The Dallas Bar Association’s Equal Access to Justice fundraising campaign is underway. EAJ funds the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, which represented 2,476 low-income Dallas individuals in legal disputes in 2011. The fundraising efforts are off to a great start, but there’s still a long way to go to raise the $700,000 needed.

“The severe recession has hit poor people especially hard,” says Michael Hurst, a partner at Gruber Hurst and the chair of the EAJ’s fundraiser for 2012. “More than 600,000 people in Dallas County qualify financially for DVAP’s help.”

Two Texas legislators known for their determination to improve court access to low-income Texans received recognition for their efforts.

Mark Twain wrote, “Travel has no longer any charm for me.” And presumably, the journalist-turned-author never took off his shoes for a TSA screening. Twain opined (a lot) about the travails of travel – not unlike the many Texas attorneys among the ranks of today’s frequent fliers. Some, in fact, sound almost Twain-esque.

Like Vinson & Elkins’ Jim Loftis: “There are two types of luggage – carry-on and lost.” Or his colleague and former V&E managing partner Joe Dilg on reward miles: “It’s a little like the pie-eating contest, and the award is more pie.”