Originally published by Austin Monitor On Oct 1., the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a $469,559 contract for a residential substance use treatment program for women, using the state’s opioid abatement funds. The contract is the first time an inpatient residential resource has been available in Austin for low-income adults struggling with addiction since Austin Recovery shuttered in August 2020.

The Veterans’ Legal Assistance Program is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking new pro bono portal, designed to streamline how attorneys connect with veterans and low-income Texans in need of legal assistance.  Initially serving Central Texas, this platform will soon expand to other bar associations and organizations with limited resources. What’s New? This innovative portal offers a range

Dear Austin Bar Members:  As we celebrate the Thanksgiving season, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Austin Bar Foundation. As you make your year-end charitable donations, we ask that you consider one or more of the following programs: Preservation of Hilgers House – The Foundation bought this beautiful home in 2019. It was built in

Out-of-state lawyers can temporarily register with the North Carolina State Bar to provide pro bono legal services to victims of Hurricane Helene, following an order by the North Carolina Supreme Court. The court approved the North Carolina State Bar’s temporary rule amendment on Oct. 1.  The State Bar petitioned the Supreme Court for this emergency rule to streamline the process by

The Lawyer Well-Being Committee of the Austin Bar Association invites you to participate in a fundraiser for suicide awareness and prevention.  The fundraiser is a walk that will take place on Oct. 26 at 10 a.m., starting at the Texas Capitol. These “Out of the Darkness” walks are hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which has chapters

My name is Mary-Ellen King. I am the current president of the Austin Bar Association. This is my story.  I grew up in church, a star athlete, always a leader—secretary of my high school’s student-government association, sorority officer, involved in campus politics, president of alum clubs, Rotary president, president of the Austin Bar, and leadership in various foundations, to name

ON THE MOVE Michael Ripp, Cindy Grossman, and Lauren Fitte have launched the law firm of of Ripp Grossman & Fitte LLP (“RGF”). RGF will provide personalized legal services in the areas of domestic and international estate, gift, and income tax planning and preparation, closely held business planning, insurance coverage analysis and procurement, and asset protection planning. While the launch

It is a myth that an individual seemingly functioning well at work could not also be an addict and suffering from severe emotional trauma. My own experience painted a picture of an individual who continued to maintain the façade of functionality at work despite the extent of my alcohol and drug use. I looked like a functional lawyer, but I

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice. I moved to Austin with my then-fiancée, now wife, in June of 2021. I had just graduated from the University of Washington School of Law, and my wife was working remotely because of the pandemic. We were in the position of being able to pick and choose where we

The Austin Young Lawyers’ Association and Austin Bar Association are excited to invite AYLA members to apply for the 2025 Leadership Academy, which is entering its 14th year! The goal of the Leadership Academy is to foster leadership skills in the Austin legal community, expand and develop relationship networks, and to assist Austin-area lawyers in making a difference in our