1078 hours. That’s how much time Gray Reed & McGraw attorneys spent on pro bono work in 2014. To put that in perspective, the better part of 45 days. Or, six and a half weeks. That’s right, 54 attorneys and 10 paralegals spent the equivalent of a month and a half providing pro bono legal help to people in Dallas and Houston.

Cases ranged from family law divorces to estate planning to litigation to helping nonprofits, through a variety of avenues. In 2014, the Houston office sponsored Legal Lines Clinics and Veterans’ Clinics through the Houston Bar Association and Houston Volunteer Lawyers, respectively.  A number of our attorneys participated in the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Will-A-Thon.  Gray Reed also started sponsoring a quarterly clinic at the Houston Area Women’s Center in conjunction with Houston Volunteer Lawyers.

In a particularly memorable case, Houston associate Taylor Lamb assisted a military veteran, Kathy, with a divorce after her then husband assaulted her. In addition to handling the divorce, Taylor worked to get protective orders for Kathy in Brazoria County. Taylor called Kathy the “perfect client.”

“She was so patient and brave in working through the traumatic facts of the case,” Taylor said.  Kathy was so touched that at the final hearing, she brought a notebook she had kept throughout the legal proceedings containing every email Taylor had written to her. “She was so visibly relieved to have this behind her.”

In fact, the State Bar of Texas recently highlighted Taylor’s pro bono efforts, in conjunction with the National Pro Bono Celebration (Oct. 19-25). They interviewed Taylor for their Pro Bono Spotlight.  The Texas Access to Justice Commission, the American Bar Association, and others also collaborated on efforts for that week.

Dallas associate Alex Fuller has helped coordinate volunteer clinics through the Dallas Young Lawyers Association for the past five years, including several efforts Gray Reed attorneys participated in throughout 2014. Dallas attorneys participated in Legal Lines Clinics, and other clinics through the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. He feels pro bono work is just one of the ways that Gray Reed lives out its values of integrity, trust, excellence, respect, fairness and stewardship.  

“Most of the clients we help with pro bono matters don’t know where to turn when they have a problem,” Fuller said. “If I can help get them on the right track or provide them with guidance on how to address or solve their problem, I enjoy that.”

About Gray Reed & McGraw

Founded in 1985, Gray Reed & McGraw is a full-service, Texas based law firm with more than 120 lawyers practicing in Dallas and Houston. Gray Reed & McGraw offers a wide range of legal services including business litigation, corporate transactions, oil & gas transaction and litigation, tax planning and litigation, real estate, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, intellectual property, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.