Texas . That ' s less than a quarter of licensed attorneys .
One of the things that is important to me is being proactive and making sure lawyers in Texas feel that this is their bar , that there is someone like them in a demographic or practice or location or comparable specialty who represents their interests at the state bar .
Every [ member ] should understand that there is a window through which they can ask questions and receive answers and a door they can walk through if they ' re ready to roll up their sleeves and give service to the profession .
Smaller numbers produce smaller margins of victory … so certainly addressing apathy so more lawyers vote is important . There is so much the state bar does well that often goes on behind the scenes unnoticed by lawyers in their day-to-day practices . I think we could do a better job of marketing the many good and important works of the bar , and that would increase participation .
What are some ways the Texas Bar can or should support attorneys ?
A big issue the legal profession faces is the continuing struggles of many of our members with mental health and substance abuse issues . I think it ' s the stress , I think it ' s the hours . We represent clients who are in the most dire and stressful times in their lives and careers , be they individuals or corporate or business clients . It ' s difficult to labor alongside clients who are going through such difficult times and not [ internalize ] some of that .
The Texas Lawyers ' Assistance Program does incredible work in providing funding for and services for the wellness and acute care needs of lawyers in the state . Continued attention to those particular struggles is important .
What are your thoughts on the attorney grievance process in Texas ?
We need to tweak and streamline the process , make it easier to understand , easier to navigate . I think our system works well here in Texas but at times it can be a bit mystifying , a bit byzantine .
For example , I have given thought to designating a point person during the investigation phase of a grievance . That is the time when the person who files a grievance or the attorney who is the subject of a grievance feels as if perhaps things have fallen into a black hole , meaning it ' s not transparent to them . A point person would be available during the investigation phase to answer questions and provide updates .
I think we could do a better job as well explaining to people who file grievances that their continued role after that point is more of a witness than a plaintiff . Making that clear to them at the initiation of a grievance could allay some angst .
What else do you hope to accomplish ?
I ' d like the state bar to play a role in the standardization of electronic filing across all counties in Texas . That is not the case right now and it can be frustrating for lawyers . It ' s almost like every county in the state has a different set of road signs and you find yourself in a ditch before you find out what they mean . To standardize electronic filing so it is the same in every county is an important priority for me .