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As we get the 2025-26 bar year started, we want to invite you to join one of our 15 committees!
Committees are a fantastic way to get more involved in bar activities, expand your professional network, and make your voice heard.
Each committee serves a unique purpose, all of which contribute to the mission of the Austin Bar of enhancing the legal profession, administration of justice, and our community through education, networking, and public service.
If you have ideas, and you’re ready to put those ideas into action with the support of the bar’s executive committee and staff, then we want you to serve on one (or more) of our committees!
DEI Committee: This committee hosts discussions to increase understanding and lead to inner and external change, networking focused on bridging social capital, compiling resources for people seeking guidance, and identifying Austin Lawyer authors and topics highlighting Austin’s diversity and history. The committee will plan the annual Equity Summit. In addition, this committee oversees the Diversity Fellowship Program, which offers summer internships to minority law school students. Participants intern for the Travis County District judges and for a private law firm.
Fundraising/Golf Tournament Committee: This committee focuses on fundraising by holding social events. Some past events include the Pro Bono Fall Festival held in October 2024; photos with Santa; holiday shopping events; and the inaugural Austin Bar Association Golf Tournament, which will return in spring 2026.
Bench Bar Committee: This committee organizes and implements the Austin Bar’s Annual Bench Bar Conference held for Travis County lawyers and judges. Committee members create the full-day conference program, including developing a theme, identifying topics, and recruiting speakers.
CLE Committee: This committee organizes the Austin Bar’s monthly 4th Friday CLE programs, which are available for free to Austin Bar members and enables them to maintain their law license at no cost. These monthly CLEs are generally only an hour, featuring one topic and one speaker, and can be held over Zoom.
Austin Adoption Day: This committee coordinates the annual Adoption Day (traditionally held on the first Thursday of November), including organizing and gathering the donations of books, food, balloons, and gift-basket items. Interested committee members may have the opportunity to handle a pro bono case.
Communications: This committee creates and reviews content for Bar Code, Austin Lawyer, the Austin Bar website, and social media.
Fee Dispute: This committee mediates and/or arbitrates fee disputes submitted by clients, attorneys, the courts, and the District 9 Grievance Committee.
History & Traditions: This committee recruits and conducts oral history interviews with Austin attorneys and judges and past Austin Bar presidents to preserve the history of the Austin Bar, the Austin legal community, and significant legal events in the Austin area.
Hilgers House Preservation: This committee performs duties to preserve Hilgers House, applies for preservation grants, researches the history of the house, and provides tours to the general public.
Gala: This committee plans and produces the Austin Bar’s biggest event, an annual gala, to raise money for the Austin Bar Foundation’s grant program.
Law Related Education in Schools: This committee plans and implements various educational programs aimed at school-aged children and supports the Akins Early College High School legal program, which is the leading advocacy high school training program in the country. The Law Related Education Committee also organizes the Austin Bar’s participation in the State Bar’s annual Law Day essay, poster, and photography contests.
Lawyer Well Being: This committee aims to educate, support, and connect our legal community to achieve more balanced, mindful, and joyful lives and practices.
Pro Bono: This committee coordinates and plans Austin Bar pro bono programs and develops relationships with pro bono organizations, such as Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, American Gateways, and the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Mentorship: The Mentorship Committee is focused on providing informal mentorship opportunities among lawyers of all ages and practice areas. The committee plans and hosts the bar’s regular breakfasts/lunches with members of the judiciary, as well as facilitates a spot-mentoring program, where attorneys seeking guidance can submit a query through the Austin Bar website and get connected with another attorney who can provide input.
Membership/Law Student/Paralegal: Each committee determines how frequently it will meet–whether monthly, quarterly, or even just once a year. Meetings are available by Zoom with advanced notice.
To join a committee, simply sign into your austinbar.org account, visit austinbar.org/committees, and click “Join or update committees.” You can join one or more committees of your choosing at no cost – and, if needed, you can remove committee membership right from your account.