Courts often grapple with what the Legislature intended when it used particular words in a statute. Because the Legislature only speaks through its enactments, answering that question requires a number of tools and methods. Attorneys can give their clients the best advice and a distinct advantage in litigation by understanding and mastering statutory interpretation tools.
Law school is tough—just a few short years to decide the trajectory of your legal career. For Marshall Bowen, testing the legal waters through state court clerkships was the way to go. In this episode, Marshall joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to discuss his experiences clerking at Texas’s two highest state courts—the Texas
The Thirteenth Court of Appeals covers a vast area stretching from near Houston to the US/Mexico border. It even has chambers and hears cases in two locations—Corpus Christi and Edinburg. Thirteenth Court Justice Gina Benavides knows the territory well because she worked throughout it as a successful trial attorney for nearly 20 years before taking
Justice Paul Green served as an appellate justice for more than 25 years, both at the San Antonio Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. On the eve of his retirement, Justice Green joined Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to reflect on his past as a litigator in his family’s law practice, his time
Practicing law means staying on top of the latest trends and developments to keep yourself educated and provide the best possible service to your clients. Mike Whelan Jr., the CEO of Lawyer Forward, joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to talk about how lawyers can thrive in a changing legal environment and institute changes
So often, trial lawyers are expected to do it all when trying a case—prepping and examining witnesses, arguing motions, making objections, and preserving the record. This translates to early mornings, late nights, and opportunities for things to get overlooked. Having another set of eyes (and a different skill set) can not only lighten trial counsel’s
Texas has adopted standards for appellate conduct that go beyond the disciplinary rules governing all licensed attorneys. Making his second appearance on the show is the resident expert on this topic, Kevin Dubose of Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP. With his insider knowledge and insights, Kevin explains the impetus behind the aptly-named Standards for
Attorneys are skilled at painting pictures with words. But that can only get them so far. As technology has improved, so too has the opportunity to enrich briefing with visual aids—pictures, charts, videos, and animation. As courts move to electronic filings and briefs, attorneys who fail to adapt will get left behind. In this episode
Family law appeals can be tricky because the legal standards differ from ordinary civil cases. Taking us into the appellate component of family law, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders interview Michelle O’Neil of O’Neil Wysocki Family Law to answer some questions about what makes family law appeals special. Michelle dives deep into some of her
With a background as a U.S. Supreme Court law clerk, appellate practitioner, and Justice on Texas’s Fourteenth Court of Appeals, serving on the Texas Supreme Court seems like a natural fit for Justice Brett Busby. Today, he joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to share his experiences transitioning from the Court of Appeals to