The Austin Young Lawyers’ Association and Austin Bar Association are excited to invite AYLA members to apply for the 2025 Leadership Academy, which is entering its 14th year! The goal of the Leadership Academy is to foster leadership skills in the Austin legal community, expand and develop relationship networks, and to assist Austin-area lawyers in making a difference in our

Join AYLA for our annual Tailgate for a Cause! On Nov. 9 at 9 a.m., we will gather at the Travis Café Outdoor Concourse, 1760 Brazos St., between 17th and 18th. This year we are benefitting Partnerships for Children on its Holiday Wishes program. This program delivers holiday gifts to Central Texas children in Child Protective Services. The program has

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during August 2024. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of Sept. 13, 2024.  TRIAL PROCEDURE: Commercial-speech exemption barred TCPA dismissal.  Carpenter v. Daspit Law Firm, PLLC, No. 03-22-00466-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 14, 2024, no pet. h.)

Family Law – Divorce Decrees Douglas W. Alexander Alexander Dubose & Jefferson, for Petitioner In The Matter of The Marriage of Carlos Y. Benavides, Jr. and Leticia R. Benavides The issues in this case are (1) whether, and in what circumstances, a guardian may petition for divorce on behalf of a ward and (2) the effect of one spouse’s death on the

The Austin Bar has launched its Legal Expert Network to provide the media valuable sources when reporting on important cases, legal matters, legislation, and more. The Austin Bar is committed to being a resource connecting the legal profession with the larger community.  Part of the Austin Bar’s mission is to enhance the legal profession through education. We can accomplish this

The Austin Bar Foundation Gala is Jan. 25, 2025, at the Four Seasons! Are you interested in sponsoring the event? Below are our sponsorship levels and their benefits: Benefactor Sponsor– $15,000  • Table for 10 guests. Premium table placement at the front of the stage • Recognition in program • Recognition on website • Recognition in the Austin Lawyer publication

This is the fifth installment of the “Bending the Rules” series. Previous installments can be found online at austinlawyeronline.com. The interest in non-attorney-owned entities providing legal services in such states as Texas, Utah, and Arizona is not without skeptics. Established by the American Bar Association’s Model Rule 5.4 and enforced by many states’ supreme courts, the rule prohibits fee sharing

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has filed a class-action complaint in federal court against Travis County over alleged denial of counsel at first appearance (CAFA).1 Together with the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project and Weil, Gotshal & Manges, the complaint, filed with the Western District of Texas, alleges Travis County requires people who are arrested to attend their

The Austin Bar Association is launching the “Stop the Stigma” campaign, an initiative of 2024-25 President Mary-Ellen King, to destigmatize mental health substance abuse struggles, as well as raise suicide prevention awareness in the legal profession. The two tentpoles of this new campaign are the newly launched Stop the Stigma podcast, as well as increased efforts to recruit authors to

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with the permission of 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. At the ripe age of 41, my entire life has been leading up to the