This week’s edition of P.S. includes information on a Munck Wilson Mandala shareholder who has been elected to the alumni board of TSU’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, February dates for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program’s pro bono clinics, 2024 officers of the Asian American Bar Association of Houston and how to donate during the final days of a campaign that supports civil pro bono legal services in Dallas.
Other firms mentioned in this week’s P.S. include Jackson Walker, Haynes Boone, Kirkland & Ellis, Weil, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Bradley, DLA Piper, Goldman Sachs, Foley & Lardner, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Gray Reed, Nexstar, Sheppard Mullin, Polsinelli, Porter Hedges, Sulzer and Baker Botts.
The Latest
— On Feb. 1, the Dallas Bar Foundation is hosting a first-of-its-kind Charity Fair for Lawyers at the Arts District Mansion. The fair is the brainchild of a group of local, predominantly Big Law lawyers who designed the event with recent year-end associate bonuses in mind. The fair, which falls during happy hour, will feature 20 local charities as well as complimentary food and drinks that fairgoers can enjoy while perusing the charity booths. Each attendant will be given personalized coins representing different donation amounts that they can put in jars for the charities they want to support. There will also be special prizes for anyone who joins the “2024 Bonus Club” — those who pledge to donate 10 percent of their annual bonus.
When: Thursday, Feb. 1, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Arts District Mansion, downtown Dallas
Sponsors so far: Jackson Walker, Haynes Boone, Kirkland & Ellis and Weil
— Throughout the month of February, the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program will host 11 pro bono legal clinics — six virtual and five in-person. DVAP is a joint venture between the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas dedicated to providing pro bono civil legal services to low-income residents in Dallas County. Low-income Dallas residents who need legal assistance can apply here to receive advice during one of the virtual clinics. All virtual clinics run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Once the form is completed, a lawyer will call on the virtual clinic date from an unknown number labeled “No Caller ID” or something similar.
Those who prefer in-person legal advice can just show up.
Virtual clinics
Feb. 1: DVAP and DBA Entrepreneurs in Community Lawyering
Feb. 2 (veterans clinic): DVAP and Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
Feb. 8: DVAP, Alston & Bird and DLA Piper
Feb. 15: DVAP and St. Mary’s University School of Law
Feb. 22: DVAP and SMU Dedman School of Law
Feb. 29: DVAP and Haynes Boone
In-person clinics
Veterans clinic: Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. at the VA Medical Center (4500 S. Lancaster Rd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP, Goldman Sachs, Foley & Lardner and Blue Cross Blue Shield
South Dallas clinic: Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (2922 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP and Gray Reed & McGraw
East Dallas clinic: Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church (4105 Junius, Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP
West Dallas clinic: Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center (2828 Fish Trap Rd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP and DBA Entrepreneurs in Community Living
South Dallas clinic: Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (2922 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP
— On the note of DVAP, the DBA’s 2023-2024 Equal Access to Justice Campaign — an annual fundraiser that supports DVAP’s operations — is in its final days. The fundraiser will close Jan. 31. Campaign committee co-chairs Rachel Morgan of Nexstar Media Group and Sarah Rogers of Thompson Coe have helped raise a record $1.3 million so far, but their goal is to hit $1.4 million. During an acceptance speech Thursday evening at the Association of Corporate Counsel and The Texas Lawbook’s 2023 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, Morgan told the crowd that the campaign is roughly $80,000 away from reaching its goal. Morgan is the recipient of the 2023 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Achievement in Pro Bono and Public Service. To learn more about Morgan’s backstory and how she pulled off a successful, record-breaking campaign, visit here for an in-depth profile.
To donate, visit here.
— Munck Wilson Mandala recently announced that one of their own, principal Teresa Hudson, has joined Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law’s Alumni Board. Hudson is a 2005 Thurgood Marshall graduate and is heavily involved in the Houston Bar Association and diversity and inclusion efforts for clients, her community and firm. She practices labor & employment and worked in human resources before getting her law degree, and since obtaining her J.D., has served as a senior HR executive and strategic partner for Fortune 500 companies, Tier 1 higher education institutions and various nonprofits.
— The Asian American Bar Association of Houston recently announced its 2024 officers. The president is Myra Siddiqui, a federal prosecutor in the civil division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. Before becoming an AUSA, Siddiqui was an associate at Yetter Coleman, and before that, Baker Botts. The other 2024 officers are:
- Sheppard Mullin associate Chante Westmoreland (president-elect);
- Polsinelli shareholder Jeff Kuo (vice president of development);
- Jackson Walker associate Yenmi Tang (vice president of community relations);
- Porter Hedges associate Megan Luh (vice president of programs);
- Sulzer legal counsel John Huang (vice president of membership); and
- Baker Botts associate Kristina Vu (secretary);
- Metropolitan Escrow & Title fee attorney David Hsu (treasurer)