Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas

07/22/2025

See message below from President, Pearl Garza.
Paralegal Division - State Bar of Texas

07/12/2025

-Renew Your Paralegal Division Membership Today-
Paralegal Division 2024 – 2025 Membership Renewals (Online Only)

This is notice from the Paralegal Division to all current 2024-2025 members of the Paralegal Division whose current membership expires on May 31, 2025. The membership renewal process for the Paralegal Division is entirely online. You will NOT receive a paper renewal form. AFTER you have completed and posted your CLE credits, log into your account on the PD Website, go to MyAccount and then to Renew Online to complete your renewal.

07/08/2025

The State Bar of Texas is coordinating with legal aid and pro bono groups to assess the legal needs on the ground and determine areas where attorneys may be able to volunteer. See original post below.

The devastating floods and loss of life in Central Texas this weekend have Texas attorneys eager to assist their fellow Texans. The State Bar of Texas is coordinating with legal aid and pro bono groups to assess the legal needs on the ground and determine areas where attorneys may be able to volunteer.

As with any natural disaster, right now the survivors are focused on finding their loved ones and other immediate needs like food, shelter, and clothing. Their legal needs will become more apparent in the days and weeks ahead, and the State Bar will communicate those needs as more information is available.

In the meantime, through at least July 31, State Bar President Santos Vargas is dedicating all donations to the “Stand With Santos” access to justice campaign specifically for legal aid disaster relief.

Through this campaign, Santos is challenging the Texas legal community to donate money or pledge time to help bridge the justice gap for low-income Texans, including for disaster relief. You can give now at standwithsantos.org to help ensure money is not a barrier to disaster survivors receiving the legal help they desperately need.

Below are additional links to help with disaster legal relief ⬇️

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), which serves areas affected by the flooding, accepts volunteer attorneys on its website at trla.org/volunteer.

The Texas Bar Foundation has established the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund at txbf.org/emergency-disaster-relief.

The State Bar of Texas offers Pro Bono Texas as a one-stop hub for pro bono opportunities at probonotexas.org/.

The State Bar also provides links to disaster relief resources for the public at texasbar.com/disasters.

06/25/2025

-ONLINE CLE OPPORTUNITY-

Presentation Information:

Date/Time: July 18, 2025 at Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Speaker: Joel Wilks
Law Offices of Joel Wilks

Topic: The Ins and Outs of DWIs
Description: The presentation will cover the DWI process from traffic stop to sentencing, including legal basis for traffic stop, field sobriety tests, identifying SFST mistakes, types of testing and the consequences for refusal of same, ALR hearing, pretrial proceedings, trial, sentencing and post conviction.

Cost: $40 member and $50 non-member

CLE Credit: 1 hour of CLE Credit, TBLS approved for Civil Trial Law, Criminal Law

https://txpd.inreachce.com/Details/Information/3e0bd8c6-5d57-49ef-af8a-8e91779d3ff8

06/21/2025

Join us on June 26, 2025, at 12:00 PM via Zoom for a free CLE that will provide a comprehensive overview of how to handle a car wreck case from start to finish, including practical steps for intake, investigation, and litigation. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of civil procedure essentials—such as deadlines, filing requirements, discovery, and trial preparation—that apply to every case. Whether you're a new paralegal or looking to refine your process, this session offers actionable guidance to keep your case on track and keep you organized.

06/11/2025

-ONLINE CLE OPPORTUNITY-

Presentation Information:

Date/Time: July 30, 2025, at Noon to 1:00 p.m. (CT)

Speaker: Laurel M. Smith
Kean Miller

Topic: Planning for Peace – Avoiding the Pitfalls of Probate Litigation and Family Conflict Over Your Estate

Description: This presentation will discuss practical approaches to estate planning from a litigator's perspective. Specifically, topics to be discussed are an explanation of how assets are distributed depending on the type of planning, benefits and drawbacks of having trusts, types of ancillary documents that are beneficial (such as Powers of Attorney), and tips for avoiding conflict with family members when considering how to set up your estate planning.

Cost: $40 member and $50 non-member

CLE Credit: 1 hour of CLE Credit, TBLS approved for Civil Trial Law, Estate Planning & Probate, Family Law

05/27/2025

-Travel to Rome with PD-
April 17-25, 2026
Early registration discount deadline is June 1st, see detail below.

05/25/2025

~2025-2026 Paralegal Division Membership Renewals~

This is notice from the Paralegal Division to all current 2024-2025 members of the Paralegal Division whose current membership expires on May 31, 2025. The membership renewal process for the Paralegal Division is entirely online.
You will NOT receive a paper renewal form. Beginning on May 1, 2025, online renewals will be available. AFTER you have completed and posted your CLE credits, log into your account on the PD Website, go to MyAccount and then to Renew Online to complete your renewal.

https://txpd.org/

Trusts and estates paralegals know the work doesn’t begin and end at getting the will and trust drafted. The only way the estate plan works is when it’s based on accurate information, signed and executed properly, and if it’s updated regularly. This legal guide covers the process from client i...

05/17/2025

-Online CLE Opportunity-

Presentation Information:

Date/Time: June 25, 2025 at Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Speaker: Ana Maria Schwartz
Schwartz Immigration Law, PLLC

Topic: Understanding Current Issues in Immigration

Description: The presentation will cover current issues in immigration. Immigration is perennially in the news. The topic is often grist for heated debates. But what are the rules governing immigration? Who gets to come, and where does one join the “line”? This presentation explores United States immigration law, including the current structure, challenges, and outlook for the future.

CLE: 1 hour of CLE credit, approved for TBLS credit in Civil Trial Law, Criminal Law and Family Law

Cost: $40 Members; $50 Non-Members

05/16/2025

-PD Travels to Italy-
April 17- April 25, 2026

Just a few highlights: Rome - Colosseum, Forum, Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica; Hydrofoil to Capri; Mozzarella Farm; Pompeii Tour; Naples museums and underground; education and networking; and so much more.

Copy and paste the following link into your browser for more details - https://acis.com/tripsite-trip-overview/?key=MjAyNnw2NDk3MQ==

We hope you join us for this exciting trip.

Check out this Trip Site for details on our upcoming travel adventure.

05/09/2025

Are you a TBLS Certified Paralegal?

Are you a paralegal that’s ready to advance your legal career? TBLS offers Board Certification to paralegals in 8 specialty areas! Join the nearly 400 Texas paralegals that have earned this prestigious designation. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/KzVm50VOynu

04/29/2025

-ONLINE CLE OPPORTUNITY-
You are invited to register for a Zoom webinar!

When: May 1, 2025 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Employment Law – The Paralegal’s Role

Webinar Speaker
Clara Luna Buckland, CP, AWI-CH (Paralegal Division Ambassador Paso Electric Company)

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ibqFRAx1TTyT-npQdVk0jQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

This presentation will concentrate on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended, and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, to include the exhaustion of administrative remedies, the affirmative defense under Faragher/Ellerth, and removal of a case to federal court. Clara will also provide some personal experiences.
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This presentation will concentrate on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended, and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, to include the exhaustion of administrative remedies, the affirmative defense under Faragher/Ellerth, and removal of a case to federal court. Clara will also provide some pers...