Why I Give: Hilda Galvan
Partner-in-Charge Dallas, Jones Day
Partner-in-Charge Dallas, Jones Day
As Hilda Galvan progressed in her career, so did her involvement in philanthropy. Today, as the Partner in Charge at Jones Day in Dallas, she is Board Chair of Texas Women’s Foundation, a Trustee for the University of Texas School of Law Foundation and the SMU Lyle School of Engineering, and serves or has served on numerous other local nonprofit boards. “As my career progressed, I had more time and more resources to give back,” says Hilda.
Her childhood in El Paso was formative in her charitable values. As the daughter of a mother with a sixth grade education and a father who dropped out of high school as a sophomore, Hilda grew up in a neighborhood where there was great economic need and a fear of those in positions of authority. “When legal help was needed in our Latino community, folks were reluctant to seek it because they were charged exorbitant amounts, often with little or no results.”
She made her way out of that neighborhood by focusing on her education. “Education was the real difference in my life,” she notes. “I loved science and math, and in high school, I had the opportunity to attend a program at the University of Texas at El Paso where I learned about careers in engineering.” She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UTEP in 1985. While attending UTEP, she worked for a small law office as a receptionist and legal assistant. This was her first exposure to lawyers. “I had the experience of attending trials in the courtroom and found it fascinating,” she says. She decided then that she would go to law school.
Five years later, after a short career as an engineer, a new marriage, and an even newer mortgage, she pursued her law degree at the University of Texas, graduating in 1993. With a six month old baby, Hilda started her legal career at Gibson Dunn as a mergers and acquisitions attorney. Within the year, Hilda decided that she needed to combine her love of technology with her love of the law, leading her to focus as a patent litigator at Jones Day.
Hilda was an Honorary Co-Chair for the Equal Access to Justice Campaign in 2021. Jones Day was the largest legal firm contributor to the effort benefitting the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program of the Dallas Bar and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas.
“Pro bono work is unique to the legal profession. No other profession gives so freely of its expertise. At Jones Day, we support our lawyers who want to give their time and talent for pro bono work. But, we also encourage them to give their treasure,” she says. “In 2021, my law firm partner Deborah Sloan led the effort at Jones Day for the Equal Access to Justice Campaign. It wasn’t just the attorneys who donated. So many of the staff donated too.” Their generosity reflects the emphasis that our firm places on giving back to our community. “No matter your circumstance, there are others who need more,” says Hilda.
Her childhood in El Paso was formative in her charitable values. As the daughter of a mother with a sixth grade education and a father who dropped out of high school as a sophomore, Hilda grew up in a neighborhood where there was great economic need and a fear of those in positions of authority. “When legal help was needed in our Latino community, folks were reluctant to seek it because they were charged exorbitant amounts, often with little or no results.”
She made her way out of that neighborhood by focusing on her education. “Education was the real difference in my life,” she notes. “I loved science and math, and in high school, I had the opportunity to attend a program at the University of Texas at El Paso where I learned about careers in engineering.” She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UTEP in 1985. While attending UTEP, she worked for a small law office as a receptionist and legal assistant. This was her first exposure to lawyers. “I had the experience of attending trials in the courtroom and found it fascinating,” she says. She decided then that she would go to law school.
Five years later, after a short career as an engineer, a new marriage, and an even newer mortgage, she pursued her law degree at the University of Texas, graduating in 1993. With a six month old baby, Hilda started her legal career at Gibson Dunn as a mergers and acquisitions attorney. Within the year, Hilda decided that she needed to combine her love of technology with her love of the law, leading her to focus as a patent litigator at Jones Day.
Hilda was an Honorary Co-Chair for the Equal Access to Justice Campaign in 2021. Jones Day was the largest legal firm contributor to the effort benefitting the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program of the Dallas Bar and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas.
“Pro bono work is unique to the legal profession. No other profession gives so freely of its expertise. At Jones Day, we support our lawyers who want to give their time and talent for pro bono work. But, we also encourage them to give their treasure,” she says. “In 2021, my law firm partner Deborah Sloan led the effort at Jones Day for the Equal Access to Justice Campaign. It wasn’t just the attorneys who donated. So many of the staff donated too.” Their generosity reflects the emphasis that our firm places on giving back to our community. “No matter your circumstance, there are others who need more,” says Hilda.