FROM THE EDITOR

By MICHELLE HOOGENDAM CASH Pemberton Legal Search

Contrary to Popular Belief...

Know any good lawyer jokes? Lawyer humor, often portraying lawyers as sharks or vultures, is used by comedians, humorists, and even William Shakespeare. Googling “lawyer jokes” yields over 1.4 million results in less than one second! Although we all like to laugh at ourselves and be good sports about our profession, the reality is that lawyers generally have a strong sense of service to the bar and the community at large. HBA President Glenn Ballard designated this year as the “Year of the Volunteer,” and lawyers in our community accepted his challenge. It thus is fitting that this final issue of The Houston Lawyer focuses on volunteerism, which gives us the chance to show that lawyers are not heartless bottom feeders.

The 2006-2007 Editorial Board of The Houston Lawyer: seated from left, Associate Editor Mindy Riseden, Editor in Chief Michelle Hoogendam Cash, and Associate Editor David Wilson. Standing, from left, James Paulsen, Brad Allen, Don Rogers, Mark Correro, Jocelyn LaBove, Janet Moore, Gabriel Aitsebaomo, Robert Painter, Al Harrison, Tamara Stiner, Ann Zeigler, Benjamin Sanchez, John Gray, Don Ford, Mark Trachtenberg and Scott Lemond. Not pictured: Associate Editor Sharon Cammack, Associate Editor Maxine Goodman, Associate Editor Fred Simpson, Aaron Ball, Jason Ostrom, Crystal Parker, Ruth Piller, Patrice Pujol, Gwen Richard, John Ventura, and Hon. Leslie Brock Yates.

In his article entitled “Does No Good Deed Really Go Unpunished? Malpractice Myths and Realities in Pro Bono Representation,” editorial board member James Paulsen set out to prove a negative – that lawyers who perform pro bono work do not face a high risk of malpractice litigation. Professor Paulsen, with vividly entertaining examples (be sure to read endnote 3), shows that a lawyer is more likely to be struck by lightning than to face a malpractice judgment on a pro bono matter. Nancy Rapoport and Roland Bernier warn lawyers about the “seven deadly sins” of bankruptcy practice in their creative article, “Bankruptcy Pro Bono Representation of Consumers: The Seven Deadly Sins.” In “The Pro Bono Plus: How Pro Bono Work Can Enhance Your For-Profit Career,” editorial board member Janet Moore describes the professional benefits to a lawyer for undertaking pro bono work. Managing Editor Tara Shockley’s article entitled “Houston Bar Association Equal Access Initiative Increases Legal Services To Low-Income Houstonians,” describes the success of Ballard’s Year of the Volunteer campaign.
We close out the special issue on volunteerism with “Local Heroes,” brief vignettes about Houston lawyers who give back to the community in many ways, from serving as pro bono immigration attorneys to spearheading fundraising efforts for the Martin Luther King Memorial in DC, to supporting Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the MS 150. Their volunteer efforts show compassion, commitment, and community spirit. They represent the Houston legal community well. Thanks to guest editors John Ventura, Ben Sanchez, and Mark Correro for their work on this special issue.
We have received positive feedback about The Houston Lawyer’s new logo and cover design, which debuted in our last issue. In this issue, we introduce the Legal Trends column, which is the new name for the “Keeping up With” column. The Legal Trends column will continue to provide case summaries and analyses, and also will include brief updates and discussions on current trends in the law.
As we close out the 2006-2007 bar year, I would like to thank this year’s editorial board, particularly the associate editors and guest editors, for all of their hard work and support this year. Special thanks also to HBA Communications Director Tara Shockley; without her experience and judgment, my job would have been exponentially more challenging.
Serving as the editor in chief of this publication has been a wonderful experience. It has allowed me to be intellectually curious, creative, and expressive, while embracing my inner grammar geek. I will miss it.
Have a wonderful summer!

Editor’s Note

In the March-April 2007 issue, the author of the Keeping Up With item, “Intertwined Attorneys’ Fees and Exemplary Damages” was incorrectly identified. The author is Mike Wall, a trial partner in the Houston office of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP.

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