Veterans Legal Assistance Program Celebrates TAJF’s Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week

BY LESLIE SPATOLA

In honor of Veterans Day, special legal events and clinics are being held across the state. The Texas Veterans Legal Aid Coalition, a project of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF), coordinates the annual Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week (TvLAW), a statewide effort in honor of Veterans Day during the week of Nov. 7 to 11, to highlight the legal services available to veterans. The Texas Veterans Legal Aid Coalition is comprised of multiple legal aid programs, local bar associations, law schools, and pro bono private lawyers who provide a variety of civil legal services to qualified Texas veterans in various locations throughout the state.

The Austin Bar Foundation’s Veterans Legal Assistance Program and the Caldwell County Veterans Service Office will cohost an in-person outreach event for veterans residing in Central Texas on Nov. 10 at the Caldwell County Justice Center.

TvLAW programs and events are scheduled throughout Texas during the week of Nov. 7 to 11. For more information, please visit texaslawhelp.org.

Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the nation. Our efforts and responsibility to serve those who have served their country does not end with Veterans Day. Every day, legal aid and pro bono programs assist veterans and others in need of civil legal assistance. Veterans in need of legal help can call their local legal aid program or the statewide hotline for veteran legal issues at 1-800-622-2520, option 2.

Are you a veteran in crisis or concerned about one?

You’re not alone—the Veterans Crisis Line is here for you! You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to call. Access free, confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year, via phone, text, or online chat. To receive crisis assistance, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line now!

Please dial 988, then press 1 to be connected to a specialist by phone. Unable to call? Send a text to 838255 to begin messaging with a specialist. Those wishing to chat with an online specialist virtually may do so by going to veteranscrisisline.net/get-helpnow/chat/ and selecting the blue “Chat Online” box. AL

TEXAS VETERANS LEGAL AID WEEKFREE LEGAL ADVICE CLINIC FOR VETERANS

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the Austin Bar Foundation’s Veterans Legal Assistance Program and the Caldwell County Veterans Service Officer will co-host an in-person outreach event for veterans residing in Central Texas!

Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022

1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Caldwell County Justice Center

1703 S Colorado St, Lockhart, TX 78644

Walk-ins are welcome or you may pre-register online! Please see below for pre-registration details.

Volunteer attorneys will provide brief legal advice for 10 to 15 minutes in the following areas: Consumer/Finance | Housing/Homeownership | Landlord/Tenant | Criminal Expunctions Family Law | Veterans Benefits | Wills/Estate Planning | Powers of Attorney

To best assist you, please bring any paperwork relevant to your case.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

To register for the Free Legal Advice Clinic, you will need complete an intake form. Paper forms will be provided at sign-in on the date of the clinic or you can conveniently preregister online today!

Our pre-registration intake form can be found online here: https://memcentral.wufoo.com/forms/intake-form-veteran-legalassistance-program/, or by using a QR code reader on your smartphone or tablet to scan this code:

Program support provided by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and the Austin Bar Association. For any questions about the Veterans Legal Advice Clinic please contact the Austin Bar Association at 512-472-0279 x110.