The Texas Access to Justice Commission is gearing up to host a Pre-Trial Academy open to staff attorneys of non-profit organizations who provide legal services to low-income Texans. The Pre-Trial Academy will help these attorneys hone their skills to become better advocates for their clients. To do this, the participants are given a case study and will be asked to prepare for certain pre-trial activities they would encounter during the course of representation.

We are looking for volunteers to play the part of the expert witnesses the participants will be examining. The expert witnesses in this case are forensic accountants whose testimony will focus on equitable distribution of property during a divorce proceeding. The witnesses will be given case studies that include the depositions and curriculum vitae of the forensic accountants retained by each party. Using this information, the witnesses will be asked to testify to questions such as:

  • The value of a home bought during a marriage,
  • Whether a “gross earnings” or a “net earnings” approach should be used to value a closely held family business,
  • Whether a spouse’s present interest in a closely held family business can be a martial asset,
  • How to determine the earning capacity of a person with an advanced degree and specialty license who has not had full-time employment for a number of years,
  • How to value a business based on the advanced degree and specialty license.

We are looking for up to three people to “testify” on Wednesday June 12, 2013 from 3:00 to 5:15 pm at the UT Law School. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Kristen Levins at Kristen.Levins@TexasBar.com or 512.427.1895 for more information.

Submitted by Taylor Atsalis