All our clients have a low income. Many are women and children. Some are victims of domestic violence and need help to escape violence and remain non-violent. Others are residents with disabilities who need housing assistance, some need help applying for food stamps or applying for Medicaid, Medicare or SSI. Our selection process is designed to prioritize customers whose issues are life-changing or threatening. Client applications are reviewed based on financial eligibility and other requirements. Clients who are unsure whether they are eligible for our services can call the office at the phone number below. You can also call our toll-free number at 1-800-733-8394. You can use both methods to complete an application so that Lone Star Legal Aid can determine if you are eligible for services.

Another resource for low-income people is www.texaslawhelp.org. The organization has established a network for low-income individuals who need legal advice. A minimum level of access to a computer and the Internet is required to use their services. After entering some details specific to your needs, options and resources come with phone numbers and/or locations. They represent people who have legal problems but cannot afford a lawyer. Provides free civil legal assistance to low-income families and individuals in 72 counties in Texas and 4 counties in Arkansas. The Texas State Bar and local county bar associations dedicate resources to serving the public. The Texas State Bar`s Legal Access Division website is a good starting point for finding free or low-cost legal aid, including a directory of legal aid programs by county, a low-cost lawyer referral service, and free publications in English and Spanish. The State Law Library is the official law library of the State of Texas and serves the legal research needs of the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Attorney General`s Office, state agencies and commissions, and Texas citizens. Their website provides a handy self-help section with useful links to some of the free legal helplines and legal aid organizations across the state. Lone Star Legal Aid provides free legal advice and representation to eligible clients in non-criminal cases throughout Southeast Texas If you need legal assistance in a non-criminal case or if you only have one question or want general legal information, you need to apply. Once we have verified that you are eligible, we will provide you with the possible support.

So what`s the best way to find the resources available in your local community? There are a few important online resources that can point you in the right direction for help with your particular legal issue. Like preparing for and recovering from a hurricane, earthquake or forest fire, individuals may face legal issues related to healthcare, economic stability, security and sanitation, public services, employment, environmental justice, domestic violence and discrimination due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lone Star Legal Aid will continue to work on critical issues on behalf of our client community, through our individual client representation and systemic advocacy. To apply, simply contact the nearest office*, call our main Houston number, 713-652-0077 or our toll-free number, 800-733-8394. Each of the ten law schools across Texas is home to several legal clinics that are open to the public for free legal aid. Lawyers in training (law students) work under the direction and direction of licensed lawyers who are faculty members or practicing lawyers in the community. Clinics focus on a wide range of legal issues. Assistance in cases dealing with the following issues: public services Housing allowance Landlord/tenant right Consumer law Family law Wage claims Wills and estates and rights of persons with disabilitiesLSLA focuses on helping clients maintain and protect economic stability; housing preservation and foreclosure prevention; protect and improve the lives of children; ensuring the safety of victims of abuse; and support for particularly vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the disabled, children, ex-combatants and people with reduced English language skills.

Areas of activity include domestic violence, child advocacy, landlord protection, tenant rights and public housing, income security and public services, access to health care, consumer fraud protection, disability rights, employment, education, civil rights and disaster relief. All clients have a low income. Many are women and children. Some are victims of domestic violence and need help to escape violence and remain non-violent. Others are residents with disabilities who need housing assistance, some need help applying for food stamps or applying for Medicaid, Medicare or SSI. During pro bono spring break, more than 50 law students and supervising faculty members travel across the state to voluntarily help low-income Texans solve their civil law issues. The program is a partnership between the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the ten Texas law schools, and various legal aid providers across the state. More information. There are many ways to provide pro bono legal services, including working in a legal advisory clinic, mentoring another lawyer in an area of law where you have expertise, or taking a case from a legal advisory organization.

For more information about pro bono opportunities across Texas, visit the “Organizations in Need” link on texaslawyershelp.org or contact the Texas State Bar – Division of Legal Access: 800.204.2222, ext. 1855, or probono@texasbar.com. The TexasLawHelp.org website is funded primarily by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and serves more than 1.5 million Texans annually by providing free and reliable online information on legal issues. Useful features available on their website include a free database of forms for a variety of simple legal questions, a search tool for Texas legal aid organizations, and a statewide calendar for legal clinics. When faced with an urgent legal matter, many people avoid seeking the advice of a lawyer due to a lack of financial resources. Some people will be surprised to discover that the legal community offers many opportunities for those who need it to communicate with licensed lawyers in almost all areas of law. In fact, the many free or discounted costs available to Texas residents can sometimes seem overwhelming. This guide only discusses some of the available options. The Texas Access to Justice Commission estimates that only 20 percent of people eligible for civil legal services are able to get the legal assistance they need. Those who do not receive legal aid should either try to represent themselves or find a lawyer to handle their case on a pro bono basis. Many people have heard the Latin term “pro bono,” which is usually associated with the field of law.

But what does this mean? Quite simply, “pro bono publico” means “for the benefit of the people”. 1 For Texas attorneys, this means they are subject to a high level of professional liability by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Texas State Bar for providing legal services to those who cannot afford them. The ABA`s Standard Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 requires each attorney to provide at least 50 hours of free or significantly reduced legal services each year to individuals with limited funds or nonprofit organizations.2 Similarly, the Texas State Bar`s Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct advise all licensed attorneys in Texas to “provide legal services in the public interest.” 3 In some cases, such as domestic violence, evictions or service of court documents, you may need immediate legal assistance. Please contact us immediately. When our answering machine picks you up, please let us know if it is safe to call you back or leave you a message. We will arrange a time to talk if it is safe for you. All conversations are confidential. St. Mary`s University School of Law – Consumer Protection, Family Law, Criminal Justice and Immigration and Human Rights Clinics Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law – Children`s Advocacy, Civil/Consumer Law, Criminal Defense, Family Law, Immigration Detention, Federal Taxpayers, First Amendment, Crimes Against Women, Innocence, Patent Law, Small Business and Trademarks, and Family Law Clinics Unless it is a special program that clients must generally be equal to or less than 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. This is measured by your gross monthly household income relative to the size of your household. Baylor University School of Law – Estate Planning, Immigration, Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship, Litigation and Veterans` Clinics. All Lone Star Legal Aid employees are currently working from home due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

This means that we are not available in our offices at this time, however, all Lone Star legal aid offices will remain virtually open and will accept applications online or by phone at the office phone number below. Emergency admissions from the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) are accepted during business hours. We hope that our customer community is safe and able to cope well in these ever-changing and uncertain times. We continue to monitor the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic in our service area and the work of Lone Star Legal Aid will continue, with all operations taking place virtually. This means that we work from home and are not available in our offices. 1 Sally Kane, The Definition of Pro Bono in Law: Pro Bono Legal Services Are a Requirement of Many Bar Associations, The Balance Careers (June 25, 2019), www.thebalancecareers.com/what-does-pro-bono-mean-2164411.