In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes State Bar of Texas Immediate Past President Cindy Tisdale, President Steve Benesh, and President-elect Santos Vargas to learn more about their efforts for fellow lawyers and their desire to address unmet needs in the profession throughout the state. They also discuss the history of the State Bar of Texas, explain the current structure and operation of the organization as a whole, and share how Texas legal professionals can get more involved in bar programs.
Cindy Tisdale is a partner with Goranson Bain Ausley. She is certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Tisdale was chair of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors in 2013-2014. She also served as chair of the Texas Bar Foundation and chair of the Family Law Section in 2017-2018. Tisdale is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a past president of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and a fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Steve Benesh, who earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, is a 35-year lawyer and has spent his entire legal career at Bracewell, becoming a partner in 1995. A frequent author and lecturer on legal topics, his practice is focused on business litigation and commercial disputes. Benesh began his service to the profession over 20 years ago as a member of the Austin Bar Association, culminating in his service as Austin Bar president in 2006-2007. Thereafter, he served on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors from 2008 to 2011 and chaired the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in 2014, for which he received a Presidential Citation.
Santos Vargas is a former chair of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, a former vice-chair of the Texas Bar Journal Board of Editors, past chair of the Local Bar Services Committee, and past president of both the San Antonio Bar Association and the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association. He is also a member of the Dallas, Austin, and Tarrant County Bar Associations and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Vargas is an experienced trial lawyer with a statewide fiduciary and business litigation practice and an equity partner in Davis & Santos. He earned his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law and his undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s University.
Listen to the episode here:
The State Bar of Texas Podcast is produced in association with the Legal Talk Network.