State Bar of Texas Podcast

When the COVID-19 pandemic surged in early 2020, it forced courthouses across the country to close their doors. For the nation’s legal system, that meant reimagining how to administer justice. It pushed technology to the forefront, and forced courts and lawyers to break with tradition and innovate in new ways. These new courtroom innovations may forever change the litigation landscape and practice of law going forward. Host Rocky Dihr, sits down with Chief Justice Tracy Christopher, Judge Emily Miskel, and Tom Leatherbury to discuss how the pandemic brought some welcome innovations to the justice process, but also several new challenges.  Session Topic: Courtroom Transparency - How the COVID-19 Pandemic Altered Court Accessibility and What Transparency Looks Like in a Post - COVID World Hon. Tracy Christopher was elected Chief Justice of the 14th Court of Appeals in November 2020. She first joined the Court when she was appointed as a Justice in December 2009. Judge Emily Miskel has served as judge of the 470th district court of Collin County, Texas, since the court was created in 2015. Tom Leatherbury is an appellate lawyer with Vinson & Elkins, LLP. Mr. Leatherbury boasts forty years of experience in state and federal appeals and trials.

Thinking of entering family law? In this panel focused on helping young lawyers understand the nuances of practicing in this area of the law, listeners get varied perspectives from both judges and attorneys. Rocky Dhir chats with Judge Janice Berg, Judge Gloria López, and attorneys Jacob Cohen and Alicia Palmer about their experiences in family law practice and their favorite tidbits of wisdom from their panel – including their takes on: Trusting that your legal education really has prepared you for what you’re doing (Really!) Tactfully disagreeing with a judge Setting appropriate client boundaries And much more Session Topic: What Every Young Lawyer Needs to Know about Family Law: Including a Perspective from the Bench The Honorable Janice Berg is a judge in the 247th Family District Court in Harris County, Texas.  The Honorable Gloria E. López is a judge in the 308th Family District Court in Harris County, Texas. Jacob Cohen is an associate attorney at The Rainwater Firm in Houston, Texas.  Alicia Palmer is an associate attorney at Kelly L. Fritsch, PC, in Houston, Texas.

Recent amendments to Texas labor codes are making it far easier for workers to pursue a sexual harassment claim. Annual Meeting presenters Lea Ream and Karen Fitzgerald join podcast host Rocky Dhir to discuss the implications of these changes for Texas employers and what best practices should be followed to properly respond to and investigate harassment claims. Additionally, they elaborate on increased provisions for employees and offer insights on how victims of sexual harassment in the workplace should go about filing a claim.  Lea A. Ream is a shareholder at Davidson Troilo Ream & Garza PC and maintains a civil litigation practice centered on commercial and employment matters.  Karen Fitzgerald is the owner at Fitzgerald Law, PLLC, and is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

The last two years have brought a variety of game-changers to employment law, in large part due to pandemic-era effects on employee/employer relationships. Host Rocky Dhir talks with Tony Campiti and Lawrence Morales about their Annual Meeting presentation on the latest trends and changes in employment law and what Texas lawyers, employers, and employees need to know.  Tony Campiti is a partner and labor and employment attorney in the litigation section at the Holland & Knight, LLP, Dallas office, representing management exclusively in client counseling and litigation. Lawrence Morales is a partner at The Morales Law Firm, PC, and a certified specialist in Labor and Employment law by the State Bar of Texas, Board of Legal Specialization.

The Fair Pay to Play Act has brought forth a whole slew of changes, questions, and (if we’re honest) confusion to the world of college sports. Laurence Coletti chats with Jeremy Evans about the details of the Act, which now allows college athletes to secure endorsements and sponsorships without losing scholarship eligibility. Jeremy talks about the pros and cons of athletes' new control over marketing their names, images, and likenesses and discusses some of the legal and ethical issues that have arisen since the Fair Pay to Play Act became effective in 2021.  Session Topic: Name, Image, and Likeness: Dealmaking in the Entertainment, Media and Sports Industries Jeremy M. Evans is the chief entrepreneur officer (CEO), founder & managing attorney at California Sports Lawyer.

This year’s keynote speaker offers a whole new perspective on work, life, mental health, and cross-industry cooperation. Restaurateur Chris Shepherd chats with Rocky Dhir about the challenges of the hospitality industry and how the Southern Smoke Foundation works to provide support for those in crisis.  Chris Shepherd is founding director and honorary chairman of Southern Smoke Foundation.

Every attorney dreads the day a crisis erupts. Because it will. But there are “good ways” and “bad ways” to prepare and react. Pretending it will never happen to you is the “bad way.” Speakers David Margulies and Bradley Adams are experts in crisis management and communication and spoke at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting on what they’ve learned and how attorneys work with public relations teams both before and after a crisis erupts.  Don’t hide, but speak only to the facts you know are facts Social media influencers and mainstream media outlets are part of life. How do you respond, react, and reach out?  Is it OK to empathize, sympathize, and even (gasp) apologize?  Hear how to accept a crisis could hit you and understand how early preparation and planning can help. 

Generation Z are the new up-and-comers in the legal world. What can we expect from them as they begin contributing to legal processes? From the Annual Meeting, Laurence Coletti talks with conference speakers Laura Graham and Jason Bloom, whose sessions focused on different aspects of Gen Z’s entrance into the legal system. Laura shares highlights from Gen Z: What Kind of Colleagues Will They Be?, delving into this peer group’s unique approach to the profession; and Jason recaps Jury Decision-Making and the Gen Z Juror, explaining how generational perspectives affect trial outcomes.  Laura Graham is a professor of legal writing and director of legal analysis, writing, and research at Wake Forest University School of Law. Jason Bloom, the founder and President of Bloom Strategic Consulting, Inc., has been a jury consultant for over 20 years.

The 2022-2023 State Bar year marks a new chapter as Texas lawyers emerge from the pandemic and a sense of normalcy returns. Rocky Dhir talks with soon-to-be State Bar and TYLA presidents Laura Gibson and Michael Ritter about their plans for the coming year, particularly involving attorney succession planning, mental health and wellness, public education on legal processes, and much more.  Laura Gibson is a member of Dentons' Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice and the Managing Partner of the Houston office and State Bar of Texas 2022-23 president-elect.  Michael J. Ritter is senior counsel at Schmoyer Reinhard LLP and TYLA 2022-23 president-elect. 

After two years of hosting an entirely virtual event, the State Bar of Texas will be returning to an in-person Annual Meeting for 2022! Rocky Dhir talks with Bar president Sylvia Borunda Firth and executive director Trey Apffel about how this year’s conference will be run, taking into consideration all current CDC guidelines. They also chat about the exciting professional and social offerings for 2022 attendees. Sylvia Borunda Firth is a solo practitioner in El Paso and president of the State Bar of Texas.  E.A. “Trey” Apffel III is executive director of the State Bar of Texas.