Archives: Pro Bono

Pro bono assistance requested for asylum seekers in the El Paso area

By Amy Starnes on August 7, 2018

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is looking for pro bono attorneys to travel to El Paso for at least a week to provide much needed direct legal services on the ground. Immigration experience is a plus, but not required. Volunteers will be directly assisting detained asylum seekers in greater El Paso with their asylum claims.… Continue Reading

SBOT Litigation Section grant helps Houston Volunteer Lawyers assist low-income households after Hurricane Harvey

By Amy Starnes on July 19, 2018

Posted inAccess to Justice Hurricane Local Bars Pro Bono

The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas has awarded a $25,000 grant to support Houston Volunteer Lawyers’ efforts to provide legal representation to low-income households who have a legal issue caused by Hurricane Harvey and who cannot afford an attorney, particularly in cases that involve litigation. According to a news release, Houston Volunteer … Continue Reading

Texas Access to Justice Foundation establishes Randy Chapman Fellowship

By Adam Faderewski on July 2, 2018

Posted inAccess to Justice News People Pro Bono

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or TAJF, announced the creation of the Randy Chapman Fellowship program for legal aid lawyers on June 20.… Continue Reading

State Bar President Joe Longley offers update from the border

By Lowell Brown on June 28, 2018

Posted inAccess to Justice Pro Bono State Bar

Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Joe K. Longley sent the following message to members on Thursday. This week I traveled to the border to learn how we can promote access to justice and the rule of law related to the separation of immigrant families. I met with a number of dedicated attorneys and … Continue Reading

Vick: Attorney volunteers needed at the border

By Lowell Brown on June 21, 2018

Posted inAccess to Justice Pro Bono State Bar

Editor’s note: State Bar of Texas President Tom Vick sent the following message to members on Thursday. I am writing with a quick update on the recent events occurring on our southern border. Although the Trump administration signed an executive order to end family separations, the need for volunteer attorneys remains strong—particularly Spanish-speaking immigration lawyers. … Continue Reading

Texas Legal Answers celebrates first anniversary

By Adam Faderewski on June 1, 2018

Posted inNews Pro Bono

Texas Legal Answers, a free online legal advice clinic for low-income Texans, is celebrating its one-year anniversary on June 1. As part of the State Bar of Texas’s Pro Bono Texas initiative, the program was launched last year with the goal of increasing access to justice for low-income Texans and removing barriers for attorneys providing … Continue Reading

Dallas Bar Association hosting summer law programs for law students, clerks

By Justine Vasquez on May 31, 2018

Posted inCLE Diversity Education Law Firms and Legal Departments Law Schools Legal Local Bars Mentoring Minority Affairs Pro Bono Special Event

All law students, recent graduates and clerks are invited to the Belo Mansion for the Dallas Bar Association Summer Law Programs. Here is the complete list of the summer law programs being offered: Law Student Professionalism Program on Thursday, May 31 at 2 p.m. RSVP here. Summer Clerks Pro Bono Luncheon on Friday, June 1 at … Continue Reading

Feerick Center for Social Justice selected as ACTL’s 2018 Emil Gumpert Award recipient

By Adam Faderewski on May 7, 2018

Posted inNews Pro Bono

The American College of Trial Lawyers, or ACTL, has selected Fordham Law School’s Feerick Center for Social Justice as its 2018 Emil Gumpert Award recipient. The center is being recognized along with its partner, the Dilley Pro Bono Project, or DPBP, for providing pro bono legal counsel to asylum-seeking women with children in Dilley. The … Continue Reading

Texas Bar Foundation grant to help CJP upgrade technology

By Eric Quitugua on December 15, 2017

Posted inNews Pro Bono Texas Bar Foundation

The Community Justice Program, the San Antonio Bar Association’s pro bono project, will be able to expand and upgrade infrastructure thanks to a $20,800 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. The money will help CJP replace malfunctioning laptops and cover the purchase of other equipment the program needs for its services.… Continue Reading

Harvest Celebration raises $735,200 in pro bono legal services

By Eric Quitugua on November 30, 2017

Posted inNews Pro Bono

Houston area pro bono legal services received a big boost thanks to money raised at the 68th Harvest Celebration at the River Oaks Country Club.… Continue Reading

Pro Bono Spotlight Day 5: Marilyn D. McGuire

By Adam Faderewski on October 27, 2017

Posted inNews People Pro Bono

The State Bar of Texas, the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the American Bar Association, and others proudly support National Pro Bono Celebration Week (October 22-28). Pro Bono week is an opportunity to educate the public about the good work the legal community does to improve the lives of vulnerable Texans and to encourage more … Continue Reading

Pro Bono Week Spotlight Day 4: Brit Inman Swanson

By Adam Faderewski on October 26, 2017

Posted inNews People Pro Bono

Statewide Bankruptcy Pro Bono Project launches

By Guest Blogger on October 25, 2017

Posted inNews Pro Bono

Just in time for 2017 National Celebration of Pro Bono Week, October 22-28, Lone Star Legal Aid, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, announce the launch of Texas’ new Bankruptcy Pro Bono Project. The result of more than a year of collaboration between LSLA, TRLA, and LANWT, this new project was … Continue Reading

Pro Bono Week Spotlight Day 3: Natalie Smeltzer Fortenberry

By Adam Faderewski on October 25, 2017

Posted inNews People Pro Bono

Pro Bono Week Spotlight Day 2: Gracie Wood

By Adam Faderewski on October 24, 2017

Posted inLaw Schools Pro Bono

Pro Bono Week Spotlight Day 1: Stephen Rispoli

By Adam Faderewski on October 23, 2017

Posted inAccess to Justice Pro Bono

South Texas College of Law Houston hosts Harvey relief training

By Adam Faderewski on October 17, 2017

Posted inHurricane News Pro Bono

A seminar was held to provide lawyers Hurricane Harvey disaster relief training on October 11 at South Texas College of Law Houston. Saundra Brown, of Lone Star Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Unit, led the training that focused on Federal Emergency Management Agency applications and how to file an appeal for a FEMA denial.… Continue Reading

“Answer-a-Thon” uses Texas Legal Answers to provide virtual pro bono assistance

By Adam Faderewski on October 3, 2017

Posted inNews Pro Bono State Bar

An “Answer-a-Thon” virtual pro bono clinic was held September 21 using Texas Legal Answers, an online website created by the State Bar of Texas and the American Bar Association.… Continue Reading

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program provides free legal clinics for area residents

By Justine Vasquez on September 28, 2017

Posted inAccess to Justice Law Firms and Legal Departments Pro Bono Special Event Veterans

The Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas will hosts 11 free legal clinics in October for eligible Dallas County residents. The clinics offer free legal advice and consultation in civil matters for those residents who meet certain income requirements under Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas guidelines. Applicants are asked to bring proof … Continue Reading

Free legal classes for flood victims at “People’s Law School”

By Amy Starnes on September 14, 2017

Posted inAccess to Justice Conference Law Schools Local Bars Pro Bono

Editor’s note: The Houston Bar Association issued the following news release Thursday. This is your chance to learn more about your legal rights, and have fun at the same time. Best of all, it is absolutely free. On Saturday, September 30th, the Center for Consumer Law at the University of Houston Law Center, with the … Continue Reading

Video: How attorneys can assist those affected by Harvey

By Eric Quitugua on September 4, 2017

Posted inHurricane News Pro Bono State Bar

The State Bar of Texas has released a video with information on how attorneys can help those adversely affected by Hurricane Harvey.… Continue Reading

Free legal advice clinics for Harvey evacuees 9/1 in San Antonio

By Lowell Brown on September 1, 2017

Posted inHurricane Pro Bono

Editor’s note: The San Antonio Bar Association issued the following news release Thursday. SAN ANTONIO, TX — The Community Justice Program and the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association are offering pro bono legal advice clinics for evacuees and those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. There is no RSVP or pre-registration required, and walk-ins are welcome.… Continue Reading

Hundreds of lawyers, law students, and paralegals step up to help Harvey survivors

By Amy Starnes on August 31, 2017

Posted inAccess to Justice Hurricane Local Bars Pro Bono

Hundreds of lawyers, law students, and paralegals have volunteered to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. As of Thursday morning a total of 1,150 individuals had filled out the State Bar of Texas volunteer form to offer a variety of assistance to Harvey survivors. Of those, 556 are licensed Texas attorneys, 469 are lawyers licensed … Continue Reading

State Bar of Texas joins with ABA, FEMA to assist Harvey survivors

By Amy Starnes on August 31, 2017

Posted inAccess to Justice Hurricane News Pro Bono

The State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association (ABA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other organizations have partnered to help provide legal and recovery assistance to people affected by Hurricane Harvey. A toll-free legal hotline (800-504-7030) is available to connect low-income individuals affected by the disaster with local legal aid providers who … Continue Reading