In civil matters, all Texans have the right to represent themselves in court. This is called “Pro Se.” Self-representation may be simpler with certain civil legal issues than others, so it is important to do your research.
Some people may choose to represent themselves because they cannot afford to hire an attorney. Lone Star Legal Aid, and other legal aid organizations, offer civil legal representation and advice to low-income clients. Although we strive to help each individual, we don’t always have sufficient resources to represent everyone who needs us. One study has shown that we can directly help only 20% of the people who qualify and need us.
Our Disaster Content Development team has designed multiple virtual interviews that simulate a meeting with an attorney to discuss various issues like eviction, disaster recovery, foreclosure, and unemployment benefits. These virtual interviews help clients prepare legal documents they may need to file in court.
Here are just a few of our self-help tools:
- Foreclosure: This tool can help if you are behind on mortgage payments or facing a foreclosure.
- Eviction: This tool can help you defend yourself against eviction, lockout, or utility shut-off.
- Texas Disclosures Assistance: This tool can help you trade information with the other side if you’re in a lawsuit in Texas.
- Disaster Recovery: This tool can help you with common legal problems if you’ve been affected by a disaster.
- Consumer Debt: This tool can help if you are being sued to collect a debt you owe.
- Unemployment Benefits: This tool can help you get unemployment benefits after losing work.
- Eviction Appeal Texting Service: In partnership with Texas Legal Services Center, we launched a program that helps guide our clients through the JP Court Eviction Appeal process with text messaging support.
Sponsored by our community partners, Texas Law Help is a website that provides free legal services to underserved Texans in need of education, advice, and representation. This includes free legal events and clinics; guides with instructions, checklists, and court forms for various legal issues; and informative resources for topical matters.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
