As Texas prepares for Veterans Legal Aid Week, legal aid providers statewide are gearing up for more than 40 free clinics to help military veterans navigate civil legal challenges. Coincidentally, USAA Associate General Counsel Daniel Andrews was honored for his pro bono work supporting veterans by the Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Antonio Chapter and The Texas Lawbook on Thursday. Andrews emphasized the power of legal aid to “level the playing field” for veterans navigating complex legal issues. Also in this edition of P.S., the Good Apple Dinner celebrated Shell USA’s Travis Torrence, who delivered an inspirational speech to “stand tall.” The event raised a record $745,788 for the nonprofit public interest law center. And Jackson Walker launched its first firmwide “6-1-1 Day of Service,” uniting all six offices to prepare thousands of meals for Texas families — an effort that took on added meaning amid the federal government shutdown.
Next Week is Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week
Many legal aid providers will host free clinics for veterans next week as part of Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week, an annual statewide initiative coordinated by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. The effort coincides with Veterans Day and connects veterans with attorneys who can assist with civil legal needs.
Launched in 2014, the initiative has grown significantly with more than 40 events this year, foundation executive director Betty Balli Torres said.
“It’s my favorite week for legal aid because it’s really serving the people who served us,” Balli Torres said.
Veterans and their families can receive help with matters such as access to medical care, Veterans Affairs benefits, housing, employment, and family law. A full list of events and locations is available at texaslawhelp.org/tvlaw. Year-round assistance is also available through a statewide legal aid hotline at 1-800-622-2520, option 2.
Balli Torres said the week also raises awareness of ongoing resources.
“Because we are promoting it, it puts someone in a position some other day, some other time to go, ‘Hey wait a minute, I know I saw that,’” Balli Torres said.
Legal aid programs across the state helped more than 6,900 veterans last year, according to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. Texas is home to the second-largest veteran population in the country.
Texas Access to Justice Foundation funds civil legal aid programs statewide and partners with law schools, bar associations and pro bono attorneys to expand access to legal services for veterans and other underserved Texans.
USAA AGC Daniel Andrews: Pro Bono Work Helps “Level the Playing Field” for Veterans
For his “infectious commitment” to pro bono legal aid, USAA Associate General Counsel Daniel Andrews was honored with the 2025 Award for Achievement in Pro Bono & Public Service, presented by the Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Antonio Chapter and The Texas Lawbook.
Through remarks delivered by fellow USAA AG Michael Danforth, Andrews highlighted the vital role lawyers can play in using their “unique skill set and understanding of the law” as a “powerful tool for positive change,” especially for military veterans.
A regular volunteer at the San Antonio Legal Services Association’s monthly veterans clinics, Andrews has devoted much of his pro bono work to helping veterans address a range of civil legal issues.
“Many veterans face significant legal challenges, ranging from disability claims and housing issues to family law matters and consumer protection issues. Navigating these complexities can be overwhelming, especially when coupled with the other challenges that they may be facing due to their service,” Danforth said, reading from Andrews’ remarks. “By providing pro bono legal services, we help level the playing field, ensuring that those veterans have access to justice and fair resolution to their legal issues.”
The Lawbook profiled Andrews in this article ahead of the awards ceremony.
Good Apple Dinner Raises Record $745,788 as Texas Appleseed Honors Travis Torrence
There was a time when Travis Torrence — this year’s recipient of the Texas Appleseed J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award — says he was not living up to the values that the nonprofit public interest law center champions.
The now openly gay Black lawyer known for his extensive record of public service and diversity advocacy told attendees at Wednesday’s Good Apple Dinner at the Four Seasons in Austin that there was a period when he wasn’t as deeply involved in community and justice work as he is today.
But in 2011, he met one of his “sheroes,” the late poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Angelou, then in a wheelchair and wearing dark sunglasses, was visiting Houston. Hoping for the perfect photo, the 6-foot-6 Torrence began to crouch beside her. She turned to him slowly and said four words that Torrence still thinks about nearly every day: “No son, stand tall.”
“It was like she was looking into my soul, and she saw that I was not out in the community doing good work. She saw that I was not only grappling with my sexual orientation, but I was grappling with imposter syndrome,” Torrence said.
Angelou’s words became a turning point. Torrence went on to build a career and reputation rooted in service. He is now the U.S. Head of Legal at Shell USA, a past president of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Foundation’s board of directors, a board member of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, and a supporter of Bo’s Place, a Houston nonprofit bereavement center for children — among many other roles.
“Since then, I’ve committed my life to standing tall,” Torrence said. “I want to thank everyone here tonight for standing with me for Texas Appleseed and I want to implore you … to stand tall in your respective workplaces, to stand tall in your communities and to stand tall in your lives.”
Gina DeBottis Metts, president of the Texas Appleseed Board of Directors, announced that the event raised a record $745,788. The Texas Lawbook donated $2,000 to the fundraiser.
Texas Appleseed also honored Alston & Bird with its Pro Bono Leadership Award. The law firm supported Texas Appleseed through this year’s state legislative session and contributed to four urgent projects, tackling issues such as the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s nondisclosure of mental health service data, safeguarding a law school access program and advising on data privacy matters.
Other partners that contributed significant pro bono support to one or more Texas Appleseed projects between 2024 and 2025 were:
Akin
Baker Botts
Baker McKenzie
Bank of America
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
Cantilo & Bennett
Close Wright Barger
Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza
Davis Wright Tremaine
DLA Piper
Dykema
Fish & Richardson
FTI Consulting
Greenberg Traurig
Haynes Boone
Hogan Lovells
Holland & Knight
Jones Day
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Latham & Watkins
O’Melveny & Myers
Perkins Coie
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman
Schwab
Seyfarth Shaw
Sidley Austin
Susman Godfrey
Troutman Pepper Locke
The University of Texas at Austin
Vinson & Elkins
Jackson Walker’s Inaugural 6-1-1 Day of Service Takes on Added Meaning Amid Government Shutdown
When Jackson Walker scheduled its inaugural “6-1-1 Day of Service” months ago for Nov. 3, organizers could not have foreseen that it would coincide with a federal government shutdown that temporarily halted SNAP benefits for millions of families.
The timing made the firm’s efforts all the more meaningful, said organizers Chad Cole, director of culture and engagement, and Nicola Noel, chief HR officer.
The idea for the 6-1-1 Day of Service was born during a firm retreat in February, when organizers sought a way to unite all offices in a single day of community service and team building. The 6-1-1 refers to the firm’s six Texas offices with one united mission on one day.
About 200 volunteers across those six offices joined forces to prepare thousands of meals for Texas families.
“I don’t think that we had any idea what the significance of it would be given the government shutdown,” said Cole. “It really did take on a new purpose for us.”
Several offices also assembled care kits for employees to keep in their cars to give to people experiencing homelessness and the Dallas office launched a food collection for The Stewpot nonprofit, with donations scheduled for delivery on Nov. 17.
Monday marked the firm’s first 6-1-1 Day of Service. Two additional 6-1-1 dates are already scheduled for 2026, Noel said.
6-1-1 by the Numbers:
- Austin: During a morning shift, Jackson Walker and other food bank volunteers prepared nearly six tons of food at the Central Texas Food Bank. The afternoon shift then prepared 8,667 meals.
- Dallas: Nearly 500 individuals were served at The Stewpot, including about 106 children and 88 senior citizens. There, volunteers restocked shelves and helped create a grocery store-style experience while distributing about 14,000 pounds of food. They also assembled 100 care packages.
- Fort Worth: The morning team filled and delivered about 425 boxes of food for the Fort Worth Food Bank. The afternoon shift helped prepare for the next day, including packing about 750 boxes.
- Houston: During a morning shift, firm volunteers processed more than 6,000 pounds of potatoes and 2,000 pounds of apples and prepared 3,050 hot meals with the Houston Food Bank. In the afternoon, they helped process and bag 13,500 pounds of apples.
- San Angelo: The sole Jackson Walker attorney in this city delivered food and made a generous donation to the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank.
- San Antonio: Volunteers helped prepare more than 33,000 pounds of food, 660 bags, and 22 pallets, providing nearly 27,000 meals. They also assembled 50 care packages.