Volume 11, Issue 9
TCAA 2016 Fall Conference in Austin
The Texas City Attorneys Association (TCAA) Fall Conference will be held in conjunction with the TML Annual Conference and Exhibition on October 6, 2016, at the Austin Convention Center. Topics will include: (1) EEOC complaints; (2) Fair Housing Act; (3) BBCA Appeal Group v. City of Houston; (4) disability law and municipal zoning; (5) ethics; (6) “debtors prison” litigation; and (7) recent state and federal cases. Attorneys can earn up to 5 MCLE hours, including 1 ethics hour.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER. (Note: The schedule for the TCAA program is available under “Affiliate Programs,” and most attorneys who will not be attending the entire TML Annual Conference and Exhibition will want to choose the “one-day registration” option, which is $160 for TML members.) If you have questions or need more information, please contact Heather Ford at 512-231-7400 or ford@tml.org.
TCAA to Fill Board Position on October 6, 2016
Those interested in applying for a place on the board of the Texas City Attorneys Association should fill out an application and return it via email to Scott Houston at shouston@tml.org. Application forms are available here and under the “About TCAA” tab, “Board of Directors” section, on the TCAA website at www.texascityattorneys.org and must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 19, 2016.
TCAA Adds Paralegal and Law Clerk Memberships!
At the 2016 summer conference, the TCAA membership approved the addition of two new membership classes. A person is eligible to be a “Paralegal Member” if he or she meets the definition of “paralegal” as promulgated by the State Bar of Texas, is employed by an active, associate, or honorary member, and is interested in the representation of municipalities and the general improvement of municipal law practice and the purpose of TCAA. A person is eligible to be a “Law Clerk (Student) Member” if he or she is enrolled at an accredited law school and is interested in the representation of municipalities and the general improvement of municipal law practice and the purpose of TCAA. For more information, visit http://texascityattorneys.org/tcaa-membership-information.
UCLA Section 1983 Survey
UCLA School of Law Professor Joanna Schwartz is conducting research from city attorneys about the amount of time that law enforcement defendants spend on Section 1983 litigation brought against them. She has created a very brief survey, and has requested that TCAA members take a few moments to complete it.
Save the Date – Upcoming TCCFUI Seminar & Reception
The 2016 TCCFUI annual seminar and 25th anniversary reception will take place on October 20-21 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Houston Hobby Airport. The annual seminar is designed to cover a broad range of current telecommunications, gas and electric utility issues of interest to cities. For questions regarding the seminar and reception, contact Alisa Talley at 832.393.8531 or TCCFUI@gmail.com.
IMLA Annual Conference
The International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) will be holding its 81st Annual Conference in San Diego, CA from September 28 to October 2, 2016. Not only will this program have cutting edge hot topics, there will also be a code enforcement program and an Institute for Local Government Lawyers Program (ILGL). Even better, your state qualifies for a discounted rate because an attorney from your state is receiving an IMLA award! Register today to take advantage of this great “award special” rate. Click here to register. (Note: IMLA’s headquarters hotel is SOLD OUT. However, IMLA has secured a great rate ($189) with the Double Tree just down the road, accessible via shuttle, in Little Italy with fabulous amenities. Click here to make your reservation.)
IMLA Membership
Membership with IMLA doesn’t just mean discounts to their events such as the upcoming one in San Diego, CA. It’s much more than that. Click here to view a quick video about IMLA membership.
FREE CLE!
2016 TCAA Summer Conference Sessions are Available Online
The TCAA Online Seminars are FREE, allowing TCAA members who are city attorneys, assistant city attorneys, or attorneys who regularly practice municipal law to view videos of past seminars in a single–session format. Viewing of the session allows attorneys to receive participatory CLE credit with the State Bar. To view available seminars, please visit www.tcaaonlineseminars.org. (Use the case-sensitive password “FreeCLE” to gain access to the sessions.)
If you would like to have an article considered for publication in the TCAA newsletter, please send your request to Christy Drake-Adams at christy@tml.org.