FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2008
Contact: Meg Meo
Elizabeth Christian & Associates Public Relations
512.494.2867 or mmeo@echristianpr.com
2008 PRO BONO SECTION AWARDS ANNOUNCED
State Bar of Texas Sections Recognized for Programs that Increase Legal Services for the Poor
AUSTIN, Texas—At the State Bar of Texas Council of Chairs meeting in April, the Supreme Court of Texas Task Force to Expand Legal Services Delivery presented three State Bar of Texas sections with the first annual Pro Bono Section Awards. A large, medium, and small section each received a $1,000 prize to invest in their statewide pro bono efforts. Funding for the awards was generously provided through a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. The Pro Bono Section Award Program was established in 2007 to recognize State Bar sections that create and develop innovative pro bono projects to extend legal services to underserved areas of Texas.
The following State Bar sections received the 2008 Pro Bono Section Awards:
• Family Law Section (large section winner)
• Appellate Section (medium section winner)
• Poverty Law Section (small section winner)
“There are thousands of attorneys within the State Bar who are living up to the ideals of our great profession by donating their time and expertise to provide legal assistance to low-income Texans,” Karin Crump, chair of the Task Force, said. “The Pro Bono Section Award is one way to provide much-deserved recognition for these efforts.”
The Family Law Section (large section) works with local legal aid programs to identify remote areas in the state where there is limited pro bono assistance available for family law cases. In selected rural areas, the section hosts free continuing legal education (CLE) seminars in exchange for a commitment from participating attorneys to take at least two pro bono cases in the following year. With its $1,000 award, the Family Law Section will develop a video or webcast of its CLE seminar so that the seminar can be shown in more areas of the state.
The Appellate Section (medium section) crafted an innovative approach to promoting pro bono work among its membership. The section partnered with the Supreme Court of Texas and the Third Court of Appeals in Austin to match clients who are financially unable to procure legal representation with volunteer Texas lawyers. In both pro bono programs, the clients obtain qualified legal counsel, while the attorneys gain valuable experience and exposure to the appellate courts. The section will use its award to increase publicity for the program and to pay for requests to expedite copies of key portions of the record, which are used to determine whether the program can provide pro bono assistance.
The Poverty Law Section (small section) was recognized for its monthly CLE “First Friday” seminars focusing on different areas of poverty law. Topics have included consumer law, family law, ethics, immigration law, landlord-tenant law and public benefits, all with a focus on serving indigent clients. The money awarded to this section will help to expand its program by allowing the webcast of future CLE seminars.
The Task Force will seek nominations beginning next January for the second annual Pro Bono Section Award. For more information, please contact Hong Tran at htran@texasbar.com.
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $9 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.
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