Past Events:
2019 Texas Minority Counsel Program
The Texas Minority Counsel Program was held November 6-8, 2019 at the Four Seasons in Irving. The event, put on by the State Bar's Office of Minority Affairs, featured a golf tournament, spa day, and day of service; CLEs on various pertinent topics, including a General Counsel panel, tackling imposter syndrome, and transforming the criminal justice system. Attendees heard from powerhouse speakers, including Brittany K. Barnett of the Buried Alive Project and Adam Foss of Prosecutor Impact. At the TMCP Awards Presentation, AALS members Honorable Carolyn Wright and Chevazz Brown were honored as the Lifetime Achievement Awardee and Trailblazer Awardee, respectively. TMCP 2020 will be held October 28-30, 2020 at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol. AALS members will receive a $25 discount on registration.
2019 Dallas Area Meet & Greet
On October 30, 2019, the Dallas based firm Thompson & Knight, LLP opened its doors to the AALS and catered to leaders from some of the most prestigious organizations in the city including the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the J.L. Turner Legal Association, the L. Clifford Davis Legal Association, and the AALS council members. There were about 50 attendees, with about 40 students from the BLSAs of Texas A&M, Southern Methodist University, and the University of North Texas. The event was co-hosted by the J.L. Turner Legal Association, with a generous venue sponsorship from Thompson & Knight. This dynamic event afforded the AALS the opportunity to promote the organization and encourage membership. Harrison Smith, a representative of the L. Clifford Davis Legal Association, and Koi Spurlock, J.L. Turner Legal Association President-Elect, briefly introduced their respective organizations. A special thanks to AALS Council Members Paul Stafford and Tamika Jones Abendroth for coordinating the event.
2019 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting - Austin, TX
2019 Texas African American Lawyers Summit & Awards
The 4th Annual State Bar of Texas African American Lawyers Section Summit & Awards Luncheon (SBOT AALS Summit & Awards) was held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law, 1901 Main Street, Dallas, Texas 75201, from 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. The SBOT AALS Summit & Awards is a premier professional development and networking event, with CLE modules (MCLE: 6 hours, with 2 hours of Ethics included) and presentations designed for a variety of practitioners in various practice areas, with particular focus on issues relevant to the African-American community. Thompson & Knight LLP, Winstead PC, COFFEE, Inc. (Communities Organized For Fairness Equity & Empowerment), and UNT Dallas College of Law were sponsors of the event.
Through the AALS Awards, the AALS Summit also provided a unique opportunity for the State Bar of Texas and the African American Lawyers Section to honor those who have distinguished themselves in the profession. This year, the SBOT AALS Award recipients were:
• Wesley Terrell (AT&T), recipient of the AALS Trailblazer Award, which recognizes an outstanding attorney who – through professional and personal determination, specific action, and unwavering commitment - has promoted the interests of justice in the legal profession and the pursuit of issues relevant to African-American Lawyers in Texas in a manner that is both unique to the advancement of the endeavor and beneficial to others.
• Judge Tonya Parker (116th District Court, Dallas County, Texas), recipient of the AALS Distinguished Jurist Award, which recognizes an outstanding jurist who – through the administration justice – is worthy of particular distinction, and who serves as an exemplar to the legal profession generally and to African-American Lawyers in Texas specifically.
• Rhonda Hunter (Past-President of the J.L. Turner Legal Association, and the first African-American President of the Dallas Bar Association in 2004), recipient of the AALS Outstanding Achievement Award, which recognizes an outstanding individual who – through personal and professional commitment and accomplishment – is worthy of recognition for one or more accomplishments that have upheld the ideals of the legal profession, promoted the interests of justice, and served as an exemplar to African-American Lawyers in Texas.
2018 AALS, Houston Local Bar and BLSA Mixer
AALS, Dallas Local Bar and BLSA Mixer - September 6, 2018
Texas African American Lawyers Summit 2018
On April 28, 2017, the section hosted its third Texas African American Lawyers Summit at UNT Dallas College of Law, which was free to members and featured six hours of CLE and an awards ceremony. This year, the AALS recognized Hon. Royal Furgeson (Trailblazer Award), Hon. Darrell Jordan (Distinguished Jurist Award), and Hon. Andrew Carruthers (Outstanding Achievement Award). Sponsors included The Withespoon Law Group, Rivon Law Firm, PLLC, UNT Dallas College of Law, and RICOH.
On April 28, 2017, the section hosted its third Texas African American Lawyers Summit at UNT Dallas College of Law, which was free to members and featured six hours of CLE and an awards ceremony. This year, the AALS recognized Hon. Royal Furgeson (Trailblazer Award), Hon. Darrell Jordan (Distinguished Jurist Award), and Hon. Andrew Carruthers (Outstanding Achievement Award). Sponsors included The Withespoon Law Group, Rivon Law Firm, PLLC, UNT Dallas College of Law, and RICOH.
2017 Texas African American Lawyers Summit - April 8, 2017:
On April 8, 2017, the section held the second annual Texas African American Lawyers Summit at Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, which allowed attendees to learn about issues surrounding social media and financial considerations of a law firm, as well as political advocacy, all while obtaining five hours of CLE credit, including two hours of ethics.
Program Cover of the 2017 Texas African American Lawyers Summit
Panel on "Attorney Ethics: Social Media and Online Activity" moderated by State Bar of Texas Director of District 5 Andrew Tolchin, and panelists Former Office of Chief Disciplinary Council Officers Jai Collier and Kali Morgan, and University of Houston Professor of Law Renee Knake
2016-2017 Immediate Past Chair of the African American Lawyers Section, Robert Collier, hosting a panel on "Political Advocacy"
2017 Award Recipients H. Ron White, Judge Marc Carter, and A. Martin Wickliff, Jr., along with the 2016-2017 Chair of the African American Lawyers Section, and luncheon sponsor David Godsey of the Godsey Martin P.C.
Panel on "Effective Financial Management of a Law Firm" moderated by the 2016-2017 President of the Houston Lawyers Association, Al Benoit, and panelists David Godsey of the Godsey Martin Law Firm, LaTosha Lewis Payne of Trahan Dinn Kornegay Payne LLP and former AALS Chair Bert Jennings of Bechtel
J.L. Turner Legal Association Gala - October 22, 2016
2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair, Danyahel Norris, with the 2016 and 2017 JL Turner Legal Foundation Presidents, Steve Bolden and Kandace Walter
2016 JL Turner Logo
2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair, Danyahel Norris, with the 2016 JL Turner Legal Association President, Emmanuel Obi
2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair and Secretary, Danyahel Norris and Ebony Rivon
National Bar Association Wiley Branton Symposium- October 21, 2016
Former African American Lawyers Section Chairs and Symposium Co-Coordinators Robert Collier and Bert Jennings, along with the 2016-2017 Section Chair, Danyahel Norris, National Bar Association President, Executive Director, and other board members
San Antonio Black Lawyers Association Criminal Law Clinic - September 23, 2016
2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair, Danyahel Norris, with the 2016 San Antonio Black Lawyers Association President, Stephanie Boyd
South Texas College of Law Black Law Student Association Meeting - October 21, 2016
Members of the South Texas College of Law Black Law Student Association with the 2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair, Danyahel Norris and Houston Lawyers Association Executive Board Member, Johali Muzaliwa
AALS, Dallas Local Bar and BLSA Mixer - October 11, 2016
L. Clifford Davis Legal Association Gala - September 9, 2016
2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair, Danyahel Norris, with the namesake of the organization, retired Judge L. Clifford Davis
2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair, Danyahel Norris, with the keynote speaker, US Attorney General, Edward L. Stanton III
2016 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting
The 2016-2017 African American Lawyer's Section - SBOT board
Former Judge Morris Overstreet congratulating the new board
The 2016-2017 African American Lawyer's Section - SBOT getting sworn in by former Judge Morris Overstreet.
The 2016-2017 African American Lawyer's Section - SBOT board getting sworn in by former Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Morris Overstreet
2016-2017 African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas Chair, Danyahel Norris, with 2016-2017 State Bar of Texas President, Frank Stevenson
A mixer for the African American Lawyer's Section - SBOT at the annual meeting
Professor DeCarlous Spearman and Assistant Dean Prudence Smith of Thurgood Marshall School of Law at the mixer.
End of the night, after a wonderful African American Lawyer's Section - SBOT mixer.