HIPLA and the University of Houston IPIL are planning an exciting, not-to-be-missed program for 2020.  This year's Fall Institute will feature keynote speaker The Honorable Jeffrey V. Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and diversity speaker The Hon. Wallace Jefferson, Alexander Dubose Jefferson LLP (former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court), and many more outstanding speakers and panelists.  We are seeking 13 - 15 hours of participatory credit, which includes 3 - 4 hours of ethics of Texas Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit from the State Bar of Texas.  View our Program Brochure for more information on this year’s program.

This year’s Fall IP Institute will enable attendees to participate either in-person or virtually. For those participating in-person, we are working with the Moody Gardens Hotel to make the conference safe and enjoyable as always. The in-person program is fully supported by Moody Gardens, who complies with the COVID-19 CDC guidelines as well as the related state and local requirements.  Pursuant to City of Galveston Orders, masks are required for all employees and visitors at Moody Gardens. They also provide enhanced cleaning services, six feet of social distance between attendees, hand-sanitizer stations, and individualized food offerings.  In addition, Moody Gardens has provided one-way walking paths inside the ballroom, personal handwashing, personal temperature checks, and same seating throughout the day.

If you choose to attend virtually, you will have access to all of the presentations in real-time. We hope to have your support through participation in either mode. Our virtual program is supported by a trio of robust platforms: Whova, Zoom, and Wild Apricot.  The services are top notch and will offer a seamless user-friendly interface, as well as group meet-up options. Please join us!

HIPLA successfully hosted a virtual Southern Regional Competition of the 2020 Giles Sutherland Rich Moot Court Competition on March 20-21, 2020.  The University of Texas team of Sarah Propst and Michael Schiller won the competition, while the Washington University in St. Louis team of Peter Jochens and Otto Bartsch finished second. The Washington University in St. Louis team also had the best Appellee brief. The University of Arizona team of James Rollins and Amanda Shepherd had the best Appellant brief, and Sarah Propst was selected as the Best Advocate. HIPLA is very thankful for all of the volunteer judges that made this event possible.

UPDATE:  The University of Texas team of Sarah Propst and Michael Schiller finished second at the national rounds of the 2020 Giles Sutherland Rich Moot Court Competition. Congrats!