Why I Give: Ruth Lane, Donor, and Board Member
Ruth made her first donation to Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas in 2017, but she saw the impact that the law could have on individuals’ lives much earlier. Growing up in El Paso, Ruth eventually moved to Dallas, got married, and worked at Catholic Charities, where she saw first-hand the important service that pro bono attorneys provided to help clients. It clearly left an impression.
The experience prompted Ruth to attend law school, seeing a law degree as a means to start a career and support her family. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Scripps College and a master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Texas at Arlington, Ruth earned her law degree at SMU Dedman School of Law. Ruth’s legal interests led her to form her own firm in Arlington, focusing on immigration practice.
Her service to the community has included volunteering with the civil legal clinics in Dallas, serving a term as President of the Arlington Bar, and joining the Board of Directors of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas in 2018.
“The work of Legal Aid blossoms out in so many ways that are exponentially beneficial to low-income individuals,” says Ruth. “A little help with legal issues can make a huge difference. It can be so important to allow people to move forward.”
An active LANWT board member, Ruth is a strong advocate of Legal Aid. “As a board member I can assure donors that it is a well-run organization and that gifts are stewarded responsibly,” she says. “Unrestricted gifts are greatly needed for their value to allow Legal Aid to be more flexible to better serve clients.”
While Ruth’s daughter is focused on an engineering career, Ruth hopes that her teenage son will follow in her legal footsteps. Perhaps the example of service to the legal community that Ruth has provided will plant that seed.