Jared Slade, a senior associate in Alston & Bird’s Litigation & Trial Practice Group, has been honored by the Dallas Division of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas with its Pro Bono Award of Merit. Slade is the second recipient to be honored with the award, which was created in 2014.
“The federal judges in the Northern District of Texas created the Pro Bono Civil Panel to provide legal assistance to poor litigants in worthy federal civil cases,” said United States District Court Judge Jane Boyle. “These cases typically involve difficult legal issues that call for top notch lawyering.”
Recognized for his volunteer leadership representing pro se litigants in civil actions, Slade received the award at the Federal Bar Association Dallas Chapter’s annual judicial appreciation luncheon on June 19.
The award honors attorneys who “accept, promote and embrace [pro bono representation] with both personal commitment and their leadership of others.” Currently, there are 23 local law firms and more than 20 individual attorneys participating in the Pro Bono Civil Panel (PBCP).
“It goes without saying that the success of the PBCP effort depends heavily upon the willingness of the lawyer-volunteers to devote their time and talents to these cases on a pro bono basis,” Judge Boyle added. “Moreover, it takes a certain type of individual to sign on for pro bono work in ongoing federal civil litigation. Jared Slade is such an individual. Not only extremely smart and accomplished in his own right, he has the character and heart of a person devoted to helping the poor.”
Since 2013, Slade has accepted two appointments as trial counsel from the PBCP. In August 2014, he first-chaired a three-day jury trial on behalf of a small business owner. The owner, Slade’s client, was alleged to have violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by not paying employees for travel time or overtime. Slade convinced the jury that the plaintiff was an independent contractor who was not entitled to any relief—a full win for a client whom he was appointed to represent shortly before trial. Slade’s other appointment is an ongoing representation of a minor who reported being sexually assaulted at his public elementary school.
Judge Boyle also praised Alston & Bird for its pro bono commitments.
“Alston & Bird’s across-the-board support of pro bono work in the federal courts must also be commended,” she said. “The firm has been cited on numerous occasions for its dedication to providing legal assistance to those less fortunate. We are extremely fortunate to have Mr. Slade and the Alston & Bird law firm on the PBCP.”
Slade focuses his practice on commercial litigation matters with an emphasis on financial services and real estate. As with his pro bono representations, he handles cases for both plaintiffs and defendants and also regularly counsel clients before a lawsuit is filed.
“The federal judges in the Northern District of Texas created the Pro Bono Civil Panel to provide legal assistance to poor litigants in worthy federal civil cases,” said United States District Court Judge Jane Boyle. “These cases typically involve difficult legal issues that call for top notch lawyering.”
Recognized for his volunteer leadership representing pro se litigants in civil actions, Slade received the award at the Federal Bar Association Dallas Chapter’s annual judicial appreciation luncheon on June 19.
The award honors attorneys who “accept, promote and embrace [pro bono representation] with both personal commitment and their leadership of others.” Currently, there are 23 local law firms and more than 20 individual attorneys participating in the Pro Bono Civil Panel (PBCP).
“It goes without saying that the success of the PBCP effort depends heavily upon the willingness of the lawyer-volunteers to devote their time and talents to these cases on a pro bono basis,” Judge Boyle added. “Moreover, it takes a certain type of individual to sign on for pro bono work in ongoing federal civil litigation. Jared Slade is such an individual. Not only extremely smart and accomplished in his own right, he has the character and heart of a person devoted to helping the poor.”
Since 2013, Slade has accepted two appointments as trial counsel from the PBCP. In August 2014, he first-chaired a three-day jury trial on behalf of a small business owner. The owner, Slade’s client, was alleged to have violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by not paying employees for travel time or overtime. Slade convinced the jury that the plaintiff was an independent contractor who was not entitled to any relief—a full win for a client whom he was appointed to represent shortly before trial. Slade’s other appointment is an ongoing representation of a minor who reported being sexually assaulted at his public elementary school.
Judge Boyle also praised Alston & Bird for its pro bono commitments.
“Alston & Bird’s across-the-board support of pro bono work in the federal courts must also be commended,” she said. “The firm has been cited on numerous occasions for its dedication to providing legal assistance to those less fortunate. We are extremely fortunate to have Mr. Slade and the Alston & Bird law firm on the PBCP.”
Slade focuses his practice on commercial litigation matters with an emphasis on financial services and real estate. As with his pro bono representations, he handles cases for both plaintiffs and defendants and also regularly counsel clients before a lawsuit is filed.