The Austin Bar Association recently introduced the William O. Whitehurst Award for impactful pro bono legal services. Our team at National Trial Law is particularly excited about this award because it is named after our very own Attorney William O. Whitehurst. He is known far and wide as someone who genuinely cares about his communities, Texans across the state, and people throughout the country. His work has always been about helping his clients while also advancing the law to better serve people, so it is no surprise to us that this award was named in his honor.
According to the Austin Bar Association, an attorney may be considered for the William O. Whitehurst Award if they have:
- Made an impact on the Austin community by providing pro bono legal services;
- Enhanced access to justice in the community; and/or,
- Made significant contributions to the profession through public-sector service.
Please join us in congratulating Attorney Whitehurst for becoming the namesake of such an important award. We look forward to seeing which attorneys earn this award throughout the years by going above and beyond to support their communities.
About Attorney William O. Whitehurst
Attorney William O. Whitehurst is known by many across Texas as the “Father of IOLTA”, which is the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts. In 1984, he worked with former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Pope and several bar leaders to establish the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF), which administers the state’s IOLTA Program. As funds are accrued by attorneys, the Program distributes them to organizations that benefit local communities, such as those that provide pro bono legal services.
So far, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation has granted more than $1.76 billion to nonprofit organizations in Texas, many of which focus on pro bono work for low-income families. In 2025, TAJF grantees managed more than 117,000 cases and helped more than 304,000 Texans, including more than 27,000 domestic violence survivors, more than 10,000 crime victims, more than 12,000 unhoused people, and many others in underrepresented demographics. It is impossible to say just how proud Attorney William O. Whitehurst is of the TAJF and all the legal professionals who work with it.
Personally, William has practiced law for more than 50 years, making him one of the most experienced trial attorneys in Texas. He has served as the president of the State Bar of Texas and held important roles in the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and more. Many also know him as the co-founder of the Bar Leaders for the Preservation of Legal Services to the Poor, which has a nationwide presence.
When considering his entire legal career and his personality, it becomes clear that William has always been someone who takes great pride in helping those who need support the most. Once again, we want to thank him for all the work he has done throughout the decades to forward pro bono legal services in Texas and congratulate him on being the namesake of the Austin Bar Association William O. Whitehurst Award.
Read the full article here.
You can learn more about the Austin Bar Association by clicking here to visit its official website. If you need the legal counsel of our record-setting trial attorneys of National Trial Law, call (833) 913-1885 or submit an online contact form at any time.