A group of high-ranking in-house counsel and private practice pro bono specialists swapped stories and methods for how they’ve been able to achieve pro bono engagement and keep their lawyers incentivized to give back through pro bono. Plus, the in-house lawyers discussed their positions on partnering with law firms on pro bono projects.
TX Minority Counsel Program’s 30th Anniversary Shows How Far We’ve Come, How Far We Have to Go
This year’s Texas Minority Counsel Program saw record levels of participation by corporate and governmental entities. TMCP also honored the recipients of its annual awards for Corporate Counsel of the Year, Trailblazer, Rising Star and Lifetime Achievement.
This Associate Logged 100 Hours of Pro Bono in the Last Year. Here’s How He Did It
As the year comes to an end, some may be reflecting on their legal practice and looking for ways to squeeze more pro bono into their life. The Texas Lawbook spoke with Stinson associate and pro bono pro Grant DuBois, who manages a pro bono misdemeanor criminal docket in his spare time and provides tips for weaving more pro bono work into the daily grind.
“Attorneys have been viewed by the general public as an undesirable group since the beginning of our profession,” DuBois says. “Many refer to us as ‘money-sucking vampires’ motivated not by client service, but by greed. One of the ways we can start to change this generalized perception is to provide pro bono services as often as we can.”
P.S. — A Couple Awards, A Memorial Fund, ‘It’s Fun to Stay at the YMCA’
In this week’s P.S. column, the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas hosts its annual Stories from the HeART fundraiser and honors a group of Texas lawyers for their contributions, a memorial fund set up in the memory of the late Dallas lawyer, Clarence Brown, seeks to raise more funds to benefit students of color at the Lamplighter School, and two nonprofits announce leadership efforts by lawyers.
P.S. — Thanksgiving Edition
A short and sweet public service column highlights the work one Dallas firm is doing to benefit a local children’s shelter and three Houston women lawyers who were recently honored for their commitment to their communities and advancing women. Happy Thanksgiving from The Texas Lawbook.
Baker Botts Brings Houston Folklorist’s Extensive Archive to Smithsonian
Last week, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced that it has accepted a massive blues and folklore archive gifted by Baker Botts client Susannah Nix, the daughter of the late prominent folklorist Robert “Mack” McCormick. Nix and her lawyers spoke with Natalie Posgate about the donation and the legal work that went into it.
P.S. — Holiday Giving Begins
Holiday giving is already ubiquitous across the Texas legal community. A few ways lawyers are giving back are through turkey meal deliveries, food drives and suit donations. All in this week’s P.S. column.
P.S. — Happy Veterans Day from The Texas Lawbook
On this Veterans Day, The Texas Lawbook thanks veterans for their service and lists a cluster of upcoming events benefiting veterans as well as law firm initiatives and individual lawyers who have helped those who served.
Robert Uhl: Helping Veterans One Benefits Application at a Time
Since he began his legal career in 2018, Sidley associate Robert Uhl has spent hundreds of pro bono hours helping veterans obtain combat-related benefits. Sometimes, the road is tough, but it’s not stopping him. The Texas Lawbook spoke with Uhl to learn why this work is important to him and why he continues to do it.