2006 TAKE YOUR DAUGHTERS TO WORK DAY
This is your opportunity to take care of your New Year’s Resolution to help your Community be serving as a mentor, even if it’s only for one day. Travis County Woman Lawyers Association has scheduled their premier program, “Take Your Daughters to Work Day”, on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This program reaches out to young girls in the fifth grade at Norman Elementary School located in East Austin. The principal, teachers, and counselors will select twenty (20) girls who have good attendance and grades to participate in the program. In the past two years, the TYDTW program has received the following two awards from The Texas State Bar: “Outstanding Partnership” and “Certificate of Achievement”.
If you wish to participate in planning the event or helping on the date of this event, please contact the Chair, Judge Orlinda Naranjo, at 854-9242 or email her at orlinda.naranjo@co.travis.tx.us.
A Day In Federal Court: CLE Seminar
Thursday, May 11
Texas Law Center, Room 101 1414 Colorado St.
Austin, Texas
8:30 – 4:15
Whether you are an experienced federal practitioner or applying for admission to the Western District of Texas, this seminar will provide you with invaluable practice tips and the rare opportunity to hear first-hand from the judges, their law clerks, and some of the most skilled lawyers around. Please see the TCWLA website for more information on the seminar and on how to register.
President’s Message
Bridging the Gap
When I started out this program year I proposed a theme for TCWLA, well not just a theme but a goal, of bridging the gap between women lawyers in Travis County. I was hopeful that women lawyers from all walks of professional life, the solo, the firm, the non-profit, government, in house, and many others would come together at our many events and share experiences and professional expertise.
I am astounded at the great success we have had over the past six months in accomplishing this goal. Not only have I witnesses it at our meetings, but also on the boards of the Association and the Foundation. Both have suffered losses in board members but have recovered very well with the addition of many skilled and brilliant lawyers from all walks of practice.
I am truly grateful for the wonderful women that I have worked with over the months as president of this organization and as a member of the Foundation Board. Every one of them has brought to the table varied work histories and talents in the practice of law which in turn has contributed greatly to the success of this organization.
We are working hard to create new programs and services to our members in an effort to bridge these gaps among women lawyers. Please take time to contribute by attending our many events, or just
sending your suggestions through our website at www.tcwla.org. Happy spring,
Portia Bosse
President
The Color of Justice
In an effort to encourage minority students in Texas to pursue careers in the law and the judiciary the Texas members of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) created the Color of Justice program. The program introduces minority students to a diverse group of minority judges, lawyers and law students whose stories show them the many career options available in the law and judiciary. The intent of the program is to inspire minority high school students to consider the law as a career, and to aspire to be a judge as well as a lawyer. Travis County Women Lawyers Association is working together with the NAWJ and UT Law School’s Women’s Law Caucus to bring this program to approximately 20 minority students from a local Austin high school (Akins High School). It is a 1/2 day event from approximately 9:00-1:00, scheduled for Monday, April 10, 2006. The presentation will take place at the Eidman Courtroom at the UT Law School, with the lunch to follow at the Sheffield room at the school. There will be two panel discussions with minority judges, lawyers and law students speaking and then a luncheon/small group discussion. The panels/small group leaders will share their varied experiences and encourage the students to consider a career in the law. In addition, as part of the program, an award of $1,000 scholarship from NAWJ will be presented by Judge Susan Criss, a district judge in Galveston, who is the District Director of NAWJ. The scholarship will be given to a UT Law student who has showed a commitment to improving access to justice. The Color of Justice video, created by the NAWJ will also be shown.
The first panel is the judge’s panel, entitled “The Color of Justice: Making a difference.” This panel will run from approximately 9:15-10:15 and includes:
1. Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson (also starred in the Color of Justice video)
2. Justice Fortunato “Pete” Benavides of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
3. Judge Wilford “Wil” Flowers, Travis County Criminal District Judge
4. Judge Orlinda Naranjo, Travis County Court at Law Civil Judge
5. Karin Crump, TYLA President-Elect, of Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom-moderator
The second panel, a mix of legal professionals is entitled, “Law as a Career: Preparing the Way” This panel will run from approximately 10:50-11:50 and includes:
1. Bill Jones—Vinson & Elkins: civil, private practice in public policy law, previous experience as General Counsel to Office of Governor of Texas.
2. Tracy McCormack—Director of Trial Advocacy Program at UT Law School, previous experience in civil litigation at Akin Gump.
3. Eric Sheppard—Travis County Attorney’s office, Director of Civil Litigation; previous experience at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Law Enforcement Defense.
4. Sergio Moreno-law clerk, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (newly licensed attorney, also starred in the Color of Justice video as a UT law student)
5. UT Law student-yet to be selected.
6. Judge Orlinda Naranjo, Travis County Court at Law Civil Judge—moderator. The luncheon/small group discussion will follow and the program will conclude around 1:00.
Save the date!
Mark your calendar and join us for the annual Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association (TCWLA) and Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation (TCWL Foundation) Charity Awards Luncheon June 7, 2006 at the Four Seasons.
This unique event recognizes attorneys who have made an extraordinary impact on our local legal community and awards grants to local non-profit organizations that provide legal services to the women, children and families in the Austin area.
This year the awards luncheon promises to be unforgettable with keynote speaker former Governor Ann Richards and our first-ever luxury raffle, with eight fabulous prize packages worth thousands of dollars!
When: Wednesday, June 7, 2005 from 12:00-1:30 PM
Meet Your Board: Liz Branch
Area of practice/employer: Liz is a business litigator with the law firm of Merica & Bourland, P.C. Merica & Bourland focuses on contract, shareholder, construction litigation, real estate and employment law, among other practice areas.
Education: Liz attended the University of Texas for undergrad and majored in journalism. She ventured out to California for law school, graduating from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2001. (She practiced in California for a few years with a firm specializing in labor and employment law before journeying back to Austin).
Family: Liz and Justin are approaching their 5th year anniversary in May. (Yes, she was adventuresome enough to get married the day after her law school graduation). They live in southwest Austin with their boxer-pointer dog named Molly.
Loves to: Liz loves adventures, to be outside, road trips, traveling, singing, sailing, photography, running around Town Lake and cooking. Interesting Tidbit: If you don’t find the above interesting enough, another little known fact about Liz is she interned for the television show Law and Order the summer after her first year in law school.
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