Texas And The Future Of Legal Education

China Trademarks: The Goldilocks Principle of When to Register When it comes to China trademark registration, timing is everything. File too late, and someone else might beat you to your own brand. File too early, and you risk losing your trademark for non-use. Like Goldilocks, you need to get it just right. The Cautious Client: Waiting on Government Approval An Australian client recently asked if they should register their brand name and logo as trademarks in China, even though their product hadn’t yet received Chinese government approval. Their concern? Spending money on trademarks they might never use. Their bigger concern? A trademark squatter registering their brand name before they could enter the market. Our advice was clear: You should absolutely register your brand name in China before disclosing it publicly or engaging any Chinese distributors. Once someone else sees value in your mark, they might register it first—and under China’s first-to-file…

PBS News Plaintiffs allege “GOP legislative leaders violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution when they enacted new electoral maps.” Republicans claim the maps are a legal partisan gerrymander. “Favorable rulings for the plaintiffs could force Republicans to redraw maps… Continue reading The post “Redistricting trial begins in North Carolina over allegations that GOP-enacted maps erode Black voting power” appeared first on Election Law Blog.

Like many in academia, I work and interact daily with people in their 20s.  Unsurprisingly, they, as a group, are now confronting feelings of fear, uncertainty, anger, and displacement, embarking into a new reality.  Long held American values are under vicious attack.  Their future is at stake.  So what should we counsel? Whether you believe in American Exceptionalism (that the United States is unique, distinct, or exemplary compared to other nations) or not, it is the case that America has stood as a symbol of enduring democracy and freedom, a beacon of hope, an economic engine, a source of technological marvels, an independent judiciary fueled by the rule of law, and a university system of world renown, in opposition to oppression and authoritarianism.  And while we have not always lived up to these ideals, they have illuminated policy and action. Through USAID and other mechanisms, the US has fought famine and disease throughout the world, funded…

Use this guide as a reference when filing lien and bond claim notices for the month of July. If you have any questions about the lien and bond claim process, don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of the Gray Reed Construction Practice Group. Be sure to subscribe to the Texas Construction Law Blog to automatically receive our monthly lien and bond guides, as well as other content related to legal issues impacting the construction industry. Lien and Bond Claim Notices and Filings Required by:July 15, 2025Texas Property Code Chapter 53Notice of Intent to Lien for Subs/Suppliers of All Tiers for Work/Materials Furnished During:  April 2025Liens Filed by Original Contractors and Subs/Suppliers of All Tiers for Work/Materials Furnished During:  March 2025Texas Government Code Chapter 2253Notice of Unpaid Claim for Subs/Suppliers of All Tiers for Work/Materials to GC Furnished During:  May 2025Notice of Unpaid Claim for Subs/Suppliers of All…

AI is shaking things up in the legal world and fast. In just a year, the number of legal professionals using AI tools jumped from 19% to a whopping 79%.People are catching on to how much time and effort these tools save, especially for repetitive tasks like contract review and research. Even clients are on board; 70% say they’re fine with or even prefer working with firms that use AI.This shift isn’t just a trend but the new normal. As AI keeps evolving, it’s clear that lawyers and firms who embrace these tools now will have a big advantage in the future.So, how can you get in on it? In this guide, we go over everything you need to know about legal AI, including the different types, benefits, and the best tools you can start with.What Is Legal AI?Legal AI is a technology designed to simplify and speed up legal work. It’s not meant to replace lawyers. These are tools that legal professionals need to handle repetitive tasks more efficiently.For instance,…

“Criminal: Motion to disqualify attorney for co-defendant is rejected” — “Where two executives of a home health agency were charged with health care fraud and money laundering, the COO’s motion to disqualify the attorney representing the owner was denied. The attorney previously represented the company, and not the COO. And the COO failed to show what, if any, information would be subject to attorney-client privilege.” “According to the indictments, Bryant-Taylor served as an owner, director, president and Chief Operating Officer of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare, a home health agency that provided private duty nursing and personal care throughout Virginia. Okocha was an owner, director, vice president and treasurer of 1st Adult.” “Bryant-Taylor now moves to disqualify attorney Robert Jenkins from representing co-defendant Okocha. Bryant-Taylor alleges that during Jenkins’ prior representation of 1st Adult,…

Digital Health Decolonizing Digital Health: Reclaiming Equity, Consent, and Governance in Global Health Innovation The digital transformation of health care is advancing at unprecedented speed. Artificial intelligence (AI), mobile health apps, and telemedicine promise to enhance more accurate diagnoses, streamline care delivery, and expand access to health services worldwide. Published June 16, 2025 Author Marcelo Corrales Compagnucci Share Share on LinkedIn Share on X Share on Facebook Share on Reddit The digital transformation of health care is advancing at unprecedented speed. Artificial intelligence (AI), mobile health apps, and telemedicine promise to enhance more accurate diagnoses, streamline care delivery, and expand access to health services worldwide. But in the Global South, these promises often collide with stark realities: colonial legacies, systemic inequalities, and uneven…

For the Balkinization symposium in honor of Ken Kersch Logan E. Sawyer III In 2020, I wrote a highly complimentary review of Ken’s Conservatives and the Constitution.  The book, I argued, was an insightful and novel explanation of perhaps the key issue in the history of post-war conservatism:  how did a loose and potentially fractious association of different viewpoints and interests become a unified and highly coordinated political movement?  It happened through the use of stories, Ken told us, stories about the Constitution, which were intentionally developed by movement intellectuals in a successful effort to build a conservative political identity.  The book was required reading, I thought, for anyone looking to understand the American Right and its relationship to the law and the constitution.  In retrospect, I was not nearly complimentary enough.  Changes in our politics since I wrote that review have made Conservatives and…

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker stated on Saturday that the country’s gun laws must be strengthened following a mass shooting earlier in the week. Stocker suggested multiple changes to the current gun policies, such as raising the minimum age for purchasing weapons and improving data sharing between officials to better identify warning signs. He also announced that the Austrian government will vote on plans to strengthen the gun laws, confirming that the cabinet will meet on June 18 to finalize a reform package designed to enhance public safety oversight. Additional proposed reforms include narrowing classifications for legal weapons and mandating stricter psychological evaluations. The proposed reform came after a mass shooting on Tuesday at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz that left at least 10 students dead and 12 injured before the gunman shot and killed himself. Stocker called the shooting a national tragedy that signified a…

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net Visit our website: www.wiselaw.net

A multi-vehicle accident can leave victims with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and legal questions about who is responsible for the damages. Determining liability becomes even more complex when crashes involve corporate trucks, hazardous road conditions, or multiple vehicles. Understanding liability, insurance claims, and legal options is critical if you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a truck accident. How Corporate Truck Accidents Lead to Major Legal Claims Accidents involving corporate trucks can result in challenging legal claims when injuries occur. Unlike passenger vehicle crashes, collisions involving commercial trucks often require an investigation into multiple insurance policies, corporate responsibility, and federal trucking regulations. Depending on the circumstances, liability may fall on one or more parties, including: Driver negligence. A truck driver who was speeding, distracted, or driving recklessly may be held responsible for damages.…

The Trump administration argues that the legal authority for sending military forces to Los Angeles is based on the president’s inherent Article II “protective power.” That authority would allow a president to use military personnel to protect federal buildings and federal personnel, according to decades-old opinions by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC).  However, there’s a catch: The same OLC opinions state clearly that the protective power can be exercised only if state and civilian authorities cannot or will not provide adequate protection. The required showing is consistent with the traditional American aversion to having the military involved in domestic civilian affairs. It is doubtful that the situation in Los Angeles could meet the test of necessity, particularly at the time that President Donald Trump federalized the California National Guard and sent in the Marines.  The state of California, however, has not…

Nazune Menka has posted “The Reparative Return of Treatymaking? Legal Norms, Native Nations, & the United States” on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This Article traces the various and conflicting legal norms that have influenced Indigenous Peoples Law over the last 400 years. While this Article builds upon several scholars at the nexus of Indigenous Peoples Law, constitutional law, and international law, it is the first to trace the thread of legal norms that weaves through history to the present. Through a nuanced recounting of legal history and storytelling, a clearer understanding of this field of law emerges that is important in at least two ways. First, conflicting legal norms have had an inordinate impact on the field, exacerbating Native Nation injustices over time. Second, the legal norms of diplomacy and shared sovereignty, which have roots in early western law and philosophy, have withstood the test of time and could provide legible and enforceable…

Editor’s Note: As Generative AI technologies increasingly shape enterprise workflows and public decision-making, the governance of data—its origins, usage, and accountability—faces mounting pressure. This article draws from the European Commission’s comprehensive 2025 report, Generative AI Outlook Report – Exploring the Intersection of Technology, Society and Policy (JRC142598), to examine the legal, ethical, and operational challenges emerging at the crossroads of data sovereignty and artificial intelligence. This narrative explores how models trained on vast, minimally curated datasets are exposing gaps in frameworks like the GDPR, particularly when it comes to consent, purpose limitation, and accountability. It delves into the increasing difficulty of tracking data provenance and ensuring compliance in systems where transparency often ends at the model boundary. For professionals in privacy, compliance, and information governance, the…

When you’ve poured your time, energy, and creativity into building a business, your name becomes one of your most valuable assets. It represents your brand, your reputation, and everything you’ve worked hard to create. But have you taken the legal steps to protect it? Registering a trademark for your business name isn’t just a formality, it’s a strategic move that can offer powerful legal and commercial advantages. Here’s why you should consider trademarking your business name. Exclusive Rights Nationwide When you register your business name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), you gain the exclusive right to use that name in connection with your goods or services across the entire country. That means no one else in your industry can legally use a confusingly similar name. Prevent Costly Legal Disputes Without a trademark, someone else could register a similar name and claim you’re infringing on their rights. This…

In the case of Steets v. Celebration Fireworks, Inc., (WCAB), No. 3 MAP 2024 (Pa. May 30, 2025) (Op. by Donohue, J.), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent in order to allow a new available of worker’s compensation claims to go forward. In this decision, the Supreme Court created new law and cleared the way for the estates of those individuals who died from work-related injuries to collect benefits related to claims for disfigurement and injury.Justice Christine Donohue authored the Opinion and was joined by Chief Justice Deborah Todd and Justices Kevin Dougherty, Sallie Updyke Mundy and Daniel McCaffery. Justices David Wecht and Kevin Brobson dissented in separate Opinions.Anyone wishing to review a copy of the Majority Opinion for this decision may click this LINK.Justice Wecht's Dissenting Opinion can be viewed HERE.Justice Brobson's Dissenting Opinion can be viewed HERE.Source: Article – “Pa. High Court…

Back in 2020, I wrote a post about the document that often starts a lawsuit: the complaint. My post focused on what complaints mean and how to read them. But I am updating the post to share some thoughts on strategy when drafting complaints, with the original post below.Some complaints make the news. And so some people write complaints with extra details or explanations that may not be legally necessary, but because their audience is the public or reporters, they include them. So people who draft complaints may want to consider who the audience is and people who read complaints may consider whether the author was trying to win a lawsuit or public opinion.If you read a lot of complaints, you may see some appear to have more details than others. And some appear more repetitive than others. A close read of these complaints may suggest how strong the factual case is: complaints that seem repetitive may indicate that the author is trying to obscure the fact she does not have…

A tragic house fire in Cicero claimed the lives of two residents on Saturday night, according to local police reports. An 81-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman died in the blaze, while a third person managed to escape by feeling along walls and sensing temperature changes in the smoke-filled home, according to Cicero Fire Chief Jim Perrin. The incident highlights the devastating speed at which residential fires can spread and the critical importance of fire safety measures in protecting lives. Emergency responders were called to the scene, but despite their efforts, two lives were lost in this heartbreaking incident. The original news report can be found here. Common Causes of Fatal House Fires Residential fires can occur for numerous reasons, and understanding these common causes is crucial for prevention: Electrical problems - Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, damaged extension cords, and defective electrical appliances Heating equipment issues - Improperly…