In this edition of P.S., our thoughts remain with the victims and survivors of the Hill Country floods. It’s clear that the legal community feels the same — attorneys across the region are stepping up with meaningful efforts to help. We highlight some of those initiatives here. You’ll also find news about a new group of advisory board members for Texas Christian University’s AddRan College of Liberal Arts, which now includes a handful of lawyers. Plus, Haynes Boone attorneys team up with Communities in Schools of Central Texas to inspire the next generation of legal professionals.
Legal Orgs to Host CLE on Helping Hill Country Flood Survivors
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Texas Disaster Legal Task Force are helping lawyers who are eager to use their legal prowess to aid survivors of the Hill Country flooding.
More than 1,000 lawyers have signed up for a virtual CLE seminar co-hosted by the two organizations on July 21 titled “Legal Response After Disaster: Assisting Survivors of the Hill Country Floods.” The free training will count toward one CLE credit hour.
Attendees must self-report using the MyBarPage and the CLE number to obtain credit, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid officials said.
The session will cover common civil legal needs that arise after a disaster involving housing, benefits, contractor fraud and more. Information will also be provided regarding recent changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Registration is available here.
In other ways to help, Dallas attorney Keyavash “Key” Hemyari is asking his LinkedIn network to donate to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, and he’s offering to match every dollar his network donates up to $5,000.
Hemyari, founder of the legal talent matchmaking firm Saltu and former corporate lawyer, described how his team felt compelled to lend aid in a LinkedIn post this week.
“After a little bit of diligence, we found the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to be one of the best ways to help immediately in an impactful way,” Hemyari wrote.
For Hemyari’s match, he asked donors to email a screenshot of their receipts to key@saltulegal.com and to comment on his LinkedIn post here.
Read more of The Texas Lawbook’s coverage of the Hill Country flooding and additional ways to help:
- ‘Whatever It Takes’: San Antonio Lawyer Joins Frontline Flood Recovery in His Hometown
- Texas Lawyers Mobilize to Support Flood Victims
- Legal Experts: River Inn, Mystic Camp and Others to Face Investigations and Litigation
- ‘Our Hearts Are Shattered’ — Texas Legal Community In Mourning Over Lives Lost in Kerr County Flood Tragedy
- ‘It Wasn’t My Day to Die. I Wish that It Hadn’t Been Hers’
DFW Lawyers Join TCU Volunteer Board
The Texas Christian University AddRan College of Liberal Arts announced this week its new Board of Visitors, and five lawyers are among the additions to the volunteer body.
AddRan, named for university founders Addison and Randolph Clark, is TCU’s oldest college. Its Board of Visitors provides feedback, recommendations and support to the college.
The lawyers who recently joined the board are:
John S. Polzer, Duane Morris partner
Alison Juban Cree, Henneman Rau & Kirklin of counsel
J. Austin Franklin, Kelly Hart partner
Jody S. Sanders, Kelly Hart partner
Courtney Miller, Manuel Diaz Law Firm
Citigroup Compliance Executive Sativa Leach-Bowen and Frost Bank Fair and Responsible Lending Development Manager Rosanna Green were also among the new additions.
Inspiring Future Lawyers
Haynes Boone in Austin recently hosted students at their office through a partnership with Communities in Schools of Central Texas to share pathways to legal careers.
For nearly 25 years, the Haynes Boone Austin office has partnered with Communities In Schools, a non-profit dropout prevention program
In June, Jeff Civins, Andrew P. Van Osselaer and Reid Pillifant and office administrator Marti Lozano facilitated an office tour and roundtable discussion in which they detailed their own career paths.