AUSTIN, Texas – The National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) honored Richard L. Tate, chair of the board of directors for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, with the prestigious Arthur von Briesen Award for his substantial volunteer contributions in support of civil legal aid. The award was presented during the NLADA Annual Conference on Friday, Dec. 7, in Chicago.

The Arthur von Briesen Award honors an attorney who has made substantial volunteer contributions in support of the delivery of legal services. Started in 1961, the award celebrates the achievements of the first president of NLADA.

“I’m honored to receive this award that reflects the significance of ensuring our court system is available to all,” Tate said.  “The opportunity to serve the legal aid community through the Texas Access to Justice Foundation has been the highlight of my career.  I am blessed to work with so many true champions of justice who have made such a difference in the lives of deserving Texans."

The remarkable leadership and diligence of Tate have helped provide millions of dollars in funding for basic civil legal aid services to the poor. The total financial impact of grants distributed by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation has nearly tripled since Tate became chair in 1999.

“While maintaining a busy law practice, Richard Tate has been a dedicated and diplomatic leader for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation,” Texas Supreme Court Nathan L. Hecht, the court’s liaison for access to justice, said. “ His excellent working relationships with partners in the access to justice community have been a key reason for Texas’ success in preserving funding for legal aid in these difficult economic times.”

Tate is a founding partner in the Richmond, Texas, law firm of Tate, Moerer & King, L.L.P. He is a former president of the Fort Bend County Bar Association and has served on the regional grievance committee of the State Bar of Texas. Tate earned his law degree from the University of Houston, his undergraduate degree from Pan American University, and a master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2008, Tate was recognized as an Access to Justice “Pro Bono Champion” by the Texas Bar Journal and in 2011 he was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates.

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