Far too many American adults have no will and have granted no powers of attorney. Surveys say the number is as high as 60%. One of the big barriers is the cost of preparing an estate plan as compared to what people have to leave behind. Costs range from free for DIY solutions for very simple distributions; to hundreds of …
The 88th Texas Legislature passed a bill that makes hypnosis-induced statements from being introduced as evidence in criminal trials. Senate Bill 338 took effect on Sept. 1, 2023. The bill defines investigative hypnosis as a law enforcement technique using hypnosis to enhance a witness’s recall of an event, including descriptions of people, conversations, and the environment. This is the second …
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Austin Bar Association membership or the Austin Bar Association board of directors. My law school professor for Agency & Partnership Law was Harold G. Reuschlein, former dean of Villanova Law School, and everyone’s “Proper Gentleman.” He appeared for each class …
Two of the bills Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht endorsed in his State of the Judiciary address on April 5, 2023, passed during the 88th Texas Legislative Session. The first, House Bill 19, relates “to the creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees.” Specifically, the bill calls this the “Business Court.” The …
The Austin Bar Association has been chosen as the best CLE provider in Austin by Texas Lawyer for 2023. The decision was based on a poll conducted by Texas Lawyer of their readers. The Austin Bar ranked as the number one CLE provider in Austin. The Austin Bar previously ranked as the number two CLE provider in Austin in 2022. …
Congratulations to Perkins Coie LLP for being named one of the best places to work by Austin Business Journal. Based out of Seattle, Washington, the Austin office is managed by Andrew Smetana. Congratulations to Robert O’Keefe, who recently started a mediation practice. Robert has mediated a variety of commercial disputes and stands ready to help parties reach a resolution. He …
Like Skittles, I’ve experienced many flavors of the practice of law. I’ve worked as in-house counsel to a health care system and a Fortune 500 managed care company. I’ve worked at a mid-size medical malpractice firm, a small boutique litigation firm, and as a solo attorney. I have worked on both the plaintiff and defense sides. Given my exposure to …
The Austin Bar Association is proud to recognize our 2023 Austin Bar 100 Club Members. The following firms, government agencies, organizations/schools, and corporate legal departments have 100 percent membership in the Austin Bar. The Austin Bar 100 Club is a distinguished membership that reflects a commitment to the advancement of the legal profession and involvement in the community. The Austin …
Austin attorney Gretchen Sims Sween in May 2023 filed a petition for a writ of certiorari asking the U.S. Supreme Court to conduct plenary review or summarily reverse the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ decision in January to uphold the conviction of Robert Roberson. In 2002, Roberson was charged with capital murder in the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki. …
The LGBTQ+ Section of the Austin Bar celebrated Austin Pride with thousands of fellow Austinites on August 12, 2023. The section marched in the parade with members, supporters, and friends, handing out flags, necklaces, and fans for the hot summer night. The parade also provided the opportunity to share the Section’s “know your rights” website with community members through a …