The State Bar of Texas, the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the American Bar Association, and others proudly support National Pro Bono Celebration Week (October 24-30). Pro Bono week is an opportunity to educate the public about the good work the legal community does to improve the lives of vulnerable Texans and to encourage more individuals to get involved in pro bono support of the legal system. During the week, we will feature stories of pro bono volunteers.
Gladys Marcos is a 2L at SMU Dedman School of Law and is from Commerce. She is president of the Immigration Law Student Association and secretary for the First-Generation Law Student Association. Marcos’ goal is to become an immigration attorney.
What kind of pro bono do you do and how long have you been doing it?
The summer of my 1L year was when I began my pro bono work at the International Rescue Committee Dallas in its Unaccompanied Minors program. My focus in pro bono work has been on immigration. This year as a 2L, I am a student associate at the Hunter Clinic for Victims of Crimes Against Women where I have been able to continue my work in immigration law.
Why is pro bono important to you?
Pro bono work is often the only way some can access legal services. I believe that everyone should have access to legal representation. For this reason, I know that putting in my time is something that I can do to ensure accessibility for communities in need. As someone whose parents have used immigration pro bono services before, I understand the importance of pro bono work and it is now my opportunity to give back.
Fernanda Palacios Herrera is a 3L at St. Mary’s University School of Law and her hometown is San Juan Buenaventura, Mexico. She is a Pat Tillman Scholar, a member of the Immigration Law Student Association (former vice president, 2020- 2021), the Hispanic Law Student Association, former social chair (2020-2021) for the Public Interest Law Foundation, and a student attorney for the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. After law school, Palacios Herrera plans to practice immigration law.
The State Bar of Texas, the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the American Bar Association, and others proudly support National Pro Bono Celebration Week (October 24-30). Pro Bono week is an opportunity to educate the public about the good work the legal community does to improve the lives of vulnerable Texans and to encourage more individuals to get involved in pro bono support of the legal system. During the week, we will feature stories of pro bono volunteers.
Rosa M. Peterson is a 3L at St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Maddy Dwertman is a senior associate of Baker Botts in Austin.
Omar Itani, a 3L at UNT Dallas School of Law and a native of Dallas, is the first in his family to go to college and law school. He participates in a variety of engagements. Itani is vice president of the American Muslim Law Student Association, a member of UNT Dallas College of Law Board of Advocates, a UNT Dallas College of Law Community Engagement Program Ambassador, and a member of the Bell Nunnally Business Law Forum. He plans on practicing business law after law school.
Emily Buchanan is an associate of Haynes and Boone in Dallas where she practices in the Insurance Recovery Practice Group.
Before coming to law school, he worked for the United Nations in the Middle East on issues of economic development and human rights law. Deutch is currently externing with the federal public defender’s office in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He plans on practicing criminal law and working as a public defender. Deutch holds a master of public administration from Columbia University.