For Part One of this interview, click here. This video is an excerpt from the WINNING WITH STORIES: JIM PERDUE LIVE DVD.

Annually, the international organization Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA) offers “best” awards in five categories that recognize the contributions of its professional member organizations. TexasBarBooks has received three of only 18 awards granted to competitors representing more than 300 organizations.

TexasBarBooks was chosen for the Award for Professional Excellence in the Marketing Category for enhancing our online presence in order to provide easily accessible information about our products and services to customers through the TexasBarBooks.net website. The award for Professional Excellence is the top prize; only one is awarded in each category of prizes.

TexasBarBooks was chosen for an Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Publications Category for Essentials of Texas Water Resources. Published in October 2009, Essentials of Texas Water Resources brings together a number of experts, including experts outside the legal profession, to address the subject of water resources from a variety of perspectives.

Finally, TexasBarBooks was chosen for an Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Public Interest Category for our “TexasBarBooks’ Books 4 Pro Bono” initiative, which offers free and deeply discounted Texas Family Law Practice Manuals to lawyers who attend the “Family Law Essentials for $200 or Free” seminar and agree to take on pro bono cases in underrepresented areas of the state.

The awards will be presented at ACLEA’s 46th Annual Meeting, which will take place in New York City at the end of July.

We are excited to announce that TexasBarBooks is making the transition from CD-ROMs to downloadable digital products. Not only will this allow us to release our titles more quickly, but it is another way we can reduce our environmental impact.

This transition means:

• Easier Access. You can stop lugging your CD-ROMS around with you. You’ll be able to access your library of digital titles from anywhere you have a computer with an internet connection.
• Availability on Demand. When you purchase TexasBarBooks products online, you will be able to instantly download the digital product—no more waiting for your CD-ROM to be shipped.
• Faster Publication Time. By eliminating the CD-ROM production time, we can now publish titles and get them into your hands much faster.
• Up-To-Date Information. Downloadable products allow us to more efficiently provide you with updates.
• Less Environmental Impact. By eliminating CD-ROMs fewer materials are consumed during production, and no outdated CDs will be sent to landfills when the book’s next edition is released.

The digital products will contain all of the great content that you’ve come to expect from TexasBarBooks in a format that’s faster, easier and greener. (And if you really miss shiny plastic discs, you can easily burn your own CD-R from the digital files!)

Look For This Symbol…

Any products that are marked with this symbol are available as a digital product and can be purchased and downloaded immediately!

Sharon Sandle, Director of TexasBarBooks interviews Doug Caroom, Robin Smith and Ed McCarthy about their work on Essentials of Texas Water Resources.

The Supreme Court of Texas has posted revised proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct on its website (Click here and scroll down for April 2010 revisions and related documents). The State Bar expects to conduct a referendum of its members this fall on these proposed changes.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Ray Cantu (ray.cantu@texasbar.com).

A new third edition of the Texas Family Law Practice Manual is scheduled for release in May!

Some of the exciting new features of the third edition include:

• 41 additional forms
• New chapters on the Military Duty of Conservator and Authorization Agreements for Nonparent Relatives
• Significant enhancements to the digital product

And here’s a free form from the manual, the Collaborative Participation Agreement.

Preorder the new edition of the Texas Family Law Practice Manual today!

Watch the first part of an interview with legendary Texas trial lawyer Jim M. Perdue.

This video is an excerpt from the WINNING WITH STORIES: JIM PERDUE LIVE DVD.

David Ashmore has worked as a publications attorney for TexasBarBooks for almost 11 years. He’s contributed to a number of publications over the years, the most recent being Bankruptcy Road Map: Navigating the Landscape, Avoiding the Pitfalls and Arbitration Road Map: A Guide to Clauses, Procedures, and Hearings.

You volunteer for CASA of Travis County. What does a CASA do?

CASA volunteers act as the eyes and ears of the court in making a determination of what is in a child’s best interest. It generally works like this: when a situation arises wherein local child protective services decide to remove a child from the home, the legal system will be involved. Early on in the process, the court will appoint CASA to advocate for the child throughout the duration of the case, which usually will last for one year. As a CASA volunteer, my duties include not only getting to know the child, but also principal people in the child’s life, such as the child’s parents, teachers, and medical providers. I also prepare status reports for the court on the progress of child.

How long have you been a CASA? How has your role changed since you first started out?

I’ve been a CASA volunteer since July 2009. Before my appointment, I was required to complete 30 hours of instruction, plus 5 hours of court observation. My training was geared toward the typical situation where a child is removed from the home and is temporarily placed with relatives or in foster care so that parents can do what is necessary over time to be reunited with the child. However, I was assigned to a case involving an older teen who was not going to be reunited with his family. Accordingly, my role has been to mentor and help prepare this young man for adult living when he turns 18. He’s really a bright kid and is on track to graduate from high school this spring. He plans to attend college in the fall, so I’m helping him to stay on track and realize his goals.

What do you find most rewarding or interesting about volunteering your time to this organization?

One of the more interesting aspects is being able to work with a great group of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children who’ve been dealt a pretty bad hand. I see some of these kids and their circumstances and it makes me realize just how minor my problems are in comparison. There is that saying, “Think globally, act locally.” I may not be able to change the world, but I might be able to help make a difference in one kid’s life. That is my reward.

What advice do you have for people interested in volunteering to be a CASA?

The advice I would give is that you have to keep a very open mind and reserve judgment about a particular issue until all the facts are in. It is very easy to come to a snap decision when you see or read something about a family situation, but until you know all the factors involved, you run the risk of making an ill-informed recommendation to the court.

What are you reading now?

I’m finishing up on The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck, in preparation for my vacation overseas. I’m also looking for some good detective novels to read while flying. Got any suggestions?

For more information, visit CASA of Travis County.

The newly updated Texas Collections Manual provides everything you need for your debt collection law practice. The 2010 supplement reflects the statutory changes made by the 2009 legislative session and relevant case law decided since publication of the 2008 supplement.

And here’s a free download from the manual: the Bankruptcy Checklist takes you through a list of questions you should be asking if you find that bankruptcy has become an issue for your client.

Legendary Texas trial lawyer Jim M. Perdue draws on his forty-plus years of courtroom experience to show novice and veteran lawyers alike how to tell a powerful and motivating story.

This video is an excerpt from the Winning With Stories: Jim Perdue Live DVD.