Dallas Bar Foundation

TO SPONSOR RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, FORUMS ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIPS & PRESERVE HISTORICAL STRUCTURES; SUPPORT LEGAL AID TO THE INDIGENT; PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY.

THE DALLAS BAR FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS PROGRAMS ARE SUMMARIZED BELOW: 1. THE SARAH T. HUGHES DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE THE SIGNATURE PROGRAM OF THE DALLAS BAR FOUNDATION. ESTABLISHED IN 1981, THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO OUTSTANDING MINORITY STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO REMAIN IN DALLAS UPON GRADUATION FROM ONE OF THE 3 AREA LAW SCHOOLS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY IN THE DALLAS / NORTH TEXAS AREA. THE SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH COVER A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE COST OF TUITION EXPENSE FOR THE STUDENTS, ALLOW THE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON ACADEMICS WITHOUT THE WORRY OF INCURRING HUGE DEBTS AND WITHOUT THE WORRY OF HAVING THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ATTEND AND COMPLETE LAW SCHOOL. IN MANY CASES, LAW SCHOOL SIMPLY IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES. THERE WERE 7 HUGHES SCHOLARS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL IN THE SPRING SEMESTER AND 8 HUGHES SCHOLARS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL IN THE FALL SEMESTER. 2. COLLINS CLERKSHIPS: THIS PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED IN 1989, PROVIDES SIX WEEK SUMMER CLERKSHIPS TO MINORITY LAW STUDENTS AT THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS, THE 5TH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS, THE 14TH AND 68TH CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. THE STUDENTS ARE MENTORED BY EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS, ARE GIVEN ASSIGNMENTS THAT CHALLENGE THE STUDENT TO LEARN, AND ARE PROVIDED EXPOSURE TO WORK EXPERIENCES THAT WILL ADD VALUE TO THEIR JOB PROSPECTS UPON GRADUATION. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN THE NORTH TEXAS LEGAL COMMUNITY SO THE STUDENT MUST BE INTERESTED IN PRACTICING IN THE DALLAS METROPLEX. THE CHIEF JUSTICE CAROLYN WRIGHT INTERNSHIP AT THE FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS IS AWARDED TO A MINORITY LAW STUDENT. 3. THE STEPHEN H. PHILBIN, II, AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEGAL REPORTING HAS BEEN AWARDED EACH YEAR SINCE 1983. JOURNALISTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY WHICH MEETS THE CRITERIA OF THE AWARD. IT IS THE ONLY SUCH AWARD IN TEXAS. 4. THE INTELECTUAL PROPERTY SECTION SCHOLARSHIP CAN BE AWARDED TO A STUDENT AT EACH OF THE 3 AREA LAW SCHOOL WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW. THE DBF GRANTS FOR 2022 INCLUDE: 1. ANNUAL GRANT TO SUPPORT THE DBA HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM AND THE DBA TEXAS STATE HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IN 2022 INVOLVED 1,650 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LAW FOCUSED EDUCATION. 160 TEAMS COMPETED IN THE STATE COMPETITION. THE WINNING TEAM PLACED 6TH IN THE NATIONAL COMPETITION. 2. DALLAS COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES RECEIVED A GRANT TO HELP FUND THE COSTS OF SCREENING NEW ADVOCATES WHO WILL REPRESENT THE CHILDREN, UNDER THE CARE OF DALLAS CASA, IN COURT PROCEEDINGS. 3. ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (ACT) RECEIVED A GRANT TO HELP FUND THE COSTS FOR ACCESSING OPEN RECORDS SUCH AS PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH AN ABANDONEND OR NEGLETED PROPERTY. THE INFORMATION IS USED BY THE PRO BONO ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING UNDERSERVED CLIENTS OF ACT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO USE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FIGHTING CRIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO HOLD PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES OF ABANDONED OR NEGLECTED PROPERTIES. THE EXPECTATION IS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE AN ADDITIONAL 35 CASES. 4. DALLAS CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER RECEIVED A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE COST OF THE LICENSING FEE OF A CLOUD-BASD DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO SECURELY SHARE, MANAGE AND STORE CHILD FORENSIC INTERVIEW VIDEOS WHICH ARE USED TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR THE CHILD VICTIMS OF ABUSE. 5. MOSAIC FAMILY SERVICES RECEIVED A GRANT FOR THE TRANSLATION OF LEGAL SERVICES AND DOCUMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR COURT FEES AND ADMINSTRATIVE EXPENSES SUCH AS ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND FINGERPRINTING SERVICES THAT CLIENTS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD. 6. THE DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION RECEIVED A GRANT FOR UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY USED FOR THE STREAMING OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION FOR LAWYERS. THE NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL ENABLE THE CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO BE PROVIDED IN A HYBRID SETTING OF ON-SITE AND VIRTUAL LEARNING.