November 9-13 Is Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week
Free Legal Help Available for Eligible Veterans in Various Cities Throughout Texas
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 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:
- Denial of critical medical care
- Problems receiving benefits
- Legal issues related to disabilities
- Family law matters arising from deployment, and
- Other issues that may arise due to a veteran's absence from home during military service
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.
Media Contact: Katie McKee
[email protected]
512-472-9599
SOURCE Texas Access to Justice Foundation
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