The projects and organizations our attorneys have contributed to include:

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program and South Dallas Legal Clinic. This program has awarded the Firm four pro bono awards for the significant hours we spend in support of the South Dallas Legal Clinic (SDLC) and other pro bono activities. The SDLC is a clinic for people who fall below poverty levels. Thompson & Knight staff performs interviews and check paperwork to ensure that the persons requesting assistance fall within the SDLC’s guidelines. Once eligibility is established, our attorneys provide legal expertise to help address problems.

Housing Crisis Center (HCC) in Dallas. The HCC is dedicated to preventing homelessness and stabilizing families, the elderly, and the disabled in decent, affordable, and permanent housing. Clients who attend HCC’s workshops require legal assistance to avoid wrongful evictions and address other tenant needs. Our attorneys have staffed this clinic once a month for more than 15 years. The Volunteer Center of Dallas County has honored the Firm for its work with the HCC.

New York City Bankruptcy Assistance Project (NYC BAP). The NYC BAP was launched by the Legal Services of New York (LSNY) in response to the passage of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which made it more difficult for consumers to obtain relief from debts through bankruptcy. Through NYC BAP, firms throughout New York City help low-wage workers file bankruptcy petitions in order to stabilize their lives and help them remain in the workforce. The LSNY awarded a Thompson & Knight attorney with a Pro Bono Service Award in 2007 for his work on the NYC BAP Steering Committee.

Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (VLS). VLS is dedicated to helping the overflow of low-income individuals seeking help from the local legal aid office. Its mission is to help low-income clients access the civil justice system by providing volunteer attorneys who donate free legal service and representation and by supporting and training those attorneys. Thompson & Knight has received numerous accolades and awards over the years from VLS. Two Thompson & Knight attorneys were honored for their work in several cases, including a last minute case where our attorneys invested a significant amount of time for a client who was about to lose his home.

In recent years, Thompson & Knight and our attorneys have received the following awards and recognition for pro bono work:

• Various awards from the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program Annual Pro Bono Awards and Volunteer Recognition Events, including the 2010, 2009, and 2006 Bronze Award for Pro Bono Service, 2003 Firm of the Year for Extraordinary Pro Bono Service, and 2002 Support of the Year Award for one of our employee’s pro bono efforts;
• 2009 Outstanding Medium Law Firm of the Year Award from the Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Equal Justice Volunteer Program;
• Honoree at the 2009 Judge Suzanne Covington Pro Bono Services Awards for the Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas;
• 2007 Pro Bono Service Award for one of our attorney’s work on the New York City Bankruptcy Assistance Project’s Steering Committee;
• 2002 Margaret Wagers Enduring Service Award from the Housing Crisis Center for one of our attorney’s efforts in exemplifying “undeviating support for the prevention and elimination of homelessness;” and
• 2000 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in the Small Business category by the Volunteer Center of Dallas County for the Firm’s continuous pro bono service to the Housing Crisis Center.