State Bar of Texas Podcast

Host Rocky Dhir welcomes State Bar President Joe Longley who, at the Bar’s upcoming annual meeting, will be one of the many honored for their 50 years of membership. Joe discusses the significance of this achievement and shares anecdotes from his long and colorful career. Also, joining Rocky is State Bar executive director Trey Apffel, who gives more information about what attendees can expect at this year’s annual meeting.

In this episode, host Rocky Dhir talks to Suzanne Anderson about her career as a trial attorney with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). They discuss how the office investigates claims and the processes that lead to litigation. Suzanne gives examples of cases the EEOC has dealt with and gives her perspective on the current state of discrimination in the workplace.

Legal writing is difficult for some lawyers to navigate. Is there a shift away from archaic flourishes to plain language, or does it still have its place? In this episode, host Rocky Dhir talks to Wayne Schiess, author and legal writing professor. They discuss his most recent book, “Legal Writing Nerd: Be One,” and give tips on what lawyers can incorporate to better their writing skills.

Lawyers are storytellers, and the shift from legalese to prose may not be too far a leap for some. In this episode, host Rocky Dhir talks to Mike Farris about his career as an entertainment lawyer and book author. They discuss the inspiration behind his books and delve into Mike’s writing process. They also talk about the “Fifty Shades of Grey” Texas lawsuit in which Mike represented the plaintiff, which then led to a non-fiction book co-authored with his client.

Law schools should be a training ground for leaders, but are the concepts of leadership actually being taught? In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to Leah Teague, associate dean at Baylor University Law School, about how law schools need to revamp their programs to include leadership training for students. Leah Teague is an associate dean at Baylor University Law School in Waco, TX Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay

What’s your New Year’s resolution? The State Bar of Texas Podcast is resolved to continue bringing lawyers quality content that will improve their lives and practices. In this episode, host Rocky Dhir looks back at some key moments from the podcast throughout 2018. Tune in for highlights from the wide array of fascinating guests and topics covered this year, including clips from episodes with Anthony Graves, Brian Cuban, the lawyers behind Twitter’s @ladylawyerdiary, and more!

Host Rocky Dhir and guest host Sally Pretorius talk to Kendyl Hanks and Kristen Vander-Plas, two of the cofounders of @LadyLawyerDiary on Twitter. They discuss how their Twitter account has become a forum for women in the legal industry. It is used for the discussion of issues, for encouragement and support, and for spotlighting women in the legal profession who are doing great things.

For a lot of law students, the goal is to end up in-house, but is it really as ideal as it seems? Host Rocky Dhir talks to William Kruse and Shruti Krishnan about their experiences as in-house counsels. They also share insights for those hoping to go in-house, from fully understanding your role to having a business-minded focus.

Many lawyers have a passion for pro bono work but few make it their life. Host Rocky Dhir talks to Kimi Jackson about the work she does for the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) which provides pro bono legal services to asylum seekers detained at the border. They discuss family separation and other immigration issues that isn't necessarily covered by the media and share how volunteers can get involved.

It’s one of the greatest honors a judge can receive during his career, to be named Tweeter Laureate. Host Rocky Dhir talks to Judge Don Willett about how he became the Tweeter Laureate of Texas and an example for other judges who want to use social media as a platform. He shares some tips for using social media and speaks to whether users are over-engaged. He also discusses the role judges should play in our judicial system and the importance of educating the masses about their government.

From the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Frank Stevenson as he steps down from his role as immediate past president of the State Bar of Texas. They discuss what makes the State Bar of Texas a particularly strong bar association and what Frank’s plans are as he leaves bar leadership. They also talk about the Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator, one of Frank’s projects that seeks to close the access to justice gap and meet the needs of both lawyers and clients.

The energy of the State Bar Annual Meeting 2018 continues in these next three episodes of the State Bar of Texas Podcast. Tune in for some of the most notable guests interviewed by Rocky Dhir on the conference floor including legal tech pro Craig Ball, new president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Sally Pretorius, and 2016-17 State Bar of Texas President Frank Stevenson. These guests cover important topics like access to justice, young lawyer mentorship, and obtaining evidence in a digital age.

From the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Sally Pretorius, the new president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, about the projects she will be working on during her term. She plans to provide mentorship to women in law and young lawyers fresh out of law school, educate on healthy ways to handle stress, and create a K-12 program that talks about the rights and duties we have as Americans.

Our dependence on our mobile devices means they are significant forms of evidence that need to be preserved in case of a lawsuit. From the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Craig Ball about the importance of evidence preservation for tablets and smart phones. They discuss the kinds of evidence these and similar devices can provide and the best methods of obtaining this data.

Rudy Metayer and Erich Burch, members of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, sit down with Rocky Dhir at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting to talk about bar initiatives. They go over the new investigation on transparency at the bar, addressing the fear regarding immigration bond hearings at the U.S. border, and ways the bar is helping lawyers struggling with mental illness and addiction. Stay tuned to hear about TLAP and TOJI, two programs directly targeted towards helping Texas lawyers.