Two years ago, The Texas Lawbook created the full-time pro bono, public service and diversity writer position with a carrot-and-stick approach: Highlight the successes of Texas lawyers in these three critical areas to hopefully encourage others to do the same and to provide data and analysis about where lawyers and firms are falling short. To be sure, the sticks are being sharpened to address failures. But today, we have three successes to highlight.
P.S. — Jack Balagia’s New UT Law Assignment, San Antonio ACC’s Ethics & Leadership Award Nominations
Retired Exxon Mobil GC Jack Balagia gets a new position. The American Bar Association recognizes retired Texas Criminal Court of Appeals Judge Elsa Alcala. And the Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Antonio Chapter seeks nominations for its prestigious Lee Cusenbary Ethical Life & Leadership Award.
Next week, The Texas Lawbook will announce a planned expansion of the Texas Lawbook Foundation and its mission. Also, a reminder: Please send us any information about scholarship programs set up by law firms, lawyers or legal organizations for students from low-income and disadvantaged families and communities.
P.S. — V&E Scholars Announced, Dallas SABA Gala Benefits Victims of Domestic Violence
Seven recent Texas high school graduates with an interest in a future practicing law learned this week that they are receiving a huge boost toward achieving their dreams. Vinson & Elkins announced that four students from Houston, two from Dallas and one from Austin are recipients of the firm’s annual V&E Scholars Program, which provides tuition funding and summer internships.
An abundance of potentially great legal talent is left on the sidelines because young people lack mentors, role models and the financial ability to position themselves for success. Over the next three months, The Texas Lawbook plans to highlight law firms, corporate legal departments and organizations who step up to improve diversity in the pipeline.
Also in this edition of P.S., The Lawbook recognizes several law firms that support the South Asian Bar Association of Dallas and its fundraising for a charity that helps South Asian victims of abuse.
P.S. — Looking Forward, Stepping Back and Acting Now
This week’s rendition of P.S. highlights the long overdue recognition of a former Texas chief justice and an educational program that helps children with superpowers. In addition, as law firms struggle to attract and retain talented and diverse young lawyers, The Texas Lawbook is asking law firms and legal organizations to provide information regarding grants and scholarships being offered to low-income and disadvantaged students who are interested in becoming lawyers.
P.S. — Greedy, Money-Grubbing, Good-For-Nothing Corporate Lawyers: This Column Is Not For You
During the dozen years since I launched The Texas Lawbook, hundreds of lawyers have told me that we never publish articles about the good deeds that lawyers do. The Lawbook fixed that by assigning a full-time reporter to cover pro bono, public service and diversity in the Texas legal profession. We recognize the charitable and community work of lawyers every Friday in a column called P.S.
Now we need your help. Please send us news of your monetary donations to charitable causes, your service for community organizations and your non-profit fundraising efforts.
P.S. — A Farewell from Natalie Posgate
People leave jobs all the time for new opportunities, but when they explain their career move, what are they really thinking? On her last day at The Lawbook, Natalie Posgate offers musings on her own move to Reese Marketos.
Pro Bono Opportunities Alive and Well in Patent Law
Intellectual property may not be the first area of law you’d think of to find pro bono work, but it’s just as vital for boosting diversity, equity and inclusion in our country as focusing on the usuals — criminal justice reform, food insecurity, or hiring practices. Pillsbury’s Chad Hammerlind tells The Lawbook about a partnership between the USPTO and an Austin-based nonprofit that houses these IP pro bono opportunities.
“It’s usually wealthy individuals and corporations that can afford getting a patent, so this program helps some other individuals build wealth and get the chance to build some assets,” he says.
Natalie Posgate Bids Farewell to The Texas Lawbook
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.