A devoted single mom of three, Nicole worked two hourly wage jobs — a dishwasher at one restaurant and changing oil at a car garage — because the state of Texas forced her to pay hundreds of dollars each month in child support to her deadbeat baby daddy who was serving 20 years in prison for raping one of their children. She literally struggled to pay the rent and food for her family.
Nicole reached out to The Texas Lawbook for pro bono help.
Within hours of The Lawbook writing about the case, lawyers at Reese Marketos stepped forward. Weeks later, a Dallas district judge signed an order reversing the the Texas attorney general.
“It is amazing how 10 or 20 hours of pro bono work by a lawyer can dramatically change the life of a person or an entire family,” AT&T General Counsel David McAtee recently told The Lawbook in an interview.
Three years ago, The Texas Lawbook launched a full-time reporter position to write about pro bono, public service and diversity in the Texas legal profession — to write about cases just like the one handled by Reese Marketos.
During the past three years, The Lawbook has published more than 240 articles on Texas lawyers representing military veterans, abused children, asylum seekers, the elderly and those discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. Those 240 stories highlighted the pro bono work, public service initiatives and diversity efforts of more than 400 lawyers, 115 law firms and 60 corporate legal departments in Texas.
Lawbook readers are blessed to have Krista Torralva, a former Dallas Morning News courts reporter, leading this coverage. Krista has a passion for the beat that is unparalleled. Her articles celebrate the success of Texas lawyers who use their training and experience to make a difference in our communities.
The Lawbook also recently added some help for Krista by hiring recent University of Texas journalism graduate Elle Grinnell. Elle grew up with the law all around her, as her mother is the general counsel of The Container Store. The Lawbook published Elle’s first article last week.
Krista and Elle have several in-depth articles on pro bono and diversity in the works. But they also want to hear from you about stories they should be writing.
Now, we need your help.
Krista and Elle are both technically employed by the Texas Lawbook Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support our pro bono and diversity coverage.
The Lawbook Foundation has a great board of directors, which includes Toyota Managing Counsel Derek Lipscombe, Mattress Firm General Counsel Daria Russell and former Sempra Energy Chief Legal Officer Carolyn Aiman, who is our newest board member.
“Lawyers are always saying that they want to see more positive stories in the news about the good work they and their colleagues do,” Lipscombe said. “Well, this is your chance.”
Krista and Elle are doing God’s work.
Last week, Krista wrote an article about a Dykema attorney and his spouse who worked with recovery personnel in the Kerr County flooding disaster and efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate federal funding for legal aid groups in Texas.
And they seek more stories about in-house counsel and outside law firms working together on joint projects.
Lawbook Foundation Needs Your Help
The Lawbook Foundation needs your financial support, too.
During the past three years, the Lawbook Foundation has been blessed with some extraordinary support from a handful of corporate legal departments, law firms and individual lawyers.
Three law firms — Kirkland & Ellis, Sidley Austin and Vinson & Elkins — have each made financial contributions of $25,000 or more.
The corporate legal departments at Keurig Dr Pepper, Shell, Phillips 66, Toyota, Arcosa, Texas Capital, Helmrich & Payne and Vitol have supported the cause with contributions of $1,000 or more.
And a handful of lawyers, law firms and even judges — Tenet Healthcare’s Marita Covarrubias, Talen Energy’s Andy Wright, Bracewell, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright, Munck Wilson, Amy Stewart Law, Mark Melton, Matt Orwig, Greg Curry, Josh Russ, Al Ellis, U.S. District Judge Karen Gren Scholer, Texas Judge Steve Smith — have made financial donations this year.
Both Derek Lipscombe and Carolyn Aiman have made donations of $1,000 this year.
The Texas Lawbook matches every dollar that you donate.
As the founder of The Lawbook and the Lawbook Foundation, I cannot express my appreciation deeply enough.
Krista, Elle and I say, “Thank you so much.”
If you would like to know more about the Lawbook Foundation and our pro bono, public service and diversity coverage and how you can make a difference, please do not hesitate to contact me. My cellphone is 214-232-6783 and my email is mark.curriden@texaslawbook.net.