Some are trying to get away from abusive spouses. Others are about to be kicked out of their homes. And still more, such as a single mother Hinkley visited with on a recent weekday, just worry what getting pulled into a civil court dispute will do to their tightly stretched finances.

For many of them, Hinkley and her colleagues can offer a lifeline and, sometimes, a shoulder to cry on.

"It's always there," Hinkley said of the stress caused by legal troubles. "There are some that are better than others at letting us do the worrying. ... We're attorneys and counselors at law, so yeah, sometimes we have to wear that hat."

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas serves low-income people free of charge in 114 Texas counties and has 14 offices. Its administrative offices are in Arlington. The Fort Worth location, where Hinkley works, serves seven counties, including Tarrant, Johnson and Parker.

Besides working to remove women and families from abusive situations, the agency helps people who may be one legal crisis away from financial disaster by taking on employment, housing, healthcare and consumer cases, administrators said. Officials say their work saves the community money on social services in the long run.

The agency served 20,449 clients in 2005. Most were family-law cases. During that time, 3,030 cases were completed in the area covered by the Fort Worth office. But even with a yearly budget of about $13 million, the 122 lawyers working for Legal Aid of Northwest Texas can't help everyone who needs them, said Sam Prince, director of development.

The Legal Services Corp., a federally funded program that awards grants to 138 legal-services programs nationwide, estimates that only half of the Legal Aid applicants who qualify get services. There aren't enough lawyers to help the rest.

Though it is an independent agency, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas gets just over half of its funding in grants from Legal Services Corp. The rest comes from the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is partially funded by the state, and contributions from individuals and organizations such as the United Way.

"Our client-application process functions much like an emergency room," Prince said. "Those that are in the most immediate danger get help first."

Wanda Feliciano recently came to the Fort Worth office hoping to be one of those who gets a free attorney. Feliciano bought a used BMW from a local car dealer several months ago. After a series of conflicts -- one about a paint job, another about a brake malfunction -- the dealer is threatening to sue her.

Feliciano, a single mother whose income was low enough to qualify for aid, came to see Hinkley after realizing she would never be able to afford the help of a private lawyer. Her case isn't about life or death, but she's definitely panicked about facing the legal system alone.

"It's very frustrating. I'm a very responsible person," Feliciano said of her legal problems. "I can't sleep at all. I can't concentrate at work. ... I cry every single day."

Hinkley is one of 16 lawyers in the Fort Worth office. For a few of them, federal and state grant money defines what sort of conflicts they can assist in, said Linda Gregory, managing attorney for the Fort Worth location. The grants, most of which come from the Governor's Criminal Justice Division, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, are used to help crime victims, domestic-violence victims, homeless people and other specific groups. Grant funding has been needed in recent years in part because the federally funded Legal Services Corp.'s budget has not grown along with the need, Prince said.

Recently, the corporation has been criticized by Congress and an internal watchdog for overspending on travel, meetings and meals, according to The Associated Press. Leaders of the national nonprofit have instituted a series of changes as a result, the AP reported.

A recent audit notes no such waste at Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, but money is always tight, administrators said. For that reason, Legal Aid would like more volunteer lawyers to do pro-bono legal work for the agency, Prince said. Each year, volunteers and support staff work with some Legal Aid clients and staff free evening legal clinics in Tarrant County.

Recognizing the importance of serving low-income clients, Tarrant County Bar Association President Mark Daniel recently challenged that organization's 2,400 members to give at least 10 hours of pro-bono time to Legal Aid within the next year. The Tarrant County Bar Foundation also recently donated more than $12,000 to Legal Aid. That money was collected in 2006 from Tarrant County Bar Association members who were asked to donate when they renewed their membership.

Those who do help out will undoubtedly get as much as they give, Prince said.

"It's very satisfying to help someone who can't afford a lawyer get access to justice," he said.

IN THE KNOW

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas

The agency's 14 offices provide free legal assistance to low-income people in 114 counties. Its administrative offices are in Arlington. The Fort Worth location serves seven counties, including Tarrant, Johnson and Parker.

Generally, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas' clients make less than $40,000 for a family of four. However, income requirements vary according to the type of case. For example, some programs sponsored by federal grants require the recipient to be homeless.

Donations to Legal Aid can be made by going to www.lanwt.org For more information or to find out if you qualify for services, call 888-529-5277 or go to www.texaslawhelp.org.

By the numbers

20,449 clients helped in 2005

$13 million annual budget

122 lawyers work for the Northwest Texas branch

$39,000 starting salary for a Legal Aid of Northwest Texas attorney. A recent study by the Association for Legal Career Professionals found the median starting salary for law-firm attorneys was $100,000.