It’s been a decade since the state of Texas gained its 10th law school, and the time has come to celebrate.
On Sept. 21, UNT Dallas College of Law will commemorate 10 years in operation at its 10th Anniversary Gala at the Arts District Mansion.
UNT Law did not open 10 years ago to offer just another law school option in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; it opened with the big-picture goal of expanding access to justice in Texas by removing the time and financial burdens that the traditional law school model imposes.
In the decade since, UNT has provided a more affordable law school option at a time tuition for higher education is skyrocketing, made legal education a reality for busy professionals through offering the only night program in DFW, diversified the demographics — race, age and life experience-wise — of lawyers-to-be in the state and removed some of the unnecessary pressure of the traditional legal education model by evaluating students’ performance through multiple tests throughout the school year as opposed to hinging their success on only one final per semester.
UNT Law also opened with the vision of producing lawyers dedicated to — in addition to their clients — their community and public service who are equipped with practical experience (rather than just theory) upon graduating through the mentorship of accomplished faculty, such as Prof. Cheryl Wattley, an inaugural faculty member who teaches criminal law and oversees the school’s externship program, the Community Lawyering Centers and the Joyce Ann Brown Innocence Clinic .
“Ten years later, the ‘little engine that could’ has succeeded beyond our wildest expectations and it’s time to celebrate,” said Al Ellis, of counsel at Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler and a community outreach coordinator for UNT Law.
UNT Law Dean Felecia Epps seeks to raise $100,000 for the gala to fund scholarships and support for the school’s advocacy program and bar review resources as the school enters its second decade.
Ellis is co-chairing the fundraising for the gala with Stewart Law Group founding partner Amy Stewart and Susman Godfrey partner Ophelia Camina. Honorary chairs include Founding Dean Royal Furgeson, Sen. Royce West, former county judge and UNTD Chancellor Lee Jackson, former Rep. Dan Branch, Locke Lord partner Harriet Miers and prominent Dallas attorney Regina Montoya, who is currently on President Joe Biden’s Advisory Commission on Hispanics.
“Ten years ago, Judge and Founding Dean Royal Furgeson called and asked me to help him at UNT Dallas College of Law,” Ellis said. My response: ‘We don’t need another Texas law school!’ His reply: ‘This will not be just another law school!’ Wow was he ever right.”
The committee hopes to finish its fundraising in June.
When: Saturday, Sept. 21. Cocktail hour starts at 6 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m.
Where: Arts District Mansion in the Dallas Design District
Lead sponsors: Carter Arnett Bennett & Perez, presenting sponsor ($25,000); Toyota, reception sponsor ($15,000)
Other sponsorship levels available: gold sponsor ($10,000), silver sponsor ($5,000), patron sponsor ($1,500), or bronze sponsor ($3,500)
To sponsor: Fill out this form. Also visit this link to purchase individual tickets ($350 each). A limited amount of tickets will be offered to alumni for $150 per person.
More Public Service News
— On April 18, Law Rocks went on tour in Houston at the White Oak Music Hall and raised more than $152,000 for charity. Law Rocks is a national nonprofit that produces a global tour of fundraising concerts starring legal professionals. It also presented its Music Matters grant to Houston’s Prelude Music Foundation as part of Law Rocks’ effort to increase giving in support of music education.
The evening also provided lawyers the opportunity to take a break from competing in the courtroom, for an M&A deal or for clients and instead battle on stage before 600 spectators for best musical performance, scored by a panel of judges, while fundraising for their charity of choice. This year’s winner was the Pro Hac Vice band, which benefited Chance For Hope. Band members include Akin partner John Goodgame (guitar and vocals), Friedman Group Chief Legal Officer Scott Davidson (vocals, guitar), Enterprise Products Deputy GC Charlie San Miguel (drums), Enterprise Products counsel Travis Earp (guitar, vocals), Harris County Law Library Director Andre Davidson (MC/rapper) and Enterprise Products lead systems analyst Mario Barrientos (bass).
The other bands that performed were:
- DeSoto Rose (Gibbs and Bruns, Godzina Law Firm), benefiting BakerRipley, which, despite sounding like a law firm, is a Houston-based nonprofit that aims to disrupt inequities by bringing resources, education and connection to underrepresented communities;
- On The Side (Secretariat), benefiting The Graeme McDaniel Foundation;
- One Bad Crash (Latham & Watkins, Shell Oil Company), benefiting Belong Kitchen;
- Rule 11 (Sidley Austin, University of Houston Law Center), benefiting Children’s Assessment Center;
- The Wheel Workers (Greenberg Traurig, Rodgers Selvera), benefiting Texas Accountants and Lawyers for The Arts; and
- Twenty24 Souls (Schiffer Hicks Johnson, Baker O’Brien) for Kids’ Meals Inc.
Top sponsors for the evening included Locke Lord, Akin, Godzina Law Firm, Greenberg Traurig, Latham, Sidley, Baker O’Brien, Gibbs & Bruns, IST Management, Vinson & Elkins, Consilio, Jones Walker, Powerhouse Copy, Walker Eisenbraun, Weaver and tour sponsor Secretariat.
The evening was hosted by Alexander Ansari, the founder of Stay Diverse Inc., a nonprofit that promotes multiculturalism and diversity.
— Throughout the month of May, the Dallas Bar Association is offering pro bono civil legal services through a series of pro bono legal clinics — virtual and in-person — and its LegalLine E-Clinic, where lawyers call clients and provide up to 15 minutes of free legal advice. The legal clinics are led by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, the DBA’s pro bono arm that is a partnership with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas.
Virtual clinics
May 2: DVAP and Hunton Andrews Kurth
May 3: (veterans clinic): DVAP and Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
May 9: DVAP, DLA Piper and Weil, Gotshal & Manges
May 23: DVAP and SMU Dedman School of Law
May 30: DVAP, Haynes Boone and DAYL Pro Bono Partners
All virtual clinics run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. To apply to receive legal assistance at a virtual clinic, fill out this form.
In-person clinics
Veterans clinic: May 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the VA Medical Center (4500 S. Lancaster Rd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP, Goldman Sachs and Prudential
South Dallas clinic: May 14 at 5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (2922 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP
East Dallas clinic: May 16 at 5 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church (4105 Junius, Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP
West Dallas clinic: May 23 at 5 p.m. at West Dallas Multipurpose Center (2828 Fish Trap Rd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP and Cooper & Scully
South Dallas clinic: May 28 at 5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (2922 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dallas). Sponsored by DVAP
Those who wish to appear in person for legal assistance can just show up to a clinic at the given time and place above.
The DBA’s LegalLine E-Clinic will take place every Wednesday in May from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. An anonymous volunteer attorney will call those in need of advice from an unknown number. To participate, complete this form.
Editor’s note: This column has been updated with additional information about UNT’s gala, including how much key sponsors have donated so far.