FROM THE EDITOR

By RYAN J. MAIERSON Baker Botts L.L.P.

The Lawyer-Volunteer

Over the last forty years, The Houston Lawyer has published articles on a vast array of topics, ranging from all areas of substantive law to developments in the legal profession. One topic we always return to, though, is the volunteer spirit of this city’s lawyers. For the past several years, we have dedicated an issue of this magazine to the contributions of members of the Houston Bar Association. And for good reason: as the following pages depict, the HBA is full of dedicated, selfless people who devote their legal skills and personal time toward helping improve the life lot of others and furthering the commendable causes in which they believe. One of those volunteers is Karen Lister Conticello, who deserves our thanks for coordinating the articles for this issue.
As I mentioned several months ago in this space, there are many lawyer-statesmen among us—those who ascribe to the view that the privilege of practicing law is intrinsically interwoven with a responsibility to become involved in the multiple intersections of law and society. For the Houston lawyers we feature in this magazine, volunteer work and legal practice are not separable, compartmentalized parts of life. Rather, these lawyers understand that interacting daily with the law—the fabric of our republic—provides a level of practical wisdom that they have an obligation to carry forward into their interactions with the community at large.

As a magazine that strives to reflect the interests and activities of our readership, The Houston Lawyer can serve no greater purpose than to identify and applaud those among us who, through their tireless commitment to laudable goals, fulfill the role of lawyer-statesman. As you read the profiles in this magazine, you may be surprised to find the level of volunteer spirit that resides in people you already know. It is quite in keeping with their character that these lawyers don’t boast of their accomplishments in the community. But that’s okay—we’re happy to do it for them.

Members of the 2003-2004 Editorial Board include: seated from left, Ann Zeigler, associate editor;
Ryan Maierson, editor in chief; Patrice Pujol, associate editor; standing, from left, Paul Heyburn, Ruth Piller, Fred Simpson, Robert Higgason, associate editor, Edieth Wu, Don Rogers, Alexis Stokes, David Wilson, Karen Lister Conticello, Brad Allen and Matthew Caligur. Not pictured: Shawn Stephens, associate editor, Don Ford, Michael Mazzone, James W. Paulsen, Kristopher M. Stockberger, Darren Bush, Al Harrison, Helen B. Jenkins, Steven P. Woods, Trang Q. Tran and Michael Wynne.

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