News Release

Texas Access to Justice Foundation 
Nov. 6, 2017

Nov. 6-10 is Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week

Free Legal Help Available for Eligible Veterans Throughout Texas

AUSTIN - Texas veterans are invited to participate in Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week (TVLAW), a statewide effort in honor of Veterans Day coordinated by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. Throughout the week of Nov. 6-10, legal aid programs, local bar associations, law schools and pro bono private lawyers will provide free civil legal services to qualified Texas veterans in various locations throughout the state.

Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the nation. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, legal issues account for five of the top 10 unmet needs of homeless veterans. Obtaining access to free legal services can be critical for veterans to get the benefits and support they need for themselves and their families.

In 2016, more than 2,500 Texas veterans attended clinics and workshops during Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week. Throughout the entire year, legal aid organizations provided free legal services to more than 9,500 Texas veterans.

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation provided $1.87 million in grants this year to 14 nonprofit organizations that provide free legal services to veterans. The 85th Texas Legislature appropriated $3 million for the biennium in funding to legal services for our veterans and their families.

With this funding, legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers are able to provide legal representation to veterans with civil legal problems including:

  • Denial of critical medical care
  • Problems receiving benefits
  • Legal issues related to disabilities
  • Family law matters arising from deployment, and
  • Other issues that may arise due to a veteran’s absence from home during military service

Additional Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week events are also scheduled the days before and after the week of Nov. 6-10. For a complete list of events, visit www.texaslawhelp.org/tvlaw-2017

NOTE: For veterans unable to attend a TVLAW event, Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) will host a live online ‘chat’ Nov. 6-10, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. to assist Texas veterans with legal questions, or can be reached at 1-800-622-2520, option 2. Visit: www.texaslawhelp.org.

# # #

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984, is the largest state-based funding source for the provision of civil legal aid in Texas. The organization is committed to the vision that all Texans will have equal access to justice, regardless of their income. The Foundation administers a variety of funding sources, which are earmarked to assist nonprofit organizations in providing legal aid to more than 100,000 Texas families each year. For more information, please visit: www.teajf.org.
 

Contact: Kimberly Schmitt
512-320-0099, ext. 104
kschmitt@teajf.org

 

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