Grace Weatherly, a partner with the Denton law firm of Wood Weatherly, first got involved with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (Legal Aid) before the organization even had its current name. Her former boss, then President of the Denton County Bar, asked Grace if she’d have an interest in volunteering with West Texas Legal Services. That involvement led to a 14-year stint on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Grace’s board tenure was marked by transition, a change in name of the organization when the Legal Services Corporation merged legal aid organizations in North and West Texas to form Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, turnover in the organization’s leadership, and the construction of the main Legal Aid office in downtown Fort Worth. Today, her impact is recognized on a plaque on the exterior of that main office building.
Though she eventually resigned the Board of Legal Aid to become a Board member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Grace continues to support Legal Aid. Recently she agreed to provide a matching gift for a litigation intern. Her gift helps Legal Aid attract the other funds needed to support the position.
“Family law—particularly violence against women, housing, and veteran’s work—are the main reasons why I support Legal Aid,” she says. “There are other groups that help vets, but they are not lawyers. They can’t provide the kind of help that lawyers can.”
Grace shared a memory that has stuck with her through her years of service in the legal community. At an event in Denton her partner Bill Wood spoke: “Lawyers have an obligation to give, whether it is time or money. You have a law license. You should use that. Everyone can volunteer to pick up trash from the sidewalks, and that is important. Never forget that you are lawyers. Look for opportunities where only lawyers can make a difference.” Grace’s service to Legal Aid and elsewhere in the legal community reflects those values.
Grace’s board tenure was marked by transition, a change in name of the organization when the Legal Services Corporation merged legal aid organizations in North and West Texas to form Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, turnover in the organization’s leadership, and the construction of the main Legal Aid office in downtown Fort Worth. Today, her impact is recognized on a plaque on the exterior of that main office building.
Though she eventually resigned the Board of Legal Aid to become a Board member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Grace continues to support Legal Aid. Recently she agreed to provide a matching gift for a litigation intern. Her gift helps Legal Aid attract the other funds needed to support the position.
“Family law—particularly violence against women, housing, and veteran’s work—are the main reasons why I support Legal Aid,” she says. “There are other groups that help vets, but they are not lawyers. They can’t provide the kind of help that lawyers can.”
Grace shared a memory that has stuck with her through her years of service in the legal community. At an event in Denton her partner Bill Wood spoke: “Lawyers have an obligation to give, whether it is time or money. You have a law license. You should use that. Everyone can volunteer to pick up trash from the sidewalks, and that is important. Never forget that you are lawyers. Look for opportunities where only lawyers can make a difference.” Grace’s service to Legal Aid and elsewhere in the legal community reflects those values.