The Austin Bar invites you to serve on one or more of our committees for the 2026-27 bar year!

Serving on a committee is a great way to make connections in the legal community, develop new skills to apply to your practice, and make a lasting difference in people’s lives.

You can join any of the following committees at no charge:

Membership Committee

This committee focuses on attracting, engaging, and retaining new and current members. It also seeks to diversify our membership to increase the number of non-attorney members, such as law students and paralegals.

This committee will utilize the data received from our recent Membership & Engagement Survey to plan for the future of the Austin Bar.

Austin Adoption Day Committee

This committee coordinates the annual Adoption Day, traditionally held on the second Thursday of November, including organizing and gathering donations of books, food, balloons, and gift-basket items.

Interested committee members may have the opportunity to handle a pro bono case.

Bench Bar Committee

This committee organizes and implements the Austin Bar’s Annual Bench Bar Conference held for Travis County lawyers and judges.

The 2027 Bench Bar Conference is tentatively scheduled for April 30.

Committee members create the full-day conference program, including developing a theme, identifying topics, and recruiting speakers.

CLE Committee

This committee organizes the Austin Bar’s monthly 4th Friday CLE programs, which are available for free to Austin Bar members and enable them to maintain their law licenses at no cost.

These monthly CLEs are generally only an hour, featuring one topic and one speaker. The majority will be held over Zoom, with the potential to have four live programs throughout the city.

Communications Committee

This committee creates and reviews content for Bar Code, Austin Lawyer, the Austin Bar website, and social media.

DEI Committee

This committee hosts discussions to increase understanding and lead to inner and external change, networking focused on bridging social capital, compiling resources for people seeking guidance, and identifying Austin Lawyer authors and topics highlighting Austin’s diversity and history.

The committee also plans the annual Equity Summit.

In addition, this committee oversees the Diversity Fellowship Program, which offers summer internships to minority law school students. Participants intern for the Travis County District judges and for a private law firm.

Fee Dispute Committee

This committee mediates and/or arbitrates fee disputes submitted by clients, attorneys, the courts, and the District 9 Grievance Committee.

Golf Tournament Committee

This committee focuses on planning and fundraising for the Austin Bar’s annual golf tournament.

Gala Committee

This committee plans and produces the Austin Bar’s biggest event, an annual gala, to raise money for the Austin Bar Foundation’s grant program.

Hilgers House Preservation Committee

This committee performs duties to preserve Hilgers House, applies for preservation grants, researches the history of the house, and provides tours to the general public.

History & Traditions Committee

This committee recruits and conducts oral history interviews with Austin attorneys, judges, and past Austin Bar presidents to preserve the history of the Austin Bar, the Austin legal community, and significant legal events in the Austin area.

This committee also organizes efforts to memorialize this history.

Law Related Education in Schools Committee

This committee plans and implements various educational programs aimed at school-aged children and supports the Akins Early College High School legal program, which is the leading advocacy high school training program in the country.

The Law Related Education Committee also organizes the Austin Bar’s participation in the State Bar’s annual Law Day essay, poster, and photography contests.

Lawyer Well-Being Committee

This committee aims to educate, support, and connect our legal community to achieve more balanced, mindful, and joyful lives and practices.

Mentorship Committee

The Mentorship Committee is focused on providing informal mentorship opportunities among lawyers of all ages and practice areas.

The committee plans and hosts the bar’s regular breakfasts and lunches with members of the judiciary, as well as facilitates a spot-mentoring program, where attorneys seeking guidance can submit a query through the Austin Bar website and get connected with another attorney who can provide input.

The committee also organizes events where less experienced attorneys can form relationships with more experienced practitioners and members of the judiciary, as well as CLE events that help promote mentorship and professional growth.

Pro Bono Committee

This committee coordinates and plans Austin Bar pro bono programs and develops relationships with pro bono organizations, such as Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, American Gateways, and the Texas Civil Rights Project.

This committee also plans the annual Pro Bono Fall Festival, benefiting Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas during Pro Bono Week.

Short-Term Volunteer Opportunities

Don’t have time to serve on a committee? You can still make a difference with as little as an hour or two of your time.

Pro Bono Fall Festival

Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Help with the annual Pro Bono Fall Festival benefiting Volunteer Legal Services.

Time commitment: 2 hours

Annual Gala

Volunteer the evening of Friday, January 22, or the morning of Saturday, January 23, to help decorate for the Austin Bar Foundation’s largest fundraiser.

Time commitment: 2 hours

Annual Golf Tournament

The 2027 tournament is tentatively scheduled for April 15 or 16, 2027, benefiting the Austin Bar Association.

Time commitment: 2 hours

Mentor a Young Lawyer

Mentor a young lawyer for a few hours per month in your preferred practice area.

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Host a Student Intern

Have a high school or college student intern with you, either paid or unpaid, for the summer.

Veterans Legal Assistance Program

Provide general legal advice to veterans at monthly clinics hosted at the Austin VA Clinic on Montopolis Drive on the second Monday of the month.

Time commitment: 2 hours. Training is available.

CanLaw

Provide free estate planning services to cancer patients, survivors, and their families. The clinic is held three times a year on Saturdays.

Time commitment: 2 hours. Training is available.

Get Involved

Ready to join a committee or volunteer?

To sign up for any of these committees or volunteer opportunities, add them through your Austin Bar membership account.