For Immediate Release

	December 31, 2007 NBA NEWS BRIEF National Bar Association, 1225 11th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001 CONTACT: Joyce Jones @ 202-842-3900 E-mail: 82nd@nationalbar.org AFRICAN-AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION RECEIVES $100,000+ ENDOWMENT SUSMAN GODFREY, LLP ENDOWS NEW MARIE TRAHAN/SUSMAN GODFREY SCHOLARSHIP PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday December 28, 2007 DALLAS, Texas - J.L. Turner Legal Association Foundation ("JLTLA Foundation") received $103,305.00 from the Houston-based law firm of Susman Godfrey, LLP. Ophelia Camina, a partner, and the Diversity Committee Chair of Susman Godfrey, presented the funds to Vicki Blanton, 2007 President of J.L. Turner Legal Association and Stanley Mays, 2007 Chair of the JLTLA Foundation. Susman Godfrey informed the JLTLA Foundation on December 7, 2007 that the firm had voted to grant a minimum of $30,000.00 to the JLTLA Foundation for scholarships. Over the next several weeks, contributions from attorneys and employees at Susman Godfrey increased the final amount to $103,305.00. The Scholarships are to be awarded in the name of The Marie Trahan/Susman Godfrey Scholarship. Ms. Trahan was an administrative assistant with the firm for 30 years. She passed away earlier this year and the firm wanted to do something in her memory. Chanler Langham, an associate with Susman Godfrey, received a scholarship from the JLTLA Foundation while in law school. He learned what the firm was trying to do in the memory of Ms. Trahan and directed the firm to the JLTLA Foundation. JLTLA Foundation Board Member, Judge Cheryl Williams, explained that, "Based on our track record of awarding scholarships to students in law school, we were one of the organizations that Susman Godfrey considered in donating monies in Marie Trahan's memory." The selection criteria and the amount of the individual scholarships will be decided by the JLTLA Foundation on an annual basis. However, the stipulations on the Marie Trahan/Susman Godfrey Scholarship are as follows: 1. The award will retain the name Marie Trahan/Susman Godfrey Scholarship; 2. The Marie Trahan/Susman Godfrey Scholarships will be available to African-American residents of the State of Texas, who are attending any accredited law school in the United States; Marie Trahan lived and worked in Houston, therefore, in 2008, a press conference will be held in Houston, Texas with JLTLA Foundation present, along with Marie Trahan's family and members of Susman Godfrey. Also, in 2008, a joint letter will be written by Susman Godfrey and the JLTLA Foundation, and sent to BLSA organizations across the U.S., making them aware of the Marie Trahan/Susman Godfrey Scholarship opportunity. The JLTLA Foundation extends its gratitude to Susman Godfrey, LLP for their very generous gift. Stanley Mays, states that JLTLA Foundation looks forward to the opportunity to financially assist more minority law students from Texas, so that they may reach their dreams of joining the ranks of the legal profession. 2007 JLTLA President, Vicki Blanton, states that she truly hopes that the Susman Godfrey gift will resonate as a challenge to other law firms to step up their contributions and their commitment to diversity. ABOUT J.L. TURNER LEGAL ASSOCIATION: Founded in 1952, JLTLA is the African-American bar association in Dallas, Texas. JLTLA's mission is to improve the quality of life in our community through education, service and scholarship. JLTLA members provide legal assistance to indigent residents in the North Texas area, scholarships to law students, mentors for law students and newly licensed attorneys, community outreach projects for North Texas area residents, and assist our members and the community in seeking African-American attorneys who practice in the various areas of law. For more information on JLTLA, visit us at www.JLTLA.org . CONTACTS: JLTLA Foundation Chair Stanley Mays 214-677-5234 sr.mays@yahoo.com JLTLA 2007 President Vicki Blanton 972-431-1277 president@jltla.org Hon. Cheryl Williams 214-670-5784.