Judge Texanna Davis, Sedora Jefferson, and Deborah Thomas were honored at the 2025 Austin Black Lawyers Association Foundation (ABLAF) Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon. 

Founded in 1981 by members of the Austin Bar, Volunteer Legal Services was built on the fundamental belief that poverty should not be a barrier to justice. The prohibitive cost of legal services often leaves individuals unable to access professional assistance for critical civil matters, such as divorces, child custody disputes, landlord-tenant issues, domestic violence situations, and more.

As I begin my 49th year of this marvelous profession, I have never been more concerned about the future of the Rule of Law. And that’s a shame, because at this point, I thought I’d simply be playing the piano for a living again and watching reruns of “Cheers.” But my nagging concerns will not give me a rest. 

Emergency cessations create hardship. A lawyer unexpectedly dies or becomes incapacitated and there is no succession plan. The lawyer’s family is in crisis, and the clients have lost their champion. Succession planning protects against chaos and preserves value in the practice.

Gargi Singh is a student at Round Rock High School. She won third place in the State Bar of Texas’ Law Day 2025 Photography Contest with her submission, “The Track to Unity and Justice.” 

Sonia Joseph is a student at Round Rock High School. She won first place in the State Bar of Texas’ Editorial Contest for Law Day 2025 with the following essay.