For generations, trial lawyers understood the courthouse as not only a venue for adjudication but also a forum for resolution. Trial judges would order parties to settlement conferences where pragmatic compromise frequently replaced prolonged litigation. (See In Re Caballero, 441 S.W.3d 562 (2014)). This innovation evolved into what we know as mediation, often considered a
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Sponsored Content: I Want to Grow My Firm, But How?
You want to grow your firm, but you also want to grow it the right way. I want to be able to hire staff, but not spend every waking hour training them. I want to draft my motions and orders, but I don’t want to get bogged down in the minutiae of drafting (like having…
Will AI Send Clients to Your Firm?
In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes marketing professionals Amanda Sexton and Zack McKamie to discuss effective marketing strategies for law firms. They talk about SEO tactics and what lawyers need to know about developing an advertising approach that makes sense for their individual law firm. Later, they…
Law-Backed AI: Aligning Artificial Intelligence With Human Values
In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes lawyer and technologist Damien Riehl to discuss what lawyers need to consider as artificial intelligence continues to evolve. AI is on track to surpass the intelligence of humans, promising significant impacts worldwide—and certainly within the legal profession. Riehl addressed legal professionals…
Texas attorneys’ AI use more than doubled since 2024, State Bar of Texas survey finds
The State Bar of Texas has released the results of its 2026 AI in the Practice of Law Survey. Chief among these, the survey found that AI use among Texas attorneys rose significantly from the bar’s last such survey in 2024, from 30% to 62%.
The complete survey report, including all questions and answers as…
Sponsored Content: What AI means for law firm hiring, staffing, and career paths
By 8am™ LawPay
Many legal professionals are already using AI tools to streamline routine drafting, preliminary research, and document review. According to the 2026 Legal Industry Report from 8am™, 69% of surveyed legal professionals say they personally use general-purpose AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude for work, up from 31% in 2025. At the firm level,…
Attorneys with AI questions can ‘Ask a Human’ in State Bar of Texas webinar April 15
The State Bar of Texas is hosting a free webinar for attorneys interested in learning about the use of artificial intelligence in the practice of law. The event, titled “Ask a Human: A Q&A Session on AI,” will take place April 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. CDT and requires advanced registration. To sign up, visit texasbarpractice.com and click the “Register Now” button at the top of the page. All attorneys and other legal professionals are welcome —…
Beyond the algorithm: how TRAIGA will rewrite AI governance in Texas
In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes trial lawyer Chris Schwegmann to learn about the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA), new Texas artificial intelligence (AI) legislation effective January 1, 2026. TRAIGA aims to regulate the development and deployment of AI systems in the state to address…
Texas: The Next Frontier for Legal Tech Innovation
Everything’s bigger in Texas—including its potential to redefine the future of legal practice.
According to a recent Smokeball survey on legal technology and wellness, Texas lawyers are ready for change. They’re more curious and less skeptical about adopting new legal technology than their peers across the country.
Roughly one in three Texas respondents identified as…
Mentoring in the Legal Profession: Lessons from Ben Franklin, Ernest Shackleton, and, most importantly, a witness
When I ask you who your mentors are, who comes to mind first? A law professor? A parent? A former boss? Unsurprisingly, my mentors have included all of these, but my definition of a mentor also includes people whose examples have become a part of who I am, even if I never had the opportunity…