AYLA Mid-Bar Year Update

AYLA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

BY DAVID KING, GRAVES DOUGHERTY HEARON & MOODY

Congratulations! We’re halfway through the 2020-21 bar year. Six months ago, I wrote that the year was going to be very different for AYLA—just as it has been for everyone. I also wrote that, with so many of its signature programs disrupted by the pandemic, AYLA would need to innovate in order to keep its members engaged and fulfill its mission of justice through service to the profession and the community.

Well, how have we been doing? I’m not exactly an impartial observer, but I’d say we’ve done pretty well so far, thanks to an awesome and engaged board (and, of course, the unwavering dedication of AYLA's director, Debbie Kelly). Here are some of the highlights of the past six months:

Docket Call: This was a tough one. How do you continue AYLA’s monthly, open-bar happy hours when you are in the middle of a pandemic? The answer is, you can’t. But what we did—thanks to the leadership of our Docket Call Committee (shout-out to Sarah Harp)—was to come up with a variety of different virtual events, like trivia night, movie night, and a mixology class with the general manager of Star Bar. Will we go back to our traditional happy hours after the vaccine rollout? Yes, we’re all counting the days. But, in the meantime, it’s been a lot of fun to see these monthly events come together.

Equity Committee: AYLA has welcomed the opportunity to support and contribute to the Austin Bar’s Equity Committee. Special thanks go to AYLA board members and Equity Committee leadership team members Cathy Garza and Jenna Malsbary for their work, including, most recently, their virtual book club discussion on How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi.

MLK Day of Service/ Community Service Days: This is one we miss a lot and which is difficult to replicate virtually. But our community-service committees have done a great job of providing opportunities for our members to safely give back. As I write this column, over 30 spots have been filled by volunteers for our MLK Day of Service, which will benefit 11 Austin non-profits. I’m particularly happy to see all of those who signed up to give blood at the We Are Blood mobile blood drive at Hilgers House on Jan. 18, 2021.

CLE Programming: This is the area that was probably the most adaptable to the Zoom era. AYLA took advantage of this by increasing its CLE programming. We collaborated with the Austin Bar on large CLE programs, including the Couch Bar conference and the Government Law Symposium. In partnership with the UT Law School Board of Advocates, we hosted a CLE on Zoom Court Proceedings with Judge Crump and Judge Cantú Hexsel. And we also partnered with VLS to host a CLE to prepare attorneys to volunteer for VLS’s newly implemented phone clinic.

Fundraising efforts: The pandemic forced AYLA to postpone one of its most popular events last year, Runway for Justice, which also serves as a major fundraising event for the organization. Luckily, our board members had some great ideas for other ways to keep AYLA’s members engaged, and also raise some money for the organization. One great event was the virtual cooking class hosted by Bramwell Tripp, former pitmaster at Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar. Another fundraiser we held was Race Judicata, a virtual 5K. Thanks to everyone who participated and contributed!

Evening with the Judiciary and Holiday Program: Please see page 23 for more details.

Here at AYLA, we’re making the most of a unique bar year. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it. And, if you haven’t come to one of our events yet, please join us! We’re excited about what’s to come in 2021. AL

David King, Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody