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Finding New Ways to Give Access to Justice to Those Who Cannot Afford Lawyers
Legal aid is essential if we are to truly have the rule of law. Legal aid lawyers exist to give the poor the same level of access to our courts as a person of means. As the statistics demonstrate, we are failing to provide “justice for all.” More »
A Closer Look – COJ Member Carlos Zaffirini, Jr.
The 2016 Justice for All Campaign is in full swing. What’s the Justice for All Campaign? It’s a statewide campaign that raises funds for legal aid organizations in your community and around the state that work tirelessly to preserve the rule of law and fairness in our justice system. More »
Bastrop County judges wear jeans for justice
For the first time since being elected in 2009, District Court Judge Chris Duggan wore jeans while presiding over cases on April 15 to raise awareness for the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s initiative to help provide legal aid to the poor — Jeans for Justice More »
Legal Aid for Our Veterans: Now It’s Our Turn
To help celebrate Veterans Day, legal aid lawyers across the state will hold special clinics and workshops during Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week—November 9-13— to help our veterans with legal problems like Alex’s and Roger’s—and so many more. Too many more. More »
Commission Supports Veteran Access to Justice
The sixth annual Champions of Justice Gala Tuesday in Austin raised $401,000 to support legal aid for veterans — for a cumulative total of more than $2 million. Last year, about 8,800 veterans were provided legal assistance. That’s the good news. More »
More state money is needed to provide legal representation for poor
This country has a legal-aid funding crisis. Matters are just as bad, if not worse, in Texas. Currently, 5.6 million Texans qualify for legal assistance with issues such as domestic violence, foreclosures and health care for the elderly. Yet insufficient state funding makes access to legal representation for the poor almost impossible. Only about 104,000 families receive help each year from a small group of legal aid organizations. More »
Probate Lawyers Support Pro Se Forms
Some probate attorneys want to help the effort if lawmakers pass a bill to require the Texas Supreme Court to create standard probate and wills forms for low-income Texans. Probate lawyer Craig Hopper told members of the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 9 that he already identified a potential panel of people who might collaborate to create "good forms" if the legislature passes Senate Bill 512. More »
