Executive Director's Page
A Website to Help You ‘Practice Well’
On September 20, 2020, the State Bar of Texas launched its newest member service— a new law practice management website designed to help Texas lawyers do well and be well.
The website, texasbarpractice.com, offers lawyers a single place to:
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explore free practice management content produced by experienced attorneys;
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shop for practice manuals, jury charges, deskbooks, and reference guides; and
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subscribe to online practice manuals for downloadable forms and practice notes.
The Texas Bar Practice website combines resources and functions that previously existed on the Texas Bar Books and State Bar websites while adding new resources and a focus on lawyer well-being.
“We wanted to have a site where lawyers could go to get resources that would help them create a sustainable, healthy practice,” said Sharon Sandle, who directs the State Bar of Texas Law Practice Resources Division. “When you get to the website one of the things that comes up is the slogan at the top of the page, ‘Practice Well.’ The idea being that you have substantive resources that help you do a good job as an attorney but also have a practice that is healthy and sustainable and profitable for you.”
For years, State Bar staff have tracked members’ calls on common practice management issues and used that data to create the new website. Users will find free resources on managing client files, cybersecurity, succession planning, and many other issues. By the same token, member feedback also influenced the design of the Texas Bar Books portion of the new website. In response to popular demand, customers will now be able to browse products, access practice manual subscriptions, pay invoices, and manage their individual or law firm accounts through a single site.
The design of Texas Bar Practice is meant to evoke a peaceful work environment, like your ideal office where you can settle down and get some work done. The site is clean and uncluttered, so you can find what you need quickly.
Funding for the website came from the State Bar’s 2020-2021 budget, which was created under the leadership of President Larry McDougal and the board’s budget committee. As detailed in my March 2020 column, the budget adds resources to programs that provide tangible services to Texas lawyers—including member benefits, law practice management, and the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program—while maintaining the long-term goal of keeping three months of operating expenditures in reserves.
It’s all part of our mission to support the administration of the legal system and enable Texas lawyers to better serve their clients. I hope you’ll visit texasbarpractice.com and let us know what you think.
Sincerely,
TREY APFFEL
Executive Director,
State Bar of Texas
Editor-in-Chief,
Texas Bar Journal
Trey Apffel can be reached at 512-427-1500, trey.apffel@texasbar.com or
@ApffelT on
Twitter.
Law Practice Management CLE
The State Bar of Texas Law Practice Management Committee will
broadcast a daylong CLE presentation on November 17 covering issues such
as ethically selling legal services, social media, podcasting and
vlogging, ethical billing practices, dealing with online reviews, and
managing the virtual office. The course
is accredited for 5 hours of CLE credit, including 2.75 ethics hours.
Register at http://www.texasbarcle.com/CLE/AABuy1.asp?sProductType=EV&lID=18910.
