Get Involved

TYLA's Community Impact

TYLA is commonly referred to as the "public service arm" of the State Bar of Texas. TYLA's primary purposes are to facilitate the administration of justice, foster respect for the law, and advance the role of the legal profession in serving the public.

To be an active part of TYLA, simply complete this form.

Who Is TYLA?

All of TYLA's programs are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of a board and committee members, with the cooperation of our local affiliate young lawyers associations. Volunteering alongside current TYLA members is easy, as many TYLA initiatives are organized online or by teleconference.

Click here for a list of TYLA Affiliates.

Have Additional Questions?


 
For additional information regarding committees, local affiliates, or ways to become involved in TYLA, please contact:
 

Michelle Palacios | TYLA Office Manager
(512) 427-1529
mpalacios@texasbar.com
 

Baili B. Rhodes | TYLA President
(979) 694-7000
 

Committees

For the 2017-2018 bar year, it is my challenge to the TYLA Board to unite with young lawyers across the state with the common goal of igniting a passion for service in their communities.  To that end, TYLA will develop a number of new projects aimed at serving the profession, law students, and the general public, and continue to revitalize and roll out existing projects.  - Baili B. Rhodes


COMPETITIONS
Purpose: Plans, coordinates, and conducts TYLA’s annual national mock trial competition. NTC is co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and is designed to increase the trial advocacy skills of the future members of our profession. The next NTC finals will take place in the spring of 2018. Additionally, this committee plans, coordinates, and conducts TYLA’s annual State Moot Court competition for law schools in Texas for the purpose of increasing proficiency in the advocacy skills for person entering the legal profession.

National Trial Competition Committee:
Courtney Barksdale Perez, Co-Chair
Tim Williams, Co-Chair
Joel T. Towner, Co-Chair
Kimberley C. Clark
Victor A. Flores
Rusty O’ Kane
Lauren Renee Sepulveda
Ricky Shelton
Jenny Smith
Steven Traeger
Louis Williams
Jonathan Zendel Del

State Moot Court Competition Committee:
M. Kaylan Dunn, Chair
Matthew L. Czimskey
Jonathan Garcia
Brittany Ringel Walton

Sally Pretorius, Executive Committee Advisor

IMPLEMENTATION & PAMPHLETS
Purpose: This committee will be in charge of reviewing existing TYLA projects to make sure that the projects are “well packaged” for use and distribution. This committee will also be tasked with updating existing TYLA guides as necessary to reflect changes made during the 2017 Legislative Session.

Britney Harrison Dieng, Co-Chair
Matthew L. Harris, Co-Chair
M. Kaylan Dunn
Rachel L. Grove
Timothy Newman
Jenny Smith
Veronica S. Wolfe

Sam Houston, ECA

LAW FOCUSED EDUCATION
Purpose: Develops and implements law-focused educational programs for the public, generally designed for both the attorney-public interaction and for classroom use in Texas Schools, and prepares and updates legal information pamphlets for the public to help them understand basic law matters.

Donald Delgado, Co-Chair
Sara Anne Giddings, Co-Chair
Lindsay Forbes Billups
Arthur L. Bryan, II
Kimberly C. Clark
Erin R. Clegg
Matthew L. Czimskey
Britney Harrison Dieng
Nicolas D. Mosser
J. Barrett Shipp
Susan F. Smith
Louis Williams

Aaron J. Burke, ECA

LOCAL AFFILIATES
Purpose: Develops and implements programs that promote networking and idea-sharing; assists affiliates with local programs that further TYLA’s purposes; and recognizes affiliates for their public and member service efforts. This committee conducts three key programs annually:  TYLA activities at Bar Leaders Conference, the Local Affiliate Grant Program, and the Awards of Achievement Competition.

Arthur L. Bryan, II, Co-Chair
Brittany Ringel Walton, Co-Chair
Louis Williams, Co-Chair
Victor A. Flores
Jay Forester
Meagan T. Harding
Christopher E. Stoy

Baili B. Rhodes, ECA

MEMBER OUTREACH/SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION
Purpose: Oversees, develops, and coordinates TYLA seminars, especially those focused on young lawyers and Texas law students. This includes collecting and disseminating the organization’s work and mission to generate interest in TYLA projects.

Victor A. Flores, Co-Chair
Timothy Newman, Co-Chair
Nicole Soussan Caplan
John Ellis
Jay Forester
Andy Jones
Rebecca Patterson Linehan
Rusty O’ Kane
Courtney Barksdale Perez
Lauren Sepulveda
Ricky Shelton
Christopher E. Stoy
Amanda N. Torres
Joel T. Towner
Steven Traeger
Brittany Ringel Walton

Raymond J. Baeza, ECA

ONLINE MEMBER SERVICES/TECHNOLOGY & MARKETING
Purpose: Supports TYLA’s online programs and activities: eNews, Ten Minute Mentor, and Ten Minute Mentor Goes to Law School, and the Judicial Directory. eNews editors draft stories and approve the monthly newsletter for distribution. Ten Minute Mentor coordinators schedule speakers to tape new segments. Assists each TYLA committees in publicizing its impact on the bar and the public. The committee also coordinates the design, creation, and publication of the Annual Report. Plans and coordinates the technology initiatives of TYLA, primarily focusing on the design, functionality, and information for TYLA’s website.

M. Kaylan Dunn, Co-Chair
Tim Williams, Co-Chair
Erin R. Clegg
Matthew L. Harris
Andy Jones
Rusty O’ Kane
Joanthan Zendeh Del

John W. Shaw, ECA

PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY
Purpose: Conducts activities supporting legal education activities in the area of family law, including children’s rights and child advocacy projects, and designs and implements seminars and other activities to educate senior citizens about their legal affairs. In addition, this committee develops and implements programs that help low-income Texans through education, direct services, or other access to justice initiatives of the State Bar of Texas.

John W. Ellis, Co-Chair
Jenny Smith, Co-Chair
Kimberly C. Clark
Donald Delgado
Britney Harrison Dieng
Sara Anne Giddings
Rachel L. Grove
Meagan T. Harding
Courtney Barksdale Perez
Susan F. Smith
Tim Williams

Nick Guinn, ECA

SERVING THE UNDERSERVED
Purpose: This committee will evaluate opportunities to coordinator optional “done in a day” service projects with our board meetings. This committee will also work to publicize affiliate service projects and attempt to secure TYLA presence at local events.

Nicole Soussan Caplan, Co-Chair
Rachel L. Grove, Co-Chair
Amanda N. Torres, Co-Chair
Jay Forester
Jonathan Garcia
Rebecca Patterson Linehan
Veronica S. Wolfe

Amanda A. Abraham, ECA

PLEASE NOTE

The State Bar fiscal year runs from June 1 - May 31. Most committees begin their planning process during the summer months and are well underway with their organizational and implementation schedules by the end of the calendar year. Although there are several programs that continue in the Spring, you will have the most opportunity for involvement if you volunteer early.

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