Lend a Lawyer program aids city prosecutor
Patricia Nasworthy, City Prosecutor, who has a staff of one part-time legal assistant, found a unique way to get help prosecuting last year’s 1,600 cases in Municipal Court. Through a program called Lend a Lawyer she got lawyers from one of Dallas’ largest law firms to prosecute cases for free.
The law firm of Vinson & Elkins loaned Nasworthy two lawyers, one day a week. The lawyers, some graduates of the nation’s most prestigious law schools, all wanted valuable court room experience. As one of the participating lawyers told Nasworthy, “one day in Grand Prairie teaches you five times what any continuing legal education or training course could.”
The lawyers took their assigned cases and worked them all the way through a trial, Nasworthy said. Of the 131 cases prosecuted by the Vinson & Elkins lawyers last year, there was 108 guilty verdicts with fines totaling more than $22,000. She said if billed for the legal services it would have cost the city more than $122,000.
Nasworthy said another law firm recently contacted her about participating so she maybe expanding the program. The City of Arlington has also contacted her because they are interested in implementing a similar program.
