The following TCAA programs are in alpha-order by the program’s name.
City Attorneys Responding in an Emergency (CARE Unit)
Galen Sparks and Susan Rocha Awards for Outstanding Public Service
Law Student Scholarships
Municipal Certification Program
TCAA’s Municipal Certification Program recognizes attorneys who demonstrate advanced knowledge and experience in municipal law. The program includes separate certifications for municipal prosecutors, municipal civil law attorneys, and office certifications.
The application fee is $50 for individual certification or $100 for office certification. The program is voluntary, and certification is not a State Bar of Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification. Recipients will receive a certificate suitable for display and be recognized before the TCAA membership.
Certifications are valid for a period of five years and will be recognized at the TCAA Summer Conference. The deadline to apply for a certification to be recognized at the 2024 Summer Conference on June 12-14, 2024 is has passed.
TCAA will review the applications and notify recipients if additional information is needed. For a copy of the guidelines and applications, please click on the appropriate link:
Individual Civil Law Certification Application
Individual Prosecutor Certification Application
Office Civil Law Certification Application
NOTICE
All applicants must be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and the Texas City Attorneys Association. This form must be completed or arrive at the TCAA office by the deadline posted above. If you are mailing in an application, please enclose the filing fee and mail this form and supporting documentation to:
Texas City Attorneys Association
Merit Certification in Municipal Law
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78754-5128
Outstanding Mentor Award
Just about every lawyer has a mentor who guided his or her career. In an effort to recognize the efforts of a special municipal law mentor, the TCAA Board of Directors created the TCAA “Outstanding Mentor Award.” The award is intended to recognize and honor a municipal attorney for his or her significant and distinguished mentoring achievements related to young attorneys and their practice in the field of municipal law.
The nominee must have demonstrated the qualities of a mentor to one or more young municipal attorneys by: (1) serving as a role model to young municipal lawyers in his or her community; (2) fostering the development of young municipal lawyers; and (3) significantly contributing to the profession and/or the community.
The recipient of this award will be honored at the TCAA Summer Conference. In addition, TCAA will provide complimentary registration for the conference. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 26, 2024. For downloadable criteria and an application form, click here.
Recipients
2023:
Michael J. Cosentino, City of San Marcos
2022:
Mick McKamie, Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla & Elam L.L.P.
Art Pertile, Olson & Olson LLP
Tyrone Cooper, Retired- City of Beaumont
Don Glywasky, City of Galveston
2021:
Dottie Palumbo, Bojorquez Law Firm, PC
2020:
Randy Strong, Law Office of Randall B. Strong
2019:
Gary Smith, Richmond
2018:
David La Brec, Clark Hill Strasburger (Retired)
Trish Nasworthy, Grand Prairie
Ignacio Ramirez, Baytown
2017:
Marcus Norris, Underwood Law Firm, P.C.
2016:
Diane Wetherbee, Plano (Retired)
Jay Doegey, Arlington (Retired)
2015:
No nominations received
2014:
Harvey Cargill, College Station (Retired)
Patrick Bernal, Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal, Hyde & Zech, P.C.