Legal Information at Your Fingertips

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Navigating the legal system is difficult enough, but imagine how complex and overwhelming it can be if you are maneuvering through it on your own without the help of experienced and knowledgeable legal counsel. Sadly, according the Self-Represented Litigant Network, a coalition of legal and non-legal professionals who seek to close the justice gap and reform the justice system, an estimated 3 out of 5 people involved in civil matters go to court without an attorney. We at the Harris County Law Library try to do our part by promoting open and equal access to justice for all and providing access to relevant, current, and accurate legal information. If you are a regular follower of our blog, you know that we sing the praises of TexasLawHelp.org, which has a wealth of information for self-represented litigants. However, we would also like our readers to be aware of some other websites that have a good selection of legal resources and lots of good legal information.

State Bar of Texas

On the webpage for the State Bar’s Legal Access Division, users can find links to a referral directory for legal services available to low-income Texans, a legal aid directory, a lawyer referral service, and Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, a State Bar program for military veterans. The State Bar also has available many free legal resources and pamphlets that cover a wide array of topics, such as the basics of the legal system, family law, immigration, and many more. Visitors can either download the pamphlet or request copies from the State Bar. Pamphlets are also available in Spanish.

The People’s Lawyer

Richard Alderman, author of Know Your Rights! and professor emeritus at the University of Houston Law Center, is known as “The People’s Lawyer,” and for good reason. Alderman is the force behind the popular website, The People’s Lawyer, which covers a wide array of legal topics from auto accidents to landlord/tenant law to small claims court. Users can find links to Texas consumer protection statutes and related federal consumer laws as well as links other useful websites relating to topics, such as lemon laws and product recalls, tax tips, and elder law. There is also an FAQ section with answers to common legal questions.

FindLaw

Another online resource for self-represented litigants looking for legal information is FindLaw, which is part of the Thomson Reuters family of businesses. FindLaw’s Learn About the Law section has informational articles about various topics including criminal law, employment law, family law, consumer protection, and so much more. Texas users can find links to Texas-specific laws and even some city-specific information, too. There are blog posts and podcasts about current legal issues that users may find interesting as well.

Houston Evictions Assistance Coalition

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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.

Americans With Disabilities Act at 30

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Legend has it that a radical group of young disabled activists, known as the Rolling Quads, took to the streets of Berkeley, California, in the early 1970s to create, alongside their attendants, cut curb access for wheelchairs. They smashed existing curbs with sledgehammers and poured concrete ramps to create DIY cutaways on heavily traveled street corners in and around the UC Berkeley campus. Like all good legends, the details of the story are part fact and part fiction -- the myth of midnight commandos wielding hammers and concrete is probably a bit exaggerated -- but the folklore surrounding this spirited group of determined activists only helps solidify their reputation today as pioneers in the civil rights movement for people with disabilities.

Catalysts like the Rolling Quads (which included Ed Roberts and Hale Zukas) and many other disability rights advocates fought for legislation throughout the 1960s and 1970s that would protect the interests of people with disabilities in achieving equality, opportunity, justice, and inclusion. The efforts of these determined individuals led ultimately to the passage on the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990.

Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Act, and in recognition of the occasion, the Harris County Law Library is providing a list of recommended resources that explore the history of disability rights in this country, the impact of the ADA during its first 30 years, and the ongoing role it plays in ensuring equal access for all people. Additional links of interest are included at the end.  

HISTORY

• Timeline of the Americans with Disabilities Act – ADA National Network

• The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Brief Overview — Job Accommodation Network

• The History of the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Movement Perspective – Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund

• Why I wrote the Americans with Disabilities Act by Robert L. Burgdorf Jr. -- Washington Post

FUTURE

• The ADA at 30: Beyond the Law’s Promise – New York Times

  • This series explores how the Americans With Disabilities Act has shaped modern life for people with disabilities in the 30 years since it was passed.

• ADA: The Next 30 Years of Disability Rights – Ford Foundation

VOICES

• Demystifying Disability – Call Your Girlfriend (Podcast)

  • Two writers who also both have physical disabilities describe the planning and preparation in their daily lives and provide resources for people without disabilities who want to learn more and grow as allies and friends.

• After 30 Years, How Has The ADA Helped You? – NPR

  • Morning Edition wants to collect stories from people within the disability community about how the legislation has impacted their lives — however generally or specifically. Stories could be used on air or online.

After the Moratorium: National Eviction Resources and Data

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A provision of the CARES Act which has, so far, protected millions of people from losing their housing, is set to expire on July 25, 2020. Potentially, many residents of Harris County (and the rest of the nation) could be facing eviction. In response to the need for reliable information about housing instability, we’ve posted a number of helpful resources in this blog. In May, we wrote about the eviction moratoria issued at the federal and state levels, and in June, we provided links to information and self-help tools from Texas Law Help and Lone Star Legal Aid for those at risk of losing their homes. Now we are offering a bird’s eye view of eviction across our country, providing links to resources that present both national and state-by-state data.

• As Protections Expire, Millions Of Americans Face Threats Of Eviction – NPR Morning Edition, July 21, 2020 (Audio)

  • 6-minute nutshell interview with Matt Desmond, author of Evicted and founder of the Princeton Eviction Lab

• STOUT interactive eviction tool -- Developed by Stout Risius Ross, LLC (STOUT) with input from National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel (NCCRC)

  • Provides access to data on estimated number of tenants experiencing rental shortfalls along with data showing tenant confidence levels in their ability to pay next month’s rent.       

• COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard – Princeton Eviction Lab

  • See the list of additional COVID-19 housing resources and tools built by other organizations

• COVID-19 Protections for Homeless Populations -- National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

  • See compiled list of COVID-19 Resources on Housing Alternatives

• Eviction Moratorium Maps – Regional Housing Legal Services (RHLS)

  • Presents a graphic visualization of moratoria in effect in each state, at each phase of eviction

• Federal Eviction Moratoriums — National Low Income Housing Coalition

  • Searchable database and map allow some renters to identify if their home is covered by the CARES Act eviction moratoriums

• Just Shelter

  • Identifies organizations that preserve affordable housing, prevent eviction, and reduce family homelessness; Presents personal eviction stories

• The Scarlet E: Unmasking America’s Eviction Crisis – On the Media (Audio)

  • A four-part series on the “eviction epidemic” in this country; Hosted by Brooke Gladstone

Gender Marker and Name Change Resources in Texas

In commemoration of National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, we want to remind you of some resources that might help members of our LBGTQ community. Although name changes are commonplace and can be completed with no or few complications, transgender individuals looking to update their gender marker and change their name may face some additional hurdles. Luckily, there is help available.

One of these resources is law library community partner, Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL). HVL offers a Gender Affirmation Workshop to assist individuals with preparing the necessary forms to obtain a court order to update one’s gender marker and effectuate a name change. Pre-screening is required, and interested applicants are requested to submit a completed Gender Marker Questionnaire, the HVL application, and a copy of a photo identification. Note that all in-person workshops had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, so it is recommended that you contact HVL first to inquire as to whether any virtual workshops are scheduled.

To help individuals navigate through this complicated and emotional process, the Texas Legal Services Center has prepared the Texas Name and Gender Marker Change Guide. The guide provides legal information about court orders for name and gender marker changes and applications to update your personal information with governmental agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, if applicable. There are myriad other documents that might require amending, too. For instance in addition to a birth certificate, passport, or voter registration card, you might also need to update your information at a banking, lending, or other financial institution or on legal documents, such as deeds, car titles, or wills. In the appendix, you will find information about legal aid and legal clinics and some self-help resources. There are links to forms as well. However, please note that the gender marker change forms are from Travis County and may not be accepted in every county.

Please see one of our previous posts, Gender Marker and Name Change Resources for Transgender Individuals in Texas, for additional resources.