Giving Back: Professor Alissa Gomez on the Power of Pro Bono

In the sixth episode of Season 6 of Emphasis Added, we have an impactful conversation with Professor Alissa Gomez to explore the intersection of legal education, access to justice, and the impact of pro bono work.

Professor Gomez shares her path from commercial litigation at King & Spalding to leading Houston Volunteer Lawyers and eventually joining the University of Houston Law Center. 

We dive into the civil justice gap and how pro bono efforts can help close it. Professor Gomez explains the concept of legal literacy, highlights effective community outreach strategies, and shares insights from her research. 

The conversation also covers practical ways young attorneys and law students can get involved in pro bono work and her efforts as UHLC Pro Bono Facilitator to connect students with real-world opportunities.

To get a mailing or electronic subscription to the Houston Law Review click here.

For more Emphasis Added content, follow us on Instagram and check out our video content on YouTube!

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:08 Professor Gomez’s Background
• 3:36 Exploring Professor Gomez’s Unique Career Path
• 6:55 Defining and Discussing “Poverty Law”
• 8:56 Engaging in Pro Bono Work While in Private Practice
• 11:50 Career Transitions: Transferable Skills and Adapting to Change
• 15:51 Understanding Pro Bono Work
• 16:56 How Pro Bono Fits Within the Traditional Legal System
• 18:41 Examining the Civil Justice Gap
• 20:56 Bridging the Gap Through Legal Literacy
• 26:16 Resources Needed to Support Pro Bono Efforts
• 31:34 Combatting Misinformation Around Legal Rights
• 33:51 Community Workshops and Public Legal Education
• 36:52 Balancing Pro Bono with a Full Work Schedule
• 40:46 High-Need Areas in Pro Bono Legal Work
• 45:11 The Role of Law Firms and Corporations in Supporting Pro Bono
• 48:33 Professor Gomez’s Work as UHLC’s Pro Bono Facilitator
• 54:26 The Role of Pro Bono in Legal Education and Student Development
• 58:26 Bringing Pro Bono into the Classroom
• 1:00:16 One of Professor Gomez’s Most Impactful Pro Bono Cases
• 1:03:46 How Students Can Get Involved & Closing Thoughts