Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards. These awards were given to outstanding law firms, legal departments, and individuals in recognition of their outstanding pro bono work performed during 2024. The awards will be presented at the HBF Annual Luncheon on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Corporate Law Department – Shell USA, Inc.
Shell has been a longtime advocate of pro bono in the greater Houston area, and they have been an Equal Access to Justice Champion since 2013. In 2023, they had 23 active cases, including several guardianship cases from HVL’s Medical-Legal Partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital. Shell has provided a diverse range of pro bono support in addition to takin on cases for full representation. They have dedicated time and resources to supporting veterans through HVL’s legal advice clinic. In 223, Shell partnered with HVL and the University of Houston to donate 44 hours of legal advice in support of veterans in need. Additionally, Shell has hosted a yearly wills clinic every fall, providing peace of mind and comfort to low-income members of our community by assisting with estate planning packets and end of life preparation.
Large Law Firm – Bracewell LLP
Bracewell has been a strong pro bono partner to HVL for many years, being one of the first to commit to becoming an Equal Access to Justice Champion in 2007 and recommitting each year since. Attorneys in their Houston office have assisted HVL clients in a variety of legal issues: tax, family law, housing, veteran benefits, record clearing, and probate.
In 2023, Bracewell attorneys worked on 57 unique client matters and provided another 56 hours of legal advice and counsel to veterans at Friday Veterans Legal Clinics at the VA Hospital. Bracewell also sets an example for new associates each year on the importance of integrating pro bono into their legal career. Last fall, Bracewell hosted HVL for a 2023 New Associates Training. Following the training, every new associate accepted an HVL case for which they partnered with a more seasoned Bracewell attorney to provide pro bono legal services.
(Bracewell LLP Partner and HBF Director Richard Whiteley (R) poses with Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP (L to R) Alex Rodriguez, Amy Snell, George Shipley, Xperanza Uviedo, and Kaitlyn Dawson with Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP. At right, Richard Whiteley with Bracewell LLP, which won the Large Firm Award.
Mid-Size Law Firm – Winston & Strawn LLP
Winston & Strawn first committed to becoming an Equal Access to Justice Champion in 2015 and has not slowed down in its support of providing pro bono legal services to individuals in Harris County since.
In 2023, attorneys at Winston & Strawn accepted 19 pro bono cases including five guardianship cases with most of those clients being non-English speakers. Guardianship cases are one of the highest needs at HVL, and finding representation for non-English speakers compounds the difficulty of placing these cases. Winston & Strawn attorneys also helped clients with record clearing, estate planning, and provided 60 hours of legal advice and counsel to veterans at Friday Veterans Legal Clinics at the VA Hospital.
Small Law Firm – Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP
Shipley Snell Montgomery became an Equal Access to Justice Champion in 2021 and has found that providing pro bono legal services is a great way for new attorneys to gain litigation experience.
In 2023, Shipley Snell Montgomery attorneys actively worked with seven clients, five of which were clients needing assistance with non-disclosures. One of these cases was a non-traditional sealing of a 19-year old’s juvenile record. This expunction was of a class C misdemeanor for a minor. What a relief for this young person as he enters adulthood without the burden of this earlier mistake standing as a barrier to his ability to go to school, get a job, and find housing.
(Bracewell LLP Partner and HBF Director Richard Whiteley (R) poses with Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP (L to R) Alex Rodriguez, Amy Snell, George Shipley, Xperanza Uviedo, and Kaitlyn Dawson with Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP. At right, Richard Whiteley with Bracewell LLP, which won the Large Firm Award.
Individual – Jeremy Northum
Jeremy Northum was licensed to practice law in Texas in April 2022 and immediately integrated pro bono work into his practice. As a solo practitioner, Jeremy became an Equal Access to Justice Champion in July 2023. HVL recently named Jeremy as “Most Likely To Try Cases in a New Area of Law” in its 2022-2023 Year in Review in recognition of Jeremy’s willingness and enthusiasm to support low-income Houstonians in whatever area of law they need help.
In 2023, Jeremy accepted six pro bono cases covering five areas of the law – divorce, small estate affidavit, wills, record clearing, and probate. Jeremy closed seven pro bono cases during 2023, positively impacting the lives of these clients as he helped to resolve a variety of legal matters.
