Fellow Lawyers,

The State Bar of Texas is the best bar in the nation, but needs to be better, especially when it comes to serving us.

The Bar needs to re-examine and redefine its relevancy to us and the services it provides based on who we are, what we do, and where we live. I know this from my own varied experience as a litigator. Working for the county attorney, as a partner in a private

law firm and now as General Counsel, I have experienced the relevance of the Bar in different ways and settings. I will work with the Bar to increase its relevance to all of us in ways it has not done before.

The Bar still struggles to effectively communicate with us, leaving many of us unaware of what the Bar offers. I will work to communicate the advantages and benefits of membership and listen to lawyers’ perspectives on what we want from the Bar.

We should be able to look to the Bar to enhance our professional and personal well-being. I will work to produce targeted, free ethics CLE programs to improve the profession and protect the public. In addition, I will advocate for increased resources and consulting services in law office practice management, especially in technology, to benefit us and the quality of legal services we provide. Also, the Texas Opportunity and Justice Incubator should be expanded to help more young lawyers build a practice while closing the justice gap.

Increasing numbers of lawyers struggle with mental health issues, addiction, and compassion fatigue. Fortunately, the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program is a powerful and effective resource for them. Lawyers and local grievance committees need to understand the depth and complexity of such issues and the benefits of TLAP. The Bar should provide additional resources to TLAP to support lawyers in need.

I am honored to be a lawyer and to be nominated to help lead our Bar. If elected, I promise to make the Bar better serve all Texas lawyers by increasing its relevance to us, by communicating effectively with us, and by enhancing our professional and personal well-being.

I ask for your support and vote.

Cezy

For State Bar of Texas President-Elect

Cezy Collins

Cezy’s mom and dad moved to El Paso to be near her.

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Cezy Collins Brochure.indd 1 10/24/18 9:49 AM

Leadership and ServiceFor Lawyers and the Bar• State Bar of Texas – Director 2008 to 2011• Texas Bar Foundation – Chair, Board of Trustees

2015-2016, Board Member 2013-2017; Sustaining Life Fellow

• Texas Access to Justice Commission – Commissioner 2008-2011

• Texas Supreme Court Task Force to Expand Legal Services Delivery – Chair 2009-2011

• Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals – Board Member 2013 to present

• Texas Women Lawyers – President 2004-2005, Director 1997-2008

• Texas Minority Counsel Program – Steering Committee 2009-2013

Local Bar• El Paso Bar Foundation – President 2008-2011, Vice

President 2007–2008, Founding Life Fellow• El Paso Bar Association – Board Member 1998-2000• El Paso Women’s Bar Association – President 1999,

2001; Vice–President 1998• Mexican American Bar Association of El Paso – Board

Member 2002-2003

National Bar• American Inn of Court – Master of the Bench• National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations –

President 2011–2012• National Foundation for Women’s Bar Associations –

President 2008-2011• Federal Bar Association

For the Community• Positive Role Model Program, El Paso Women’s Bar

Association – Co-Chair 2004-present• El Paso Holocaust Museum – President 2010-2012,

Board Member 2003-2010• El Paso Executive Forum – 2010-present• Project Future, El Paso Women’s Bar Association –

2012-2013• Planned Parenthood Center of El Paso – President

2002-2004, Board of Directors 1999-2009• El Paso County Civil Service Commission –

Commissioner 2002-2004• El Paso Legal Assistance Society (now Rio Grande

Legal Aid) – Board Member 2002• Marion Manor Elementary School – Mentor 1997-2000 • South Loop Elementary School – Mentor 1996-1997

Education• J.D. 1991 University of Arizona School of Law • B.A., Spanish 1986 University of Southern California

Admitted to Practice• State Bar of Texas; United States District Court for

the Western District of Texas; United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; Supreme Court of the United States of America

As a shy ten year old, Cezy Collins was a trailblazer, lauded by Chicago’s leading newspa-pers and saluted on national TV – all because she was talented, determined and strong and a girl who liked to have fun. Cezy wanted to play baseball like her brother. Denied the chance to try out for his Little League team, she persisted.

With the backing of her parents and with legal help in the wings, Cezy showed up for practice with one of 80 teams in the league. Rebuffing her, the coaches let her practice with their farm team. At bat ten times, Cezy had nine hits, three of them homers. Her efforts resulted in a new league for girls.

Starting then, Cezy knew she would be a lawyer. Her sense of fairness offended, she and several friends revised the Declaration of Independence to include ”women” wherever they saw “men”. That early understanding that the law is funda-mental and a desire for inclusion and justice foreshadowed her entire career.

Lawyer Par ExcellenceA fifth-generation Texan born in Abilene, Jeanne Cezanne Collins grew up outside of Texas because of her mathematician father’s work. In college she studied abroad and learned Spanish. In law school she loved the intellectual camaraderie and developed a passion for public interest law. As a young lawyer she was thrilled to be back in Texas as a litigator with El Paso legal aid. She moved on to be supervising civil litigator in the

county attorney’s office and developed an outstanding reputation. El Paso’s oldest firm, recognizing her excellence, persisted in recruiting her. Widely known and respected by lawyers and the judiciary for her professionalism, skill and integrity, she also was valued by her clients, colleagues and opposing counsel for her warmth and her toughness. When the El Paso Independent School District was rocked by cheating and criminal financial activity, Cezy accepted the call to help rebuild the district as the new general counsel. The El Paso Times editorialized that securing this highly respected attorney of unquestioned integrity, one willing to sacrifice her practice, as General Counsel was trem- endously impactful and sent the community a powerful message.

the bar and the community. She is a respected leader in the women’s bar at the local, state and national levels. Her commitment to education and mentoring are exemplified in a program that she, together with a local judge, initiated in 2004. It brings impoverished students to the courthouse during the fifth grade to expand their view of the possible and to encourage them to stay in school. The much honored Positive Role Model Program involves judges, attorneys and others working in the law, and is now being replicated elsewhere.

Fun and GamesCezy is a much loved daughter, sister, aunt and friend, known for being generous, loyal, inter-ested in everything, open to anything, more fun than anyone and lighting up the room. An enthusiastic traveler and adventurer, she has explored the Middle East, Asia, South and Central America, New Zealand, and Europe and is four shy of her goal to visit every state. An able and determined athlete, Cezy is a strong league tennis player, golfer and hiker, and is known to be a fierce Scrabble player.

Committed LeaderCezy’s commitment to her profession and to people in need is evident in her work to expand legal services, to support and engage minority lawyers and to foster lawyer engagement with

Josephine Baker (Josie) is Cezy’s much loved and pampered rescue dog.

Cezy is a strong voice for lawyers, the public and the importance of the legal profession.

(left) Aunt Cezy with Kate and Grace.

(below) Cezy adventuring in Syria.

In a League of Her Own

Every problem has a solution.

Cezy Collins Brochure.indd 2 10/24/18 9:49 AM