From the Chair

I am pleased to serve as the 2008-2009 Chair of the State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Law Section. This year marks the Section’s 60th anniversary. Since 1948, our Section has served as a neutral forum for the practice of labor and employment law in Texas, including representatives of management, unions, and individual employee, neutrals and academics, and students involved or interested in our practice area. Our membership includes experienced specialists as well as newcomers to this area of law. Through our Section, we have consistently laid partisanship differences aside to further the interests of the legal community and society as a whole with respect to labor and employment law issues.

It is my goal for our Section to continue to serve as a leader in educating our members and the public, facilitating access to legal services, and promoting awareness concerning labor and employment law. Our 60 year history has witnessed dramatic growth and change in the practice of employment and labor law and the future will, no doubt, continue this trend. As in the past, our Section will be a integral force for the improvement of our practice area in Texas.

Our educational programs include our Annual Update, newsletters, and webcasts. The Section has also developed a members-only data base of jury charges in labor and employment law cases. The Section funds two summer student internships for pro bono providers and a law review award for the outstanding labor and employment law article published by a Texas law school law review. The Section also makes significant grants to pro bono providers for employment programs and awards a limited number of tuition scholarships for our Annual Update program to pro bono providers. The Section has a representative on the Supreme Court Task Force for Legal Access.

The Section has several standing committees that seek the assistance of members. These include membership, law review award, pro-bono, history, web-site, jury charge data base, and CLE. We encourage all members to become involved. If you wish to volunteer or have suggestions, please contact me or any other member of the Labor and Employment Law Section Council.

It has been an honor to serve on the Council. I have much enjoyed the hard work, service, and collegiality of the Council. I also acknowledge the outstanding leadership and contributions of my predecessor Chairs, including most recently Genice Rabe. I strive to carry forward their work and good spirit.

Patrick Maher