Founding Supporters

VanSickle Family Law Clinic - Founding Supporters

$25,000 Over 5 Years

As highlighted in the Fall 2015 issue of the , we are delighted that a generous donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has committed $4 million to create and endow the VanSickle Family Law Clinic at SMU Dedman School of Law. Through endowment, the donor has ensured that low income members of our community will have access to free family law services in perpetuity.

“I hope this gift will help provide quality legal counsel to low-income families struggling with divorce and custody issues, while also creating real life experience and training to nurture the next generation of family law attorneys,” explained the donor.

In order to open this important clinic soon—rather than delaying operations while the endowment matures—we are seeking to create a small group of individuals and firms who are passionate about the work of the clinic and who are willing to help fund operations for the next five years. The gifts will enable us to hire a director this fall and open the Clinic in spring 2016.

The group will be known as the Founding Supporters of the VanSickle Family Law Clinic.

We are off to a great start but still need your help!

Our goal is to secure 20-30 Founding Supporter commitments of $25,000 each (which can be paid over 5 years).

15 Founding Supporters at the $25,000 level and counting!

We are very grateful to the following for their commitment to helping our community in this important way

  • Ashley and JR Cook 
  • Connatser Family Law
  • Dallas Bar Foundation
  • Duffee + Eitzen LLP
  • Patricia Alden Flateau
  • Deborah Hankinson
    Former Justice, Texas Supreme Court 
  • Elizabeth Hunter
  • GoransonBain, PLLC
  • Kenneth C. Long
  • Mike and Mary Jo McCurley
  • David and Shelley McLane
  • Libby and Bob Meyers
  • Harriet Miers
    Former White House Counsel
  • Jim N. Mueller
    Texas Bar Foundation
  • Linda B. Thomas
    Chief Justice, Dallas Court of Appeals (Ret.) 
  • Brian Webb
  • G. Thayer Williamson

If you are interested in learning about the Founding Supporters project, please contact Anne Beard (agbeard@smu.edu).