Melissa Thrailkill
Volunteer of the Month – September 2022 Melissa Thrailkill is an associate at the Law Office of Brandy Wingate Voss, PLLC. How did you first get involved in pro bono? I began my legal career working with a legal aid organization and that passion for serving those who need legal help but cannot afford it has followed me into private practice. Describe your most compelling pro bono case. This is a hard one, because I find all of them compelling. People need our help. I was thrilled to win an appeal for a client who…
Christina Jenkins
Volunteer of the Month – August 2022 Christina Jenkins is a sole practitioner. How did you first get involved in pro bono? In 2007, the housing market crashed. Our mortgage banking clients were disappearing overnight and our firm had a massive layoff. At times, there was no work to do. I had already attended some DVAP CLEs, so I asked my managing partner if, during down time, I could work on DVAP cases. He said “go for it.” So I did. To this day, I’m still not sure he knows just how many cases I…
Jake Torres
Volunteer of the Month – July 2022 Jake Torres is an associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP. What types of cases have you accepted? Early on I mostly worked on asylum and guardianship cases. Recently, I’ve spent a lot of time defending tenants in eviction hearings. Which clinics have you assisted with? I’ve volunteered at DVAP’s Eviction Clinic as well as the West Dallas Clinic. Describe your most compelling pro bono case. At an Eviction Clinic a few months ago, an elderly woman asked me to represent her in her eviction hearing. She had been…
Barry Hocking
Volunteer of the Month – June 2022 Barry Hocking is a sole practitioner. How did you first get involved in pro bono? Even before I moved to Texas in 2020, I knew that volunteering for pro bono cases would be a key activity for me in this next career phase, so not long after arriving here, I started searching the internet for volunteer attorney organizations in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. DVAP turned out to be a perfect fit for me, and I think I’m extremely fortunate to be able to participate in the program. What…
Juanita DeLoach
Volunteer of the Month – May 2022 Juanita DeLoach is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. What types of cases have you accepted? For DVAP, I have accepted mainly simple divorce cases and a few wills. Through my firm Barnes & Thornburg, I have a Compassionate Release case in the District of Columbia, Criminal Division. I am not a family law or a criminal law attorney, but I love learning new legal skills through these experiences. Describe your most compelling pro bono case. My most compelling case is still ongoing. A few years ago,…
Jason Tyra
Volunteer of the Month – April 2022 Jason Tyra is a sole practitioner. What types of cases have you accepted? I am also a CPA, so I like to take cases that have a financial angle to them. I have taken DTPA, debt collection, and estate planning matters, and a few will drafting cases. Describe your most compelling pro bono case. To me, the cases I accept are all compelling because I only take cases that I think I can win (or at least create an improved outcome for the client). The debt cases are…
Brielle Rowe
Volunteer of the Month – March 2022 Brielle Rowe is an associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. What types of cases have you accepted? Thus far I have done a number of estate planning cases which involve drafting a client’s will and ancillary power of attorney documents. I have also taken on some divorce cases. Describe your most compelling pro bono case. I recently did an estate planning case for a veteran and former high school teacher and coach. When he was in my office signing the documents, he shared with me…
Misty Farris
Volunteer of the Month – February 2022 Misty Farris is a Senior Counsel with Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP. How did you first get involved in pro bono? A long time ago, I worked at a firm that had a pro bono project in which we took simple divorce cases, got training at our office, and the judge came in and handled prove-ups one day in our conference room. I’m sorry to say that I didn’t continue at that point. I had tiny kids, and I just felt overwhelmed. When I came to my current…
Heather Barger
Volunteer of the Month – January 2022 Heather Barger is a senior associate with Alston & Bird LLP. What types of cases have you accepted? All sorts of things—asylums, divorces, contractors gone bad. Which clinics have you assisted with? I’ve helped with a number of the intake clinics, which I love. Even when I’m drowning in billable work, I can find a few hours to help with intake clinics and listen to people’s stories, help them feel heard, and get them one step closer to securing the needed services. . Why do you do pro…
Brad Smyer
Volunteer of the Month – December 2021 Brad Smyer is a senior associate with Alston & Bird LLP. Which clinics have you assisted with? Clinics are one of my favorite ways to give back to the community when I don’t have time to take on another pro bono case. In addition to DVAP’s general in-person and virtual clinics, I have participated in clinics to help veterans, reinstate driver’s licenses, help with housing disputes, draft simple wills, and set up basic corporate entities. Describe your most compelling pro bono case. A few years ago, I was…
