SAYLA Committees

Community Justice Program The San Antonio Bar Association created the Community Justice Program in order to provide pro bono services to the San Antonio community on uncontested matters. The Program is ongoing throughout the year and recreates the Bexar County Courthouse at the Carver Academy and St. Mary's University. SAYLA typically adopts one night in February at the Carver Academy for its members to volunteer their legal services on a pro bono basis.

Call-A-Lawyer In Conjunction with Law Week, SAYLA hosts its Call-A-Lawyer program. The program is hosted and advertised by a San Antonio television station. During the half day program, attorneys volunteer one hour of their time to come "man the phones" to help San Antonio citizens who have legal questions. The program is designed to assist callers by providing general information about the law and get the caller to attorneys or agencies who can assist them with their legal problem.

Community Initiatives Throughout the year, SAYLA asks its members to collect travel-size toiletries from their travels in order to fulfill our SAYLA Cares project. The collected items are sorted into gift bags that are delivered to the Family Violence Prevention Services (Battered Women's Shelter) in December of each year.

High School Mock Trial Tournament Starting in 2003, SAYLA sponsored the San Antonio High School Mock Trial Tournament in conjunction with the Education Service Center. In this project young lawyers serve as coaches for an area high school mock trial team, helping them learn how to prepare a case for trial. Last year more than 120 high school students participated in the competition and more than 80 attorneys and judges volunteered to either coach a team or judge at the competition.

Golf Tournament Each summer SAYLA hosts its Annual Golf Tournament. The proceeds from the Golf Tournament benefit a different local charity each year. The donations are made possible through contributions from local law firms and businesses, as well as the registration fees paid by the golfers. The Golf Tournament is generally held at the Canyon Springs Golf Club and benefits Child Advocates of San Antonio (CASA).

Courthouse Tour/Judicial Reception Each fall, SAYLA offers attorneys and law students a half-day tour of the Bexar County Courthouse. Attendees receive instruction by local judges about Bexar County's presiding court system, a tour of the facilities, and a written guide to the Bexar County court system. This event is made possible by the participation of Bexar County judiciary, the District Clerk and the County Clerk. Following the Courthouse Tour, SAYLA hosts a reception for the San Antonio legal community at Club Giraud. It is a great event for networking and meeting federal, district and county judges.

Counselors & Cocktails Counselors & Cocktails is an annual event held to raise funds for the Special Olympics Texas. This event is a happy hour held at a local hot spot for the legal community and features drinks, food, music and a silent auction. Counelors & Cocktails is a favorite of the local judiciary. To date, SAYLA has raised over $20,000 for this worthy cause. This year the event will be held in the spring.

Participation on one of SAYLA's committees provides an opportunity to meet other young lawyers in San Antonio and to make a difference in the community.

To get involved in one of these committees, click on the name of the director listed next to the committee. For information on each committee click on its name.

MEMBERSHIP

Social Events (Happy Hours, Spurs Games, etc.) Cyrus Rea
Newsletter Michael Agnese
Website Lawrence Morales II
Speakers/Monthly Luncheons Benjamin Cooke
SAYLA Salutes Nomination Lawrence Morales II

COMMUNITY SERVICE/PRO BONO

SPECIAL EVENTS

*Click program names in green for details