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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. During the week of Nov. 9-13, legal aid programs,
local bar associations, law schools and pro bono private lawyers will
provide civil legal services for qualified Texas veterans in various
locations throughout the state. Some events are also scheduled the days
before and after the week of Nov. 9-13. For a complete list of events, visit
http://texaslawhelp.org/veterans.
Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the nation. According
to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual survey of homeless and
formerly homeless veterans, legal issues account for three of the top 10
unmet needs of homeless veterans.
“Legal
concerns affecting our veterans are of utmost and continuing importance,”
Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, the Court’s liaison for access to
justice issues, said. “Helping Texas veterans with civil legal needs not
only improves their lives and their families’ lives, it is the right thing
to do.”
The
Texas Access to Justice Foundation recently announced
grants,
totaling more than $3.5 million, to 15 nonprofit organizations that will
help fund legal aid services for Texas veterans. The 84th Texas Legislature
provided $3 million in funding for basic civil legal services for veterans
and their families over the next two years.
With these grants, public interest and pro bono lawyers will be able to
provide legal representation to veterans with civil legal problems such as:
NOTE: For veterans unable to attend a TVLAW event, Texas Legal Services
Center (TLSC) will host a live online ‘chat’ Nov. 9-13, 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
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