Steven Schulman Quoted, As Texas Lawyer Reports Akin Gump Is No. 1 Firm in Texas for Pro Bono
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Akin Gump pro bono partner Steven Schulman was quoted by Texas Lawyer for its article “Akin Gump Leads Texas Firms in National Pro Bono Rankings,” which reports the firm’s standing per the results of sister publication The American Lawyer’s recent pro bono survey.
Schulman said that, while pro bono isn’t required at Akin Gump, the firm has an “aspirational goal” of 60 hours per lawyer each year, one that the firm has met for the last decade.
From among the pro bono matters that Akin Gump has taken on, Texas Lawyer spotlighted what Schulman characterized as the firm’s largest effort: its work with Central American women and children being held in a federal detention center near Karnes City, Texas, as they apply for asylum.
Schulman did, however, note that, as large as the firm’s commitment to the Karnes effort has been, no one case or area comprised more than 10 percent of the firm’s pro bono effort in 2015, describing the breadth of work as ranging from policy advice to assistance for individuals “whether asylum-seekers or abused women looking for protection from their spouses or the homeless looking for housing.”
He added that, in Texas, Akin Gump’s work has included partnering with Texas Appleseed on reform of small-dollar lending and, under the lead of San Antonio partner in charge Neel Lane, a successful effort by two same-sex couples to challenge Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage.
