Baylor Law, firm with Texas offices receive ABA pro bono awards

Originally published by Lindsay Stafford Mader.

Baylor Law School was selected to receive a 2015 Pro Bono Publico Award from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Pro Bono & Public Service. At a ceremony on August 1, held in Chicago at the ABA Annual Meeting, the committee recognized Baylor, the only law school receiving the award, as well as two lawyers, one law firm, and one business legal department.

“The recipients of the 2015 Pro Bono Publico Awards demonstrate exceptional commitment to volunteer legal services for our most vulnerable citizens,” ABA President William C. Hubbard said in a press release. “They have invested in their communities in a powerful way and have made access to justice a reality for those who are most in need.”

The ABA committee detailed in a press release why it selected Baylor Law School for the award:

The school has developed several pro bono clinical opportunities for students. Recently, they established a Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals Immigration Clinic to assist undocumented young people with deportation relief. The school’s People’s Law School offers a half-day program with volunteer lawyers designed to assist the community about their legal rights. The school has a broad pro bono/public service program, which has received recognition for its commitment to providing legal services to the underserved community.

A video highlighting Baylor’s pro bono accomplishments can be watched here.

Jones Day, a global firm with offices in Houston and Dallas, also received a 2015 Pro Bono Publico Award, partly for its efforts focused on detained migrants in Texas:

The firm took up the cause to help in the immigration crisis of unaccompanied children and women fleeing violence in Central America to U.S. borders. Jones Day sent teams of lawyers to military bases where immigrants were held and conducted “Know your Rights” presentations to help screen cases. They also sent teams to detention facilities in New Mexico and Texas. The firm has dedicated nearly 10,000 hours, which is valued at $5 million in fees, and has incurred significant costs for travel, experts and incidentals.

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