Law Practice Management Committee

Created in 1939

Purpose

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. Meets quarterly.

Projects and Objectives 2025-2026

Annual Meeting LPM-track – develop a full-day CLE programming, including ethics, on current law practice management trends and issues.
Emerging Practice Trends

a. Continue working on educating attorneys on e-discovery on emerging issues related to data sources/platforms like video calls and messages/chat apps in platforms like Zoom, Slack, VOIP/call recordings. (Kassi)

b. Continue educating attorneys on privacy and confidentiality issues when using AI. A Service Confidentiality Agreement (Fatima) was completed in 2024-2025.

c. Develop a glossary of AI terms (Alex) and further basic-level education on AI.

d. Develop guidelines/resources on AI use and associated risks for lawyers, including potential issues with confidentiality and privilege when using AI tools. (Patrick & Kassi will develop)

e. Educate lawyers on ethics opinion 705 on AI use and tech competency requirements for lawyers.

f. Write an article on creating a new privilege for AI assistance when people are using AI assistants as a therapist, lawyer, etc.

g. Ways to educate lawyers on AI:

i. Offer lunch and learn Zoom panels w/AI experts discussing AI generally or a specific aspect of AI.
ii. Short videos on various AI tools and their applications (4-minute videos).
iii. Webinar or demo on Microsoft Copilot for lawyers. Perhaps ask Microsoft to host a demo.

Sale of a Law Practice

a. Continue work to clarify whether attorneys can sell their practice. Ethics attorneys do not believe it is allowed. Others believe it is.

i. Continue working with CDRR on pursuing a comment to the TDRPC rules.
ii. Possibly pursue a dual course of rules comment and an ethics opinion.

Starting a Practice

a. Develop more robust content for lawyers on starting a practice to address the many calls received by the LPM Department on this topic. The ultimate goal is to develop a toolkit for starting a practice.
Succession Planning Outreach and Toolkit

a. Ongoing execution of Outreach Plan developed last year.
b. Add practical tips on being a custodian.
c. Add FAQs based on calls/questions received and stories we’ve heard from others.

Staff Contact

Trish McAllister
trish.mcallister@texasbar.com
(512) 427-1479

Chair

Rebekah Brooker