The Dallas Bar Association (DVAP) and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas have concluded their annual “Equal Access to Justice Campaign,” which funds the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program to provide free legal assistance to over 4,000 low-income families with civil legal needs each year. This year the lawyers of Dallas raised a record-breaking amount of $1,169,349 for pro bono legal services to the poor.
The Co-Chairs of the 2018-2019 Campaign were Krisi Kastl, of Kastl Law, P.C.; Dan Kelly, of Vistra Energy; Kathryne “Kate” Morris, of Clark Hill Strasburger; Mary Scott, of Spencer Scott PLLC; and Honorary Chair Julia Simon, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Mary Kay, Inc.
Campaign proceeds will be used to continue to expand DVAP’s work in the community. With more than 600,000 people meeting legal aid’s financial guidelines for assistance, there is more work to be done in keeping access to the courts open in Dallas. DVAP will focus its efforts on recruiting more volunteer attorneys to represent clients in more complex cases and contested family law cases.
Donors of $10,500 and up were:
CHAMPION OF JUSTICE ($40,500)—Debra & E. Leon Carter
PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL ($30,500)—Jerry & Sherri Alexander; Connatser Family Law;Crain Lewis Brogdon, LLP; Hartline Dacus Barger Dreyer LLP
CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL ($25,500)—Anonymous;Lisa Blue & Jeff Tillotson
GOLD PATRON ($20,000)—Margaret & Jaime Spellings
DIAMOND SPONSORS ($15,500)—AT&T; Dallas Association of Young Lawyers; Mike A. Myers
PLATINUM SPONSORS ($10,500)—Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Botts L.L.P.; DBA Business Litigation Section; DBA Corporate Counsel Section; Deans & Lyons LLP; Exxon Mobil Corporation; Fears Nachawati Law Firm; The Hartnett Law Firm; Haynes and Boone Foundation; Jackson Walker L.L.P.; Jones Day; KASTL LAW, PC; Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Latham & Watkins LLP; Locke Lord LLP; Mike McKool; Schiff Hardin LLP; Sidley Austin, LLP; Thompson & Knight Foundation;Trinity Industries; Vinson & Elkins LLP; Vistra Energy; Winston & Strawn LLP
DVAP is a joint program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. DVAP conducts neighborhood legal clinics each month at seven community locations, and provides specialty legal clinics for veterans and the elderly. DVAP recruits and trains volunteer attorneys, and provides staff support to the volunteers.
For more information on the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program or the Equal Access to Justice Campaign, contact Michelle Alden, Director of the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, at aldenm@lanwt.org or (214) 748-1234.
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The Dallas Bar Association is a professional, voluntary organization of more than 11,000 Dallas-area attorneys. Find out more at www.dallasbar.org. To find out more about the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, log on to www.dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org.