Austin Bar’s Fourth Annual Equity Summit a Success

? Thank You for Making the 4th Annual Equity Summit a Success! ?

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Austin Community College Rio Grande Campus for this year’s Equity Summit, led by Ketan Kharod and Matt Garcia. We explored critical issues like intergenerational trauma and racism with insightful discussions featuring Rev. Joseph C. Parker, Jr. and Diana Anzaldua. Panels addressed challenges for first-generation attorneys and rent legislation’s impact on diversity. Special thanks to Manuel Escobar for receiving the Rev. Joseph C. Parker, Jr., Diversity Award and to our sponsor, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble. Your support is vital in advancing inclusivity! ? #EquitySummit #Diversity #Inclusion

Austin Bar & AYLA Presidents’ Awards 2023-24

Nadia Bettac (R) won the Austin Bar President’s Award of Merit for her efforts in planning the 2024 Austin Bar Foundation Gala. Leslie Boykin (R) won the Austin Bar’s Outstanding Director Award. Alex Conant (R) won the AYLA Volunteer of the Year Award. Ben Evans (R) won the AYLA President’s Award of Merit. Jillian French (R) won the AYLA Outstanding …

Ward Celebrates 40 Years as Austin Bar’s Executive Director

On June 4, 2024, DeLaine Ward celebrated her 40th anniversary as executive director of the Austin Bar Association. In 1984, when Ward saw the advertisement for the position, she was a recent journalism graduate from The University ofTexas. She intended to become a journalist and took a job with the State Bar of Texas in order to add some bona …

Texas Supreme Court Update July/August 2024

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court in June 2024. These summaries are prepared by court staff as a courtesy and are not a substitute for the actual opinions. The summaries are overviews of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Statutory regulations governing public insurance adjusters do not implicate protected speech.  …

Meet AYLA’s Incoming President Emily Morris

Emily Morris is corporate counsel at PowerSchool, which develops educational software for school systems. Morris is a graduate of Tulane University Law School and received her bachelor’s in marketing from Louisiana State University. During her time there, she also attended the University of Copenhagen to study international corporate law. Morris is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas …

Briefs July/August 2024

Kudos Congratulations to Melissa Andrews, equity partner at Holland & Knight, on her appointment to the newly created Third Business Court Division in Austin. Andrews previously served as an attorney for Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd and First Court of Appeals Justice Harvey. She is board-certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is …

Stories of Recovery: You Can Get Better

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP). TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-TLAP (8527), or find more information at tlaphelps.org. It’s hard to remember a time when I didn’t feel uniquely awful growing up—where I felt …

Meet Incoming Austin Bar President Mary-Ellen King

Mary-Ellen King is a partner at Lucosky Brookman LLP, where her practice focuses primarily on complex insurance coverage litigation, commercial litigation, business litigation, general civil litigation, and real estate litigation.  King takes the reins as president of the Austin Bar on July 1, 2024. Austin Lawyer recently interviewed her about her plans for the upcoming bar year. AL:  What are …

Remembering Lyndsey Vicknair

Austin Bar member Lyndsey Captain Vicknair passed away on June 15, 2024, during a shooting at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. Vicknair was born on Dec. 31, 1990, to Bobby and Lena Captain. She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, and friend. She is survived by her husband of seven years, Kevin Vicknair, and their young children: …

Mental Health Concerns Among Military Veterans Highlight Need for Legal Assistance

Recent studies have underscored the pressing mental health concerns facing military veterans, revealing a strong correlation between psychological struggles and the need for legal assistance. Veterans are disproportionately affected by mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, often stemming from their service experiences. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that about 20 percent of veterans who …