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March 31, 2015 - Publications

Student Loan Assistance for Legal Aid Attorneys

We know that low salaries of legal aid lawyers coupled with skyrocketing student loan debt make it difficult or impossible for lawyers to accept employment at legal aid or stay in those jobs long term. That’s why the Texas Access to Justice Commission created the Texas Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program (Texas SLRAP) in 2003 to assist attorneys who choose to pursue careers in legal aid in Texas. More »

March 30, 2015 - In The Media

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 »

March 30, 2015 - Publications

A middle ground between pro rates and pro bono

We talk a lot about pro bono work. Many of the most successful initiatives here at the Texas Access to Justice Commission have revolved around motivating attorneys young and old to gift low-income Texans with a slice of their time and knowledge. This work is crucial, all the more so because the number of people that need legal help vastly exceeds the number who receive it. More »

March 23, 2015 - Publications

The story of #ProBono2015 Spring Break

Enjoy the story of 66 Texas law students having a truly life-altering ‪‎SpringBreak‬ experience through pictures & posts! You'll see these students immersing themselves in opportunities to help low-income Texans with their civil legal needs across the great state of ‪Texas‬. More »

March 09, 2015 - In The Media

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 »

February 26, 2015 - Publications

Law students giving back

For the last two years, Pro Bono Spring Break harnessed the energy of student lawyers to support legal aid offices in underserved areas of the state. The gain for these students is two-fold: the satisfaction of helping low-income Texans in need of legal assistance and the hands-on experience that turns student lawyers into working attorneys. More »

February 18, 2015 - In The Media

Texas Chief Justice Presses Lawmakers on Legal Aid for Veterans

"For the past six years, at the judiciary's urging, the Legislature has provided critical financial support for the legal system's efforts to provide basic civil legal services to the poor," Hecht told a joint meeting of the Texas House and Senate in his State of the Judiciary address, which the chief justice delivers at the beginning of every legislative session. More »

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