Shook Recognized for Houston Pro Bono Contribution

Fresh off earning national recognition for its pro bono efforts, Shook’s Houston office is being honored for its contribution of legal services. The office has been selected as a recipient of a pro bono award from Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL). HVL is a longstanding pro bono partner of the firm and is the largest provider of pro bono legal services in Harris County and the surrounding areas. As a service of the Houston Bar Association, thousands of private attorneys volunteer their time and expertise each year through HVL to provide free legal assistance on civil legal matters to eligible, low-income area residents. 

While Shook Houston attorneys are involved in a variety of subject matter areas, their recent pro bono work with HVL has focused primarily on adult guardianships and criminal expungement. Partners Kathleen Frazier and Scott James are heavily involved in Houston’s pro bono work and have maintained a relationship with HVL for many years. Michael Harrison, the firm’s senior counsel for civil rights and racial justice, leveraged our longstanding relationship with HVL as well as his contacts at the local public defender’s office to launch our Houston expungement program.

Partner Scot Fishman oversees Shook’s pro bono program, chairs the firm’s pro bono committee and leads the public interest advocacy efforts in all offices. “I’m constantly amazed at the commitment of our lawyers and staff to the firm’s pro bono program, and our Houston office’s recent success is just one example of it,” Fishman said.  “While we are honored by the award, we are also reminded that the true heroes in this story are the individuals and families we serve.”

Shook Houston is led by Managing Partner Stephanie McGraw, who began her role earlier this year.

The Houston office will be awarded at the 2025 Houston Bar Foundation’s Annual Luncheon on February, 13.