Serve on the Austin Bar Association Board of Directors

If you are interested in running for a position as a director or officer of the Austin Bar Association, please fill out this form by Jan. 31. All candidates must be current attorneys and Austin Bar members in good standing. Officer positions are one-year terms; director positions are for two years. Nominees for the office of president-elect must have served …

Recent Study Details Payments to Texans Wrongfully Convicted

Texas has paid nearly $100 million to 95 men and women who were wrongfully convicted since 2009, according to a study conducted by criminal defense firm Michael & Associates in Austin.1 Records from the Texas State Comptroller’s Office also indicate the state pays a monthly annuity to each exoneree, totaling almost $500,000 per month. The compensation is the result of …

VLS Honors Pro Bono Champions

Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas is proud to announce the winners and honorees of its 2023 calendar-year awards and distinctions. Abigail Griffith, an associate at Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg, received the Susan P. Burton Award, which is given annually to a volunteer attorney who has been licensed for five years or less and who has provided exemplary pro …

Is This “Remotely” Possible?

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. Consider the following three scenes: SCENE ONE Egypt, Giza Valley, Akehnaton’s apartment. 2500 BC. [A knock on the door, it’s Djoser, the chief stone architect of Pharoah Khafre’s …

Austin Bar Members Support Important Missions in Two Fall Events

Thank you to everyone who donated and/or came out to support equal access to justice in Central Texas and lawyer well-being on Saturday, Oct. 26! We had two big events that day: One was the Pro Bono Fall Festival, held in conjunction with the Mother Attorney Mentors of Austin (MAMAs) to raise funds for Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) of Central …

Depression Lies

This is what I know: Depression lies. Depression will tell you that you aren’t successful, that you don’t deserve what you have. That you aren’t a good partner, parent, child, or friend. Depression holds you hostage. It isolates you and warps your reality. It distances you from those who love you and whispers words of shame, doubt, and derision. It …

Kocurek Wins Judicial Excellence Award

Judge Julie Kocurek of the 390th District Court has been named the 2024 recipient of the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence. The award is given by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and is one of the country’s highest judicial honors.  The recipient is decided by the Governance and Nominations Committee of NCSC’s board of directors, which …

12-Step Recovery Absolutely Saved My Life

Hi, I’m Carly, and by the grace of a Power much smarter than me, I have been in a 12-step recovery program since April 30, 2011. I have never publicly disclosed my sobriety despite it being a part of my life about which I am most proud, most protective, and for which I am most profoundly grateful. Yet, I have …

Briefs November 2024

Kudos Congratulations to the following, who were among those named by Texas Lawyer as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice fields in and around Austin: Thomas K. Anson Energy Regulatory Law Tom Anson practices state and federal energy and utility law at Clark Hill. He assists companies and governmental bodies on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters involving electricity …

Attorney Mental Health After Retirement: A Hidden Crisis and Healthy Ways to Transition

The legal profession is often associated with prestige, financial success, and intellectual rigor. However, behind the veneer of professional accomplishment, many lawyers grapple with intense pressures, burnout, and stress throughout their careers. When they retire, these challenges often don’t disappear. In fact, for many, retirement can exacerbate underlying mental health and substance abuse issues, leading to a crisis that demands …