News Release

 
June 12, 2023

Texas Access to Justice Foundation Sponsors Five Equal Justice Works Fellows in Public Interest Law Projects Across Texas

Fellows will spend two years at legal aid organizations working to increase access to justice

AUSTIN, Texas––The Texas Access to Justice Foundationthe largest state-based funding source for civil legal aid, today announced its sponsorship of five Fellows in the 2023 Equal Justice Works Fellowship program––a national opportunity for law school graduates to launch their careers through public interest law projects of their own creation.

Since 2002, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation has sponsored the Fellowship projects, as part of the organization’s commitment to ensuring access to justice for all. Greenberg Traurig, LLP, co-sponsors a Fellowship with TAJF each year.

“The creative and innovative projects developed by the Equal Justice Works Fellows every year shed light on the unmet legal needs many Texas communities face,” Betty Balli Torres, executive director of TAJF, said. “The Foundation is proud to support these five Fellows as they begin careers in providing critical civil legal aid services to Texans in need.”

The five TAJF-sponsored Fellows will complete their projects over the next two years in various cities statewide, and each will be hosted by civil legal aid organizations funded by TAJF. Personally designed by each Fellow, these projects will address a wide range of legal issues specific to the community they will serve in.

The five TAJF-sponsored Fellows, their service area and the focus of their individual projects are:

             Christy Ramos, Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston, Houston –  Provide immigration legal representation to those fleeing high-conflict areas like Afghanistan and Ukraine through direct representation, community collaboration and innovative Pro Se legal workshops.

             Monica Palma, San Antonio Legal Services Association, San Antonio – Provide effective legal education and services to the special needs community at the Multi-Assistance Center at Morgan’s Wonderland.

             Tabitha Dwyer, Disability Rights Texas, Lubbock – Provide legal representation and outreach to students with disabilities in rural North and West Texas who have been subject to illegal discipline in violation of their rights under state and federal law.

             Gladys Marcos, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, McKinney –  Provide immigration legal services focused on labor trafficking and exploitation in rural Texas, while creating a lasting program that continues legal advocacy in these communities.

             Chris Rogers, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, El Paso – Assist noncitizen U.S. military veterans in Southwest Texas facing deportation, through outreach, education and representation in services like naturalization, Veterans Affairs benefits and public assistance. Rogers’ fellowship is co-sponsored with Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

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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.

Equal Justice Works is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. We bring together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. Following their Fellowships, more than 85% of our Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities across the country.

 

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

 

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