Committee Information

Our Mission

To study the concerns of Texas lawyers with disabilities, as well as clients and members of the public, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas concerning ways in which the role of the disabled in Texas can be enhanced by improvement in programs and initiatives sponsored by the State Bar.

Our Goals

• Studying issues involving disabled attorney licensing fees and tax matters. Some attorneys with disabilities have requested that their State Bar dues and Professional taxes be waived or reduced due to their disability status and financial difficulties. The Committee is in the process of investigating these concerns and will determine if this is an area in which change is needed or recommended.
• Providing Continuing Legal Education for lawyers.
• Working with the State Bar Presidents on mental health for attorney issues. The State Bar President has introduced a new program called The Futures Program that will address the future of attorneys and the practice of law. The Committee is committed to working with the State Bar President to help him accomplish his goals with this program. The State Bar President Elect has already announced that she intends to work on issues (next year) dealing with attorney depression, burnout, suicide, and overall mental health concerns of lawyers in Texas. This project (next year) appears to be especially relevant to the Committee's work and we look forward to working with her on this program.
• Making the State Bar web site as accessible as possible
• Insurance issues for attorneys such as:
  • Coverage for mental and physical disabilities
  • Opportunity to obtain insurance if you have a physical or mental disability
  • Coverage for adult children with disabilities of attorneys
  • Coverage for same-sex partners of attorneys
  • Coverage for "members of households" of attorneys
  • Physical and mental parity issues regarding coverage and possible legislation