Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
This week’s P.S. column features a group of current and recently graduated law students starting early in giving back to the legal profession, two firms that have achieved high scores among two diversity groups and new leadership at the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Texas Access to Justice Foundation, including a new executive director and board member.
This week’s edition of P.S. features a Texas law school’s 75th anniversary celebration of its student legal clinics serving low-income members of the community, three Susman Godfrey lawyers who have received three separate awards, the Dallas Bar Association’s jurist of the year, and recognition of other firms for their commitment to pro bono and public service, including Winston & Strawn, Akin, DLA Piper and Hogan Lovells.
According to a Citi survey of 140 predominantly Am Law 100 and 200 firms, including six Texas-headquartered firms, the rate of promotions for women and minorities on both a global level and state level steadily declines as lawyers work their way up the ranks — from associates to of counsel to partner to equity partner.
In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, York discusses his new responsibilities as global DEI chair, immediate and long-term goals, why diversity, inclusion and equity is important at a law firm and to him personally, and his take on the aftermath of the SFFA v. Harvard U.S. Supreme Court decision.
In this edition of P.S., we have details on an October luncheon that will honor Dallas attorney Frank Stevenson, the State Fair of Texas’ newest board member and his extensive history serving the organization and October dates for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program’s virtual and in-person legal clinics.
This week’s edition of P.S. features an upcoming golf classic that will support the operations of a nonprofit fighting homelessness, a cluster of Holland & Knight lawyers moving up the ranks of the National Hispanic Bar Association, a Dallas lawyer who has joined Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas’ board, a successful virtual fundraiser benefiting legal aid and the dates in October that Dallas-area clients to receive pro bono legal advice by phone. Plus: Kentucky cave trivia involving a legal battle and “One-Eyed Joe.”
Last week, we gave you 21 charities to consider donating to on North Texas Giving Day. Now that the nation's largest community giving day is here, we have expanded that list to include a handful of additional nonprofits, including some founded by Texas business lawyers and Lawbook staff picks. This updated version of P.S. has your donation inspo.
Pictured: Lawbook publisher Brooks Igo's brother, Austin, at an annual gala hosted by the H.E.R.O.E.S. nonprofit
Within the last week, lawyers from Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann, Jenner & Block and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher appeared on the dockets of federal lawsuits filed against Perkins Coie and Morrison Foerster alleging discriminatory practices related to their diversity fellowships. Both firms operate in Texas and one of the lawsuits is in Dallas. Natalie Posgate has the latest.
On Thursday, Caitlin Halpern will host a pizza party to commemorate the re-launch of a program that teaches public speaking and critical thinking through debate to incarcerated people in Harris County. Natalie Posgate collected details on the event, the program and the organization behind it that marries Halpern’s passions for debate and criminal justice reform.
The firm’s new top inclusion, diversity and equity official talked with The Lawbook about her background, the challenges the DEI industry is facing, how to retain diverse talent and why the firm leads with “inclusion” in her job title.
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