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News Release
Texas Access to Justice Foundation Funds will support 11 nonprofits that provide civil legal services for Texas veterans
AUSTIN, Texas – The
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
(TAJF) has announced grants, totaling more than $426,000, to 11 nonprofit
organizations that will help fund legal aid services for Texas veterans.
With these grants, public interest and pro bono lawyers will be able to
provide legal representation to veterans with civil legal problems such as
denial of benefits or disability, family law matters arising from
deployment, and other issues that may arise due to a veteran’s absence from
home during military service. Last year, TAJF grantees
helped more than 8800 veterans obtain access to the justice system. “With Texas having the second-highest population of veterans, it is essential that we provide legal services for those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” Richard L. Tate, chair of the board of directors of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, said. “Whether it’s through legal clinics, a staff attorney or help from a pro bono lawyer, these organizations will provide the representation they need and deserve.” The Texas Access to Justice Commission—through its Champions of Justice Gala—raised more than $350,000 in 2013 from law firms and corporate sponsors. Now in its fifth year, the Champions of Justice Gala has raised more than $1.75 million for veterans’ legal services since its inception. Along with funds from the Gala, additional support from the TAJF supports the grants to the selected nonprofit organizations.The
organizations receiving grant awards are:
TAJF has
awarded more than $410 million in its 30 years of existence. The
organization collects and administers several funds, including Interest on
Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA), Basic Civil Legal Services (filing fees,
fees assessed to out-of-state attorneys practicing in Texas, and other
public funding), crime victims’ funds and private donations. Today, there
are more than 5.8 million Texans who qualify for civil legal aid. Due to a
lack of resources, only about 20 percent of the civil legal needs of
low-income and poor Texans are being met. To be eligible for civil legal
aid, an individual must earn no more than $14,588 a year. For a family of
four, the annual household income cannot exceed $29,813.
# # # 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 Schmitt512-320-0099, ext. 104 kschmitt@teajf.org
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