Texas, home to the second-largest veteran population in the United States (1.5 million veterans), has found the perfect tribute for them: Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week (TVLAW).
During 2017 alone, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation channeled $1.87 million worth of grants to NGOs that offer pro bono legal aid to veterans. These Texas law organizations assist on average, 8,500 Texan veterans every year.
Veterans struggle to adjust to civilian life after facing combat for many years. This is only made worse by the legal challenges they face, driver’s license issues, outstanding traffic tickets, disrupted child support and other family law matters, denial of appropriate medical care, combat-related disability compensation, and eviction or foreclosure issues, to name a few.
In fact, according to U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, legal issues account for FOUR of the top ten unmet needs of homeless veterans. The free legal support that these Texas legal aid organizations and other private lawyers provide makes all the difference to the lives of these veterans.
Between Nov 11-17, 2018, the state hosts Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week. Throughout the state, veterans can benefit from free legal assistance at clinics organized by legal aid organizations, local bar associations, and law schools.
Veterans seeking legal assistance can find clinics at https://texaslawhelp.org/tvlaw-2018 or call the statewide hotline at 1-800-622-2520. Veterans unable to visit a clinic can participate in Texas Legal Service Center’s live online chat between Nov 12-16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and have their questions answered.
LegalEase applauds Texas’s commitment towards bettering the lives of our war heroes who have sacrificed the better part of their lives for our country. The state has indeed proven that our battered veterans have the priority and unequivocal support of its pro bono law community with this exemplary initiative.
