The Texas Access to Justice Foundation launched the Joe Jamail Endowment for Veteran Legal Services to ensure Texas veterans have access to free legal help as they transition to civilian life.
“We are proud to continue the legacy of legal legend Joe Jamail by dedicating these funds to providing free legal assistance to the individuals who have fought for our freedom,” said Terry Tottenham, chair of the endowment committee of the TAJF board of directors, in a press release.
Texas has the country’s second-highest population of veterans, according to the release. And legal issues make up five of the top 10 unmet needs of homeless veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Access to free legal services can be critical for veterans who support themselves and their families. TAJF funds 15 non-profit organizations in Texas that help veterans facing civil legal matters such as denial of medical care, disabilities, family law, benefits denial, and others. Each year, free legal services help more than 8,000 veterans, according to the press release.
“Joe Jamail was one of our greatest trial lawyers,” said Houston attorney and Jamail protégé Richard Mithoff, who created the fund. “But before he was a lawyer, he was a Marine. This endowment honors Joe’s commitment to justice and his commitment to veterans.”