The Summons E-Newsletter

By: Sharon Almaguer

The Almaguer Law Firm

 

The HCBA would like to thank all of our guests who attended this year’s HCBF Law Day Gala honoring Lifetime Achievement Recipient, R.P. (Bob) Sanchez, as well as our other Law Day winners: HCBA Ethics Award- Gary Henrichson; HCBA John E. Cook Pro-Bono Award- James E. Darling; HCBA Liberty Bell Award- Samuel Milligan; and the HCBA Media Award- Joe Augustine & KRGV Channel 5 News.

 

The money raised at this year's Gala__________ will be used by the Hidalgo County Bar Foundation for its many charitable programs including our Law School Scholarships, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Holiday Toy Drive, Region One- Mock Trial Program, Wills for Heroes Clinic, and the Community Justice Program.

 

We extend a BIG thank you to our Benefactor for this event, First National Bank as well as to all of our Sponsors listed below for making this year’s Law Day Gala such a tremendous success.

 

HCBF LAW DAY GALA 2012

We thank the following generous law firms, individuals, and businesses for supporting the Hidalgo County Bar Foundation through its 2012 Law Day Gala charitable fundraiser.

 

BENEFACTOR -- $5,000

 

 

PLATINUM -- $2,500

 

GOLD -- $1,500

Jones, Galligan, Key & Lozano, L.L.P.

 

SILVER -- $1,000

BBVA Compass 

Reed, McLain & Guerrero, L.L.P.

 

BRONZE -- $500

Adams & Graham, L.L.P.

Almaguer Law Firm

Barrera, Sanchez & Associates, P.C.

Calvillo Law Firm, P.L.L.C

Cardenas & Stephen, L.L.P.

Dale & Klein, L.L.P.

Dotcom Technologies

Espinosa Law Firm

Guerra Law Firm

Guerra Mask, L.L.P.

Hill & Romero Certified Court Reporters

Hockema & Longoria, L.L.P.

Law Office of Alfred T. Denham

Law Office of Ramon Garcia

Lewis, Monroe & Pena, L.L.P.

Ramírez & Guerrero, L.L.P.

Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc.

Roerig, Oliviera & Fisher, L.L.P.

Willette & Guerra, L.L.P

 

By: Roberto "Bobby" Ramirez

The Ramirez Law Firm, PLLC

 

On April 12, 2012, the HCBA Civil Law Section hosted its 2012 Civil Trial Conference: Law in the Fast Lane, at the McAllen Convention Center.  Attorneys who attended the conference received CLE credit for their attendance and heard from a tremendous line up of speakers from inside and outside of the Valley, including Lisa Blue (Dallas, Texas), who spoke on jury selection, and Ed Chernoff (Houston, Texas), criminal defense attorney for Dr. Conrad Murray in the Michael Jackson death trial, who spoke on the impact of social media on juries. We would like to acknowledge our sponsors – Texas Trial Lawyers Association, The Association of Defense Counsel, Inc., and The James Street Group, for partnering up with the Hidalgo County Bar Association to make this event so successful. HCBA will continue its efforts to sponsor quality CLE for our lawyers. 

By: Joby J. Mills

First National Bank Trust Department 

 

The HCBA Estate Planning and Probate Law Section members hosted their annual Probate, Trust & Guardianship Law Course on April 27, 2012, at the University of Texas – Pan American in Edinburg, TX. We had another great group of speakers at this year’s seminar that the attendees thought were exceptionally informative. From all the great feedback that we have received, it is safe to say that the CLE was a great success. We would like to thank our sponsors, The University of Texas – Pan American Foundation and First National Bank Trust Department for helping the HCBA coordinate an impressive event.  A very special “thank you” to our committee members (Sharon Almaguer, Jose Cano, and Joby Mills) for all their help with making this CLE achieve its expectations.

By: C.J. Sanchez

HCBA Assistant Executive Director

 

The HCBA Staff and Board of Directors would like to extend big Congratulations to our very own Pablo Javier Almaguer and his new appointment by Bob Black to the Commission for Lawyers Discipline. Pablo has served as President of the Hidalgo County Bar Association and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  In 2008 he became the first legal services attorney to serve on the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas and in 2010 became the first Minority Director from Hidalgo County to be nominated Chair of the Board of Directors.  On September of this year he will begin a three year term on the Commission for Lawyer Discipline. Pablo has been a very instrumental member of not only the HCBA-HCBF, but as well as the State Bar of Texas and most importantly the community that he serves. Which are just a few of the reasons why he is very deserving of this appointment. Once again, Congratulations Pablo.

The HCBA Staff and Board of Directors would like to Congratulate Zuleida and Joseph Habbouche on the birth of their ADORABLE baby boy, Julian Zavier Habbouche, born April 18, 2012, 8 pounds 7 ounces, 21 inches.

 

By: Gregory Kerr

Jones, Galligan, Key & Lozano, L.L.P.

 

You received training for it in law school. You’ve seen it play out in the movies and on television. You’ve undoubtedly seen Joe Jamail’s “Texas Style Deposition” on YouTube (if you haven’t, stop reading this article and check it out). However, nothing can really prepare you for the real thing like actually taking one yourself. I had the opportunity to do just that earlier this week.

For those of you out there that have already taken one, you know that preparation is essential. While I had the great fortune of being under the tutelage of the mentors from my office, I still prepared for hours. This included reviewing the file in its entirety, developing and redeveloping my deposition outline, and organizing and preparing the documents that would be used as exhibits. But even after hours of preparation, I still had trouble sleeping the night before.

To make the whole process even more nerve-wracking, my boss told me he would be attending the deposition to watch me in action. While he is a great mentor, the fact that he would be there made me that much more nervous. Excitement and anxiety are a powerful combination.

As soon as the witness was sworn in, I had that first question ready to go. I immediately felt myself talking way too fast. Words started getting jumbled up, and I could not take my eyes off of my outline. I remembered that my boss warned me about getting ahead of myself and told me to formulate each question in my head prior to asking it. I knew I had to slow down or the deposition would have been a disaster. I took a deep breath and was determined to control the deposition as opposed to letting it control me.

It took about a half hour, but I finally calmed down. I started listening to the questions and answers and was able to rely less on my outline as the deposition continued. I was warned that first-time deposition-takers often fail to complete their question when interrupted by a deponent. During a break, my boss told me that I was doing exactly that. He reminded me to make sure to ask the entire question to ensure a clean record, and it was a good thing he did. After the deposition, I was told by the stenographer that after the first break I had corrected several problems that young lawyers have in depositions.

Overall, the experience was very beneficial. In my situation, I was lucky to have a very kind stenographer, a great mentor to guide me through the process, and an extremely gracious opposing counsel. While many of you may not have the great fortune of having these benefits at your first deposition, the following tenets remain true:

1. You are going to be nervous; there is no avoiding it.
2. Prepare as much as possible, and be familiar with the file.
3. Make a great outline, but do not depend on it. You must be able to adapt as the deposition progresses.
4. Always finish your question so as not to make a sloppy record. If you are interrupted, politely ask the deponent to allow you to finish your question.
5. The nervousness will fade by the end of the deposition.
6. Seek advice from those who have gone through the process; they know way more than you do.

I hope this article was helpful. For those of you that have already taken your first deposition, congratulations! For those who are still waiting, good luck!

 

By: CJ Sanchez

 

We have numerous employment opportunities listed on our HCBA Job Bank Online. 

If you are an attorney seeking employment with an area law office, or have a law firm and want to place an employment listing for an associate, please visit the HCBA Job Bank Online on the home page of our web site www.hidalgobar.org and view our current listings or submit your own classified.  IT’S SO EASY!  The HCBA Job Bank Online is a member service provided by the Hidalgo County Bar Association.