PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By T. Mark Kelly Vinson & Elkins LLP

What Will We Need to Do?

Much has been written about the issues that the current Texas Legislature will consider, debate and vote upon. The budget, redistricting, eminent domain and immigration reform will certainly be at the forefront of the session. Articles about proposed bills are published in this magazine and in news media throughout the state, exploring how they could affect our practices and our personal finances. I'd like to talk about how budget issues could affect the Houston Bar Association and its outreach in the community.

Education is one of the primary functions of the HBA. Our continuing legal education program is one of the finest in the nation. We offer our members CLE programming nearly every week of the year, much of it at no cost to members. That always has been and always will be one of our main focus areas. But community education is also integral to the Houston Bar Association's mission. Our programs reach nearly 40,000 students in elementary, middle and high schools each year. We teach children and teens about the judicial process, about the Constitution, about their legal rights and responsibilities, about law as a career, and about the legal and health consequences of drug and alcohol abuse.

Budget proposals from both the House and the Senate could result in a drastic reduction in funding for the State's public education system. This could mean that school districts will be asked to stretch their resources even thinner, laying off teachers and staff, increasing class size, and cutting even more programs not considered part of core education. Schools will either lose valuable learning experiences for students, or they will increasingly look to community and professional organizations like the HBA to provide enrichment programs.

Similarly, cuts in mental health, social programs and legal services will place greater responsibility on non-profit organizations. More people will look for assistance with food, shelter, clothing and other necessities. Programs like our Campaign for the Homeless clothing drives and diaper drive will need to serve more facilities and agencies.

Statistics show that Texas currently meets only about 20 percent of the legal needs of low-income Texans. Budget cuts would certainly affect the ability of the HBA's Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program to provide crucial legal services to low-income Harris County citizens. This in turn will mean a greater need for pro bono volunteers to provide relief for those who cannot afford the most basic protections from domestic violence, mortgage foreclosures, bankruptcy, and other life-altering legal situations. And we will need to provide more services for our senior citizens and our veterans through programs like our Will-A-Thon, which provides wills and estate planning documents for low-income elderly citizens, and our Veterans' Legal Initiative, which provides legal services for those who have served our country.

There is no doubt that what happens in this legislative session will affect the way we practice law. It may also determine whether we need to contribute more, volunteer more, or take more responsibility for those in our community who will find themselves with less. I urge each of you, regardless of your political affiliation, to read and educate yourself about the bills before the Texas Legislature and to think about how they may affect your professional and personal life. And I urge you to let your state senators and representatives know what you think about specific legislation. This is not the time to sit back and wait to read about what happened in the news or the next bar journal.

< BACK TO TOP >