DALLAS BAR FOUNDATION

The Dallas Bar Foundation Scholarship and Awards Programs are described below: The Sarah T. Hughes Scholarship is granted by the Dallas Bar Foundation to enable talented law students to obtain a legal education in our community with the purpose of expanding access and opportunity for individuals whose experiences and perspectives are not widely represented in the legal community of North Texas. The Scholarship supports students whose journeys to law school reflect determination, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose by overcoming hardships or difficult paths. The Dallas Bar Foundation encourages applicants who are first in their families to attend higher education; have entered law school after pursuing other careers or after overcoming personal or societal challenges; or who balance work, family, or military service while pursuing their legal education. Collins Clerkships provide six-week summer internships to law students at the Fifth District Court of Appeals, the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, the Dallas County Public Defender's Office, the Dallas City Attorney's Office or the City of Irivng Attorney's Office, a Dallas Court Civil District Court. The Stephen H. Philbin II Fellowship is awarded to law students interested in First Amendment and Media Law. The students complete a six-week fellowship at the First Amendment Clinic at Southern Methodist University School of Law. The Stephen H. Philbin II Award for Excellence in Legal Reporting has been awarded since 1983. Journalists in Texas are able to submit an entry which meets the criteria. It is the only such award in the state. The Intellectual Property Scholarship is awarded to students demonstrating an interest in intellectual property law and who are attending SMU Dedman School of Law, the University of Texas at Dallas College of Law and the Texas A&M University School of Law. Several other summer internships include the Hon. Harlin Hale Fellowship at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Northern District of Texas, the Justice Wright Internship at the Fifth District Court of Appeals, the Hon. Nikki DeShazo and Edward Smith Probate Clerkship at the Dallas County Probate Court, and the Bob Mow judicial internship at the U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas. THE GRANTS FOR 2024 INCLUDE: 1. SPECIAL BOARD APPROVED GRANT OF $50,000 TO THE DALLAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESERVING THE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND ITEMS OF THE DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION AND DALLAS BAR FOUNDATION. THE DALLAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND EXHIBITS THE DIVERSE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE 150 YEAR HISTORY OF THE DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF DALLAS AND HAVING THE DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION'S HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS ARCHIVED AND SECURELY STORED BY THE DALLAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL ALLOW THE "DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION COLLECTION" TO BE AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS. HISTORIANS, BIOGRAPHERS, GENEALOGISTS AND STUDENTS WOULD BE AFFORDED ACCESS TO THE PAPERS IN THE SAME MANNER AS FOR ALL OTHER OF THE DALLAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS. . 2. ANNUAL GRANT TO SUPPORT THE DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM AND STATE COMPETITION HELD IN DALLAS. THE DBA HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM INVOLVED OVER 1600 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN LAW RELATED EDUCATION. 158 TEAMS COMPETED IN THE STATE COMPETION. THE WINNING TEAM, DISD BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, ADVANCED TO THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION IN DELAWARE AND WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 2 TEAMS TO COMPETE IN THE FINAL ROUND. 3. ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (ACT) RECEIVED A GRANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDING CAPACITY FOR RECORD GATHERING FOR EXPANDING THEIR DOCKET AND LEGAL ADVOCACY WORK. MORE COMPLEX CASES, MULTI-FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL, REQUIRE MORE RECORDS AND RESEARCH. RECORDS ARE REQUESTED FROM THE POLICE DEPT (PATROL AND NARCOTICS), FIRE DEPT, CODE COMPLIANCE AND INCIDENT AND ARREST REPORTS DOCUMENTING WHAT IS FOUND ON THE PROPERTY. PROPERTY DEEDS AND VITAL RECORDS RELATED TO OCCUPANTS AND OWNERSHIP ARE ALSO REQUESTED. THIS INFORMATION IS USED BY BOTH THE STAFF AND THE PRO-BONO ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING UNDERSERVED CLIENTS IN THEIR QUEST TO USE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FIGHTING CRIME IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOLDING PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES OF ABANDONED OR NEGLECTED PROPERTIES WHICH BECOME SITES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY SUCH AS DRUG DEALING AND GANGS, ETC. WHICH AFFECTS THE SECURITY AND WELL BEING OF THE RESIDENTS OFTEN CAUSING THEM TO REMAIN INDOORS FEARFUL OF THEIR SAFETY. 4. DALLAS EVICTION AVOCACY CENTER RECEIVED A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE PRINTING OF 10,000 OUTREACH FLIERS TO DISTRIBUTE. THE FLIERS DISCUSS WHAT THE TENANTS RIGHTS ARE WHEN IT COMES TO EVICTION AND DIRECTS THEM TO SEEK THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE OF THE DALLAS EVICTION ADOVACY CENTER AND THEIR PRO BONO ATTORNEYS. FLIERS ARE DISTRIBUTED AT HEATLH CENTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, NON-PROGIT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SOCIAL SERIVES AND COUNSELING. 5. THE ENTREPRENUERS IN LAWYERING PROGRAM RECEIVED A GRANT TO CONTINUE CREATING A PIPELINE OF SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS LAWYERS WHO WANT TO LAUNCH A SOLO OR SMALL FIRM PRACTICE THAT CATERS TO LOW INCOME CLIENTELE. THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN THE ONE YEAR PROGRAM START WITH AN ALL-DAY TRAINING ON ESTABLISHING A PRACTICE, CREATING A BUSINESS PLAN, BUDGETING, BILLING, ETC. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THEY CONTINUE TO MEET WITH INSTRUCTORS AND ARE ASSIGNED A MENTOR. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT CHARGED ANY FEES FOR THE SERVICES THEY RECEIVE FROM THE PROGRAM AND AGREE TO PROVIDE MANDATORY PRO-BONO HOURS. 6. ANNUAL GRANT TO SUPPORT THE DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION LAW DAY EVENT TO RECOGNIZE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN THE DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO PARTICIPATE IN AN ANNUAL CIVICS CONTEST CENTERED ON A DIFFERENT THEME EACH YEAR. THE TOP 3 FINALISTS IN EACH CATEGORY WHICH INCLUDES THE WINNING TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO RECEIVE THEIR AWARDS AT THE LAW DAY LUNCHEON AND HEAR A RECOGNIZED LAWYER SPEAK ON THE THEME FOR THE YEAR. ELEMENTARY GRADE STUDENTS SUBMIT ARTWORK, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SUBMIT ESSAYS, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUBMIT EDITORIALS / PHOTOS THAT CAPTURE THE THEME SELECTED FOR LAW DAY. THE GRANT ALSO PROVIDES FOR RECOGNITION AWARDS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS WHO ARE SELECTED AS WINNERS IN VARIOUS LAW DAY EVENTS.