In this week’s edition of P.S., lawyers from Southwest Airlines, TIAA and 12 firms receive awards for advancing women, their DEI leadership, and their commitment to advancing society and combatting hatred; Texas RioGrande Legal Aid receives funding in the six-figures for pro bono disaster relief legal work; an upcoming runway show supports low-income residents suffering from HIV and terminal illnesses — plus more dates for future charity events.

Tenants’ rights nonprofit Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center is in a period of growth, both in staff and operations. Its newest employee, Bill Holston, joined today and will focus primarily on growing operations as COO. The Lawbook talked with Holston about why he joined DEAC as well as Mark Melton, who provided the latest on the nonprofit that he founded in the height of the pandemic.

This edition of P.S. features a Dallas attorney who has paved the way for female trial lawyers with her numerous courtroom wins and was recently named a living legend and a legal aid organization’s recruitment of lawyers to join the planning committee for its big fundraising event that honors lawyers and organizations for championing women and children.

In this edition of P.S., the Houston Bar Association opens early-bird registration for its largest fundraiser of the year, four law firms prevail in a challenge to raise money and donate food to the North Texas Food Bank, and four associates participate in a program that’s part of a major bank’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

This week’s edition of P.S. highlights three awards received by law firms, individuals and bar associations for their commitment to diversity and pro bono legal services, as well as upcoming August dates for pro bono legal clinics in Dallas.

In this week’s edition of P.S., we have details on a recent pro bono wills clinic in San Antonio; the newest bank to join the Texas Access to Justice Foundation’s Prime Partner Program; a federal magistrate judge who Baylor Law School recently named as its 2023 Young Lawyer of the Year; an upcoming free tour of a nonprofit substance abuse recovery center for women that has deep ties to the Dallas legal community; and a new partnership between SMU Dedman School of Law and a local nonprofit.

As higher education circles, prospective students of color and mainstream media grapple with the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision, so too does the legal industry. The Lawbook wanted a DEI expert’s take and got input from Kanarys founder Mandy Price, a Big Law attorney-turned DEI guru.

While diversity, equity and inclusion efforts will likely continue to face headwinds, experts say the legal profession can take specific steps to mitigate the potential impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision that banned affirmative action in higher education. Natalie Posgate sought insights from corporate in-house lawyers, law firm leaders and affirmative action experts on what the impact may be and what the reaction should be going forward. As one lawyer put it: “It’s up to us to take a stand and make a difference.”

This edition of P.S. highlights July dates, times and locations of the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program’s legal aid clinics (with info on this month’s sponsors); a prestigious public service award that the American Bar Association will present to Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas in August, two Winstead lawyers taking leadership roles in DEI and a pro bono win by Baker Botts in the U.S. Supreme Court.