The Houston Bar Association welcomes Alissa Rubin as the new executive director of its Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (HVLP). HVLP, founded in 1981, provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income Harris County residents, largely by placing their cases with volunteer lawyers throughout the Houston area. The program serves more than 20,000 men, women, and children each year, including families living with HIV/AIDS, veterans, and victims of natural disasters.
Rubin graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 2002 among the top 16 in her class, and that year began working as a litigation associate in the Houston office of international law firm King & Spalding LLP. Rubin was elected partner of the firm last year. Throughout her tenure, Rubin handled complex commercial lawsuits from inception through trial, with special expertise obtaining and defending temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions.
Rubin was also dedicated to pro bono work while in private practice, volunteering with HVLP and Catholic Charities to help those in need. King & Spalding awarded her a pro bono service award in 2006, 2007, and 2008 for her successful representation of an immigrant juvenile in deportation proceedings and other pro bono matters. Rubin says her move to HVLP is an extension of her dedication to providing legal services to persons in need.