Volunteer of the Month – November 2023
Camie McKee is an associate at Haynes and Boone, LLP.
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- How did you first get involved with pro bono?
My first pro bono experiences were at UT Law. I worked with the INCLUDE Project, where we counseled special education students and their caregivers/supporters in Austin and Laredo about guardianship, probate and Supported Decision Making agreements. My first pro bono project with Haynes Boone involved drafting a DVAP client’s estate planning documents while a summer associate.
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- Which clinics have you assisted with?
I have volunteered with DVAP’s monthly intake clinics both by phone and in-person at the Dallas VA Medical Center.
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- Why do you do pro bono?
Pro bono work not only allows me to give back to the community but also reminds me to appreciate the education and training that a law degree and license afford.
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- What impact has pro bono service had on your career?
Pro bono service makes me a better lawyer. I can practice my communication and writing skills while researching about a different area of the law. More importantly, I can practice connecting with someone and figuring out how we can solve the problem at hand.
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- What is the most unexpected benefit you have received from doing pro bono?
I genuinely enjoy speaking with DVAP’s potential clients during monthly intake clinics. Many of us, including those that I have contacted through DVAP, need someone to listen compassionately and hear our stories from start to finish. These clinics teach me how to be more empathetic – as an attorney, colleague, wife, sister, daughter and friend.