of Jackson Walker LLP provided 1,926.9 represent a client on a pro bono basis Corporate Law Department – hours of pro bono direct legal services through the HBA’s Houston Volunteer Exxon Mobil Corporation in 2013. Their work includes assisting Lawyers, he likely did not imagine the In 2013, 171 ExxonMobil Law volunteers parents to become co-guardians of mencase would go on for more than five devoted more than 2,660 recorded hours tally incapacitated of pro bono seradult children, vice. Volunteers handling cases included not only from the HBA’s attorneys, but 33 Houston Volunsupport staff as teer Lawyers, well. Included drafting by-laws was pro bono for non-profit enlegal assistance tities, advocating for the HBA’s for teenagers who Houston Volhave been wrongunteer Lawyer’s fully removed medical-legal from schools, partnership with helping mothers Texas Children’s receive child supHospital, neighport, helping faborhood legal thers enforce their clinics, veterans visitation rights, clinics, nonprofit assisting disabled assistance and veterans, ensurcase representaing lessees are tions. ExxonMotreated fairly in From left: David Chaumette, HBA President; Rob Johnson and Susan Sanchez of ExxonMobil; Peter bil management Bennett of Peter J. Bennett, P.C.; Andrius Kontrimas of Norton Rose Fulbright; John S. “Jack” Edeviction proceed- wards; David Curcio of Jackson Walker LLP; and The Hon. Robert K. Schaffer, Harris County Admin- partnered with ings, and even re- istrative Judge. HVL to provide uniting children abducted by one parent years and involve over 500 hours of pro bono legal assistance through a new and brought to the U.S. illegally. The firm legal work. The case involved a couple Law Management Legal Clinic, and imalso participates in HBA’s Houston Volwho put their life savings into their plemented a Baytown Wills Clinic. Volunteer Lawyers legal advice clinics. dream of opening a gift store, only to unteers partnered with Catholic Charibe evicted and sued for damages by the ties to staff two citizenship clinics where Small Firm – Peter J. Bennett, P.C. landlord before the store even opened. over 60 naturalization applications were Peter Bennett has been a force for pro The client had used the last of her life prepared. In the fall of 2013, ExxonMobono legal services for many years and savings to hire an attorney to reprebil celebrated the second anniversary of has received recognition from the Houssent her, then later learned his law liits partnership with Norton Rose Fulton Bar Foundation for his outstanding cense was suspended and he had disbright LLP in a monthly legal clinic for contributions. In 2013, he logged 188.2 appeared. After losing her husband to the Houston Area Women’s Center Shelhours of pro bono service on 49 different cancer, she tried representing herself ter Clinic, which has served approxicases. His focus is on wills and probate, pro se for nearly a year, then finally mately 300 clients and accepted 30 casbut he also handled adult guardianship, went to HVL for help. Jack Edwards, es. ExxonMobil volunteers also provide divorce with children and advanced who was then with Morgan Lewis & pro bono services through the Tahirih directives through the HBA’s Houston Bockius and later joined Ajamie LLP, Justice Center, the Houston Pro Bono Volunteer Lawyers. Peter spends several stepped in as her pro bono attorney Joint Initiative, Texas Appleseed, Avenue hours each month volunteering for HVL’s and represented her through several CDC, and Texas Accountants and LawChinese and Vietnamese legal clinics, as facets of the lawsuit that went on until yers for the Arts. well as other Saturday clinics at Ripley 2013, when her landlord finally agreed Tara Shockley is the communications House and Fourth Ward. to settle the case. Although the court director for the Houston Bar Association awarded attorney’s fees, Edwards and and managing editor of The Houston Individual – John S. “Jack” Edwards, Jr. Ajamie LLP donated those fees to the Lawyer. When Jack Edwards volunteered to HBA’s Houston Volunteer Lawyers. thehoustonlawyer.com
May/June 2014
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