Lives can be saved by lawyers — through their billable work, their donations or their pro bono work on behalf of charities. But this week the son of Dallas Haynes Boone corporate lawyer Darwin Bruce won an award for literally saving a life.
On Monday, Texarkana Mayor Bob Bruggeman presented Devin Bruce, a Texarkana Water Utilities employee, with the Citizens Life Saving Award for his heroic efforts on Aug. 4. While working, Bruce came across a man named Frankie Shedlock who was lying face down in a drainage ditch, according to a Facebook post by the city of Texarkana. Shedlock had fallen and had been calling for help, too physically exhausted in the hot weather to pull himself out of the ditch. Bruce took quick action and with the help of nearby neighbors pulled Shedlock to a shaded area and provided assistance until medics arrived.
“Mr. Bruce stated, ‘It’s a blessing to be a blessing’ and we couldn’t agree more!” the city of Texarkana post said. “We are happy to see Mr. Shedlock on the mend and appreciate Mr. Bruce for his outstanding service to his fellow citizen.”
In other public service news: details of an upcoming LGBTQ+ conference featuring Dallas lawyer Callie Butcher, September dates for the DBA’s pro bono Legal Line e-clinics, Norton Rose Fulbright’s charitable back to school efforts and ways Texas lawyers can support the ABA’s pro bono efforts in Maui.
The Latest Charitable Happenings
— So far, Norton Rose Fulbright has raised more than $21,000 for “Clear the List,” a national campaign that raises money for teacher supplies for back to school. Teachers post links to to their Amazon wish lists of supplies needed for their classrooms, and donors can select and purchase items to “clear” the lists on their behalf. This is the second year in a row for the firm to participate. In 2022, more than 225 NRF lawyers and staff raised $77,500, which helped approximately 400 teachers across 300 schools in 27 states.
“Our Clear the List initiative is personal to all of us at Norton Rose Fulbright because we either know a teacher — in my case my daughter teaches — or have been taught by impactful educators at some point in our lives,” said Jeff Cody, the firm’s U.S. managing partner who is based in Dallas. “Not only does this important initiative support the great teachers in our communities, but it also benefits the children who will learn from them. Clearing the lists gives the entire firm an opportunity to come together in an extremely meaningful way.”
— The American Bar Association announced Tuesday that it is mobilizing lawyers to provide pro bono legal services to low-income victims of the Maui wildfires. A hotline has been activated (number: (888) 533-2773) to connect victims in qualifying counties to lawyers who can respond to disaster-related issues. The hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services will include re-doing wills and other destroyed important legal documents; advising clients affected by price gouging, scams or identity theft; advising on landlord/tenant problems, including threats of foreclosure; and assisting with disability related access to federal, state and local disaster programs.
While only Hawaii-licensed attorneys are eligible at this time to advise the Maui survivors, Texas attorneys can still help by donating to an ABA fund created for the Maui pro bono cause. Those interested in helping victims of disaster relief in their area can also check the ABA’s disaster relief pro bono portal for local opportunities.
— On Oct. 11, Callie Butcher, a corporate lawyer and activist for LGBTQ+ and transgender rights (especially during the 2023 Texas legislative session) will keynote the Texas Diversity Council’s 2023 Virtual Texas LGBTQ+ Conference. Before launching her own law firm, Butcher Legal Group, earlier this year, Butcher was an associate in Sidley Austin’s Dallas office, where she primarily practiced patent litigation. Butcher also is president of the Dallas LGBT Bar Association and a candidate for U.S. House Texas District 32 in the 2024 election.
The conference falls on National Coming Out Day and will feature LGBTQ+ leaders in the corporate world who will discuss leadership, professional development, community building and career advancement and aims to equip attendees with a better understanding of the LGBTQ+ climate as well as ways to build fully inclusive workplaces and boost competitive edge.
Other speakers include Denise Rodgers, enterprise PRIDE ERG co-chair at Trane Technologies; Gabriel Rodarte-Miller, diversity conferences and partnerships lead at Dell Technologies; Justin Brady-Joyner, principal DEI strategist of global diversity, equity and inclusion at National Instruments; and Stacey Chosed, director of market development for strategic alliances at AT&T Business.
Visit here for more information and links to register or sponsor. You can also contact Roly Lozano for questions or information on sponsorship opportunities at roly.lozano@texasdiversitycouncil.org
— Every Wednesday in September, volunteer attorneys with the Dallas Bar Association will answer legal questions on a pro bono basis from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m over the phone via the DBA’s Legal Line e-clinic. Those in need of legal help can sign up by completing this online form, and they will be called by an anonymous volunteer attorney, who will provide up to 15 minutes of free legal advice.