. Cash & credit cards accepted.

ARE HELMETS REQUIRED?
Wearing a helmet is highly encouraged, and all riders must sign a waiver at check-in. Riders age 18 and younger are required to wear a helmet.

WHERE DO I PARK?
Free parking is available in Lot A for every Bike Night. Riders then take their bikes from Lot A to the Paddock for registration.  A shuttle is also available from Lot A for folks with ADA needs or those who aren’t riding.

Given the infrastructure and power challenges throughout the State of Texas, all Travis County Civil District and County Courts have canceled their hearings for the remainder of the week.

At this time, we plan on resuming virtual dockets on Monday, February 22^nd. You should receive an email communication about next-week’s settings by this weekend.

Unless you have heard otherwise about a setting from a specific court, please contact Court Administration next week regarding resetting your hearing.

Thank you for your consideration and understanding. We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and warm.

Judge Amy Clark Meachum
Civil Presiding Judge, Travis County Civil Courts