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 …
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 …
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: …
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 …
One of the great honors that I have had over the past 13 years is to work as the Director of the State Bar’s Advanced Trial Strategies (ATS) course. This elite course, given in New Orleans each February, is designed for lawyers with 20+ years’ experience. Our committee’s aim is to get the best speakers, to bring important information to …
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Austin Bar Association’s podcast, Council of Firsts, featured the “Ladies of the Austin Bar.” For the first time in history, all top leadership positions in the Austin Bar Foundation, Austin Bar Association, and Austin Young Lawyers Association are held by women, with women waiting in the wings. Amanda Arriaga is the Austin Bar Foundation …
Judge Clifford Brown, Sylvia Faye Hardman-Dingle, and Dexter Gilford were the honorees at the 2024 Austin Black Lawyers Association Foundation (ABLAF) Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon. The trio was honored for their significant contributions to the African American legal community. Judge Eric Shepperd emceed the event, which was held at Chateau Bellevue. ABLAF President Ayeola Williams and ABLA President Johnathan …
The seventeenth annual Color of Justice program was held on April 16, 2024, at the UT School of Law. The event was sponsored by the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), in partnership with the Travis County Women Lawyers Association (TCWLA) and the UT School of Law William Wayne Justice Center for Public Law. The program was attended by students …
At a January 2024 meeting of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the commission voted against a recommendation to create a pilot program that would have allowed non-attorney ownership of entities licensed to provide limited legal services tolow-income Texans. The topic of nonlawyer ownership in legal entities has been a topic of growing interest in recent years. Currently, Texas Disciplinary …
Editor’s Note: A monthly update on jury trials in Travis County will be circulated in Bar Code and posted in the Austin Bar app. Lucy’s Kitchen #2 LLC v. Taylor Plaza, LLC Cause No.: D-1-GN-19-006920 Judge: Hon. Jessica Mangrum, 200th Civil District Court Trial Date(s): April 1 – 3, 2024 Attorneys: Plaintiff: Russell Frost, Law Office of Russell Frost, PLLC …