Programs

Access to Justice Summer Internship Program

The Commission and the nine Texas law schools created the Access to Justice Internship Program in 2006 to encourage more students to help address the legal problems of underserved individuals and communities and educate future attorneys about those problems. This unique program places students in summer academic internships with civil legal service providers across Texas located outside communities with law schools.

The program incorporates both fieldwork and an academic component. A stipend is provided to every student, and academic credit may also be available.

Prior Year – Student Perspectives

Access to Justice Speakers Bureau

The Texas Access to Justice Commission and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation created the Access to Justice Speakers Bureau to provide local bar associations and other attorney and community groups with a FREE ethics CLE highlighting the many ways attorneys can get involved to increase access to legal services for poor and low-income Texans. Presentations are tailored to local areas and individual group needs and are a great time to recognize local pro bono champions—individual attorneys, attorney groups, corporations, law firms and banks. Several bar associations collaborate with TYLA local affiliates, law firms, American Inns of Court and Rotary Clubs to convene for joint meetings for these presentations. To schedule an Access to Justice Speakers Bureau presentation, contact: atj@texasbar.com or call 512-427-1855.

Bar Leaders for Justice

Bar Leaders for Justice is a comprehensive campaign to assist and engage local bar leaders to support local and/or statewide resource development efforts to increase access to justice for low-income Texans. The campaign will educate bar leaders on ways to further increase resources for legal aid or to begin a local effort.

Technology Training Series

The Technology Committee explores and recommends technological solutions aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of legal services delivery.

The Committee has effectively pursued its mission beginning in 2008. The Commission and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation made a one-time bulk purchase of IT equipment and software totaling $680,000. Each year, the Committee partners with technology trainers at the big law firms to provide technology trainings to legal services staff on various Microsoft Office programs. In addition, Committee members are working with legal services programs to put systems into place which enable programs to stay in business when disaster strikes.

Texas Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program

Low salaries coupled with high student loan debt make it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for lawyers to accept legal aid jobs or stay in those jobs long-term. The Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program (SLRAP) strives to assist attorneys who wish to work in legal aid programs long-term by providing legal aid attorneys with forgivable loans to repay their existing educational loans. More than 90 attorneys now participate in this program which was started in 2003. Their respective employers span 23 different legal services organizations around the state. NOTE: An attorney is ineligible for participation in the SLRAP if he/she graduated before June 1, 2000.

PDFs included on page:

Texas Trial Academy

The Academy is an annual four-day intensive trial advocacy skills training presented by faculty of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers.

Hosted at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, the training includes live demonstrations of courtroom trial skills by experienced litigators who have distinguished themselves as some of the top trial lawyers in the country. Following each day's demonstration, participants in the Academy have the opportunity to practice their skills and receive personalized professional critiques designed to develop and refine trial techniques. Topics include voir dire, opening statement, direct and cross-examination and closing arguments.