In September, AYLA participated in a volunteer opportunity benefiting the Ronald McDonald House.…
AYLA Member Spotlight: Zach Wiewel
AYLA recently sat down with Zach Wiewel to get to know him better. If you are interested in being featured…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA President’s Column: The Generosity of Time
One of the things I have come to appreciate most about practicing law is how generous people can be with…
Gracie Wood Shepherd
AYLA Connects with Bar Leaders from Across Texas
This summer, members of the AYLA Board of Directors had the opportunity to attend the State Bar of Texas Bar…
Austin Bar Association
Get Involved with AYLA
Are you ready to take a more active role in AYLA? We are seeking lawyers to serve on any of…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Member Spotlight: Beverly Bass
AYLA recently sat down with AYLA member Beverly Bass, an attorney at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr.…
Austin Bar Association
Q&A With Incoming AYLA President Gracie Wood Shepherd
Gracie Wood Shepherd is the AYLA president for the 2026-27 Bar Year. Following is a Q&A we conducted with Gracie…
Gracie Wood Shepherd
ABA, AYLA Honor Award Winners During End-of-Year Reception
The 2025-26 Austin Bar and AYLA year concluded with an end-of-year reception held May 28 at Hilgers House. At the…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Member Spotlight: Jamie Giron
AYLA recently sat down with Jamie Giron for our May member spotlight.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA President’s Column: Making the Most of It All: Balancing Work, Family, and Leadership
One of the questions I am most frequently asked during my year as president of the Austin Young Lawyers Association…
Jenna Malsbary
Marketing Your Practice with Purpose
Marketing can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out or don’t have billboard budget. The good news? Effective marketing…
Nadia Bettac
AYLA President’s Column: Springing into Action: Supporting the Future of Democracy
Each year, in the early months, hundreds of middle and high school students from across Texas gather for the YMCA…
Jenna Malsbary
What I Wish I Had Known About Trust Administration
Before stepping into my current role, I had only a limited understanding of what trust administration involved or how my…
Melissa Piña
Announcing the Slate of Nominees for the AYLA Board of Directors 2026-27
Here are the nominees for AYLA’s Board of Directors 2026-27.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Member Spotlight: Max Massey
We sit down for a Q&A with AYLA member Max Massey.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Day of Service Supports Community in Variety of Ways
This year’s AYLA Day of Service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was a powerful reminder that service is at…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA President’s Column: Advancing Equality: The Significance of International Women’s Day in the Legal Profession
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, serves as a global recognition of women’s achievements and an ongoing call…
Jenna Malsbary
AYLA President’s Column: My Path to Leading with Empathy
Each year, the presidents of the Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) are invited to speak…
Jenna Malsbary
AYLA Member Spotlight: Toni Rask
AYLA recently sat down with member Toni Rask to get to know her better. This is another installment in AYLA’s…
Austin Bar Association
Goal Setting for Lawyers: A Useful Framework for Sustainable Success
Three years and 2,000 miles apart, we each reached the same crossroads. Both of us worked as public defenders—Mindy in…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Celebrates a Fantastic Fall of Events & Community
October was filled with a lineup of fantastic AYLA gatherings.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA President’s Column – Building Community in a Competitive Field: Excerpts from a Lunch & Learn with Leaders Panel
In October, I had the honor of sitting on a panel alongside powerhouse attorneys with the Mother Attorney Mentor Association…
Jenna Malsbary
AYLA to Publish First Cookbook
The AYLA Health & Wellness Committee is excited to announce that AYLA will be publishing its inaugural recipe book in…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Wins Regional Summer of Service Competition
The Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) was one of the winners of the 2025 Texas Free Legal Answers Summer of…
Austin Bar Association
Support the 9th-Annual AYLA Tailgate for a Cause
AYLA is hosting our ninth-annual Tailgate for a Cause fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 22, for the UT vs Arkansas game.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Member Spotlight: Clare Mattione
We recently sat down with AYLA member Clare Mattione for our Member Spotlight.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Celebrates 25th Evening with the Judiciary
The Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) celebrated the 25th anniversary of its signature Evening with the Judiciary event.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA President’s Column – My Challenge to You: Give Yourself Grace
I graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law and was sworn in to the Texas Bar in 2012. However,…
Jenna Malsbary
One Young Lawyer’s Guide to Seeking Balance
For many of our clients, firms, or agencies, fall is the start of a new fiscal year. Several of us…
Roslyn Warner
AYLA Member Spotlight: Melissa Pina
We recently sat down with AYLA member Melissa Pina to feature in our Member Spotlight.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Earns Awards at Local Bar Leaders Conference
Representatives from AYLA were in attendance at the 2025 Local Bar Leaders Conference to accept Awards of Achievement from the…
Austin Bar Association
2nd Trial Institute a Success
AYLA held its second Trial Institute on June 27 in the ceremonial courtroom at the Travis County Civil & Family…
Austin Bar Association
Serve the Public with AYLA; Join Today!
Joining an AYLA committee is the perfect way to get involved and meet fellow attorneys. AYLA members can join any…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Kicks Off Bar Year with Summer Docket Call
The Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) kicked off its new bar year with a Summer Docket Call event on Thursday,…
Austin Bar Association
It’s Time to End Generational Trauma in the Legal Profession
This is my first official article as president of the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA). I have been a member…
Jenna Malsbary
AYLA Receives Awards from TYLA
AYLA is excited to announce that we have been honored with two awards from the Texas Young Lawyers Association!…
Austin Bar Association
Meet AYLA’s 2025-2026 President: Jenna Malsbary
Jenna is an associate counsel at CapMetro, where the mission is to empower and enhance communities through the delivery of…
Jenna Malsbary
AYLA Achievements for the Past Bar Year
What a year it has been for young lawyers in Austin! I am honored and proud to have led such…
Emily Morris
Freshquires Hosts Annual Judicial Wine Tasting Event
AYLA’s Freshquires program hosted its annual Judicial Wine Tasting event on April 24, 2025. Members of the local judiciary, including…
Austin Bar Association
Austin Bar and AYLA Leadership Academy Picklepalooza Raises Over $30,000 for CASA of Travis County
The Leadership Academy Class of 2025 reached its goal of raising over $30,000 more than any other class in the…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Recognizes Outstanding Contributions
Each year, AYLA presents three awards to honor leaders in the Travis County legal profession: The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award,…
Austin Bar Association
Great Turnout at February Docket Call
The Administrative Law Section of the Austin Bar sponsored AYLA’s February Docket Call at Mean Eyed Cat. The cold weather…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Annual Crawfish Boil A Great Success
On Saturday, March 29, AYLA hosted its 4th Annual Crawfish Boil. This award-winning event has become a staple in the Austin…
Austin Bar Association
A Few Tips I’ve Learned as AYLA President
Being a Taurus, spring has always been my favorite season. As I write this column, the wildflowers are out in…
Emily Morris
Introducing the AYLA “Picklepalooza” – A Day of Fun for the Whole Family!
Please join us on Saturday, May 10 at Austin Pickle Ranch for Austin Bar Association and AYLA’s Leadership Academy PICKLEPALOOZA—An All-Ages PickleballTournament Fundraiser Benefiting…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Board of Directors 2025-26 Slate of Candidates
The following candidates are running for the AYLA officers and directors positions. The new board will take office on July…
Austin Bar Association
Volunteers & Donors Make 15th AYLA MLK Day of Service a Success
The 15th Annual Austin Young Lawyers Association Day of Service on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day was tremendously successful with…
Jenna Malsbary
Calling Leaders To Serve On The AYLA Board Of Directors
Attorneys who wish to serve on the 2025-2026 Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) Board of Directors have until March 7,…
Austin Bar Association
H.E.A.R.T. Communication
February is a month when love of all kinds is on the mind – love for our sweetheart, friends, family,…
Emily Morris
Leadership Academy 2025 Kicks Off
What an incredible start to Leadership Academy 2025! The #LeadershipAcademy2025 orientation on Jan. 10 was an inspiring kickoff to this…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Seeking Nominations For Awards
Each year we present three awards for outstanding community and professional service, and mentoring. Know a deserving person in the…
Austin Bar Association
Tailgate for a Cause a Success
AYLA’s 8th Annual Tailgate for a Cause fundraiser was a great success. For this year’s holiday event, AYLA will be…
Austin Bar Association
Take Part in AYLA’s MLK Day of Service
Each year, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., AYLA coordinates a Day of Service for its members to…
Austin Bar Association
Preparing for a Great 2025 by Volunteering
In election years and otherwise, it seems every other day can bring something new to be stressed and despair over…
Emily Morris
AYLA Member Spotlight: Alan Lin
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice. I am an Associate at Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Produces Videos for Non-Lawyers to Pick Juries
AYLA recently completed production on its series of tutorial videos meant to educate members of the public on how to…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Health & Wellness Committee Hosts RIDE Cycle Class
On Saturday, November 16, the AYLA Health & Wellness Committee organized a cycle class at RIDE Downtown. The class was…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA’s Annual Evening with the Judiciary
The Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) held its annual Evening with the Judiciary at Chateau Bellevue on Thursday, Sept. 26.…
Austin Bar Association
Creating Space for Young Attorneys to Speak and Share Their Expertise
At the AYLA board retreat in early August, AYLA President Emily Morris expressed that one of her goals this year…
Jenna Malsbary
Come Tailgate for a Cause!
Join AYLA for our annual Tailgate for a Cause! On Nov. 9 at 9 a.m., we will gather at the…
Austin Bar Association
Leadership Academy Now Accepting Applications
The Austin Young Lawyers’ Association and Austin Bar Association are excited to invite AYLA members to apply for the 2025…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Member Spotlight: John Boone
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice. I moved to Austin with my then-fiancée, now wife,…
Austin Bar Association
“Freshquires” Continues to Build on Its First-Year Successes
Freshquires at the Contract Drafting CLE held at the Amini & Conant Law Firm in July. Jared Greathouse and Buck…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Committees Want YOU!
Fall is a fantastic time to join the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA)! Join now for 2025 and you’ll also…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA President’s Column: So This is the New Year
With August and September comes a new school year and a new bar year! AYLA has lots in store as…
Emily Morris
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…
Austin Bar Association
Night at the Library Gala Supports CCP
Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy Class of 2024 Fundraiser Blends Legal and Literary to Raise Money for Center for Child Protection…
Jasleen Shokar
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…
Austin Bar Association
Ask Not What AYLA Does, Ask What AYLA Does Not Do
One of the questions I am most often asked when talking to and about the legal community is, “What does…
Sarah Harp
Welcome to the New Austin Bar & AYLA Directors
New Austin Bar Directors New AYLA Directors…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Hosts “Trust & Estate Law Basics” CLE
On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, AYLA held a CLE on “Trust & Estate Law Basics,” presented by Melissa Pina, VP,…
Austin Bar Association
9th Annual Diversity Bar Mixer a Success
On Thursday, March 21, attorneys from various local bar associations converged at the Vince Young Steakhouse for AYLA’s ninth annual…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Honors Award Winners
The AYLA board of directors has recognized members of our community for three prestigious awards. These local winners will be…
Austin Bar Association
2024-25 AYLA Board Candidates Announced
The following candidates are running for officer and director positions on the 2024-25 AYLA board. The new board will take…
Austin Bar Association
Introducing AYLA’s Freshquire Program – A Community for New Lawyers
The first years of legal practice can be intimidating and isolating, especially for lawyers in small/solo firms or offices without…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Guest Column: Books Behind Bars – The Inside Books Project’s Impact on the Incarcerated in America
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a county jail outside of Amarillo sent a letter soliciting help. As a result of the…
Austin Bar Association
Nominations for AYLA Board Positions Now Open
Are you interested in running for a position on AYLA’s 2024-25 board of directors? If so, now is the time…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Teams Up with YMCA to Serve Parents and Children
AYLA hosted its Holiday Program in partnership with the YMCA on Dec. 3, 2023. AYLA was able to provide for…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Guest Column – Revolutionizing Child Protection: The Birth of a Beacon for Change
In the early 1990s, the realm of child protection was a disjointed labyrinth of communication that left both children and…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Wins Four ABA Awards of Achievement
The Austin Young Lawyers Association won four 2023 American Bar Association (ABA) awards – the most of any organization this…
Austin Bar Association
Floyd Real Estate Wins AYLA Sponsor Award
Floyd Real Estate, LLC has been awarded AYLA’s 2023 Sponsor Award! Floyd Real Estate is owned by AYLA sustaining members…
Austin Bar Association
Applications Are Open for the 2024 AYLA/Austin Bar Leadership Academy!
The AYLA/Austin Bar Leadership Academy assists Austin-area lawyers in making a difference in our community and in service to the…
Austin Bar Association
Law-Related Education Committee Program Seeks Volunteers
The Austin Bar/AYLA Law-Related Education Committee invites you to volunteer your time and voice to make a difference with middle-school…
Austin Bar Association
24th Annual AYLA Evening with the Judiciary
The Austin Young Lawyers Association held its 24th annual Evening with the Judiciary at the Austin Club on Thursday, Sept.…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA GUEST COLUMN: First-Time Homebuying 101
BY BONNIE NEEL, CANOPY MORTGAGE LLC Bonnie Neel is a licensed Residential Mortgage Loan Officer in California, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada,…
Austin Bar Association
Invest in Your Network: Attend Docket Call Happy Hour
Are you looking to expand your network? Or just looking for lawyer friends to help you celebrate and commiserate? Make…
Austin Bar Association
Get Ready for the Annual AYLA Tailgate!
Ah, football season in Austin, Texas—a time when the air gets a little crisper, flannel shirts make their annual appearance,…
Austin Bar Association
First AYLA Trial Institute a Success
AYLA’s inaugural Trial Institute proved to be a great success. The sold-out event took place on June 30, 2023, in…
Austin Bar Association
Bringing Vegas to Austin: Relive the Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy Casino Night Fundraiser
On June 24, people from across the legal community gathered at the Chateau Bellevue to laugh, connect, and even do…
Austin Bar Association
One Door Closes, Another Opens: The Origin Story of the Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy
Judge Karin Crump, presiding judge of the 250th Civil District Court of Travis County, and David Courreges, past president of the…
Michelle King
Meet AYLA’s 2023-24 President: Sarah Harp
Sarah Harp is an assistant attorney general with the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. She works in the…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Receives Awards of Achievement from Texas Young Lawyers Association
The Austin Young Lawyers Association recently won several Awards of Achievement from the Texas Young Lawyers Association. AYLA won the…
Austin Bar Association
AYLA Member Spotlight July/August 2023
AYLA: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice. COMBS: I am originally from Odessa, Tex., and came to…