Emily Morris is corporate counsel at PowerSchool, which develops educational software for school systems. Morris is a graduate of Tulane University Law School and received her bachelor’s in marketing from Louisiana State University. During her time there, she also attended the University of Copenhagen to study international corporate law. Morris is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas …
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 AYLA do?” It was the first question my distant cousin asked when I shared the news that I would be president of the organization and it is always the top question prospective members have—and rightfully so, when learning about AYLA. …
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, Trust & Estates Officer, Cadence Bank. The CLE provided attendees with an overview of considerations of which every attorney should have a basic understanding in serving clients. These included the importance of having a will; potential information needed when building …
Welcome to the New Austin Bar & AYLA Directors
New Austin Bar Directors New AYLA Directors
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 Diversity Bar Mixer. Attorneys from AYLA, the Austin Bar LGBTQ+ Section, the Austin Asian American Bar Association, the Austin Black Lawyers Association, the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, the South Asian Bar Association of Austin, the Austin Bar Association, and …
AYLA Honors Award Winners
The AYLA board of directors has recognized members of our community for three prestigious awards. These local winners will be submitted to the Texas Young Lawyers Association as nominees for the corresponding statewide awards. The Mentor Award recognizes an attorney who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to mentoring young lawyers in the legal community. This year’s winner is Sam Denton. The …
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 office on July 1, 2024, along with Emily Morris, who will serve as AYLA’s 2024-25 president. Morris has been on AYLA’s board since 2019 and has served as secretary, treasurer, and president-elect. Electronic ballots will be sent to members on …
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 other young lawyers. Imposter syndrome is extremely common, and AYLA wants to do something to help! The Freshquire program was started thanks to a grant from the Texas Young Lawyers Association. The program provides a community for lawyers in their …
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 new pandemic regulations, the entire prison library had been shut down, and the inmates no longer had access to books—one of their few solaces. So the Amarillo County jail contacted a nonprofit organization started by Austin activists, the Inside Books …
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 to apply! Nomination forms are now available on AYLA’s website, and may be submitted through March 1, 2024. Serving as a director on the AYLA board is a great way to gain leadership experience, shape the local legal community, and …