In His Own Words: Pete's Odyssey to Legal Aid
It’s no surprise that I ended up working at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. You could call it a 360-degree, full-circle moment—but to understand that, you have to start at the beginning. After high school, I joined the U.S. Army. Some people joke that my stint was so short I qualify as a “weekend warrior,” but I am proud of that decision. Even though my original dream of becoming an ophthalmologist or optometrist didn’t materialize, I truly believe God had other plans.
When I began looking for another career path, I explored criminal justice and law enforcement. But the mandatory “Courts and Procedures” class wasn’t for me—not then, anyway. I dropped it and shifted directions, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. Ironically, that meant I had to take the very same “Courts and Procedures” class to graduate. It was taught by a law professor, and I remember thinking, “Why am I taking this? I’m never going to work in a law firm.”
Of course, life has a sense of humor. I ended up working at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas for nearly twenty years now, and that one class ended up helping me land the job. Looking back, I don’t think it was an accident. I wanted to use my degree, and more importantly, I wanted to help people.
Recruiting, retaining, and recognizing volunteers quickly became something I truly cared about. But I also believed that Midland deserved to be part of the statewide conversation about strong pro bono programs. I couldn’t make that happen alone. With the support of the Midland County Bar, the Midland County Young Lawyers, the Paralegal Association, and countless lawyers who volunteered or took cases—sometimes both—I was honored with the Liberty Bell Award in 2008, a resolution from the Texas State Bar that same year, and the SBOT Pro Bono Coordinators Award in 2012. I also received the opportunity to serve on the Texas Access to Justice Commission from 2012-15.
Beyond my work at Legal Aid, I’ve served on several nonprofit boards and local agency coalitions. I was also deeply honored to receive the Survivor to Thriver Award in 2009, 2017, and 2021. Through my work with veterans, I received a Hometown Hero recognition in 2019 at our local Midland Rockhounds game.
As I recruited volunteers to help with cases and staff evening clinics, I often thought: if these volunteers give so much to our legal community, why shouldn’t I give back as well? That question led me, in 2019, to start volunteering as Santa during Christmas for local nonprofits, a tradition I’m proud to continue. This year, I even added being an Easter Bunny to my resume. But one of my greatest joys has been serving as the master of ceremonies for the Casa de Amigos senior prom since 2017.
LANWT has given me opportunities I never could have imagined. I’ve attended conferences in cities and states I might never have visited otherwise. I get to work with veterans and partner with local veteran agencies to support our community. And every time I shake a veteran’s hand—offering a pen, a lapel pin, or simply my thanks—I often hear the same question: “Did you serve in the military?” I get to say that I did.
If there’s a lesson in my story, it’s this: Never say never. You never know when an opportunity—like the one that came my way 20 years ago—will change your life.
When I began looking for another career path, I explored criminal justice and law enforcement. But the mandatory “Courts and Procedures” class wasn’t for me—not then, anyway. I dropped it and shifted directions, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. Ironically, that meant I had to take the very same “Courts and Procedures” class to graduate. It was taught by a law professor, and I remember thinking, “Why am I taking this? I’m never going to work in a law firm.”
Of course, life has a sense of humor. I ended up working at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas for nearly twenty years now, and that one class ended up helping me land the job. Looking back, I don’t think it was an accident. I wanted to use my degree, and more importantly, I wanted to help people.
Recruiting, retaining, and recognizing volunteers quickly became something I truly cared about. But I also believed that Midland deserved to be part of the statewide conversation about strong pro bono programs. I couldn’t make that happen alone. With the support of the Midland County Bar, the Midland County Young Lawyers, the Paralegal Association, and countless lawyers who volunteered or took cases—sometimes both—I was honored with the Liberty Bell Award in 2008, a resolution from the Texas State Bar that same year, and the SBOT Pro Bono Coordinators Award in 2012. I also received the opportunity to serve on the Texas Access to Justice Commission from 2012-15.
Beyond my work at Legal Aid, I’ve served on several nonprofit boards and local agency coalitions. I was also deeply honored to receive the Survivor to Thriver Award in 2009, 2017, and 2021. Through my work with veterans, I received a Hometown Hero recognition in 2019 at our local Midland Rockhounds game.
As I recruited volunteers to help with cases and staff evening clinics, I often thought: if these volunteers give so much to our legal community, why shouldn’t I give back as well? That question led me, in 2019, to start volunteering as Santa during Christmas for local nonprofits, a tradition I’m proud to continue. This year, I even added being an Easter Bunny to my resume. But one of my greatest joys has been serving as the master of ceremonies for the Casa de Amigos senior prom since 2017.
LANWT has given me opportunities I never could have imagined. I’ve attended conferences in cities and states I might never have visited otherwise. I get to work with veterans and partner with local veteran agencies to support our community. And every time I shake a veteran’s hand—offering a pen, a lapel pin, or simply my thanks—I often hear the same question: “Did you serve in the military?” I get to say that I did.
If there’s a lesson in my story, it’s this: Never say never. You never know when an opportunity—like the one that came my way 20 years ago—will change your life.
