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Collaborative partnerships increased legal aid to the poor in 2006

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Equal Justice Volunteer Program

2006 BRANCH OFFICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ABILENE Lupe Elizondo, Coordinator

A Family Law Seminar was held on March 24^th, 2006 in Abilene. The seminar was a joint project with the Pro Bono Section of the State Bar’s Family Law Section and Texas Lawyers Care. The seminar will generate thirty six (36) pro bono cases for the Abilene Office. Twenty three attorneys attended the seminar but five of the attorneys are exempt from having to take two pro bono cases. The EJVP Coordinator was able to obtain a $50.00 donation from the Abilene Bar Association to pay for the continental style breakfast provided at the seminar.

The EJVP Coordinator assisted with and helped secure a United Way Grant for the Abilene Office for 2006. An additional attorney has been hired to handle cases with economic issues as a result of the grant. The EJVP Coordinator contacted the Abilene Reporter-News and set up interview with Sam Prince about the grant.

The EJVP Coordinator along with the Brown County Bar provided assistance to the low income in Brown County by holding the Brownwood Clinic once a month in 2006.

The EJV Program has provided Continuing Legal Education for the volunteer attorneys. Additionally, the EJV Program in Abilene was able to secure three tuition scholarships to the Advanced Family Law Seminar in San Antonio for three of our volunteers.

This office performed outreach in Nolan County on January 23, 2006. Outreach was also performed on numerous occasions while in Brownwood for the Brownwood Clinic and in Taylor County with Justice of the Peace, Court #3, Judge Frank Cleveland on January 9^th, 2006.

This office contacted about a third of the attorneys in our service area who are not volunteers in our pro bono program. The EJVP Coordinator attended a majority of the Abilene Bar Meetings. Rick Mabry, immediate past president of the Abilene Bar, encouraged the Abilene Bar to join our pro bono program at the May 2006 meeting.

This office is still looking at holding CLE videos in Brownwood. The next step is to find a place to hold the sessions.

Our 2006 Work Plan included outreach in Haskell and Eastland County. We are still hoping to accomplish this in the last couple of months in 2006.

The goal of achieving 100% pro bono participation in counties with less then 20 attorneys was not met. The EJV Program in Abilene will strive for an increase in participation in all counties.

AMARILLO Luisa Vigil, Coordinator

Continue holding monthly legal clinics.

Held a specialty clinic (immigration) in Amarillo, Texas.

Held a specialty clinic (immigration) in Dumas, Texas

Held a specialty clinic (immigration) in Borger, Texas

Continue holding monthly MCLE free Video trainings to recruit private attorneys to accept pro bono cases.

Continue partnership with the Amarillo Area Bar Association; attend monthly meetings in an attempt to recruit new attorneys by providing information on pro bono opportunities that are available and to seek volunteers to staff clinics.

Implemented and will proceed forward with a Golf-Tournament fundraising event.

AMARILLO (continued)

Held a fundraising with the Polk Street Block Party and raised $614.55.

Held another fundraising event (had a couple of games at a park), which a private citizen donated many stuffed animals/toys. Was donated a 4’x5’ LANWT Banner.

Continue periodic Pro Bono Advisory Board Meetings to help identify specific functions to enhance pro bono participation, staff new legal clinics, and to provide input in organization a fundraising campaign.

Continue to visit with large and small firms in order to recruit new attorneys.

Continue to contact attorneys currently enrolled to accept a pro bono case but had not accepted a case recently, in an effort to increase client services.

I attempt to conduct outreach activities to recruit new attorneys and implement legal education workshops in the client community.

DALLAS Sara Hewitt, Managing Attorney

To further support and enhance the cooperative and collaborative efforts already in place with the Dallas Bar Association and its specialty sections and specialty bars. Ongoing goal that was continued in 2006.

To further support and enhance the cooperative and collaborative efforts already in place with the Housing Crisis Center and other area legal and public service providers. Ongoing goal that was continued in 2006.

To continue the recruitment, training and retention of minority and bi-lingual or multi-lingual attorneys to assist those minority and ethnic constituencies in the low-income community. Ongoing goal that was continued in 2006.

To develop new program models or components in specialty areas like estate planning and bankruptcy to attract volunteers and support them in the delivery of civil legal services to the low-income community. Estate planning – December 2006; Bankruptcy-tabled because of new bankruptcy legislation. Estate planning and “Not Forgotten” guardianship program re-visited and became operational in 2006; Bankruptcy project re-tooled and became operational in 2006.

To maintain a committed and productive volunteer base by providing mentoring support and recognition opportunities for each and every volunteer working with DVAP in the pursuit of delivering high quality civil legal services to the low-income community. Ongoing goal that was continued in 2006.

DENTON Glenda Hill, Coordinator

Increased number of private attorneys in EJVP Program both in Denton and rural counties by 15.

Visited rural counties to make EJVP presence known with local attorneys. Distributed Free Clinic brochures at local courthouses in the District Clerks office and at local public libraries.

Visited with Directors of rural social service agencies in Wise, Montague and Cooke counties to make EJVP presence known. Provided Free Clinic brochures to them.

Conducted community education seminars with the local university, the Denton ISD and the local Domestic Violence Shelter personnel.

Recruited and trained volunteer “intake” assistants.

Met with Pro Bono Advisory Board four times in 2006 to organize Domestic Violence Seminar to promote the pro bono effort and seek other ways to promote EJV Program in our community.

Still working on the establishment of a Pro Se Divorce Clinic.

FORT WORTH Ellena Simmons, Coordinator

Pro Bono Advisory Board meetings: Due to scheduling conflicts with Chairman, only one meeting was held in 2006.

Legal Clinic Program: With the exception of unavailability of one site and holidays, all scheduled clinics were held to

continue commitment to serve needs of low income communities and continued to maintain confidentiality of applicants

and retention of volunteers.

Partnerships: Maintained partnerships with law school, legal studies programs, local university and community

college, law enforcement agency and social service agencies to distribute information, recruit volunteers, make and

accept referrals, and participate in community fairs.

Texas Wesleyan School of Law: Maintained partnership with law school and continued to receive students satisfying

mandatory pro bono hours by registering with the legal clinic program. Law students will partner with private attorneys

accepting cases through the Pro Bono Challenge project issued by the Tarrant County Bar President. The law clinic

accepted Social Security and Family Law cases referred from the EJV program.

LegalLine: Continued throughout 2006 to support the advice only program offered as a service by the Tarrant County

Bar Association by referring individuals via phone and availability of LegalLine business cards issued by the TCBA.

Virtual Case Referral (VCR): Continued to use distribution list of attorneys registered with this project to refer pro

bono cases. So far in 2006, 12 cases have been placed on the internet with 3 case accepted for pro bono representation.

Tarrant County Large Law Firms: With the involvement of Dee Kelly, Jr. of Kelly, Hart, and Hallman, the large law

firms are becoming more involved with our pro bono efforts. In 2006, the involvement was more individual registration

from the law firms rather than the registration of the firm itself. With the assistance of Mr. Kelly, the large law firms

will come together at a breakfast planned for early 2007.

LUBBOCK Nancy Mojica, Coordinator

I worked and continue to work closely with the Lubbock County Bar Association, Specialty Bar Associations, law firms, paralegal association and social service agencies and provided high quality legal service to the low-income individuals in our community through the legal clinics.

For the fifth year in a row I have coordinated a “Wills Project” in conjunction with the Texas Tech University School of Law, Wills and Estate Planning Class with Professor Larry Spain and Professor Vaughn James. This year the clinic was held in October and I scheduled four (4) different clinics throughout the City of Lubbock. This has really been very successful. Since I started this clinic we have helped almost 200 individuals by preparing their Last Will and Testament.

Continued to work with the Pro Bono Advisory Board to help shape the Equal Justice Volunteer Program in our community.

Utilized the email Pro Bono referral model in Lubbock County by referring out more cases and since we have received some funds we are also following the Reduced Fee model in our rural areas. I continue to follow the Project VCR model.

This year, started three (3) new clinics: #1. The SPII Clinic was started in August in conjunction with the Texas Tech University School of Law, Student Public Interest Initiative (SPII) Program and will be held the 1^st Tuesday of each month throughout the school year. The SPII Program recruits their 2^nd and 3^rd year Law students to help at this clinic and the Law School recruits the faculty to provide legal assistance or legal advice. #2. The Equal Justice Volunteer Program was also started in August and will be held the 3^rd Thursday of each month. #3. Homeless Shelter Clinic

(HELP) This clinic was started in November and was held the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday of every month at surrounding homeless shelters. This clinic will be sponsored by the Texas Tech University School of Law, Volunteer Law Student’s (VLS) Association and Student Public Interest Initiative (SPII) Program. This is the fifth year that I have worked closely with Texas Tech University School of Law Clinical Program. Since Texas Tech started the clinical program at

LUBBOCK (continued)

the law school they have accepted a number of various types’ cases that I have referred to them after we have screened the applicant and they qualify for services.

Participated in lots of resource and health fairs which were something that I have wanted to do. I believe this has helped our legal clinics statistics as well as the statistics for Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas because of the knowledge I have provided at these resources fairs.

Held the annual Pro Bono Awards luncheon in conjunction with the Lubbock County Bar Association’s monthly meeting where we honored all of our volunteers and presented the John Crews Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year to Dennis Reeves, Attorney at Law and Professor Larry Spain received a certificate for his dedication to the Equal Justice Volunteer Program for going above and beyond the 50 hour Aspirational goal for Pro Bono work.

McKINNEY Jan Kearney, Coordinator

Have held monthly and quarterly legal aid clinics in all five counties.

Have actively recruited new attorneys and re-enlisted help of new and past attorney, paralegal and lay volunteers to assist at the monthly and quarterly intake and advice clinics.

MIDLAND Pete Fierro, Coordinator

Pursuant to the 2006 Equal Justice Volunteer Program (EJVP) Work Plan being adopted, there were many other pro bono activities that were accomplished after the 2006 EJVP work plan was adopted and approved by the Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas Board of Directors. The following are accomplishments that reflect the time after the EJVP work plan was adopted for the latter part of 2005.

On October 14, 2005, the Pro Bono Committee of the Family Law Section presented its Family Law Essentials Seminar in Odessa Texas at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The seminar was designed to provide continuing legal education to private attorneys. The participants who attended the seminar agreed to take two pro bono cases from the Midland branch office in exchange for free tuition for the seminar. The Family Law Section provided a coordinator who worked along side Judge Dean Rucker-District Judge of the 318^th District Court in Midland County to facilitate the day long seminar which allowed local Midland Private Attorneys to speak about Family Law issues. KMID Channel 2 interviewed EJVP Coordinator on the day of the Family Law Seminar. Fifty attendees attended the event.

On December 13, 2005, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas branch office in Midland joined together with Staff Attorneys from the Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Offices in Dallas and Fort Worth to do training regarding Low Income Tax issues to the staff of the Midland branch office staff at the Casa de Amigos. The first clinic was held at the Casa de Amigos Community Center and was conducted in Spanish for the general public. The second clinic was held at Safe Place in Midland. Between the two clinics, approximately fifty attended.

MCLE was held at the Midland County Law Library for the latter part of 2005 and beginning of 2006. However attendance as minimal.

Attended and spoke to the Midland County Bar Associations late last year with regard to the Family Law Events as well as the LITC. It was during this meeting that the partners of Midland’s largest law firm committed to sponsoring two evening clinics in 2006.

A Public Relations Committee chaired by EJVP Coordinator in Odessa and with the direct supervision of Pro Bono Bar Relations Manager Kathy Duncan and with the assistance of three EJVP Coordinators from LANWT developed, assembled and distributed the Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas Equal Justice Volunteer Program first edition newsletter entitled, “Newsmakers”. The news letter was distributed to the entire LANWT organization as well as to each LANWT branch office. Each EJVP Coordinator then distributed the newsletter to each lay volunteer/private attorneys who directly or indirectly participated in the EJV Program. Among the mentioned articles was the article praising the law firm of Cotton Bledsoe Tighe & Dawson PC for their commitment to the evening clinic in April 2006.

Evening legal clinics were held at the Casa de Amigos during 2006. Each clinic this year was staffed by private attorneys who accepted one or two pro bono cases. This year we were able to successfully staff every single clinic with volunteer private attorneys even recruiting one of Midland largest law firms to sponsor the April and October evening clinics.

Afternoon clinics were held at the new Northside Community Center in Big Spring, Texas. The clinics were held every 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday of each month.

EJVP Coordinator continued to distribute EJVP Coffee mugs to local private attorneys who had volunteered late last year and who had worked and evening clinic.

EJVP Coordinator and the Midland Managing Attorney worked together on the mass mailing and distribution of fundraising letters that were sent to Midland Private Attorneys and local businesses. LANWT in Midland received a $14000.00 matching Grant from the Abell -Hanger Foundation which was a matching grant. The EJVP Coordinator and the Managing Attorney worked along side the Midland County President on this fundraising effort. EJVP Coordinator and the Managing Attorney from Midland along with Mr. Sam Prince attended check presentation in late December 2005 to receive check from Helen Greathouse Foundation with regards to the matching grant from Abell -Hanger Foundation. EJVP Coordinator then developed a city wide list of local media outlets in television and print media for use in promoting the Abell -Hanger Grant Foundation.

EJVP Coordinator attended the ABA/NLADA Conference in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in late March 2006.

EJVP Coordinator on February 23, 2006 addressed members of the Midland County Bar Association. The EJVP Coordinator spoke about the upcoming events, legal clinics and distributed clinic sign up sheets, information about the Virtual Case Referral Program and Texas Lawyers Care website was also presented. EJVP attended various bar functions though out 2006.

EJVP Coordinator spoke to the Americorp Community Service Event on May 12, 2006. Various non-profit agencies were also on hand approximately 100 attended the event and 72 brochures were distributed.

EJVP Coordinator was chosen to present a program at the Pro Bono Coordinators Retreat in Austin, Texas in September 14-15, 2006. The EJVP Coordinator and the Executive Director at Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas presented a program on: Sharing Strategies on Recruitment, Retention and Rewards. (The program was a group discussion with those with 3 years of experience or more. The topic focused on recruiting, retention, recognition of volunteers, as well as critical components of pro bono legal service delivery. Attendees had time to share successful and unsuccessful attempts and strategies on best practices in delivery of services in Midland and rural communities that fall under Midland LANWT Branch office.

NAACP JUSTICE PROJECT Rosa Turner, Coordinator

Establish 4 new discrimination legal clinics that will be held in English and Spanish low-income neighborhoods in an effort to increase client services. June 2006- Established 2 new discrimination clinics.

Continue to attend the monthly Minority Leaders & Citizens Council, the Mexican-American Bar, Chicano Luncheon and the Tarrant County Bar Association meetings to recruit volunteers to staff the legal clinics. Ongoing

Implement monthly Community Legal Education Workshops at various locations in Tarrant County that will be utilized to advise potential clients of their rights as will as an opportunity to conduct intake to increase client services with discrimination matters. Beginning January 2006- Held 9 workshops:

NAACP Justice Project Clinic - Feb 18, 2006

Como Community Center- March 18, 2006

Martin Luther King Center- April 22, 2006

Diamond Hill Community Center-May 20, 2006

Hillside Community Center - June 10, 2006

Lulac Clinic–July 15, 2006

New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church-August 19, 2006

NAACP JUSTICE PROJECT (continued)

Cobb Park Apartment Complex-September 9, 2006

North Tri-Ethnic Community Center-October 18, 2006

Conduct an Advanced Discrimination Seminar to be used as a tool for attorney recruitment. November 2006- The Seminar is schedule for November 3, 2006.

Continue partnerships with Tarrant County EEOC and other public service providers in an effort to promote and expand services to applicants with discrimination issues. Ongoing

Continue existing discrimination legal clinics at the Diamond Hill Community Center, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Cobb Park Center, North Tri-Ethnic Community Center, Eugene McCray Community Center, Martin Luther King Community Center, Como Community Center and Lulac District XXI Center. Ongoing

Continue quarterly Pro Bono Advisory Board meetings that will be utilized to help promote the Justice Project and its efforts to provide services to clients with discrimination problems. March, June, September, and December 2006- Accomplished two meeting January 19, 2006 and June 11, 2006.

ODESSA Pete Fierro, Coordinator

Coordinator to facilitate the day long seminar which allowed local Odessa Private Attorneys to speak about Family Law issues. The Ector County District Judges conducted a question and answer session for those attending. KMID Channel 2 interviewed EJVP Coordinator on the day of the Family Law Seminar. Fifty attendees attended the event.

On November 12, 2005, the Equal Justice Volunteer Pro Bono Coordinator manned a booth at Odessa College acknowledging Single Parent Appreciation Week. This was an opportunity for the coordinator to give information about Legal Aid of Northwest

Texas’s services to single parents. 250 + single parents, non profit volunteers and OC staff stopped by the LANWT booth. 154 fliers and brochures were distributed.

On December 14, 2005, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas branch office in Odessa joined together with Staff Attorneys from the Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Offices in Dallas and Fort Worth to do training regarding Low Income Tax issues to the staff of the Odessa branch office staff. A clinic was held at the Salinas Community Center and conducted in Spanish for the general public. The Odessa American and El Semenario published a public service announcement for the LITC. A hand few of people stopped at the center for questions and answers.

MCLE was held in the local Odessa LANWT office for the latter part of 2005 and beginning of 2006. However attendance as minimal.

Attended and spoke to the Ector County Bar Associations late last year with regard to the Family Law Events as well as the LITC. It was during this meeting that the share holder of the Odessa largest law firm committed to sponsoring evening clinic in 2006.

ODESSA (continued)

Assembled and distributed the Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas Equal Justice Volunteer Program first edition newsletter entitled, “Newsmakers”. The news letter was distributed to the entire LANWT organization as well as to each LANWT branch office. Each EJVP Coordinator then distributed the newsletter to each lay volunteer/private attorneys who directly or indirectly participated in the EJV Program.

Evening legal clinics were held in the Odessa LANWT branch office during 2006. Each clinic this year was staffed by private attorneys who accepted one or two pro bono cases. This year we were able to successfully staff every single clinic with volunteer private attorneys even recruiting one of Odessa largest law firms to sponsor the May evening clinic.

EJVP Coordinator continued to distribute EJVP Coffee mugs to local private attorneys who had volunteered late last year and who had worked and evening clinic.

EJVP Coordinator and the Odessa Managing Attorney worked together on the mass mailing and distribution of fundraising letters that were sent to Odessa Private Attorneys and local businesses. LANWT in Odessa received a $14000.00 matching Grant from the Abell Hanger Foundation which was a matching grant. The EJVP Coordinator and the Managing Attorney worked along side the Ector County President on this fundraising effort. A PSA on KOSA Channel 7 was conducted in March 2006. As part of the interview, the Managing Attorney from Odessa was interviewed about the matching grant and volunteer opportunities for private attorneys in the EJV Program. A PSA from the Odessa American ran to co insight with the extended deadline we were given to raise remaining funds. EJVP Coordinator then developed a city wide list of local media outlets in television and print media for use in promoting the Abell Hanger Grant Foundation.

EJVP Coordinator attended the ABA/NLADA Conference in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in late March 2006.

EJVP Coordinator on February 2006 addressed members of the Ector County Bar Association. I spoke about the upcoming events, legal clinics and distributed clinic sign up sheets. I also gave information about the Virtual Case Referral Program and Texas Lawyers Care website. EJVP attended various Ector County bar functions though out 2006.

EJVP Coordinator manned a booth at AIM High School for their annual health fair on May 5, 2006. The EJVP Coordinator answered questions on how to apply for Legal Aid services, distributed various fliers and brochures on

problem matters to those who stopped by the booth. 200 total of students as well as non profit and local business were present. 127 brochures and filers were distributed to anyone who stopped by the booth.

PLAINVIEW Luisa Vigil, Coordinator

Continued holding monthly MCLE free Video trainings to recruit private attorneys to accept pro bono cases.

Continued the partnership with the Plainview Area Bar Association, attend monthly meetings (when possible), and work towards implementing a fundraising campaign or event.

Held periodic Pro Bono Advisory Board Meetings to help identify specific functions to enhance pro bono participation, staff new legal clinics, and to provide input in organization a fundraising campaign.

Continued to contact attorneys currently enrolled to accept a pro bono case but had not accepted a case recently, in an effort to increase client services.

Conducted outreach activities to recruit new attorneys and implement legal education workshops in the client community.

SAN ANGELO Tonnie Robbins, Coordinator

Continued to hold monthly Pro Se Divorce Clinics.

Continued to hold monthly CLE videos as a recruitment tool for pro bono attorneys to accept cases.

Continued collaboration with Tom Green County Bar Association who sponsors the awards ceremony during a regular monthly meeting.

Have increased attorney involvement by word of mouth from other attorneys.

Continued to attempt to recruit attorneys through Project VCR to accept cases via the internet.

WAXAHACHIE Sharon-Ann Demaske, Coordinator

Ellis County: Ellis County Judges Conference was held in February 2006. All four Judges in Ellis County participated and twenty-nine attorneys, one legal assistance and one court coordinator with 21 attorneys agreeing to accept a case and six attorneys agreeing to make a donation to the program.

Kaufman County: Pro Se Divorce Clinic (no children) began on September 29, 2006.

WICHITA FALLS Linda Gomez, Coordinator

Accepted forty one (41) cases from, five (5) of our twelve (12) county service area. Some of our counties had few to no applicants.

Maintained participating volunteer attorneys and recruited one (1) new attorney by offering CLE credits thru videos and a competitive contest for attorneys donating the most pro bono hours.

Outreach and recruitment efforts were done in all of our twelve (12) county service area. Maintained attorney participation in case commitments and staffing legal clinics.

Maintained two monthly legal advice clinics with the help of volunteer attorneys.

Held an award ceremony in conjunction with the Wichita County Bar Association at one of their monthly meetings. Five outstanding attorneys were honored and were presented plaques and prizes donated by local businesses. Newspaper and television media were present at this event.