Bell County Bar Association News

We hope you'll enjoy the new look, and all the new features it allows us to deliver to you.

For example, you will now be able to RSVP for events and CLE presentations with the simple click of a button. If there is an expense for the event (like golfing or one of our dinner social events), you can pay online. For events with meal options, you will be able to make your selection online, as well.

We also have new forums to take part in. Find like-minded attorneys who are as passionate about your practice area as you are. You'll be able to share information, ask questions, and talk in a protected environment which keeps the public out and away from the discussions.

Most importantly, we now have a full-featured membership directory and you can control what the public and other members can see yourself. For example, don't want the general public to know your email address? You can keep that private. If you want to share it, you can do that, too.

Additionally, you can control your membership directly on the website now. You can renew your membership when it is time, and pay your dues online, as well.

We know that you'll enjoy the new website and all the great features we're releasing now and the many more to come in the future. 

The Bell County Bar Association will be sponsoring a legal clinic for veterans on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the Texas Workforce Commission located at 300 Cheyenne Drive, Killeen, Texas 76542.

We still need attorney and paralegal volunteers to help staff the clinic, and attorneys who are willing to take one or more cases/referrals from the clinic. No document prep is done on site. Some veterans have cases which can be resolved with just a short consultation. Some veterans have cases that require representation. Volunteer attorneys do not have to represent those veterans, as they will be referred to another attorney in that situation.

AGAIN, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO ACCEPT A REFERRAL. You will be merely be interviewing veterans to determine if they need an attorneys assistance and then determine what kind of an attorney the clinic should connect the veteran with.

Obviously, the more volunteers there are, the better the chance that every veteran is provided the legal assistance that they need.

None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something.

The Annual Law Day Celebration will be on May 3, 2018 this year. Once again, please join us at the world famous Cyclone Corral Barbecue as we celebrate Law Day with fun, food and law-related festivities. Awards will be presented.

Our bi-annual Spring Bench Bar CLE begins this year with oral arguments in front of the Third Court of Appeals. The afternoon will feature several speakers addressing topics of interest to all of our members.

There is no cost for members, so please join us. 

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!!!