For many of our clients, firms, or agencies, fall is the start of a new fiscal year. Several of us are probably instrumental in the labor required to prepare a new budget. Well, my offering to this month’s Austin Lawyer readers is to reflect on a different kind of budget–the budget for your personal energy.
AYLA Member Spotlight: Melissa Pina
We recently sat down with AYLA member Melissa Pina to feature in our Member Spotlight.
October 2025 Federal Civil Update
The following are summaries of selected criminal opinions issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The summaries are overviews; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent histories are current as of September 8, 2025. Below are recent decisions from the United States Fifth Circuit of Appeals.
October 2025 Third Court of Appeals Civil Update
The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during August 2025. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of September 18, 2025.
October 2025 Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update
The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from March 2025. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of September 5, 2025.
August 2025 District & County Court Jury Trial Verdicts
Here are the Travis County and district court jury trial verdicts for the month of August 2025.
Federal Permitting and the Judicial Acorn
On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court added another chapter to its evolving project of administrative law reform—this time turning its attention to federal environmental permitting. In Seven County Infrastructure Coalition et al v. Eagle County, Colorado et al, the justices ventured into the thicket of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a statute long celebrated for its environmental ideals but criticized for its procedural backlog.
Thank You to Our August CANLaw Clinic Volunteers!
Thank you to the following attorneys, paralegals, law and high school students who helped staff the Aug. 23 CANLaw Clinic!
Austin Bar Member Hatchell Wins Pope Award From Texas Center for Legal Ethics
The Texas Center for Legal Ethics has awarded Austin attorney Mike Hatchell the 2025 Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award.
Texas Commission on Professional Ethics Opinion 708
The latest ethics opinion addresses whether a lawyer may agree to be bound by a non-disparagement clause in a client settlement agreement, and whether such a clause may contain a provision not to reveal confidential information related to the representation for marketing purposes.










