News

YOUNG LAWYER'S SALARY SURVEY

   In today's economy, it is imperative for young lawyers and the employers hiring them to know how much a young attorney can reasonably expect to earn during their first few years of practice. Unfortunately, such information has been generally unavailable, and what information has been forthcoming, is often skewed by articles and advertisements focusing only upon the few largest law firms in the biggest cities.

    Accordingly, in 2009, the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, in collaboration with the Career Services Offices at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, conducted a voluntary Young Lawyers Survey of those young attorneys practicing within Tarrant County. The goal of the survey was to gather information about Tarrant County's legal market to assist young lawyers entering the profession as well as local employers looking to hire young attorneys.The survey included inquiries designed to provide some perspective on the expectations of young lawyers and their employers with respect to compensation and employment requirements. The results of the survey are provided for your interpretation and review by clicking here. In addition, correlations between (1) size of employer and salary, and (2) years of practice and salary, have been provided.

    We wish to thank our members who participated in the survey, the committee who coordinated the survey and our past presidents, Caroline Harrison, Leslie Hunt, Theresa Berend, and Jennifer Willingham. We look forward to improving the survey in the years to come.

CAROLINE HARRISON NAMED OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYER

    Caroline Harrison, an associate with Cantey Hanger, has been named the 2010 Outstanding Young Lawyer by the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association.

    The award recognizes a young lawyer (under 36) that demonstrates professional proficiency, service to the profession and service to the community. It is voted on by past presidents of the FW-TCYLA and the honoree is under consideration for the statewaide award, which will be announced June 11 during the State Bar of Texas convention in Fort Worth.

    "This is a real tribute to Caroline's contribution to the Bar and her reputation as an outstanding lawyer among her peers," said Pollard Rogers, Cantey Hanger's Managing Partner.

    Harrison was president of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association for a term during 2008. She is on the Board of the Tarrant County Bar Association, a trustee with Speedway Children's Charities, and is a volunteer with the Fort Worth Young Lawyer's Mentor Program and Junior Achievement. She has done pro bono work for the Presbyterian Night Shelter and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas.

    "I believe it is our responsibility as lawyers to provide service to our profession and to the communities in which we live and work," Harrison said. "I am honored to be selected by my peers for this award."

    Harrison's practice areas are employment law, commercial litigation, and health and insurance law.

    Previously, she has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star (2009) by Texas Monthly magazine, a 40-Under-40 (2008) by the Fort Worth Business Press and a Top Attorney (2008) by Fort Worth, Texas magazine.

    She received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington and juris doctor from Texas Wesleyan School of Law in 2004.

Local Attorney Steve Hayes Named 2010 Outstanding Mentor

The Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association has selected Steven K. Hayes to receive its Outstanding Mentor Award for 2009-2010. The Association gives the award based on services as a role model to young lawyers, fostering the development of young lawyers, and contributing significantly to the legal profession and the community. Steve has an appellate practice at his firm, the Law Office of Steven K. Hayes, in Fort Worth.

In addition to his quarter-century practice of listening to, advising, and guiding young lawyers, Steve has spent the past year making use of his office as President of the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court to mentor to young lawyers. Included in his mentoring efforts this year were his "Lunch with the President" series of meetings with Associates in the Inn, and his work with Dean Fred White and Assistant Dean Arturo Errisuriz of the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law to establish an internship program with local trial court judges for recently licensed graduates of the Law School.

A practitioner who has handled cases from the trial courts to the Supreme Courts in both state and federal system, Steve is a frequent lecturer on appellate and other legal issues at the local and state levels. He is a current Council Member of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section and is active in many aspects in the Tarrant County Bar Association. Steve is a former Chair of the Tarrant County Bar Association Appellate Section, a former Director of both that Bar and Bell-Lampasas-Mills County Bar Association, and is a former President of the B-L-M Young Lawyers Association. Steve received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1980 and his B.A. from Austin College summa cum laude in 1977. He and Mary, his wife of 26 years, have a son, Drew, who is a film maker and an honors graduate of Austin College, and a daughter, Jennifer, who recently finished the special education program at Western Hills High School.

NEW OFFICERS ELECTED AT FEBRUARY LUNCHEON

The Spring 2010 FW-TCYLA Officers and Directors were elected at the February 12th YLA Luncheon. They are as follows: President, Brooke Ulrickson; President-Elect, James Korth; Vice President, John Brender; Secretary, Cory Halliburton; Treasurer, Laura Docker, and Immediate Past President, Jennifer Willingham. The Directors are: Vincent Circelli, Jenny Gravley, Robert Holman, Justin Huston, Becky Mata, Gregory Monroe, Heather Ogier, and John Shaw. See Directors tab for more information on these officers.

HALO HOUSE

Please bring a children’s book, stuffed animal, or both* to these upcoming FWTCYLA events:
        Membership Luncheon on November 17 at Reata
        Happy Hour on November 12 (So7)
    If you can’t make it to these FWTCYLA events, but still want to donate, drop off your favorite children’s book or stuffed animal at the bar office.     The Family Law Courts give the donated bears and books to children as adoption gifts on National Adoption Day and during adoptions throughout the year!

*No battery operated items please