P.S. — State Bar’s Pro Bono Awards, ASC’s Annual Fundraising Luncheon, TAJF’s 2023 Equal Justice Works Fellows
This edition of P.S. highlights Attorneys Serving the Community’s annual fundraising luncheon benefiting a Dallas-area women’s substance abuse recovery center, several attorneys who will be recognized by the State Bar of Texas next week for their pro bono work and the five Equal Justice Works fellow sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.
P.S. — SMU Law’s Rising Scholars, New HISD Leadership
In this week’s edition of P.S., a Houston litigator joins the board of managers of the Houston Independent School District and Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and its DEI office wrap up a weeklong program that exposes high school students to the law school experience.
P.S. — Death Row Removal, Melsheimer’s Fellowship, Debt Collection Jargon Simplified
In this week’s edition of P.S., Texas Access for Justice resumes in-person legal clinics for veterans with multiple June clinic dates, Winston & Strawn’s Tom Melsheimer starts a civil and human rights-related fellowship at Notre Dame, Texas Appleseed launches an effort to make debt collection lawsuits easier for consumer defendants to understand (and participate in their own proceedings), and Kirkland & Ellis scores a pro bono win for a death row inmate in Houston. Natalie Posgate details the latest in the world of public service.
A Word With New HVL Executive Director Jessica Howton Stool
Jessica Howton Stool is nearly six weeks into her new job as executive director of Houston Volunteer Lawyers — the pro bono arm of the Houston Bar Association. Between tasks of her onboarding process, which have included acquainting herself with HVL’s staff, budget, and grant system, Howton Stool talked with The Lawbook’s Natalie Posgate about her passion for pro bono law, what attracted her to HVL, which area of law HVL needs the most lawyer volunteers for currently and what law firms can do to improve their pro bono capabilities.
Weil, Innocence Project & Dallas DA Obtain Exoneration for Innocent Man
Last Wednesday, a team of lawyers from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, the Innocence Project and the conviction integrity division of Dallas’ District Attorney Office obtained the exoneration and actual innocence finding of a man after he served 26 years in prison and, upon his parole, was required to register as a sex offender. Natalie Posgate provides the background of the case and a Q&A with lead Weil partner Paul Genender.
P.S. — Foster Child Advocacy, Jury Duty, Mark Melton’s New COO
In this edition of P.S., Natalie Posgate highlights a grant received by St. Mary’s School of Law, an upcoming fundraising birthday party of a Houston nonprofit focused on supporting foster children, a big lateral move in the Dallas-area nonprofit world, June legal clinic dates in Dallas and also reflects on her two days serving on a jury this week. The verdict? It’s both entertaining and fulfilling if you actually show up.
P.S. — World Refugee Day, Hispanic Law Student Scholarships, Fundraising Successes (Updated)
In this edition of P.S., Natalie Posgate highlights the details of the DHLF’s Amanecer luncheon, the Genesis Women’s Shelter annual luncheon featuring Nicole Kidman, an upcoming nonprofit event featuring books and booze, and a grant recently provided to the Texas Legal Services Center.
P.S. — Boards, Banks & Babies on Doorsteps
In this week’s edition of P.S., Baker Botts receives an award from a longstanding pro bono client, Gray Reed announces a first-of-its-kind firmwide volunteer day, Texas A&M’s board of regents elects a notable chairman and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation announces a new partnership with a bank that will help provide funding for civil legal services to Texans in need. Natalie Posgate has the details.
P.S. — HBA’s Annual Dinner, Central TX Nonprofit’s Grant, Lawbook Foundation Donation Shoutouts
In this edition of P.S., Natalie Posgate highlights several lawyers in the Houston legal community receiving awards by the Houston Bar Association, a grant awarded to a Central Texas nonprofit supporting low-income domestic violence survivors and a special thanks to a recent string of contributors to the Texas Lawbook Foundation.
Q&A: Amy Blumrosen, GLC of Baker Hughes
In this Q&A, Blumrosen discusses with The Lawbook’s pro bono, public service and diversity writer Natalie Posgate how she approaches female attorney mentorship, why community and pro bono work is important in addition to DEI work and her views on where DEI is headed in the Texas corporate world.