FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2010
Contact: Erika Gonzalez, Elizabeth Christian & Associates Public Relations
512-494-2864 or egonzalez@echristianpr.com     

University of Texas Law Student and Baylor Law School Honored for Commitment to Access to Justice

AUSTIN, Texas—The Texas Access to Justice (ATJ) Commission honored recent University of Texas School of Law graduate Stephanie Kolmar and Baylor Law School at the New Lawyers’ Induction Ceremony in Austin on Mon., Nov. 22, for their contributions in providing access to justice to those in need in Texas.

Kolmar received the third annual ATJ Law Student Pro Bono Award, and Baylor Law School was honored with the ATJ Law School Commitment to Service Award.

The Commission also presented the University of Texas School of Law and Dean Lawrence Sager with a special commendation for sponsoring and hosting the annual Access to Justice Trial Academy for the past five years. Dozens of public service lawyers have received top-notch trial advocacy skills training from esteemed lawyers during this program sponsored by the Commission.

ATJ Law Student Pro Bono Award
The ATJ Law Student Pro Bono Award was established in 2007 to recognize a Texas law student who has demonstrated his or her commitment to the delivery of legal services to poor and low-income Texans. Nominations for the award were solicited from each of the nine Texas law schools, legal services programs and law students themselves.

Growing up on the U.S.-Mexico border and working as a bilingual teacher led Stephanie Kolmar to law school to help provide the highest-quality legal representation for the neediest individuals in Texas. While at the University of Texas School of Law, she volunteered for translation services at the school’s immigration clinic, helped domestic violence victims and assisted in representing children in detention.

In the spring, Kolmar was awarded the Julius Glickman Fellowship in Public Interest Law which will allow her to continue post-graduate work at American Gateways, a nonprofit legal services organization in Austin. The award also included a $2,000 stipend from the Commission.

ATJ Law School Commitment to Service Award
The ATJ Law School Commitment to Service Award recognizes a law school that most prominently advances the delivery of legal services through clinics, public interest programs, student involvement and other initiatives. Nominations for the award were solicited from each of the nine Texas law schools, legal services programs in Texas, local bar associations, alumni and law students.

“Baylor Law School has put its commitment to public service in action,” Harry M. Reasoner, chair of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, said. The faculty and staff ensure their students are working on projects that provide meaningful public access to our system of justice, and they develop the desire in students to continue pro bono work when they become lawyers.”

Baylor Law students are involved in pro bono work in the community through a program called Bear P.A.W.S. (People at Work and Service) in which they work with several legal aid offices by helping with issues like public benefits assistance, adoptions, domestic violence, the local Innocence Project and the People’s Law School event. This year, Baylor Law School incorporated a community service project into each entering class orientation programming.

Baylor Law School also created a Public Interest Summer Fellowship program to enable students to intern during the summer for nonprofit or governmental organizations serving underrepresented populations. Two years ago, two Baylor Law School students created the Baylor Public Interest Legal Society to facilitate the involvement of students in public interest programs and opportunities.

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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.