2009-2010 Woodrow B. Seals Outstanding Young Lawyer of Houston Award - Nominations Open
HYLA is now accepting nominations for the 2009-2010 Woodrow B. Seals Outstanding Young Lawyer of Houston Award. Award winners are selected based on outstanding qualities including, but not limited to, exemplary professional proficiency, service to the profession, and service to the community. Immediate Past President Tanya Garrison chairs the Outstanding Young Lawyer Committee and will assist nominees and nominators with assembling award applications if she receives a nomination by February 12; all applications are due by March 1. To be eligible for the award, the nominee must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas, practice law or reside in the greater Houston area, and be no more than 36 years old as of June 1, 2009. To make a nomination, contact Tanya Garrison at 713.961.9045 or tgarrison@wkpz.com with the nominee's name and phone number.

2009-2010 Liberty Bell Award - Nominations Open
HYLA is now accepting nominations for the 2009-2010 Liberty Bell Award. The Liberty Bell Award recognizes community service by a non-lawyer that promotes a better understanding of government, especially the Bill of Rights; encourages greater respect for the law and the courts; stimulates a deeper sense of individual responsibility, so that citizens recognize their duties and their rights; contributes to the effective functioning of our institutions of government, and instills a better understanding and appreciation of the law. HYLA President-elect Courtney Palm chairs the Liberty Bell Award committee and will assist nominees and nominators with assembling award applications if she receives a nomination by February 12; all applications are due by March 1. To make a nomination, contact Courtney Palm at 713.425.7413 or cpalm@krcl.com with the nominee's name and phone number.

HYLA 2010-2011 Elections
Each year, HYLA members elect a President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and eight Directors to one-year terms. To run for an office, the candidate must submit a petition signed by ten regular HYLA members (signatures of HYLA members who are law students or who were not admitted to the bar when they joined HYLA, do not count towards the ten-signature requirement). You must submit the completed petition to HYLA's Secretary, Jason Ryan before HYLA's annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. on March 9, 2010 to run for a position. To request a petition, contact Jason Ryan at jason.ryan@CenterpointEnergy.com.

HYLA MINORITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HOSTS URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
The Minority Affairs Committee is looking for 20 HYLA members to participate as judges in the HYLA Urban Debate League Tournament to be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2010 and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Westbury High School. For more information about the Minority Affairs or Urban Debate League committees, please contact Michael Alexander at malexander@wjalexander.com or George Edwards at george.edwards@phillipsakers.com. To volunteer as a judge for the debate tournament, please contact Marsha Jump at mjump@houstonisd.org or Stephen Jump at sjump@houstonisd.org.

HYLA FREE CLE
Frank G. Jones of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. will present on "Tips on How to Become a Successful Trial Lawyer" at 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 25, 2010. If you would like to attend, email Corbett Parker at corbett.parker@gmail.com.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS - TEA TIME!
HYLA Big Brothers Big Sisters committee will kick off their Big For a Day events with a "tea time" for 40 children and up to 25 local attorneys, law students, and judges. Tea time will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on February 27, 2010 at the Power Center, 12401 Post Oak Road (77045). Volunteers need to be there by 10:30 a.m.  Professional/business attire is requested from all adult mentors. The children who will attend this event are from the Amachi Texas Mentor Program in the BBBS of Greater Houston. Special thanks to this year's generous sponsor: Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. For more information or to volunteer for this event, contact Wendy Miller wendymiller@comcast.net.

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW
HYLA has teamed up with Father's Joy and The Rise School of Houston to offer the most up-to-date law and legal principals for attorneys, advocates, self-advocates, parents, and education professionals. They will present legal anylsis and advocacy tips relevant to all involved with disability and special education. The program will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Covenant Baptist Church, 4949 Caroline.  For additional information, contact Melisa Moncure at mgt003@shsu.edu.

HYLA'S CORPORATE COUNSEL AND CLE COMMITTEES TO HOST CLE PANEL
The Corporate Counsel and CLE Committees will host a CLE panel on the "Do's and Don'ts - Ethics, Professional Etiquette and Legal Practice for Young Lawyers. The April date and location will be determined.

HYLA/HYLF LAW DAY LUNCHEON HONORS THE LAW PROFESSION
Please join HYLA and HYLF as they celebrate Law Day with a luncheon. The luncheon will be held from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at The Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Houston. Recipients of the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Liberty Bell Award and Outstanding Mentor Award will be announced at the luncheon.

HYLF CROSS-COURT CHALLENGE TENNIS TOURNAMENT
HYLF Cross-Court Challenge will hold its annual tournament at Memorial Park from April 30 - May 2, 2010. The Cross-Court Challenge will kick-off at HYLA's April Final Thursday on April 29, 2010 at the Downtown Club at the Met. For tennis fans, there will be a tennis clinic that evening. For non-tennis players, it will be a regular Final Thursday and will also include a Silent Auction.  Proceeds from the auction and clinic as well as the tennis tournament will benefit the Houston Tennis Association's National Junior Tennis and Learning. For more information, contact Matt Schlensker mattscott55@yahoo.com or John Harper jharper@morganlewis.com.

HYLF FUN RUN
Put on your running shoes and join HYLF for their annual Fun Run on May 13, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. The run will be held at Sam Houston Park! For more information about sponsoring, participating, or volunteering for this event, please contact Tamara Ruen ruent@gtlaw.com or Pamela Reyburn at reyburnp@gtlaw.com.