FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2010

The Texas Access to Justice Commission Awards Shell Oil Company’s Legal Department with the Magna Stella Pro Bono Award

AUSTIN, Texas—The Texas Access to Justice Commission, in conjunction with the Texas General Counsel Forum, has presented the legal department of Shell Oil Company with the third annual Magna Stella Pro Bono Award for its efforts to promote pro bono legal services within the organization and within the corporate structure at large.  

Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Hecht, the Court’s liaison for access to justice issues, presented the Magna Stella Pro Bono Award at the Texas General Counsel Forum’s annual awards dinner on Thursday, Nov. 18, in San Antonio. Thomas J. Brandt, Associate General Counsel, accepted the award on behalf of Shell’s legal department.

“Shell has played a leadership role in pro bono participation inspiring both other corporations and private law firms throughout the state,” Harry M. Reasoner, chair of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, said. “Good corporate citizenship is indispensable in our efforts to provide desperately needed pro bono legal services in these hard economic times.”

Shell Oil Company’s legal department has an outstanding commitment to providing legal aid services through the Houston Bar Association (HBA) and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (HVLP). Shell attorneys have volunteered to handle pro bono cases through HVLP for nearly 25 years. The company also was one of the first corporations to become an Equal Access Champion under HBA’s Equal Access to Justice Initiative, which challenges corporate legal departments to handle a certain number of pro bono cases for low-income residents annually for five years. Through this program, Shell handles an approximate average of 100 pro bono cases per year.  

In 2005, Shell’s legal department instituted what is now known as the “Shell-a-Thon,” a dual will and legal advice clinic in partnership with the HVLP, the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast and Lone Star Legal Aid. The day-long event includes preparing wills and powers of attorney for nearly 75 people, and helping nearly 50 clients by answering a wide variety of legal questions on housing, consumer and family law. Shell lawyers also participate in Houston’s annual “Day of Giving” and volunteer at free legal advice clinics and other various clinics throughout the Houston area.
        
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The Texas Access to Justice Commission was created in 2001 by the Supreme Court of Texas to develop and implement policy initiatives designed to expand access to and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters for low-income Texans. The Commission has created several initiatives to increase resources and awareness of legal aid. For more information, please visit www.TexasATJ.org.

Contact: Erika Gonzalez, Elizabeth Christian & Associates Public Relations
(512-494-2864 or egonzalez@echristianpr.com)