The Hispanic Issues Section wishes everyone a wonderful Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15 each year.
We invite you to revisit our combined legal heritage with interviews of two prominent Texas Hispanic attorneys, Adelfa Callejo – one of the first Hispanic women to earn a law degree – and Justice Raul A. Gonzalez, Jr. – the first Hispanic appointed or elected to statewide office in Texas. These interviews were conducted as part of the Texas Legal Legends series in 2008-2009.
You can view these interviews, along with others from the Texas Legal Legends series, at this link.
The Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas celebrates Women’s History Month and recognizes our many members who have contributed greatly to the progress of women in the legal profession and the judiciary, and serve as role models for future generations of leaders.
Highlighting some of the wonderful members in our leadership and on our council:
The Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas is delighted to host a free CLE webinar titled Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence: Where We Were and Where We Are Now.
This webinar is scheduled for 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, March 30, and it has been approved for one hour of MCLE credit. Use the link below to register.
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence: Where We Were and Where We Are Now
Wednesday, March 30
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. CDT
FREE
1 hour MCLE credit
Description:
The landmark Vanessa Guillen Act changed the law for many sexual assault and domestic violence victims. Join our distinguished panel as they discuss these changes and learn why they are so important.
Speakers:
Panelist: Natalie Khawam
Natalie Khawam is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. She also holds an M.B.A. and an M.S. degree. Attorney Khawam founded the highly regarded Whistleblower Law Firm in Tampa, Florida and is also the founding partner of Khawam Ripka, LLP based in Washington, DC. Khawam Ripka focuses on active-duty military medical malpractice cases.
She is passionate about serving our military and veterans, fighting for justice, and seeking truth and accountability. Ms. Khawam practices federal law, with a focus on whistleblower laws, while she advocates military rights and protections. Natalie proudly spearheaded the passage of two bills in Congress for her clients: the SFC Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act and the I Am Vanessa Guillen Act. These acts provide new rights and protections that our military never had before.
Natalie doesn’t just change the law — she changes history!
Panelist: Jacquelyn “Jackie” Davis
Jacquelyn “Jackie” Davis is an attorney and group coordinator for the Domestic Violence and Family Law Team at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). For the past 15 years, Jackie has dedicated her practice to working with survivors of violence in family law and immigration matters. The DV & Family Law Team covers 68 counties of Southwest Texas and is TRLA’s largest practice group. In addition to leading the team, Jackie manages attorneys and her own litigation caseload.
Jackie is a 2006 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, a proud third-generation Longhorn following in the footsteps of her grandfather from Del Rio, Texas, who was the first in his family to attend college. Jackie is drawn to the creative problem-solving and consensus building inherent in the practice of law, particularly as someone raised in a mixed-heritage household, and the only lawyer in a big family. Jackie serves as a law school mentor for aspiring public interest lawyers and on the weekends can be found cheering her kids on from the sidelines or rescuing dogs.
Moderator: Veronica I. Legarreta
Veronica I. Legarreta founded the Legarreta Law Firm, PLLC, bringing nearly two decades of litigation and negotiation experience to her current practice which is focused on criminal defense cases and family law matters. She has worked with clients at all phases of the litigation process and is an empathetic and fierce advocate committed to fighting for a just outcome no matter how challenging the circumstance.
Throughout her career, Veronica has repeatedly been recognized as one San Antonio’s Top Criminal Defense/DWI Attorneys (2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021) and was recently honored by SA Scene Magazine as one of the Best S.A. Female Lawyers in 2021. Veronica serves as a member of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, as well as a member of the San Antonio Bar Association, and was invited to join the Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas as a council member. Veronica has also received the Latino American Who’s Who award twice and continues to actively participate as a public speaker on a variety of legal topics. As a sustaining member of the Junior League of San Antonio Veronica continues to promote volunteerism and support community outreach.
Veronica earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and served as an American diplomat stationed in Mexico City where she interned for the Department of Justice and for the NSA. She attended St. Mary’s University School of Law where she was inducted into the Order of the Barristers for her exceptional skills in trial advocacy.
The Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Latinx Judges, Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, and the Cameron County Bar Association are delighted to host a free CLE webinar titled Navigating the Federal Court Appointment Process.
This panel-based webinar is scheduled for noon – 1 p.m. CST on Wednesday, December 1, and it has been approved for one hour of MCLE credit.
In 2020, the Hispanic Issues Section raised over $40,000 benefiting legal aid through its LawTeria event, which was a phenomenal success thanks to our sponsors and many ticket purchasers!
LawTeria returns for 2021, and we hope you can join us as we again raise money to benefit legal aid programs serving those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: September 16, 2021
Time: TBD
Held via Zoom
Door Prizes and Intermission Entertainment!
The Hispanic Issues Section is co-sponsoring an exciting CLE program entitled An Overview of Texas Courts of Appeal, which will be presented by 10 chief justices. This CLE program is part of the State Bar of Texas virtual Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 17.
To sign up for the program, go to the State Bar’s website, and register for the Thursday of the virtual Annual Meeting. The registration fee for the day is $185, and you can watch up to 10 hours of the CLE programs that are presented.
Take a peek at the full course brochure to review the additional 45+ CLE programs you can watch throughout the day.
The presentations are only available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT on June 17, so mark your calendars now! This topic has been approved for two hours of CLE credit, including 0.5 hours of ethics.
An Overview of Texas Courts of Appeal
Co-sponsored by:
Hispanic Issues Section
Texas LatinX Judges
Appellate Section
Women and the Law Section
LGBT Law Section, State Bar of Texas
National Association of Women Judges
Texas Women Lawyers
Mexican American Bar Association of San Antonio
Thursday, June 17
During the SBOT Virtual Annual Meeting
2 hours of MCLE credit, including 0.5 hours ethics
The Hispanic Issues Section is announcing the creation of a Hardship Committee to identify needs of and to assist section members facing difficult issues in their lives and practices, whether or not related to the pandemic or recent winter crisis.
