From covering the insider-trading trial of billionaire Mark Cuban to launching the full-time pro bono, public service and diversity legal beat, Natalie Posgate has authored more than 900 articles that covered all aspects of business law in Texas. After more than 12 years as a reporter for The Texas Lawbook, Posgate is sadly stepping away from journalism to become the chief marketing officer at Reese Marketos, a litigation boutique in Dallas.
The Woman Behind Haynes Boone’s Healthier Legal Culture
A registered and licensed dietician, Abby Read joined Haynes Boone as the firm’s first wellness manager with a vision that far exceeded overhauling the office’s snack selection. Now two years into the new position, Read has helped lawyers and staff at the global firm incorporate more movement into their day, feel less alone in their wellness struggles by learning the stories of their colleagues and have a confidant in their office to turn to when they need mental health support. Read’s latest effort of launching a podcast seeks to expand that support to the larger legal community.
Read recently talked with The Lawbook about her background running the wellness program of a major healthcare system before joining Haynes Boone, what the firm is doing to support its lawyers’ mental health and what she’s learned since bringing her wellness expertise to a law firm environment.
Texas Supreme Court Calls on Nonlawyers to Shrink Justice Gap
After an exhaustive, 22-month process, the Supreme Court of Texas on Tuesday issued a set of preliminary rules that will allow select nonlawyers — licensed paraprofessionals and court-access assistants — to provide limited civil legal services to low-income Texans. The order places the efforts of the Texas Access to Justice Commission and SCOTX at the finish line for this slice of their ongoing effort to help close the civil justice gap in Texas.
Natalie Posgate talked with Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby about how this project began and Legal Services Corporation President Ron Flagg about the success of this model at a national level.
P.S. — A Fundraiser for Sick Children, A Changing of the Guard, Another Award for Rusty Hardin
This week’s edition of P.S. features two law firms’ school supply giveaways; August dates for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program’s legal clinics (plus sponsor info); a new award for Rusty Hardin presented by a foundation; a Weil associate’s remarkable track record for pro bono work, which recently resulted in an award; fundraising results for a recent Dallas Association of Young Lawyers event; new leadership at Hispanic bar associations in Houston and Austin; and awards recently presented to law firms and individuals by a Houston nonprofit dedicated to combatting gender-based violence.
Firms and organizations mentioned in this week’s P.S. include Winston & Strawn, Witherite Law Group, Jackson Walker, Goldman Sachs, AT&T, Nexstar Media Group, Bradley, Cisco, DLA Piper, Haynes Boone, Fish & Richardson, Beck Redden, Weil, Children’s Health, Innocence Project of Texas, Latham, Skadden, Texas Council on Family Violence, King & Spalding, Baker Botts, Targa Resources and Tahirih Justice Center.
P.S. — Rachel Elkin: From Aspiring Book Editor to Haynes Boone’s First Pro Bono Counsel
In a Q&A with The Lawbook, Elkin discusses her background and decision to dedicate her legal career to pro bono, why she joined Haynes Boone and what she hopes to achieve there.
P.S. — A Civil Legal Aid Advocate, Legal Aid for Beryl, Baylor’s Lawyer of the Year
This week’s edition of P.S. features a federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas who was honored with Baylor’s Lawyer of the Year award, Hurricane Beryl disaster relief information from the State Bar of Texas and a Nacogdoches lawyer committed to the civil justice gap who has joined forces with Legal Service Corporation.
P.S. — America’s Civil Justice Gap is ‘a Chasm, Really’
Without legal aid, domestic violence survivor Veronica Gonzalez was almost certain she would have been forced to return to her abuser in Washington state and lose custody of her child. Getting pro bono representation prevented that from happening, but at least hundreds of thousands of other domestic abuse survivors — and over 1 million other low-income Americans facing civil legal issues — are turned away from legal aid organizations each year due to a lack of funding. Gonzalez, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, and two other witnesses sought to remedy this issue last week when they testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to advocate for increased funding to Legal Services Corporation.
“The justice gap burdens society, the economy, businesses and taxpayers who must pick up the costs of people’s inability to make do because of unmet civil legal needs that study after study has confirmed,” Hecht said during his testimony.
P.S. — Lawyer Joins PUC; DBA Takes Home Slew of Awards
This week’s edition of P.S. includes an upcoming inaugural convention in Houston aimed at supporting and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a series of awards recently received by the Dallas Bar Association and the 4/11 on the PUC’s newest board member, who happens to be a lawyer.
A Conversation with a Mother of 4 About Practicing Law on Her Own Terms
Many female litigators believe an “all or nothing” narrative they’ve been fed: They cannot raise a family while also advancing in their careers. But Reese Marketos’ Kendal Simpson is here to challenge that narrative with an alternative way of practicing law. After taking six years off to be a stay-at-home mom, Simpson recently returned to her firm with the goal of growing a team of high-achieving women who want more flexibility without having to leave their practice. In a Q&A with The Lawbook, Simpson discusses her part-time arrangement at her firm, how it’s added value and how others can pursue these types of opportunities.
“When we are the sex expected to do it all — that is unsustainable,” Simpson said. “This model is about women being able to sustain a skillset that they worked so hard to develop while also not neglecting other parts of life.”
My Month of Pride: Celebrations, Reflections and Allyship
In this guest article, Jackson Walker bankruptcy partner Genevieve “Gen” Graham talks about her journey of coming out, Pride Month’s significance on a personal level and the importance of allyship.