Bell County Bar Association News

Voting is now open for the 2017 State Bar of Texas and Texas Young Lawyers Association election. Members will vote for State Bar of Texas and TYLA president-elect April 3 to May 2. The deadline to cast your online vote is 5 p.m. CT, Tuesday, May 2, 2017.

The State Bar of Texas election for State Bar and TYLA presidents-elect and local district directors is underway. Please encourage members of your local bar association to vote in this election.

Below is information we ask you to consider including on your website, in emails, and in other communications. Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping us get out the vote.

State Bar and TYLA Election Underway

Take a Few Minutes to Vote

The State Bar and Texas Young Lawyers Association election for presidents-elect and district directors is underway. Please take time to learn about the candidates and vote! Email ballots and paper ballots were distributed April 3 and voting continues through May 2. It is easy and only takes a couple of minutes.

Click here to go to the election page and vote.

The State Bar Board of Directors approved Chad Baruch of Dallas and Laura Bellegie Sharp of Austin as candidates for president-elect. Joe K. Longley of Austin was later certified as a petition candidate for president-elect. The winner will serve as president of the State Bar of Texas from June 2018 to June 2019. Information about the candidates can be accessed at the State Bar website or from the election page.

Members of the Bar, please remember that dues for the 2016-2017 term become delinquent if received AFTER SEPTEMBER 1st. A renewal application is available here, or you can fill out the membership application online (also use the online form if any of your contact information has changed).

Please feel free to email us here if you need to check the status of your dues for this term.

Also, don't forget that a big benefit to PAID MEMBERS of the Bar is the option to have your name and practice information listed on the Bar's website under the "Directory" tab. If you wish to take advantage of this benefit, please be sure to fill out the bottom portion of the attached when you return it, and note whether or not you want to have your email address included on your listing.

Melissa Garcia, the new Mock Trial Coordinator with the Dallas Bar Association is looking for help with the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition which will occur in Austin this January. They are desperately in need of a Regional Coordinator to help run the competition and recruit licensed attorneys to volunteer to judge the competition. If you can help in any way, please contact Melissa directly.

The State Bar of Texas and Texas Young Lawyers Association are encouraging our association to hold editorial, photo, and poster contests in our communities incorporating the national Law Day theme, Miranda: More than Words.

We must submit our first-place local winners from each category to the State Bar for the statewide contest by Wednesday, March 30, 2016. The top three winners in each statewide category will be invited to the State Bar of Texas Law Day celebration, which will be held Monday, May 2, 2016 in Austin.

Here is the Law Day brochure.
 
Law Day is an excellent opportunity to educate the public on the importance of the rule of law and how our legal system strives to achieve justice. For a list of children’s books that compliment this year’s theme and for more information, visit the Law Day web page.

Please download the December 2015 newsletter below. The Bar is looking to make this a monthly publication. If you have items of interest that you would like to see included, please email cindi@lindleylawoffices.com.

Download here: 201512 Newsletter.pdf

BCBA Paralegals are collecting school supplies to benefit Communities in Schools. See attached flyer for drop off locations. Supplies will be collected through August 21, so please consider picking up a few extra items when shopping for your kids!!!

The State Bar of Texas Military and Veterans Law Section Presents

Military and Veterans Law Section 22nd Biennial Institute on Texas Law for Attorneys 
Representing Service-Members and Veterans

October 8 - 9, 2015

La Quinta Inn & Suites

San Antonio River Walk

The Military and Veterans Law Section of the State Bar of Texas is pleased to invite you to attend its 22nd Biennial Institute on October 8-9, 2015. This CLE is open to all Texas attorneys, military attorneys and government attorneys. 

Registration and agenda coming soon! Here are some of the exciting and informative topics: 

• Overview of Texas Firearms Law and Gun Trusts as Part of the Estate
• Sexual Assaults in the Military
• Consumer Law 
• Divorce, Child Support, and Possession in Texas 
• Estate Planning & Probate
• Landlord/Tenant

Reserve your guest room: The discounted guest room rate is $115 for all attending the institute. Call to reserve your room by September 8, 2015, to ensure that you receive the discounted rate. The reservations department can be reached at 1-866-527-1498 and select option 1. Once you speak with a reservations specialist, you will mention the group name: Military and Veterans Law Section of the State Bar of Texas - 2015 Biennial.

To:      Members of the Bell County Bar Association
Re:      Renewal of Membership

Dear Fellow Attorneys:

Thank you for your membership in the Bell County Bar Association!

Renewal of your membership is open as of June 1, 2015. The payment of dues will reflect you are in ‘good standing’ with the Bar Association and are entitled to the many benefits that membership provides such as:

• FREE CLE at the Fall and Spring Bench Bar Conferences;
• The option to have FREE ADVERTISING for your law practice for members only at, www.bellcountybar.org;
• FREE CLE events sponsored by this Bar Association, and hosted by local judges and elected officials. Judge DePew is currently hosting Juvenile Law CLE events and Judge Jezek has also provided FREE CLE to Bar members;
• SUPPORT of our Community Service opportunities through the bi-annual Veterans Clinics, Adoption Day, School education programs; and  
• Spring and Fall Golf Tournaments.

Please fill out the membership application available here at your earliest convenience to renew your membership. Checks (payable to BCBA) and applications can be mailed to PO Box 282, Belton, TX  76513. If you prefer to pay by credit card, follow the instructions on the application.

Ours is a vibrant and involved Bar Association, well respected at the State level. Thank you for your participation.

Members - You can now download the paperwork to be completed by those who wish to renew their Bell County Courthouse badge for the 2015 calendar year.

The information you will need are: 1) Memorandum, and-- either 2) Renewal Application, or  3) Original Application.

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THIS PAPERWORK TO THE BAR, you must complete and present it to Bell County Human Resources Department when you go to have your badge issued / renewed.  

To have your badge issued / renewed, please go to the 3rd floor of the historical courthouse in downtown Belton. Present your paperwork to HR between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. YOU MUST BE CURRENT ON YOUR DUES TO HAVE A BADGE ISSUED / RENEWED. BADGES WILL NOT BE ISSUED IF DUES ARE NOT CURRENT, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

HR is ready to begin issuing badges immediately. Remember, your current badge will expire December 31st!!!

Kay Taylor, the amazing photographer who has donated her services for the last three Adoption Day Events, was able to get the Adoption Day program into the Bell County Living magazine, Fall 2014 edition. A link to the online version is here … the story starts on page 76!!