Bracewell partner W. Stephen Benesh was sworn in as president-elect of the State Bar of Texas June 22 during the annual meeting in Austin. He answered questions from The Lawbook about why he wanted to take a leadership role and what his goals are.
Texas Access to Justice Gets Funding Boost After Legislative Session
The 88th Texas legislative session included $3.7 million in extra funding for civil legal services earmarked for youth dealing with pandemic-related mental health issues. However, lawmakers declined to provide funding for a proposal to use remote technology to deliver legal services through kiosk-based centers.
The Legislature also passed a bill that will provide an additional source of funding for pro bono civil legal services and another bill that will benefit low-income individuals who face language barriers in the courtroom. Natalie Posgate goes into detail on each, as well as the storied history of how pro bono work became a mainstay in the state’s budget.
P.S. — State Bar’s Pro Bono Awards, ASC’s Annual Fundraising Luncheon, TAJF’s 2023 Equal Justice Works Fellows
This edition of P.S. highlights Attorneys Serving the Community’s annual fundraising luncheon benefiting a Dallas-area women’s substance abuse recovery center, several attorneys who will be recognized by the State Bar of Texas next week for their pro bono work and the five Equal Justice Works fellow sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.
P.S. — SMU Law’s Rising Scholars, New HISD Leadership
In this week’s edition of P.S., a Houston litigator joins the board of managers of the Houston Independent School District and Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and its DEI office wrap up a weeklong program that exposes high school students to the law school experience.
P.S. — Death Row Removal, Melsheimer’s Fellowship, Debt Collection Jargon Simplified
In this week’s edition of P.S., Texas Access for Justice resumes in-person legal clinics for veterans with multiple June clinic dates, Winston & Strawn’s Tom Melsheimer starts a civil and human rights-related fellowship at Notre Dame, Texas Appleseed launches an effort to make debt collection lawsuits easier for consumer defendants to understand (and participate in their own proceedings), and Kirkland & Ellis scores a pro bono win for a death row inmate in Houston. Natalie Posgate details the latest in the world of public service.
A Word With New HVL Executive Director Jessica Howton Stool
Jessica Howton Stool is nearly six weeks into her new job as executive director of Houston Volunteer Lawyers — the pro bono arm of the Houston Bar Association. Between tasks of her onboarding process, which have included acquainting herself with HVL’s staff, budget, and grant system, Howton Stool talked with The Lawbook’s Natalie Posgate about her passion for pro bono law, what attracted her to HVL, which area of law HVL needs the most lawyer volunteers for currently and what law firms can do to improve their pro bono capabilities.
Weil, Innocence Project & Dallas DA Obtain Exoneration for Innocent Man
Last Wednesday, a team of lawyers from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, the Innocence Project and the conviction integrity division of Dallas’ District Attorney Office obtained the exoneration and actual innocence finding of a man after he served 26 years in prison and, upon his parole, was required to register as a sex offender. Natalie Posgate provides the background of the case and a Q&A with lead Weil partner Paul Genender.
P.S. — Foster Child Advocacy, Jury Duty, Mark Melton’s New COO
In this edition of P.S., Natalie Posgate highlights a grant received by St. Mary’s School of Law, an upcoming fundraising birthday party of a Houston nonprofit focused on supporting foster children, a big lateral move in the Dallas-area nonprofit world, June legal clinic dates in Dallas and also reflects on her two days serving on a jury this week. The verdict? It’s both entertaining and fulfilling if you actually show up.
Meaningful Change Requires Personal Investment
As female attorneys who have worked in-house and in various firm environments, we have seen firsthand the challenges that women and marginalized communities face in the legal profession.
While there has been progress in recent years, there are still far too few female partners and other underrepresented leaders in the field, such that we can’t rely on structural and institutional change alone. More progress cannot occur without lawyers across the spectrum investing in the next generation of lawyers from underrepresented communities.
P.S. — World Refugee Day, Hispanic Law Student Scholarships, Fundraising Successes (Updated)
In this edition of P.S., Natalie Posgate highlights the details of the DHLF’s Amanecer luncheon, the Genesis Women’s Shelter annual luncheon featuring Nicole Kidman, an upcoming nonprofit event featuring books and booze, and a grant recently provided to the Texas Legal Services Center.