© 2013 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
(November 26) – The Houston Bar Association recently raised $619,500 exclusively for pro bono legal services at its 64th annual Harvest Celebration. The amount is $6,000 more than what the HBA raised at last year’s event.
The proceeds raised at the event, which took place at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, will go toward various members of the Houston community in need of pro bono services, including low-income families, veterans, families living with HIV/AIDS and low-income individuals with family, consumer, probate, tax and other legal issues. To date, the Harvest Celebration has raised more than $5 million for pro bono legal services.
“The event is bigger than lawyers getting together; we are there to raise money for the provision of legal services to the poor,” HBA President David Chaumette said. “Statistics show there are only one in five people who need [legal] help in the state of Texas who actually get it.”
The event, however, is just the tip of the iceberg in regard to the HBA’s efforts to help those in need of legal services. Earlier this year, the Texas Access to Justice Commission presented two awards to the HBA in relation to its pro bono work with veterans and low-income Houstonians, including victims of domestic violence.
An effort that Chaumette is particularly proud of is the HBA’s Veterans Legal Initiative. Since its establishment in 2008, the program has assisted more than 7,700 veterans with their specific legal needs. Every Friday, a group of six to eight attorneys conduct a free legal clinic at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston for any U.S. veteran or spouses of veterans to address any legal issues they may have.
“Veterans have done a lot for their country and we need to do something to honor that service,” Chaumette said.
The HBA also puts on two of its own award ceremonies to recognize the pro bono efforts of local lawyers: the Houston Bar Association Pro Bono Awards in February and the Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards in May.
During the HBA Pro Bono Awards, the foundation recognizes select law firms, corporate legal departments and individuals involved in the HBA’s Houston Volunteer Program for outstanding pro bono services. During the Harris County Bench Bar Awards, a committee of Harris County judges and members of the bar honor law firms, corporate legal departments and individuals from any recognized legal service provider for their pro bono efforts.
Though Chaumette is proud of the HBA’s pro bono achievements, he says there is always more to achieve. Through his observation, lawyers will often shy away from cases that are not in their comfort zone in regard to their practice areas.
“We just need to find a way to inspire people to be involved,” Chaumette said. “If you are waiting for exactly the right case to come along, you may never have the opportunity to give back.”
He pointed out a volunteer with the HBA Veteran’s Legal Initiative who has missed no more than two Friday clinics. “Contrast that with people who say all the time, ‘I don’t have time for pro bono.’”
“It makes it so glaringly obvious to me to get in front of members and say, ‘Look, it’s not that hard,’” he added. “Business lawyers will tell me perennially how difficult it is for them to handle a pro bono case. I say this with a smirk on my face.”
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