State Bar of Texas Committees
Administration of Rules of Evidence
To concern itself with monitoring the Code of Evidence and with revisions
of the Rules of Evidence and the statutes of Texas relating thereto.
Advertising Review
To concern itself with the attorney advertising issues and attorney compliance
with the Lawyer Advertising Rules, Part VII of the Texas Disciplinary Rules
of Professional Conduct, and review all public media advertising and written
solicitation communications submitted for review as required by 7.07 of
the Rules.
Annual Meeting
To concern itself with the planning of the Annual State Bar meeting.
Bar Journal Board of Editors
To advise and assist the editor of the Texas Bar Journal with matters of
policy, content and substance.
Child Abuse and Neglect
To concern itself with studying and evaluating child abuse and neglect;
defining the legal profession's role in working to ameliorate the problem;
mobilizing the legal profession in the fight against child abuse and neglect;
educating the public with regard to the legal and social problems connected
herewith; and recommending to the Board of Directors of the State Bar any
necessary legislation in connection with child abuse and neglect.
Continuing Legal Education
To concern itself with monitoring the continuing legal educational needs
of lawyers and other professionals, reviewing and making recommendations
for any mandatory educational requirements for lawyers to maintain professional
competence, and promoting appropriate educational programs through TexasBarCLE
of the State Bar of Texas.
Council of Chairs
The chairs of all sections of the State Bar will meet to discuss items
of mutual interest and concerns related to sections and the State Bar. This
group will make recommendations to the State Bar Board of Directors as appropriate.
Court
Rules
To concern itself with revisions of the Rules of Practice in civil actions
and the statutes of Texas relating thereto, for the purpose of enhancing
fairness to the litigants, judicial efficiency and economy, and the reduction
of the cost of litigation.
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Crime Victims
To educate the legal profession and the public about legal and social resources
available to crime victims.
Disability Issues
To study the concerns of Texas lawyers with disabilities, as well as clients
and members of the public, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors
of the State Bar of Texas concerning ways in which the role of the disabled
in Texas can be enhanced by improvement in programs and initiatives sponsored
by the State Bar.
History and Preservation
To concern itself with the preservation of the history of the legal profession
in Texas, with the acquisition and collection by the Bar of documents, artifacts
and memorabilia and to study and make recommendations to the Board respecting
the appropriate display of acquisitions of such character made to the Bar;
in addition, to concern itself with the laws dealing with preservation of
historic sites and objects.
Jury Service
To concern itself with improving the manner in which jurors are treated
within the judicial process, including compensation; and developing and
implementing programs to ensure broad citizen participation in and support
for our jury system.
Law Focused Education
To concern itself with developing, implementing and augmenting programs
for the education of the public in regard to each citizen's legal rights
and responsibilities and the roles of the legal profession and the judiciary
in protecting those rights and enforcing those responsibilities, and to
concern itself with encouraging and supporting the programs of Law Focused
Education, Inc.
Law Practice Management
To concern itself with: (1) programs, publications and other activities
conducive to the efficient, ethical management of the delivery of legal
services; (2) the delivery of legal services at reasonable prices, with
sufficient return to ensure the viability of the professional; (3) increasing
the management knowledge and skills of the members of the Bar.
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Laws Relating to Immigration
and Nationality
To concern itself with a study of the current or proposed laws pertaining
to immigration and nationality, enforcement thereof, the impact upon the
public arising from any inadequate or nonenforcement thereof and make recommendations
for any improvements in such laws.
Lawyer Referral & Information Services
This committee directs the development and practices of the statewide lawyer
referral service certification and regulation process. This committee works
in cooperation with metropolitan lawyer referral services in facilitating
referrals of individuals to attorney members. The committee provides individuals
access to legal representation and support services including legal services
coordinated by the State Bar of Texas.
Lawyers' Assistance Program
To provide for identification, peer intervention counseling and rehabilitation
of attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas whose lives and practices
are impaired because of physical or mental illness, including substance
abuse, so that they may resume the competent practice of law to not only
benefit themselves, but their clients as well.
Legal Services to the Poor
in Civil Matters
To concern itself with creation and means of implementation of programs,
such as legal aid or pro bono efforts, to assure delivery of legal services
to persons who are unable to afford counsel to represent them in civil matters.
The composition of the committee shall include members of legal aid, legal
services and pro bono programs, including at least one director from a Legal
Service Corporation-funded field program.
Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters
To study the system of defense of indigent persons in criminal law matters
in Texas, collect data and other information relevant to their defense and
to develop recommendations for action by the State Bar of Texas, the Texas
legislature and all other entities that are or should be involved in the
provision of quality representation to indigent persons involved in criminal
matters.
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Local Bar Services
To concern itself with providing services and information to local and specialty
bar associations by serving as a liaison between the State Bar and the local
association and aiding local and specialty bar associations in developing
and carrying out worthwhile projects through the Awards of Merit Program.
Minimum Continuing Legal Education
To administer the program of minimum continuing legal education as established
by Article XII of the State Bar Rules, formulate rules and regulations not
inconsistent with this Article, evaluate through an accreditation system
continuing legal education activities applicable to the Rules, and encourage
development of high quality continuing legal education activities statewide.
Paralegals
To concern itself with (1) the gathering of information on the services
of paralegals under the direction and supervision of a licensed attorney;
and (2) the evaluation of the development of appropriate policies and programs
for use and services provided by paralegals.
The Standing Committee reports to, and acts on behalf of, the State Bar
of Texas in the monitoring and oversight of activities of the Paralegal
Division of the State Bar of Texas.
Pattern Jury Charges - Business,
Consumer and Employment
To prepare and periodically revise pattern jury charges for common law and
statutory claims encountered in consumer, insurance, business, commercial,
and employment litigation. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges,
plaintiffs, and defense lawyers with demonstrated expertise in the various
areas of practice under review by this committee.
Pattern Jury Charges - Criminal
To monitor statutory and case law developments in criminal law and prepare
supplementation as needed for Pattern Jury Charges-Criminal. The committee
shall consist of a balance of judges and practitioners with demonstrated
expertise in the various areas of practice under review by this committee.
Pattern Jury Charges - Family
To monitor statutory and case law developments in family law and prepare supplementation as needed for Pattern Jury
Charges - Family. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges and
practitioners with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice
under review by this committee.
Pattern Jury Charges - General
Negligence and Intentional Personal Torts
To monitor statutory and case law developments in the subject matter
of this PJC volume and prepare supplementation as needed. The committee
shall consist of a balance of judges, plaintiffs, and defense lawyers with
demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by
this committee.
Pattern Jury Charges -
Malpractice, Premises, and Products
To monitor statutory and case law developments in the subject matter
of this PJC volume and prepare supplementation as needed. The committee
shall consist of a balance of judges, plaintiffs, and defense lawyers with
demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by
the committee. Pattern Jury Charges - Oversight
To set appropriate policies and standards, to act as an oversight and
coordinating committee for the PJC committees, and to concern itself with
the study and formulation of the form of charges submitted for publication
through the Books and Systems Department. The membership of the PJC - Oversight
Committee shall consist of 2 ex-officio members of the Texas Supreme Court
as designated by the supreme court, as well as a balance of district and
appellate court judges, and a balance of lawyers with demonstrated expertise
in the various areas of practice, including plaintiffs and defense lawyers,
and general member appointments.
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Professionalism
To identify factors that influence professionalism and to develop and recommend
to the State Bar Board ways to improve professionalism with particular attention
to the professional development of new lawyers.
Public Affairs
To concern itself with expanding public understanding of the legal system
as well as the role of lawyers in that system.
Racial
Diversity in the Profession
To examine the historical and current status of minorities in the profession
and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding how the
Bar can take action to enhance employment and economic opportunities for
minorities in the profession and to increase involvement by minorities in
the Bar.
Real Estate Forms
To review and update the Texas Real Estate Forms Manual.
Section Representatives to the
Board
To interact with State Bar Board of Directors to address issues of concern
between the Bar and sections.
Texas Disciplinary Rules of
Professional Conduct
To evaluate the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and make
suggestions to the Board of Directors of the State Bar concerning revisions
that may be appropriate.
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Web Services
To review and improve the functionality and use of State Bar websites
to enhance the delivery of services by the State Bar to its members and
to the public and to assist lawyers in more effectively and efficiently
delivering legal services.
Women
in the Profession
To assess the status of women in the legal profession; to identify barriers
that prevent women lawyers from full participation in the work, responsibilities
and rewards of the profession; to develop educational programs and materials
to address discrimination against women lawyers; and to make recommendations
to the Board of Directors of the State Bar for action to address problems
identified by the Committee. |
