Overview
Established: 1882
Total Number of Members: 87,000
Membership is: Compulsory
Bar Profile:
The State Bar of Texas is an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Texas, and is charged with providing educational programs for the legal profession and the public, administering the mandatory continuing education program for attorneys and managing the grievance procedure. The Bar is a unified state bar composed of 76,000 active members.
The State Bar of Texas had its beginnings in 1882 when the Texas Bar Association was founded. The State Bar Act was adopted by the Legislature in 1939 and mandated that all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas belong to the State Bar.
The State Bar is governed by a board of directors that receives no compensation and is elected by the membership. The Bar includes committees, boards, sections, and divisions that are run by more than 265 full-time employees and 4,500 volunteers, both lawyers and non-lawyers.
The mission of the State Bar of Texas is to support the administration of the legal system, assure all citizens equal access to justice, foster high standards of ethical conduct for lawyers, enable its members to better serve their clients and the public, and to educate the public about the rule of law and promote diversity in the administration of justice and the practice of law.
ANNUAL MEETINGS
Name: Annual Meeting
Date: Typically June
Location: Varies
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Phone: 800-204-2222, ext. 1454
Fax: 512-453-7220
Website: www.tbls.org
Current Officers & Leadership
President
Gib Walton
Vinson & Elkins, LLP
1001 Fannin St., Suite 2500
Houston 77002-6760
Phone: (713) 758-2026
Fax: (713) 615-5400
gwalton@velaw.com
President-Elect
Harper Estes
Lynch Chapell & Alsup
300 N Marienfeld St Ste 700
Midland 79701-4385
Phone: (432) 683-3351
Fax: (432) 683-2587
hestes@lcalawfirm.com
Immediate Past President
Martha S. Dickie
Attorney At Law
Akin & Almanza, LLP
2301 S. Capital Of Texas Highway, Bldg H
Austin 78746
Phone: (512) 474-9486
Fax: (512) 478-7151
msdickie@aol.com
Immediate Past Chair of the Board
Robert A. Black
Mehaffy Weber, P.C.
P.O. Box 16
2615 Calder, Ste. 800
Beaumont 77704
Phone: (409) 835-5011
Fax: (409) 839-0568
bobblack@mehaffyweber.com
Chair of the Board
Travis E. Vanderpool
District 6 Place 3 â?? Term Expires 2008
Hunton & Williams LLP
Fountain Place, 37th Floor
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas 75202
Phone: (214) 979-3035
Fax: (214) 880-0011
tvanderpool@hunton.com
Executive Director
John P. Edwards
1414 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701-1627
Phone: (512) 427-1463
Fax: (512) 427-4108
Contacts
Deputy Executive Director
Michelle Hunter
Professional Development Director
Pat Nester
Attorney Compliance Director
Ray Cantu
Chief Disciplinary Counsel
John Neal
Communications Director
Kelley Jones King
Governmental Relations Director
KaLyn Laney
Chief Financial Officer
Cheryl Howell
Administration Director
Al Cumming
Legal Services Director
Emily Jones
General Counsel
Elizabeth Rogers
Special Services Director
Don Jones
Chief Information Officer
Brad Powell
Sections
Administrative & Public Law
African-American Lawyers
Alternative Dispute Resolution
American-Indian Law
Animal Law
Antitrust & Business Litigation
Appellate
Asian-Pacific Interest
Aviation Law
Bankruptcy Law
Business Law
Computer & Technology
Construction Law
Consumer Law
Corporate Counsel
Criminal Justice
Entertainment & Sports Law
Environmental & Natural Resources Law
Family Law
General Practice, Solo and Small Firm
Government Lawyers
Health Law
Hispanic Issues
Individual Rights & Responsibilities
Insurance Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Law
James C. Watson Inn of Former Officers & Directors
Judicial
Justice of the Peace
Juvenile Law
Labor & Employment Law
Litigation
Military Law
Municipal Judges
Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law
Public Utility Law
Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law
School Law
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identification Issues
Taxation
Women & the Law
For more information on sections, contact 800-204-2222, ext. 1420.