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Since its inception in 1982, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, in cooperation with the Corpus Christi Bar Association and other area bar associations, has strived to ensure that the legal needs of the indigent are addressed through the participation and involvement of attorneys in private practice.
Currently, over 350 attorneys enrolled with the Volunteer Lawyers Project donate their time and services on a pro bono basis to the low income community of the Coastal Bend. There are several methods of delivery in which private attorneys can participate:
1. PRO BONO REFERRALS: Volunteer attorneys will be referred two cases per year. These cases will normally require advocacy but occasionally may be limited to legal advice only.
2. ASSISTED PRO SE DIVORCE CLINICS: Volunteer lawyers will conduct a classroom style workshop providing a short presentation on the divorce process. Pleadings and step-by-step instructions will be provided to the client by project staff members under the supervision of the volunteer lawyer. The clients' divorces will be finalized in a group session with the assistance of the volunteer lawyer and the cooperation of local district judges under Standing Order of the District Courts of Nueces County signed on March 22, 2004. The volunteer lawyer will not be responsible for representing any pro se divorce clients.
Volunteer lawyers are needed who are willing to accept two pro bono cases per year in the following areas of law: Consumer (bankruptcy, debtor relief, collection, and unfair sales practice); Employment ; Family (adoption, divorce, custody); Health (Medicaid, Medicare); Housing (home-ownership/real property, landlord-tenant); Income Maintenance (Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, V.A. benefits), Wills/Estates, Private Insurance, Taxes. Additional areas of law may be added as needed.
All prospective clients are screened for case merit and eligibility under Texas RioGrande Legal Aid financial guidelines. Project staff coordinate referral of the pro bono cases to the volunteer lawyer and make every possible effort to ensure that attorneys are matched with cases in an area of law related to their specialty or preference.
For more information regarding participation as a pro bono
attorney in the Volunteer Lawyers Project and available benefits ,
please
call Sandra T. Garza, 361 880-5425
or Maria Martinez, 361 880-5426.
