State Bar of Texas Podcast
The State Bar of Texas Podcast is a monthly show featuring news and discussions relevant to the legal profession, from the latest industry trends and caselaw to practice tips and State Bar programs. Host Rocky Dhir, attorney and CEO of Dallas-based Atlas Legal Research, invites thought leaders and innovators to share their insight and knowledge on what matters to practitioners. To subscribe, go to iTunes or Google Play.
EPISODE
67: Diversity and Inclusion in the Texas Bar Journal
The Texas Bar Journal has been striving to make sure diverse
voices are represented in its pages. State Bar of Texas Podcast
host Rocky Dhir talks with Angelica Hernandez, a member of the Texas Bar
Journal Board of Editors, to learn how articles are selected for the
Journal and how the unique perspectives of diverse authors
benefit all Texas legal professionals.
Episode
66: A Conversation with Sylvia Borunda Firth—Your New State Bar of
Texas President
Sylvia Borunda Firth has been sworn in as the new president of the
State Bar of Texas! State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes
Borunda Firth to discuss her hopes for the presidency, particularly her
passion for diversity and inclusion. As the first Hispanic woman and
first person from El Paso to ascend to the presidency, she discusses
her unique campaign path, the importance of these “firsts,”
and the progress they represent. Borunda Firth then zeros in on two
specific issues: her hopes to tackle the problem of “legal
deserts” in the state and her thoughts on McDonald
et al v. Sorrels et al and why a mandatory state bar is good
for Texas lawyers.
Episode
65: Reopening Texas Courts: Plans and Challenges for Resuming
In-Person
Court Proceedings
As Texas has lightened its COVID-19-related restrictions ahead of
many
other states, courts around the state are making plans to, or have
already, opened their doors to resume in-person court proceedings. As
this process moves forward, how are jurors, litigants, and the many
other people involved kept safe? State Bar of Texas Podcast
host Rocky Dhir talks with Judge Maricela Moore about what her court,
the 162nd Judicial District Court of Dallas, is doing to ensure safety
and what challenges it faces related to changing mandates, individual
juror concerns, and many other considerations. Moore also discusses
the
use of Zoom, her take on its role in the future of the judiciary, and
when she thinks it does and doesn’t work for court proceedings.
Judge Maricela Moore is the presiding judge of the 162nd Judicial District Court of Dallas County and the local administrative district judge.
Episode
64: Remote Court: Judge Emily Miskel’s Insights On COVID-Era
Proceedings
After a year of remote court, how are judges, lawyers, and litigants
doing? State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir talks with
Judge Emily Miskel, vice chair of the Texas Supreme Court’s Remote
Proceedings Task Force, about the many innovations in Texas courts
throughout the past year. Judge Miskel highlights the advantages of
remote court and its ability to increase access to justice for many
litigants and predicts what newly established systems will remain in
place in the future, even after courts fully open.
Episode
63: Get to Know Your State Bar President-Elect
Candidates!
Voting for the State Bar of Texas president-elect candidates will take
place during the month of April! State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky
Dhir talks to candidates Sara E. Dysart and Laura Gibson to learn
about
their backgrounds; discuss a variety of issues, from diversity and
COVID-19 to access to justice and more; and hear what each hopes to
bring to the role of State Bar president. Members can vote either
online
or by paper ballot from April 1 to April 30. Learn more at https://www.texasbar.com.
Episode
62: Texas “Cat Lawyer”: The Zoom Mishap Turned
Viral Sensation
We’ve all seen it! The viral “Cat Lawyer” video
brought the world a collective laugh, but those on the screen somehow
kept their cool in the midst of this absurdly humorous situation.
“Cat Lawyer” himself, Rod Ponton, and returning guest Judge
Roy Ferguson join State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir to
discuss their experience and talk through their thoughts on levity and
dignity in the courtroom.
EPISODE
61: Rules Vote 2021: Examining Proposed Changes to the Disciplinary
Rules of Professional Conduct
In 2017, the Texas Legislature amended Chapter 81 of the Government
Code to create the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda, or
CDRR, and to overhaul the disciplinary rule proposal process. The CDRR
has proposed a number of rule changes that can be voted on by eligible
members of the bar February 2- March 4. To learn more about the items
on the ballot, host Rocky Dhir welcomed CDRR members
Lewis Kinard and Claude Ducloux. They outline each of the eight
proposed changes and explain how the CDRR identified rules in need of
revision. Go to texasbar.com/rulesvote
for more information and to cast your vote.
EPISODE
60: Succession Planning: Being Prepared for the Uncertainties of the
Future
Every lawyer will eventually end their practice of law, and being
ready
for that transition safeguards you, your clients, and your fellow
attorneys. State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes Penny
Robe to discuss the ins and outs of succession planning for
well-prepared attorneys. They discuss the scenarios lawyers should
consider as they create a plan (retirement, incapacitation, and more)
and share some of the State Bar’s many succession planning resources
available to help in the process.
EPISODE
59: Adapting to Change and Adversity: How the Pandemic Could Help Us Do
Life & Law Better
Will we ever return to “normal,” or are we forever changed
by COVID-19? The world of legal has had to adapt quickly to public
health and safety guidelines, sometimes struggling to provide access to
justice and maintain legal education in the midst of this difficult
time. To examine the ways the profession has responded to these
challenges, State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir
welcomes lawyer and professor Michael Maslanka. Together, they search
for silver linings and offer hope for a brighter future for the
practice of law.
EPISODE
58: Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans: Making a Difference by Meeting
Veterans’ Legal Needs
Ten years ago, the State Bar of Texas launched Texas Lawyers for Texas
Veterans (TLTV) under the leadership of 2010-11 bar president
Terry
Tottenham. A former Marine, Tottenham saw the plight of many Texas
veterans experiencing poverty and homelessness and implemented TLTV to
provide pro bono legal services to both them and their families.
State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes Tottenham
and fellow past bar president and veteran Richard Pena to talk about
what TLTV has accomplished in the past decade and how Texas lawyers
can
offer their help to veterans in need today.
EPISODE
57: Keeping Employees Safe at Work — ADA Considerations in the Age of
COVID
COVID-19 has created numerous complications for employers, leaving many
unsure about how to best comply with their legal obligations to
employees, especially when ADA considerations are at play. State
Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes Kelli Fuqua to
discuss employment law and the ADA in the context of the pandemic.
Fuqua offers practical guidance for employers on how to ensure
compliance and get creative with employee accommodations.
EPISODE
56: Practice Well! — Law Practice Resources Division Launches Its New
Website
What kind of tools could help you practice law in a healthy,
sustainable way? With Texas’ diverse legal community in mind,
the
new www.texasbarpractice.com website
is filled with resources to help any and all Texas attorneys practice
law with ease. State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky
Dhir talks with Sharon Sandle about the genesis of this newly
launched site and its goal of giving lawyers greater success in all
areas of legal practice.
EPISODE
55: 2020 Annual Meeting On Demand: Holistic Hustle – 3 Practices to Help
Attorneys Thrive at Work and at Home
Lawyers are more productive when they bring their whole selves to
work. State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes Nik
Sallie Franklin to discuss her talk from the State Bar of Texas Annual
Meeting On Demand focused on helping lawyers prioritize their mental,
physical, and spiritual well-being. Franklin opens up about how holistic
practices can help lawyers regain confidence and practice law with
excellence.
EPISODE
54: 2020 Annual Meeting On Demand: A Conversation with New TYLA
President Britney Harrison
State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir sits down with
the new president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, Britney
Harrison, to discuss her plans for the coming year. After running on a
platform focused on empowerment, innovation, and education, Harrison
shares how these priorities remain at the forefront of her goals, even
amidst new challenges brought by COVID-19.
EPISODE
53: Be Prepared! – Disaster Planning Tips for Lawyers &
Law Firms
September is National Disaster Preparedness Month! Have you
considered whether your law firm could recover from an unexpected
crisis? State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir discusses
this topic with Hannah Dyal, whose article, “Building a Disaster
Plan for Your Law Practice,” will appear in the September 2020
issue of the Texas Bar Journal. Hannah shares insights on the types of
hazards lawyers should consider and outlines the essential elements of
a well-conceived plan.
EPISODE
52: The 15th and 19th Amendments: Looking Back and
Looking Forward
With the 150th anniversary of the 15th amendment and the 100th
anniversary of the 19th amendment both falling in 2020, host Rocky Dhir
welcomes Paul Stafford, author of the recently published article “Men,
Their Rights and Nothing More; Women, Their Rights and Nothing Less” to
discuss the history of these amendments, how their histories intertwine,
and the social challenges that existed then and that exist now. They
discuss what led Stafford to write his article for the predominantly
legal
audience of the Texas Bar Journal, and Stafford shares his
personal
thoughts on the political activism going on today.
EPISODE
51: What to Expect from the 2020 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting On
Demand
For the first time ever, the State Bar of Texas is hosting
its annual meeting entirely online! Host Rocky Dhir talks
with Reginald Hirsch and Ron Chichester about what this virtual
conference will look like and a sneak peek of the presentations and
speakers planned for attendees.
Register here: 2020 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting On Demand
EPISODE
50: Texas Judiciary: The New Landscape of Operations During
COVID-19
The pace of the court system has drastically changed, and while remote
proceedings have taken place where possible, many Texas legal
professionals are eager to know when the courts will begin to reopen.
State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir is joined by David
Slayton, the administrative director at the Texas Office of Court
Administration, to discuss the current operations of Texas courts, how
technology has bridged the gap, and the plan to handle reopening on
June 1st and beyond.
EPISODE
49: 2020 State Bar of Texas Elections: Get to Know Your
Presidential
Candidates
The 2020 elections for the State Bar of Texas and TYLA
are
starting now! State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir
is
joined by president-elect candidates Sylvia Borunda Firth and
Pablo
Almaguer to discuss their backgrounds, qualifications, and what
they
hope to bring to the bar presidency. They also share their
thoughts on
how they might help Texas lawyers and communities recover from
the
current public health and economic crises.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s elections will be entirely web-based. Members can vote online any time beginning April 1 and ending May 29 at 5 p.m. CDT.
EPISODE
48: Coronavirus and Employment Law: How Texas Employers Should Respond
to COVID-19
Businesses all over the country have been heavily impacted by
emergency public health measures, and many employers do not know how to
navigate these quickly changing circumstances. Does current employment
law or OSHA offer guidance for pandemic responses? What are employers’
responsibilities to their employees? State Bar of Texas Podcast
host Rocky Dhir welcomes Teresa Valderrama to help answer these
questions through a discussion about what employers need to know about
how existing and newly enacted employment laws interact with the
COVID-19 crisis.
EPISODE
47: How to Be an Entertainment Lawyer in Texas
You may naturally think of Hollywood, New York, or some other glitzy
locale when imagining entertainment lawyers, but they exist in Texas,
too! What does this practice area look like far from places typically
associated with entertainment? State Bar of Texas
Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes attorney Tamera
Bennett to discuss how her passion for the music industry led her to
grow an entertainment law practice right here in Texas.
Tamera H. Bennett helps clients protect what they create by practicing trademark, copyright, entertainment law, and mediation in Texas and Tennessee.
EPISODE
46: Now What? — Tips for the Transition from Law School to Legal
Practice
In May and December each year, new graduates fresh from law school
have
to make the shift from student to legal practitioner. This often seems
like a daunting task, but new grads don’t have to do it alone! The
Dallas Bar Association’s Transition to Law Practice Program provides
mentors to newly licensed attorneys that help them develop a network
of
contacts in their area of interest. State Bar of Texas Podcast host
Rocky Dhir talks with Anna Rol, who entered the program as a mentee
and
now serves as a mentor and previously co-chaired the program.
EPISODE
45: The State Bar of Texas’ 2019 Year in Review episode
With 2019 rapidly coming to a close, State Bar of Texas Podcast
host Rocky Dhir takes a moment to review the latest changes in the legal
landscape. It may not exactly be Dickens’ A Christmas
Carol, but Dhir is in fact visited by three guests explaining big
cases and other developments from the past year, highlighting issues
lawyers should be aware of today and even providing a glimpse of what
may be coming in the future. Helping guide Dhir through this process are
special guests Shawn Tuma, providing insights on cyber-law and data
security; Warren Harris, sharing the latest on appellate practice; and
Beth Johnson, discussing developments in family law.
EPISODE
44: The Texas Lawyer’s Creed: Conduct Above
Reproach
The Texas Lawyer’s Creed has been a source of aspirational guidance
for
Texas lawyers for the past thirty years, and when it was reaffirmed by
the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals in 2013,
lawyers were reminded of its continued relevance. But how exactly did
this document come to be, and how has it helped Texas lawyers? In this
edition of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir
welcomes State Bar of Texas Past President Buck Files and Rockwall
County Criminal District Attorney Kenda Culpepper to discuss the
history
of the creed and its aim to help lawyers conduct themselves with the
highest degree of professionalism.
EPISODE 43: Branding for Lawyers: What You
Should and Shouldn’t Do
What can you do to stand out to consumers in your
community? State Bar of Texas Podcast
host Rocky Dhir talks to Amy Boardman Hunt, a content
marketing and public relations pro, and Gene Major, a state bar
compliance officer, about their unique perspectives on branding for
lawyers. Hunt offers advice for effective approaches to legal marketing,
and Major goes over what lawyers need to keep in mind to ensure their
marketing adheres to compliance rules. They also discuss how the Texas
Senate’s newly enacted SB Bill 1189 (addressing deceptive
advertising of legal services) is intended to provide greater clarity
and protection for consumers.
EPISODE
42: Suicide in the Law: A Problem We Can’t Keep
Ignoring
Mental health issues disproportionately affect the legal profession,
and stark data on suicide rates among attorneys calls our attention
to
the great need for increased awareness. In this EPISODE of
the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky
Dhir talks to Dallas attorney and mental health advocate Terry
Bentley Hill and Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Director
Chris
Ritter about their passion for helping attorneys learn how to
recognize
and get help for mental health issues. Hill and Ritter openly share
their painful personal experiences with these matters, shedding light
on the types of symptoms in yourself, colleagues, or loved ones that
signal a need for intervention. They discuss the services offered
through the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program and
encourage lawyers to seek confidential support at 1-800-343-TLAP
(8527).
EPISODE
41: Bar Leaders Conference 2019: Q&A with Leaders
of TYLA
From the State Bar of Texas Bar Leaders Conference, Texas Young
Lawyers
Association President Victor Flores hosts
a Q&A with President-elect Britney
Harrison and Immediate Past
President Sally
Pretorius. They answer questions submitted by new
lawyers at
the bar’s New Lawyers Induction Ceremony—providing helpful tips
on litigation preparation, work-life balance, and overcoming fears as
a
new lawyer.
EPISODE
40: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Forms of Address with Judge
Roy Ferguson
Getting a rare peek into an often overlooked corner of the legal
profession, State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky
Dhir sits down with Judge Roy B. Ferguson, of the 394th Judicial
District Court, to discuss the social challenges that arise after
becoming a judge. Ranging from how lawyers and laypeople should address
a judge in public to the impacts ascending to the bench has on friends
and family, Judge Ferguson talks about the lesser known impacts that
most new judges don’t anticipate and few outsiders can
truly understand.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
39: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Josh Team and the
Adaptable Lawyer
Smaller firms and solo practitioners may think big companies like
Keller Williams Realty are out of their reach, but these companies
are
more eager for their help than they realize. State Bar of Texas
Podcast host Rocky Dhir sits down with Keller Williams Realty
President Josh Team in front of a live audience at the State Bar of
Texas Annual Meeting 2019 to discuss the impacts of disruption across
all industries, why an organization like Keller Williams needs
attorneys
to help them keep pace with changing technologies, and the best ways
lawyers can get noticed by large corporations. This EPISODE qualifies
as one hour of self-study MCLE credit for State Bar of Texas members.
(To claim self-study, attorneys should log in to My Bar Page at www.texasbar.com and click on the
link to “View/Report MCLE Hours.” From the MCLE homepage,
click on “Add Attendance” and go to the tab to add
self-study.)
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
Page 2 >
