News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
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 […]
Houston, TX – As the gift-giving season is right around the corner, donors have the opportunity to pass on a gift that gives back. Today marks the start of Lone Star Legal Aid’s first annual Giving Season online auction, as part of the Help Us Help Texans campaign to help those struggling to make ends meet. The online auction is […]
Latham & Watkins has been a committed pro bono partner with Lone Star Legal Aid for multiple years. Over the course of the bar year, nearly 70 attorneys from Latham & Watkins donated their time towards preparing much-needed estate planning documents for our clients. The firm is committed to serving those that may otherwise go unassisted, and they frequently and […]
Jane Smith met her boyfriend Jack in Texas in 2017 through his family, who committed various crimes against her, including assault and stalking. Jack promised he would protect her from his family, so they began dating, marking the beginning of a tumultuous relationship that spanned over four years. No different from the rest of his family, Jack showed himself to […]
Since 2019, Lone Star Legal Aid has been part of the A Month of Service (AMOS), a collaboration managed by the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods (DON) under the direction of Director TaKesha L. Francis and Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation (NRCDC) under the leadership of Executive Director Paul Charles. In addition to DON, NRCDC, and LSLA, AMOS includes […]
Our Texarkana Branch office is grateful to the Pro Bono Attorneys, who continue to support our mission and clients year after year. In honor of Pro Bono Week, we’d like to highlight Pam Fisk and John Delk, who continuously accept Pro Bono referrals and have done so for years. They are also both known to refer clients to us, and […]
Since March 2021, Ms. Hilary Tyson of Boyar Miller Attorneys at Law has been working closely with Lone Star Legal Aid to serve the Houston/Trinity Gardens community. The Houston/Trinity Gardens community is predominately African American, low-income, and while historically residential—it has suffered from years of neglect and divestment. Because Houston is without zoning, incompatible land uses plague this residential community, […]
Since 2017, initially as part of a collaborative grant funded by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the Environmental Justice Team at Lone Star Legal Aid has worked closely with Professor Kelly Haragan and her law students at the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law to expand legal aid’s capacity to address the needs of […]
Pro bono work is a professional responsibility and an individual ethical commitment of each lawyer. The Pro Bono Committee of the American Bar Association launched the National Celebration of Pro Bono in 2009 due to the increasing need for pro bono services in harsh economic times, and the unprecedented response of lawyers to meet this demand. Every October since 2009, […]
In 2019, the U.S. reported a population of 54.1 million people age 65 or older (the most recent year for which data is available). They represented 16% of the population–more than one in every seven Americans. Older adults consistently experience the most significant percentage of loss during and after natural disasters compared to younger age groups (Fernandez, Byard, Lin, Benson, […]
Although we try our best, we don’t have enough 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 our help. If we are unable to take on your case, there is hope. You may be wondering what resources are available to non-clients. Lone Star […]
Medicare is a federal health insurance program available to those 65 years or older and adults with disabilities. Medicare is split into four parts: A – hospital insurance B – physician/outpatient services C – Medicare provided by private insurance companies D – prescription drug coverage If you need help affording Medicare in Texas, you have options. The state offers four […]
PLEASE NOTE: This website has a Safety Exit feature. By clicking the button in the upper right corner or clicking the Escape key on your keyboard, this website will automatically close and be removed from your search history. Over the past 30+ years, since Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) began, much progress has been made to support survivors of […]
Annually in October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is recognized to raise awareness of how organizations can come together to educate our communities and collectively advocate to end domestic violence. Each year, Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) takes the time to reflect on where we have been in advocating for domestic violence and representing victims, and where we are going […]
Every October, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) asks us to renew or join the commitment to help “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®.” In 1984, October was designated as Crime Prevention Month through a Presidential proclamation and since then, NCPC has been working with local law enforcement, government agencies, civic groups, schools and businesses, and other organizations to help […]
You and your family’s personal safety comes first when preparing for a disaster. Disasters can take lives, homes, cars, as well as all of your personal belongings. Having your personal information and documentation safe is vital to start the recovery process. Taking the time to protect these documents will save you from unnecessary stress following a disaster. You can also […]
Lone Star Legal Aid is one of three legal aid providers in Texas, helping low-income Texans face civil legal issues that create additional barriers to their well-being. We have many units dedicated to different client issues. Here is an exhaustive list of the free services we offer to clients who qualify. If you have been affected by unfair selling […]
With the approval of the student loan forgiveness plan, over 8 million borrowers qualify for debt relief. However, the details on how to qualify or apply for relief may be difficult to keep track of, making many parties vulnerable to scams disguised as “assistance.” You do not need to do anything or pay anyone upfront to apply for the new […]
The Houston metro area is home to the nation’s second-largest veteran population and Texas’ largest. Our Military & Veterans Unit (MVU) provides free civil legal services to low-income United States military veterans, their dependents, and surviving spouses throughout Texas. We can help with: Veteran benefits; Bankruptcy, Expunctions & Non-Disclosures of misdemeanor and felony cases; Custody & Child Support; Consumer Issues, […]
On August 24, 2022, the 46th Administration officially announced a final extension to student loan payments and forgiveness for federal student loan debt of up to $20,000. In the month since, more information has been provided to explain who qualifies and how to claim relief. Student loan payments can be deferred until December 31, 2022. Payments will resume in January […]