Texas high scorers and law students recognized for pro bono work; South Texas College of Law wins service award
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Summary
At a joint ceremony, the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Access to Justice Commission honored two law students for extensive pro bono work and recognized South Texas College of Law for long-standing clinical service. Presenters cited student hours, clinic case closures and estimated value of student legal services.
The Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Access to Justice Commission presented awards recognizing law students and a law school for pro bono work and sustained commitment to serving Texans who cannot afford traditional legal services.
Justice Brett Busby described the Law Student Pro Bono Award as honoring “a student or recent graduate whose pro bono work has made a significant impact on the community.” He announced two recipients: Brandon Yim of Texas A&M University School of Law and McKenna McGraw of the University of Texas School of Law.
Busby said Brandon Yim contributed nearly 1,000 hours to pro bono and public-interest work through clinics, externships, internships and nonprofit service, across criminal and civil matters. Busby noted Yim was not present to accept the award. For McKenna McGraw, Busby cited more than 275 hours of service in projects including asylum work, driver's-licence recovery, wills and guardianship, juvenile lifer advocacy, parole-project work and forensic assistance in capital cases. Busby said McGraw led trauma-informed interview trainings, supervised student teams and successfully advocated before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The ceremony also recognized South Texas College of Law, Houston with the Law School Commitment to Service Award. Busby said 172 South Texas law students under licensed faculty and staff attorneys contributed thousands of hours of pro bono service last year, directly impacting nearly 2,000 people. The clinics, he said, closed more than 700 cases, mediated over 150 disputes, filed dozens of trademark applications and completed a grant-funded eviction-prevention project. Busby noted that in a typical year students provide more than 35,000 hours of legal services, valued at roughly $2,000,000.
Ray Valencia, president and dean of South Texas College of Law, accepted the award on the school's behalf. The court applauded the award recipients and emphasized the role of pro bono and clinical training in expanding access to legal services for underserved Texans.
Bringing attention to the awards, presenters framed student pro bono efforts and clinical programs as part of a broader push to close the justice gap for low-income Texans who cannot afford representation.
