Each October, we celebrate “pro bono” work. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “In Latin, pro bono publico means ‘for the public good;’ in English we generally shorten the phrase to pro bono.” Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL) is in the midst of its Harvest Peer-to-Peer Campaign, in which they are asking individuals to engage in pro bono efforts by giving their time or treasure.
Read moreTexas Eviction Resources for an Uncertain Time
On March 28, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the order halting certain residential evictions through June 30, 2021. However, an emergency order from the Texas Supreme Court “that instructed judges across Texas how to follow the federal mandate expired March 31.” This blog post features resources for residents of Texas who are facing eviction.
Read moreNational Pro Bono Week, October 25-31
The 2020 celebration of National Pro Bono Week takes place October 25-31. Legal organizations across the country have organized events to raise awareness of the need for pro bono services and to celebrate the initiatives of those engaged in pro bono legal work. For a list of National Pro Bono Week events, please visit the sites below.
Pro Bono Week — ProBonoTexas.org
Celebrate Pro Bono — Probono.net
Celebrate Pro Bono — American Bar Association
Pro Bono Week — Taproot
Houston Bar Association Events
Houston Pro Bono: A Call to Action — Houston Volunteer Lawyers (October 27, 12:00 pm, MCLE: 1.0 hour & Ethics: 0.5) Click here to register.
Join Justice Jane Bland, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Monica Karuturi, Jeff Kaplan, Kelly Rose, Michael Donaldson, Bill Kroger, Mindy Davidson, and Anne Chandler in this call to action to ensure all Houstonians are able to access justice
If you are a licensed Texas attorney and would like to volunteer to provide pro bono services, contact the Houston Volunteer Lawyers or visit HVL online.
Houston Evictions Assistance Coalition
Icons made by https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik
To address the legal needs of Houstonians facing evictions, the Houston Bar Association (HBA) has teamed up with Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL); Houston Lawyer Referral Service; Dispute Resolution Center; Lone Star Legal Aid; South Texas College of Law Houston; Thurgood Marshall School of Law Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy, Inc.; and University of Houston Law Center to form an Evictions Assistance Coalition. With the moratorium provided by the federal CARES Act having expired on July 26 and court proceedings beginning again, the need for help in landlord/tenant matters is great. Those requiring assistance with an eviction are urged to visit hba.org/eviction for information about free legal representation for low-income persons. Visitors can also find a self-representation toolkit, information about mediation and lawyer referrals, eviction, and many more resources.
Tenants seeking free legal assistance with HVL can apply by using HVL’s online intake form or calling HVL at (713) 228-0735. With certain exceptions, applicants are required to provide identification and proof of income as well as complete information about their case. If accepted, HVL will try to place the case with a volunteer attorney. For more information about HVL and its services, please visit its website at makejusticehappen.org.
If you are a lawyer and want to help, you are invited to contact HVL at evictionvolunteer@hvlp.org. HVL will provide the necessary training and mentoring for interested volunteers.
Click here to read the Evictions Assistance Coalitions press release.
Legal Tech and the Justice Gap -- A Few Haiku for Poetry Month
Today is the last day of National Poetry Month. We’ve been celebrating all month long with an exhibit called Poetry of the Bench and Bar. Today, we conclude the celebration with a few haiku — variations on a theme of bridging the justice gap. Enjoy!
