Lawyer Volunteers and Earns a "Standing Ovation"

Houston, TX, April 02, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Houston attorney and executive coach Debra Bruce was honored this month by the State Bar of Texas for her exceptional contributions in 2007 to the Bar’s continuing legal education efforts. Ms. Bruce was one of nine volunteer lawyers receiving an award from the staff of TexasBarCLE, the Bar’s division for providing continuing legal education and one of the premier providers in the nation.

The award, a handsome cobalt blue obelisk, is inscribed with “A Standing Ovation — Staff Appreciation for an Outstanding Volunteer of 2007.” It also bears Ms. Bruce’s name, the logo for TexasBarCLE, and the seal of the State Bar of Texas. Ms. Bruce is among the first to ever receive this award.

Patrick Nester, Director of TexasBarCLE, explained the significance of the award. “It is a recognition by the staff of individuals who have stood out this last year for their extraordinary commitment — of time, of leadership — and for the inspiration and insights they provided.”

A great advocate for the Bar’s Law Practice Management Program (LPM), Debra Bruce has excelled at meeting the program’s needs whenever possible. Ms. Bruce often visits with local bar associations on LPM’s behalf when its staff is unavailable to do so, handling four such speaking engagements last year alone. She regularly speaks at LPM’s course, “Planning to Conquer the Real World of Private Practice,” conducted at most Texas law schools. In addition, she participated in four of the six law school programs that LPM was invited to in 2007. She facilitated table topics at breakfast discussions hosted by LPM at various Advanced Courses produced by TexasBarCLE. She appeared in live webcasts as needed. Finally, as LPM began planning its first-ever two-day course, Ms. Bruce readily volunteered as a speaker and helped recruit other speakers.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of what we do,” Nester continued. “Hundreds graciously give of their time and expertise to help each year. Without them, continuing legal education from the State Bar wouldn’t be nearly as high quality, as abundant, or as affordable. It’s one of the great manifestations of lawyers giving back to the legal profession.”

Lawyers must earn 15 hours of continuing legal education each year in order to maintain a license to practice law in Texas. LPM can be reached at 800-204-2222 extension 1302.

Debra Bruce is President of Lawyer-Coach LLC, which offers programs and coaching to lawyers and law firms across the U.S. and Canada on the practice management issues lawyers face, including business development, time management and people management skills. Debra Bruce, JD, PCC, practiced law 18 years before becoming a trained Executive Coach in 2000. She is the outgoing Chair of the Law Practice Management Section of the Houston Bar Association. For more information about Debra Bruce, go to www.lawyer-coach.com.

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