The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, administrator of the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts, or IOLTA, program, has become aware of issues related to mobile banking at PNC Bank (previously BBVA) that have resulted in lawyers being unable to view their IOLTA account. If you are an attorney with an IOLTA account at PNC Bank (previously … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas is aware of reports that some lawyers have temporarily lost access to their IOLTA accounts due to issues outside their control related to a bank merger. The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, which administers the Texas IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account) program, is in contact with the bank in … Continue Reading
Free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by flooding and other conditions created by Hurricane Nicholas. The State Bar of Texas’s toll-free disaster legal services hotline—800-504-7030—puts callers in touch with legal aid providers in their areas who can help with: Replacement of important legal documents lost or destroyed in the disaster; Life, medical, … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation will host a “LAW-teria” to benefit the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and legal aid efforts throughout Texas. The virtual game night will take place from 5 to 6:30 pm. on September 16 via Zoom.… Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or TAJF, received a $20 million Housing Stability Services Program grant package from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for COVID-19-related housing legal services. The grant will allow legal aid organizations throughout Texas to provide free civil legal services to eligible households experiencing housing insecurity. Services include … Continue Reading
There is a strong likelihood that you, as an attorney, have daily interaction with survivors of sexual violence. Sexual violence knows no boundaries, and your clients, your fellow attorneys, your employees, and your judges may be survivors. A 2015 prevalence study by the University of Texas found 40% (2 in 5) of women and 20% … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Commission with its co-sponsor, the State Bar of Texas, honored veterans throughout the state at the 2021 Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans on April 6, 2021, via YouTube. This year, the commission raised approximately $448,000 to help provide civil legal services to low-income Texas veterans. Texas Supreme Court Justices … Continue Reading
Several legal services organizations are sponsoring a free online CLE to teach Texas attorneys how to assist with FEMA appeals. The program, FEMA Appeals 101: How to do a Common FEMA Appeal, will take place at noon on April 9 via Zoom. It is designed for pro bono attorneys interested in helping those affected by … Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday issued an emergency order permitting out-of-state attorney to practice Texas law temporarily due to legal assistance needed by Texans recovering from the recent winter storm. The State Bar of Texas legal access division has created a web page—probonotexas.org/uri—for in-state and out-of-state attorneys who would like to volunteer their time … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, and legal aid providers across the state remind Texans that a toll-free legal assistance hotline is available to low-income individuals and families affected by the Texas winter storm that began February 11. The hotline—800-504-7030—is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese and connects low-income individuals affected by … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, February 12. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar of Texas information. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas Emergency Order The Texas Supreme … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on February 5, 2021. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar of Texas information. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas Emergency Order The Supreme Court … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas has partnered with Paladin, a justice tech company, to create a statewide online portal designed to help lawyers find volunteer opportunities and assist Texans with their legal needs. Through the free statewide portal at pbtx.joinpaladin.com, volunteer lawyers and law students have a centralized location to search and sign up for pro … Continue Reading
The Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator (TOJI) has a new director and is building on its successes as it prepares to accept its sixth cohort of attorneys. Joshua Weaver, an attorney and entrepreneur, took the helm of the State Bar of Texas program, which expands access to justice opportunities by helping Texas lawyers build sustainable … Continue Reading
Texans struggling to pay rent and facing possible eviction can turn to a new website — Stop TX Eviction — to find a step-by-step tool kit designed to help them understand the eviction process and their rights. The website, stoptxeviction.org, is available in English and Spanish. There, renters can: Obtain important documents to give a landlord … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: State Bar President Larry McDougal sent the following message to all members on Thursday. Dear Member, The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every part of our lives, affecting our families, our mental and physical well-being, and our economy. Millions of Texans have lost their jobs or had their incomes impacted by the economic fallout. … Continue Reading
Due to potentially dangerous and destructive conditions predicted in advance of Hurricane Laura’s landfall, the State Bar of Texas wants Southeast Texas residents to know free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by disasters. A toll-free disaster legal services hotline—800-504-7030—puts callers in touch with legal aid providers in their area who can help … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation and the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section will host a fundraiser on September 16 to raise funds for access to justice. The event will be a virtual Lawteria (think Loteria) featuring celebrity callers such as Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and other other prominent Hispanic lawyers … Continue Reading
The University of Houston Law Center is launching the first military justice clinic that has law students, under the supervision of faculty and experienced military defense attorneys, represent service members facing criminal charges. Maj. Jason Marquez, clinical adjunct professor at UH Law Center and a 21-year veteran of the armed forces, will lead the military … Continue Reading
Access to Justice 7: Transforming Legal Incubators and Law Practices, hosted by Concord Law School at Purdue University Global, will be held virtually at 10:30 a.m. CDT on Friday. The free event will feature best practices for leveraging technology and marketing tactics to reach untapped markets in dire need. It will also provide pedagogy for … Continue Reading
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas’s 20th annual Women’s Advocacy Awards event will continue virtually on June 24 with honorees Chief Justice Nathan Hecht and Amy Yeager of Children’s Health. The online event runs 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and is free. Chief Hecht, who is accepting the Champion of Justice Award on behalf of the Supreme … Continue Reading
“No Justice, No Peace.” These four words often permeate protests about the disparate treatment of marginalized people in our criminal justice system. The civil justice system has also failed these communities. America’s greatness is based on the principles of equality and justice but the promise of “justice for all” holds empty for hundreds of thousands … Continue Reading
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas will host its 20th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards in two online events featuring conversations with four Texas legal all stars. On June 11, former State Bar of Texas President Harriet Miers, Locke Lord LLP partner and former counsel to President George W. Bush, and Shonn Evans … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community. Important links State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources … Continue Reading
