In this week’s P.S. Column, the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation pledged a $5 million matching grant to help establish a new law school at the University of Texas at El Paso, while the Texas Access to Justice Foundation announced the appointment of Keller Postman partner Zina Bash to its board. The Houston Bar Foundation is preparing for its 76th Annual Harvest Party, and the Dallas Women Lawyers Association received national recognition for its documentary on pioneering female attorneys. In South and West Texas, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid doubled its El Paso Giving Day contributions and is partnering with Koch’s Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi Refineries to host a driver’s license restoration clinic in Corpus Christi.
Foundation Pledges $5M to Jumpstart Proposed El Paso Law School
The Paul L. Foster Family Foundation has pledged a $5 million matching grant to establish a new law school in El Paso, University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson told members of the local bar association on Thursday.
University officials said they are working with local leaders to raise private and business support for launching a law school at UTEP after a legislature-commissioned study found that such a school could help address shortages in legal services across the region and state.
“Good lawyers can enable business, solve problems, and help people,” said Foster, foundation chairman and founder and CEO of Franklin Mountain Investments. “Now is the time to move forward with this idea and, if the legal community and other donors are ready to step up, we are willing to match their contributions up to our matching commitment.”
The study estimated that launching the law school would cost about $20 million over 10 years, in addition to construction expenses projected between $60 million and $110 million. It also anticipated that a UTEP law school could become financially self-sustaining by its 11th year.
The university noted that it could submit a request to the University of Texas System Board of Regents and state legislature to start the law school as soon as 2027. If established, the proposed law school would admit 100 students annually.
Zina Bash Joins Texas Access to Justice Foundation Board of Directors
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation recently announced the appointment of Keller Postman senior partner Zina Bash to its board of directors.
Bash, who is based in Austin, was named to a three-year term beginning Sept. 26 by the Supreme Court of Texas.
“Zina’s expertise and distinguished record of service to both the public and private sectors will be invaluable to our work,” foundation board chair Deborah Hankinson, said. “Her knowledge and commitment to justice will strengthen our efforts to ensure that all Texans have access to the legal support they need.”
Bash founded and leads the Public Institutions practice at Keller Postman, representing states and public entities in high-profile litigation, including cases involving Camp Lejeune, Google and Amazon. She previously served as senior counsel to the Texas attorney general, advising on litigation strategy for the state, and has held positions in the White House and the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. She has also been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Judicial Council.
“I am honored to join the Foundation’s board and to contribute to its mission of expanding access to justice for all Texans,” Bash said. “It’s a privilege to help bring meaningful legal support to families and communities who need it most.”
The Texas Supreme Court also reappointed Pepe Aranda of Eagle Pass, Lisa Tatum of San Antonio and Joseph Barrientos of Corpus Christi to its board.
Sponsorships Open for Houston Bar Foundation’s 76th Annual Harvest Party
The Houston Bar Foundation’s 76th Annual Harvest Party is coming up and sponsors who sign up by Oct. 31 have a chance to be recognized in a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle.
Sponsors who contribute at least $1,000 will be named in the newspaper ad, according to the Houston Bar Foundation’s website.
The Harvest Party, benefitting legal efforts in Houston, will take place Nov. 10 at the River Oaks Country Club. More information may be found here.
Dallas Women Lawyers Association Honored Nationally for Film on Pioneering Lawyers
The National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations honored the Dallas Women Lawyers Association last week with the 2025 Outstanding Member Program Award for A Law Unto Themselves, a documentary chronicling the pioneering female attorneys in Dallas.
Work on the documentary was spearheaded by DWLA president Chelsea Hilliard and J.L. Turner Legal Association president Kandace Walter, who were producers on the film. Both women (pictured right) attended the Bar Leadership Summit in West Virginia where the award was presented.
Showings have been limited while under consideration by several film festivals. The Texas Lawbook in August published an article about the project with a film trailer.
More than a dozen trailblazing women lawyers were interviewed in the documentary – including State District Judge Rhonda Hunter and Hon. Linda Thomas, former Chief Justice of the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals – and many more were featured in archived footage including Judge Sarah T. Hughes and Adelfa Callejo.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Doubles Giving Day Fundraising Total in El Paso
El Paso Giving Day netted $4,250 dollars for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid – two times the amount earned last year.
Notably, the fundraiser drew 27 unique donors – people who had never before donated to the nonprofit law firm.
TRLA officials called the fundraiser a success and said they hope to reach $5,000 from the event next year.
TRLA, Koch Partner for Driver’s License Restoration Clinic in Corpus Christi
Speaking of TRLA, the nonprofit is getting some help from Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi Refineries and its parent company Koch to host a Texas Driver’s License Restoration Clinic on Nov. 13 at the Coastal Bend Food Bank.
The clinic offers free legal help to eligible participants seeking to reinstate their driver’s licenses, which may be suspended due to unpaid fines, court fees, or other administrative issues.
Due to the personalized nature of the clinic, participants must register and the deadline is tonight at midnight. Registration may be completed at this website.