The Joe Jamail Endowment for Veteran Legal Services’ $1 million milestone comes from donations from lawyers, others in the legal community, and family and friends of Joe Jamail.
The program, managed by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, was created in 2017 by Houston attorney Richard Mithoff, a protégé of Joe Jamail. Its focus is to ensure Texas veterans have fair and equitable access to the justice system, as well as the resources to successfully integrate back into civilian life.
“Joe was passionate and committed, especially when it came to veterans who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us,” Mithoff said in a press release. “The Joe Jamail Endowment for Veteran Legal Services was created to commemorate his dedication and commitment to our veterans and active service members. As a Marine, Joe saw a need for civil legal aid in the veteran community, and it is our honor to continue to serve those who have served our country.”
Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the nation, and with legal issues making up half of the unmet needs of homeless veterans—according to the Department of Veterans Affairs—access to free legal services is necessary for benefits and support for those who have served as well as their families.
“Providing civil legal support to Texas veterans is crucial in ensuring they can get back to their lives after serving our country,” Harry Reasoner, Texas Access to Justice Commission chair and partner in Vinson & Elkins, said in a press release. “Joe and his wife Lee were among the greatest philanthropists in Texas history, giving many millions to support higher education, medical care, the needs of [v]eterans and other worthy causes.”
The Joe Jamail Endowment and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation bolster the efforts of legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers in providing legal representation to veterans with issues such as denial of Medicare, disabilities, benefits, family law matters stemming from deployment, and more.
For more information, go to tajf.org.