Committees

This Committee shall encourage applications for membership in this Association and formulate and recommend plans for maintaining and increasing membership. It shall have the responsibility of giving effect to such plans as are approved by the Executive Board. The membership committee shall maintain and update the membership directory. The committee shall also submit the membership applications to the secretary for record-keeping.

Committee Chair: Bethel Zehaie: bethel@zehaielaw.com

This Committee shall report to the Association and/or Executive Board as frequently as needed on proposed legislation affecting the practice of law; and shall make recommendations on such proposed legislation; shall support and/or oppose any pending bills/ordinances before local municipalities, county governmental entities, the Texas State Legislature, and on the national level as directed by the Association or the Executive Board. The Committee may also propose or recommend new legislation to the Executive Board or Association. Said Committee may work with the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Association of African American Lawyers on legislation of mutual interest as directed by the Executive Board.

Committee Chair: Gwinda Burns: glblawoffice@yahoo.com

The Committee shall monitor the hiring, retention and promotion of people of color in city, county, district, and state levels of government and certain private entities. The Committee shall consider the nomination or appointment of any said office; oppose the nomination or appointment of candidates; and support qualified candidates as it deems or as directed by the Executive Board. The Committee may confer on the subject with other organizations, nominating committee, and with such political groups with similar interest in the matter; in the case of candidate’s appointment to any such office, with the public official in power of appointment is vested. It may, whenever in its occasion arises therefore, prepare a list of individuals qualified to hold any of the offices above, and may ascertain from members of the Association, or members of the local and State Bar, their choice or opinion as to the qualifications. The Committee shall from time to time report to the Executive Board, or to the Association as requested, and may make such recommendations as it may deem advisable.

Committee Chair: Bobbie Edmonds: goodverdict@msn.com

CLE. This Committee shall organize high-quality CLE courses in a comprehensive range of relevant topics to benefit every legal professional across the membership of the Association in order to aid members in advancing their legal knowledge and in meeting The State Bar of Texas CLE annual requirements.

Legal Clinic/Forum. This Committee shall provide vital help and support to disadvantaged communities and people of all socioeconomic levels through legal research, policy work and community legal education. The committee shall:

1. collaborate with law schools, community partners, law firms and/or public bodies to educate, support and promote community access to justice and legal services' needs;

2. develop, train and supervise community legal companions to participate responsibly and collaboratively as active citizens to support communities in which they live and work; and

3. collate information, transfer knowledge and share resources to promote social and legal advancement of underrepresented persons in public office, legislative reforms, issues of access to justice, academic and professional bodies.

Committee Chair: Faye Watson: law.and.more@att.net

This Committee shall have responsibility for planning the Association's Annual Banquet as well as other events as determined by the Executive Board or the President. The Committee shall have such other duties and responsibilities as are determined by the Executive Board or the President.

Committee Chair: Angel Williams: agwilliamslaw@gmail.com

This Committee shall have responsibility for planning the Association's special events as well as fundraising as determined by the Executive Board or the President. The Committee shall have such other duties and responsibilities as are determined by the Executive Board or the President. The aim of this committee shall be to drive and build membership and raise funds and provide networking opportunities.

Committee Chair: Christopher Tolbert: lcdlapresident@gmail.com

The Committee shall have responsibility for maintaining and enhancing the scholarship program which is supported by the Association. The Committee shall make recommendations to the Executive Board and membership with respect to the structure and qualifications for scholarship awards and recipients. The committee shall keep records of the applications submitted and correspond with the law school's Student Affairs Department, Financial Aid Department and BLSA Chapter and other relevant contacts to ensure notice of the scholarship was received and properly disseminated. The committee shall also submit a list of candidates for the scholarships available. The committee shall recommend a scholarship award amount. The committee shall draft a congratulatory acceptance letter to be approved by the President and reviewed by the Executive Board. The congratulatory letter shall be endorsed by the President, and by the committee-chair if available. It shall be the committee's responsibility to ensure the Secretary has a copy of all outgoing correspondence. The Committee shall have such other duties and responsibilities as are determined by the Executive Board or the President.

Committee Chair: Nicholas Coward: n_coward@sbcglobal.net

The Social Media Committee is responsible for developing, expanding and maintaining the Association's presence through social media, including the website, as a viable marketing platform. The mission of the Social Media Committee is to produce and promote Internet-based materials and resources to better showcase the activities of the Association to the members and to the public.

Committee Chair: Arielle Williams: awilliams87@tamu.edu

The Newsletter is a vehicle used to disseminate information about Association's business and purposes and other matters of interest to our members. The newsletter committee shall encourage the general membership to submit articles for each newsletter. The committee shall generate a regularly published electronic newsletter. The committee shall send an email notification setting a deadline to submit information for publication in the newsletter. The Newsletter Chair will assign members of the Committee to be a designated Editor for one or more issues to ensure consistency and formatting.

Committee Chair: Angel Williams: agwilliamslaw@gmail.com
Committee Co-Chair: Douglas Greene: dgreene@greenlawfirm.net

This Committee shall focus on community based issues that challenges and changes systems which promote economic and social poverty and discrimination. It thrives to enhance and enrich the condition of our county by bringing a voice and providing legal services such as representation to those under-represented, to promote equal justice, economic development, housing education and supportive services to those traditionally under-served and/or live in disadvantaged communities.

The Social Action Committee will serve as a voice of LCDLA by providing a legal perspective on issues faced by people of color in Tarrant County, Texas. The Social Action Committee shall be proactive and will put forth vision that will seek to not only respond but head off issues. The Social Action Committee shall be productive and empower LCDLA to make a difference in our community, city state and nation. The Social Action Committee shall be progressive in building upon our positive tradition and moving forward through confrontation and collaboration with other legal associations.

1. Any cause to be taken on the Social Action Committee may be presented to the Board by any LCDLA Member or the Committee itself. However, the Board must approve the Committee taking on a cause by a majority vote;
2. The Board must approve all action taken by the Committee on behalf of or in the name of the Association;
3. The Board may grant the Committee broad authority to carry out all necessary duties entailed in its representation of the Association on a certain matter or cause;
4. An emergency vote may be taken to grant the Committee authority to act on behalf of the Association for matters which require an urgent response. In such cases, a majority vote of the participating Board Members is required. All Board Members need not be present and the vote need not take place in a Board Meeting.

Committee Chairs: Albert Roberts mr.albert.roberts@gmail.com and MarQuetta Clayton mclayton@theclaytonlaw.com