The Community Justice Program (CJP) is a joint project for the San Antonio Bar Association and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to provide free legal services and night court to low-income residents of San Antonio in their own neighborhood locations.

A significant part of the San Antonio Bar Association’s mission has been to advance justice and to improve relations between the bar and the public. By volunteering to “just take one” pro bono case each year, the Bar’s membership is working to meet the legal needs of our community. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid staff provides client intake services, evaluate eligibility for the clinics based on CJP criteria and assemble preliminary draft documents for volunteer attorneys.

CJP conducts two evening clinics per month, matching approximately 20 volunteer attorneys to 20 indigent clients at each clinic. The clinics are staffed by judges, attorneys, court reporters, interpreters, legal secretaries, paralegals, notaries and representatives of the Bexar County District Clerk’s office, all participating on a volunteer basis.

This is truly a full-service clinic. Clients generally meet their attorney and have initial pleadings drafted and filed all on the first night. In most cases, after all documents are complete, clients return to the clinic for a brief court hearing to finalize their case and leave with certified copies of the final papers.

In order to be evaluated for assistance, you must call the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid hotline. They will help you with the intake and screening process to determine whether you qualify.

Toll-free 1-866-988-9996

The program does not accept criminal cases!
Clients must meet federal poverty income an asset eligibility guidelines.

If you are an attorney and would like to find out some more information or volunteer, please visit the Community Justice Program page or contact Jane C. Fritz, Executive Director of the Community Justice Program.