Legal Matters
September 2010
Technology Improves TCWLA Member Services
While the address looks
the same, don’t be fooled.
TCWLA’s website is new
and improved in almost
every way and is much
more convenient to register for events and keep up
with your local Bar Association, TCWLA. Check
us out and contact us with
comments or suggestions!
www.tcwla.org
Inside this issue:
In connection with the
launch of our new website,
we have modernized our
membership policies. Instead of the traditional
system where we could
only keep track of enrollment once a year in January, now we can accept
new and renewing memberships any day of the
year– when it is convenient for you! Now, whenever you register and pay
your $40 dues, your registration will be current for
365 days, and you will
automatically be notified
when it is time to renew. Your participation is
key to our success. Membership dues provide the
financial support our organization needs to host
events and provide membership services. Maintaining your
status as a
TCWLA
member is
incredibly im-
portant to us, and we hope
you will enjoy the userfriendly benefits provided
by our new website!
TCWLA launches retooled website
and greater member controls and
easy registration for events.
Important Dates to Remember
From Your President
2
TLAP Meetings
3
Meet Your Board
Member
4
Details on Upcoming
CLE’s
4
Food from the Bar
5
September 15 Membership CLE Luncheon, TSTA 316 W 12th St,
Sturgeon Room
11:45-1:00 p.m
October 20
Membership CLE Luncheon, TSTA 316 W 12th St,
Sturgeon Room .
11:45-1:00 p.m
Board List
7
November 17 Membership CLE Luncheon, Location and topic to be
announced.
Membership
8-9
December
Holiday Party. Location to be announced.
TCWLA LEGAL MATTERS SEPTEMBER 2010
Page 2
From Your President
Amanda Taylor
Welcome Back! I hope that
you had a great summer and
that you are enjoying the
transition
back
to
―fall‖ (what Austinites call
the ―cooler‖ 95 degree
weather). I am excited to get
started with all of TCWLA’s
fall events, and I encourage
you to join us. Your
TCWLA Board has been
very busy over the summer,
and we have some exciting
news to share with you.
“There will be a one-day clinic
where attorneys can volunteer to
help veterans with basic legal
issues. This is one of the best
ways to truly thank our men
and women of
service! Volunteers… are
needed”
For more information
on this and other
TCWLA events, join
us on Facebook or visit
our website:
http://www.tcwla.org
TCWLA has launched a new
and improved website! You
should have received an
email with detailed information this week. Please use
this letter to finalize your
user registration on our new
site so that you can take advantage of all its benefits. Some of the best features about the new site are
that it makes our upcoming
events much easier to find
and register. It makes your
personal profile much easier
to view and edit, and the
overall layout is designed to
be much more userfriendly. In addition to our
website, we will also be posting updates and pictures on
Facebook. If you have not
joined our page, please do so
today.
Our new website has allowed TCWLA to make an
important change to a
―rolling‖
membership
style. Now, your $40 annual
dues will provide you an
active membership for 365days, regardless of when you
renew or join, and you will
automatically be notified
when it is time to renew for
the following year (rather
than collecting $40 dues in
January of each year).
TCWLA will also be bringing you several new events
this year. We will be hosting
some of our membership
CLE meetings after work
(instead of at lunch only) to
provide an opportunity for
attendance by our members
who cannot break away during a hectic afternoon. We
are also in the process of
planning other evening
events to let our members
socialize, network, and have
some fun!
This fall,
TCWLA plans to put on a
half-day CLE program,
which we hope will provide
you with an informative,
interesting, and affordable
way to obtain your credit
hours. TCWLA is also getting involved with Austin’s
public schools to educate all
grades of school children
about internet safety issues
and the legal ramifications of
misconduct
committed
through today’s technology. Finally, this Veteran’s
Day weekend we will be
joining
the
wonderful
―Texas Lawyers for Texas
Veterans‖ program established by our State Bar and
headed up locally by JoAnn
Merica. There will be a oneday clinic where attorneys
can volunteer to help veterans with basic legal issues. This is one of the best
ways to truly thank our men
and women of service. Volunteers with experience in
bankruptcy, family law,
wills/estates and probate are
especially needed, but all
attorney volunteers will be
valued. We sincerely hope
that you will participate with
us in these great new fall
programs, and we’ll have
more activities for you in the
spring.
Of course, I would never
want to overlook our traditions, and TCWLA has some
great ―regularly-scheduled‖
events that are also starting
up this month! We begin
with our monthly CLE/
membership luncheon on
September 15, at which
Robyn Hargrove will teach
us how to avoid legal malpractice—something that is
of critical importance for all
practitioners! In December,
we look forward to seeing
you all at our annual Holiday
Party downtown, so make
sure to watch for the date
and place to be announced
soon.
I look forward to seeing you
all at our upcoming meetings
and events. Please don’t
forget to check out our new
website at www.tcwla.org
and our Facebook page so
that you can keep up with
everything.
Amanda Taylor
2010-2011 Board President
TCWLA LEGAL MATTERS SEPTEMBER 2010
Page 3
As the topic of the last State of Texas Bar Journal suggests, taking care of
ourselves is key to being able to provide the highest quality services to
our clients. Consider attending these meetings or contact Cameron
Vann if you want to support the groups in other ways.
Austin Lawyers Support Group
What:
A confidential monthly education and support group for lawyers, judges
and law students seeking help or support while healing from depression,
addiction, job stress, anxiety and other mental health issues.
When:
Every last Thursday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Where:
816 Congress, in the “Longhorn Room”, Room 320.
Free Parking under the building. Enter the parking area from 9th street.
Format: 30 minute speaker - an expert from the mental health field.
30 minute peer support - lawyers supporting lawyers
Contact: TLAP support is from Cameron Vann, J.D. [email protected] ,
(512) 427-1453 or (800) 343-8527.
Please pass this information on to other lawyers who may be interested.
TCWLA LEGAL MATTERS SEPTEMBER 2010
Page 4
Meet Your Board Member
Cindy Connolly, President-Elect
“Cindy is currently the
Past Chair of the Civil
Litigation Section of the
Austin Bar Association
and now serves as
President Elect of
TCWLA.”
Practice Area: Civil Litigation
Employer: Scott, Douglass
& McConnico, LLP
Education: Although
Cindy received her law degree from the University of
Texas, her blood bleeds
blue. Cindy graduated from
Duke University in 1993
and is an avid Duke basketball fan. Cindy returned to
Cameron Indoor Stadium to
watch the Blue Devils in
action last season for the
first time since graduation.
Cindy is proud to report that
she is still a Cameron
Crazy.
Employment: Cindy has
been with Scott, Douglass &
McConnico since she
clerked with the firm in law
school 14 years ago. She
became a partner of the firm
in 2001. Grateful to be with
the greatest group of litigators in Austin, Texas, Cindy
has no plans to ever leave
sd&m.
Organizations: As a young
lawyer, Cindy was Chair of
the Athletics Committee for
the Austin Young Lawyers
Association and organized
an annual charity auction to
benefit Texas Special Olympics. Cindy is currently the
Past Chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Austin
Bar Association and now
serves as President Elect of
TCWLA.
Interests: Cindy loves to
run. She logs most of her
miles before the sun comes
up when her mommy and
lawyer jobs begin. She en-
joys competing in races of
all distances from 5k’s to
marathons. She will be running her 30th marathon on
December 5th in Sacramento, California. For
Cindy, running is a source
of stress release, meditation
and girl time.
Family: Cindy is blessed
with happy healthy kids and
a super supportive husband.
Mac (8) and Jessie (6) keep
their parents busy with soccer, football, basketball,
running, art, music and
gymnastics. Cindy and her
family love to travel to the
mountains for skiing, to the
beach for relaxing and to
her family’s island in Canada for family time with the
cousins.
Details on Upcoming CLE’s
September 15
Membership CLE Luncheon, TSTA 316 W 12th St, Sturgeon Room
11:45-1:00 p.m
CLE will be provided by Robyn Hargrove, partner at Scott, Douglass &
McConnico, LLP. Robyn will provide an update on recent
developments in Texas law on legal malpractice and lawyer liability. She
will also provide tips on how to avoid malpractice claims. Join us for this
CLE and a scrumptious lunch. The CLE is free, and the catered lunch
is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Advanced registration
required for lunch at: www.tcwla.org.
October 20
Membership CLE Luncheon, TSTA 316 W 12th St, Sturgeon Room .
11:45-1:00 p.m
CLE provided by Tom Watkins, partner at Brown McCarroll. Tom will
review the proposed changes to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of
Professional Conduct and provide insight on how the proposed changes
could impact your practice. Join us for this CLE and a scrumptious lunch.
The CLE is free, and the catered lunch is $15 for members and $20 for
non-members. Advanced registration required for lunch at: www.tcwla.org.
TCWLA LEGAL MATTERS SEPTEMBER 2010
Page 5
“FOOD FROM THE BAR” FOOD DONATION DRIVE
Need for Continued Support
AUSTIN, TEXAS (July, 2010) – ―FOOD FROM THE BAR‖ is a proven antihunger program supported by Texas Women Lawyers (TWL) along with the Travis
County Women Lawyers Association (TCWLA) to benefit the Capital Area Food
Bank. Throughout the summer, women lawyers in Austin coordinated this second
annual ―FOOD FROM THE BAR‖ food drive to fill the bank while school is out.
This campaign helps ensure that children have enough to eat during summer
months when there are no subsidized school lunches.
“The economy hit the
Capital Area Food Bank
extra hard this year, so we
are challenging other bar
According to campaign coordinator and past president of both
associations statewide to
organizations, Susan Morrison, ―Our goal was to raise $5,000 in donations of cash
work with their local food
or food, with boxes to be filled at area law firms, and we are close to achieving it.‖
She said, ―The economy hit the Capital Area Food Bank extra hard this year, so we
are challenging other bar associations statewide to work with their local food bank
to raise money.‖
The participating law firms are The Fowler Law Firm (Susan Morrison);
bank to raise money.”
Coordinator,
Susan Morrison
Brown McCarroll (Mary Evelyn McNamara); Vinson & Elkins (Lisa Hobbs); Scott,
Douglass & McConnico (Cindy Connolly); Jackson & Walker (Marilyn Montano);
Graves Daugherty (Susan Burton); Gillman & Associates (Holly Gillman); Ogletree
Deakins (Courtney Smith); Winstead (Zeena Angadicheril), and K&L Gates. Also,
the Austin Bar Association and Castle Hill Fitness agreed to host donation boxes
again this year. We encourage donations on-line to the Capital Area Food Bank at
http://cafbtx.convio.net/TWL.
With every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide 5 nutritious meals.
Financial donations made to the Capital Area Food Bank are tax-deductible. The
most needed nonperishable items are canned tuna, stew, and chili in pop-top
For more information, visit
containers; canned green beans and corn; pasta and pasta sauce; pinto beans and
www.texaswomenlawyers.org
rice; healthy cereal; peanut butter; ready-to-eat baby formula and baby food.
Texas Women Lawyers Assoc. is committed to the empowerment of women lawyers to achieve full
rights, privileges and responsibilities in the legal profession. Membership in both TWL and
TCWLA is open to men and women. For more information visit www.texaswomenlawyers.org
and www.tcwla.org.
and www.tcwla.org.
TCWLA LEGAL MATTERS SEPTEMBER 2010
Page 6
In Memory of
Lori Tullos Barta: 1971-2010
Lori Tullos Barta, a former Board member of the Austin Young Lawyers
Association, passed away Thursday, August 19 from complications
following heart surgery. She was a graduate of the University of Texas
School of Law and has worked as assistant general counsel at the Texas
State Board of Pharmacy.
A passionate and energetic woman, Barta was very active with AYLA's
mock trial program. She also served as president of the Down Syndrome
Association of Central Texas in 2008 and 2009. She was involved with the
association for six years after the birth of her middle daughter Hannah,
who has Down syndrome. Barta developed an Educator Manual and
training program - currently in use in local school districts - for teachers
of individuals with Down syndrome.
The family held services on August 24 at the Episcopal Church of the
Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Road. She is survived by her husband,
Adam, and three beautiful daughters, Emma, Hannah, and Sarah.
Lori will be greatly missed by friends and family. Contributions may be
made in the following ways:
Donate to a trust fund being set up for the family, to support
Lori's daughters' needs now and into the future. Make checks payable
to ―Family of Lori Barta‖ and send to DSACT at 3710 Cedar Street,
Box 3, Austin, Texas 78705.
Donate to DSACT in honor of Lori Barta. Go to http://
lori.dsact.com/ or make checks payable to DSACT, with a note that
the gift is in honor of Lori Barta. These gifts will go first to sustain the
education programs and services that Lori created and about which
she cared so deeply, and then to other DSACT initiatives of greatest
need. Checks may be sent to DSACT at 3710 Cedar Street, Box 3,
Austin, Texas 78705.
TCWLA & TWL are currently considering how to help take Lori’s
training program statewide to ensure her legacy of contributions
Page 7
TCWLA LEGAL MATTERS SEPTEMBER 2010
2010-2011 TCWLA OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT
Amanda Taylor
w) 512-472-5997
[email protected]
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Cindy Connolly
w) 512-495-6306
[email protected]
PAST PRESIDENT/
TCWLF & ABA
LIAISON
Elizabeth Poole
w) 512-476-5355 x 1145
[email protected]
SECRETARY
Leslie Hume
w) 512-469-9574
[email protected]
TREASURER
Tracy Kasparek
w) 512-263-5400
tracy
@thrashlawfirm.com
TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS TO WORK DAY
Judge Orlinda Naranjo
(w) 512-854-4023
orlinda.naranjo
@co.travis.tx.us
ACTIVITIES
CO-CHAIR
Robyn Hargrove
w) 512-495-6359
[email protected]
ACTIVITIES
CO-CHAIR
Beeral Amin
w)512-786-4960
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
CO-CHAIR
Diana Reinhart
w) 512-495-6359
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
CO-CHAIR
Katy Thomas Alsobrook
w) 512-398-3242 ext 208
[email protected]
AYLA/WLC
LIAISON
Lisa Snead
w) 512-454-4816 x 2712
[email protected]
WEBSITE
Ly Barrett
w) 512-553-3926
[email protected]
WEBSITE
Margaret Forrester
w) 512-913-5156
[email protected]
CLE CO-CHAIR
Sandra Gonzalez
w) 512-320-7234
[email protected]
CLE CO-CHAIR
Lea Brigtsen
w) 512-542-5032
[email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP
CO-CHAIR
Amie Rodnick
w) 477-2226
[email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP
CO-CHAIR
Velva Price
w) 445-1580
[email protected]
PUBLICITY
CO-CHAIR
Claire East
w) 615-6195
[email protected]
PUBLICITY
CO-CHAIR
Natalie Niles Argüello
w) 441-1411
narguello
@thefowlerlawfirm.com
TWL LIAISON
Susan G. Morrison
w) 512-478-1616
smorrison
@thefowlerlawfirm.com
COLOR OF JUSTICE
Elizabeth Branch
w) 512-565-4464
branch@branchlawoffice.
com
YOUR AD
COULD BE
HERE!
$30 for 3 months
for a 2.5x2.5
Free Classifieds
Ads for Members
For more
information
tcwlaorg
@gmail.com
Go online to register or
mail this into us
with your dues.
Page 8
TCWLA
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS
Active Membership: $40 per year
Student Membership: $20 per year
Lifetime Membership: $400, payable anytime
Newly Licensed Attorney Membership: Complimentary membership for first 14 months of licensure
Member Contact Information
Member’s Name:
Email address: ____________________________________
New member? Y / N
Are you purchasing this membership as a gift for another? Y / N
If yes, please let us know your name and email address: ___________________
Member Practice Information
I am currently employed at: ____________________________________.
I am seeking employment in this practice area: ______________________.
I am a law student at ____________ and will graduate in _________.
My practice area(s) are:












Administrative/Regulatory
Appellate
ADR
Banking/Finance
Bankruptcy
Business Transactions
Civil/Business Litigation
Civil Rights/Discrimination
Consumer
Corporate
Criminal Prosecution/Defense
Employment/Labor

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Education/School
Environmental
Family
Government/Municipal
Health
Immigration
In House Counsel
Intellectual Property
International
Insurance Defense
Insurance (Other)
Juvenile
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Malpractice
Personal Injury
Probate/Estate Planning
Property Tax
Oil & Gas
Real Estate
Securities
Tax
Telecommunications
Water
Workers Compensation
Other : ____
I am interested in networking: ( ) in my practice area(s)
( ) in the following practice area(s)
I would be willing to:
( ) send a welcome email to a new member in my practice area.
( ) be a resource to a member interested in my practice area.
( ) be listed on the public part of the website as a member with this practice area.
I would like to be included:
( ) in the online directory available to members.
Payment Information
Paying by check? Mail both to: TCWLA, P.O. Box 684683, Austin, TX 78768-4683.
Paying by Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express, or PayPal? Pay online at: http://www.tcwla.org
Thank you for joining TCWLA!
Free Memberships
for Newly Licensed Attorneys!
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 684683
Austin, TX 78768-4683
Email
[email protected]
WE’RE ON THE
WEB!
WWW.TCWLA.ORG
FACEBOOK
TCWLA congratulates all newly licensed attorneys! Your
membership is free for the first 14 months of licensure. But
you have to register to get involved and to take advantage of
member benefits. TCWLA is a wonderful community of attorneys who can provide guidance and mentorship to new attorneys. We welcome you to our legal community!
For those newly licensed attorneys who are looking for a practice area, membership is an invaluable way to get to know experienced attorneys and learn about the varied practice areas in
the Austin area. For those new attorneys who have already
chosen an area in which to practice, there is no better group of
women to turn to for advice and practical guidance. I encourage all new members to attend our luncheons and other events
to get to know the women who have made their careers practicing law in Austin.
A Sampling of Membership Privileges
§ FREE CLE at our monthly membership lunches
§ Free admission to the annual Judicial Reception at Green Pastures
§ Invitation to the annual Pathfinders’ Luncheon and the annual
TCWLF Grants and Awards Luncheon
§ Social Connections: our annual holiday party and other special
events
§ Access to Legal Matters, our award-winning newsletter
§ Opportunities to spotlight your practice or business at our
events and in our newsletter
§ Privilege of community service
Membership dues are only $40 for a year of membership!
Student membership is $20!
Become a lifetime member for $400!
FREE MEMBERSHIP available to newly licensed attorneys. If you or
someone you know was just inducted into the Texas Bar, please claim the
free membership and start connecting with practicing attorneys today!
Help TCWLA go
paperless by renewing
your membership online
at www.tcwla.org.
Or, fill out the form I
n this newsletter and
mail in your dues.