Executive Director's Page

Voting: Our Power and Responsibility

Headshot of Trey Apffel

As Texas lawyers, our system of self-governance gives us tremendous power and responsibility. We have the right to vote on the people who represent our profession, the rules that regulate it, and the dues we pay for the right and privilege to practice law. But this system only works if we exercise our right to vote.

Starting this month, members of the State Bar of Texas have an opportunity to vote on eight proposed amendments to the rules that govern the practice of law and the disciplinary system for lawyers in Texas. Please take time to read brief summaries of the proposed amendments at texasbar.com/rulesvote. Among the proposals are guidance for representing clients with diminished capacity, exceptions to permit disclosure of confidential information to secure legal ethics advice or to prevent client death by suicide, streamlining of lawyer advertising and solicitation rules, and provisions for the voluntary appointment of custodian attorneys for cessation of practice.

Voting is quick and convenient. Paper and electronic ballots will be distributed on February 2. You can vote anytime from February 2 through 5 p.m. CST on March 4.

Your paper ballot will be mailed to your address on file with the State Bar. To vote by paper ballot, simply fill it out and mail it back using the instructions provided.

Look for your emailed e-ballot from Election Services Corporation, which administers State Bar elections. If you can’t find your e-ballot, check your junk mail folder, as sometimes the email gets caught in your firm’s spam filter.

Choose whichever voting method is most convenient for you. The secure system will not allow duplicate votes.

Or you can simply go to texasbar.com to access your e-ballot and vote online during the voting period. You will see a button at the top of the page that says “Vote Now.” Click that button, and it will take you to the voting login page. Just follow the instructions from there.

Find information about the proposals, a sample ballot, a free informational CLE video, and much more at texasbar.com/rulesvote. You can find additional information in the January and February issues of the Texas Bar Journal.

Remember, being a member of the State Bar of Texas means you have the power to decide the rules that regulate how you practice. Don’t let others decide this for you. Please study these important issues and exercise your right to vote.


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.

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