Volunteer of the Month – March 2024

Eugene Temchenko is a senior associate in the Complex Commercial Litigation group at Vinson & Elkins LLP.

• • How did you first get involved in pro bono?

Having arrived to the United States on a humanitarian parole, my family and I were no strangers to dealing with poverty and a litany of legal twists and turns.  And while I quickly gravitated to large commercial disputes (and firmly believe that defending businesses against non-meritorious suits protects jobs for everyone), I always wanted a part of my practice to be devoted to helping the indigent through the issues my family had faced.  My first pro bono project was in law school—assisting an Afghani family that supported our troops with applying for refugee status.  

• • Which clinics have you assisted with?

I have had the pleasure of working together with DVAP on its eviction clinic for nearly three years.  This clinic, which was started in the midst of COVID, ensured that Dallas residents facing eviction did not face the Court unrepresented.  

• • Describe your most compelling pro bono case.

A senior and indigent resident was being evicted during the summer heat wave from senior housing.  The defendant had no friends or family.  The defendant was current on rent; indeed, housing assistance programs compensated the landlord for the unit.  The defendant was being evicted over a series of disagreements with the landlord, which the landlord’s representative admitted on the stand were non-threatening and non-violent.  Thanks to DVAP, we were able to step in and obtain an agreed dismissal of this action, allowing the defendant to stay in her unit well past the heatwave and enabling her to move out in peace.

• • Why do you do pro bono?

DVAP’s Director signs her emails with this line – “Pro bono: it’s like billable hours for your soul.”  That is a very true statement.  For me, pro bono is how I give back to the community that has given so much to me, mentor junior associates about the real difference we can make as lawyers, and display the compassion and mercy that my God has displayed to me.

• • What is the most unexpected benefit you have received from doing pro bono?

Learning to be quick on my feet in oral advocacy.  There are not many opportunities where lawyers are retained ten minutes before a hearing, because the client did not realize a lawyer could be willing to help them.  But when all you have is ten minutes for intake and strategizing, the best arguments are often developed on the stand.  And while my day-to-day practice is meticulously planned out and rehearsed, the importance of the skill of ad–libbing a compelling argument cannot be understated.  I am grateful to DVAP for giving me the opportunity to develop this skill, and to my firm for enabling lawyers like me to pursue pro bono.