|
News Release
Texas Access to Justice Foundation Free Legal Help Available for Eligible Veterans in Various Cities Throughout Texas
(AUSTIN, TX)
– 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. 6-12, 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 2015, 1,268 Texas veterans received free legal assistance during Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week. Throughout the entire year, legal aid organizations provided free legal services to more than 8,000 Texas veterans.
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation provided $1.9 million in grants
this year to 15 nonprofit organizations that provide free legal services to
veterans. The 84th Texas Legislature appropriated $3 million in funding to
legal services for our veterans and their families. The annual Champions of
Justice Gala benefiting veterans, co-sponsored by the Texas Access to
Justice Commission and the State Bar of Texas, also provides grant funding.
With this funding, legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers are able
to provide legal representation to veterans with civil legal problems
including:
Additional Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week events are also scheduled the days before and after the week of Nov. 6-12. For a complete list of events, visit https://texaslawhelp.org/veterans-portal. For a list of events by region: NOTE: For veterans unable to attend a TVLAW event, Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) will host a live online ‘chat’ Nov. 6-12, 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. to assist Texas veterans with legal questions. Visit: www.texaslawhelp.org. The statewide hotline number for veteran legal issues is 1-800-622-2520, option 2.
# # # 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
|
Recent News |
