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Explore Our News SectionHelping Texans Keep What’s Theirs: An Easy Guide
The Texas Access to Justice Commission and other access to justice institutions, under the leadership of the Supreme Court, worked hard during the past legislative session on both funding and non-funding efforts with great success. Access to justice will be improved because of the actions of the Legislature. More »
2015: A year to remember for access to justice
Working with judges, lawyers, legal advocates, legislators, their staff and many other very smart people, we built a coalition of support for several changes to the legal system that will help low-income Texans get the justice they’ve always deserved. More »
Legal aid lawyers hone skills at annual training
For three days, attorneys from legal aid organizations across the state gathered at the University of Texas law school to learn from some of the most experienced trial lawyers in Texas. They came to participate in the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s Pre-Trial Academy, an annual training aimed at lawyers representing the state’s most vulnerable clients. More »
Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans Raises $401,600
Chancellor McRaven: Every veteran deserves access to justice. For those Americans who risk everything in service to their country, there should be no barriers to justice once they return home. 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 »
Access to justice for those who can’t afford lawyers
The Commission is supporting Texas lawmakers who seek to pass legislation creating free and easy-to-use Texas Supreme Court-approved forms that low-income Texans can use to make a will and to probate their estate. Another bill would do the same thing for tenants seeking legal action against a landlord trying to evict them without just cause. More »
For the poor, a new path around probate
Picture this: A working-class grandmother dies after a long, full life at 85. She’s survived by a large, loving family and leaves behind some minor possessions, a few hundred dollars in a bank account, and a home in Houston – but no will. Probating an estate without a will is complicated and costly. The surviving heirs are going to need to hire an attorney, notice all known heirs, run an ad in the newspaper to notice all creditors, hire a second attorney to represent the unknown and missing heirs, and pay for several other costs. The price tag could easily reach $5,000 to $10,000. More »