Two Austinites were recently honored with the American Lawyers Alliance (ALA)’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The purpose of the Lifetime Achievement Award is to recognize members who, over an extended period of time, have accepted leadership positions within ALA, supported the organization on a national level, communicated its goals to the public, and displayed an attitude encouraging the exchange of ideas and experiences.
If Jennifer Benesh and Noel Roberts are familiar names to you, it’s for good reason: Both have been extensively involved in legal-related organizations for more than 20 years.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Texas School of Pharmacy in 1983 and practiced at Eckerd Drugs, Seton Hospital, and the Methodist Hospital at Houston Medical Center.
In 2000, she moved to Austin with her husband, Steve, who had been relocated to the Austin office of Bracewell, and she soon became involved in local legal organizations, including the Austin Bar’s Gala Committee.
She has also served, among other roles, as president of Austin Lawyers Auxiliary, president of Texas Lawyers Auxiliary, as the current co-president of Texas Lawyers Auxiliary, and president of American Lawyers Alliance.
A Texas history lover, Jennifer served for a number of years on the board of directors for the Friends of the Pound House Foundation, which oversees the preservation of the Dr. Pound Museum and Farmstead in Dripping Springs. She has also volunteered as a docent at the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
While at the University of Texas, Noel Roberts went to work as a “gopher” in the Austin office of Houston-based Vinson & Elkins. It was there she started her “love affair” with the legal profession. After graduating with a degree in English, the firm hired her as a legal assistant, then later as a recruiting coordinator for the Austin office. She later worked as a legal affairs coordinator and human resources specialist at Remco America, Auchan Hypermarket, and at BMC Software.
For 10 years, Noel worked with her husband, Bennett, running the oil and gas company LE Energy Company. Since 2013, Noel has worked as a real estate agent, in addition to her volunteer work.
She has served as president of the American Lawyers Alliance, as vice president of the Texas Lawyers Auxiliary and the Austin Lawyers Auxiliary, the website chair of the Houston Bar Association Auxiliary, a board member of the Houston Charitable Foundation, and the communications and newsletter chair of the Austin Woman’s Club.
Congratulations to both Jennifer and Noel, who have dedicated so much time and effort to bettering the Texas legal community!