A proud accomplishment, which I cannot really claim as an achievement at all, is my “Yellow Rose of Texas” certificate! So I found my return in May to Texas and to Dallas-Fort Worth heartwarming –– from both a personal and professional standpoint. The story of the commitment of local association members on behalf of the nation's youth is extremely compelling, as is the leadership of women lawyers in the area.

Nearly 70 percent of Fort Worth's 3,500 lawyers are members of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Its leaders have created a vital resource for lawyers and are continuing to seek revitalization of the profession.

The Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers have developed an innovative program for at-risk children. The program, e-Mentoring, Esq. -- implemented in selected schools in the Dallas Independent School District -- connects lawyers with one or more students. The lawyers serve as mentors, encouraging their students to stay in school, study hard and consider college. Because of the time constraints with which we're all so familiar, this mentoring takes place online.….read more