Many attorneys charge by the hour for their services. This means that when an attorney is available to talk with a potential new client, he or she can only spend a certain amount of time discussing that matter.
This leaves the attorney with less time to work on other matters. In addition, this can lead to a delay in the resolution of the new client’s matter.
Legal Action Works by CitySquare
CitySquare is a non-profit organization that provides 22 social service programs to fight poverty and improve lives. Its services include food, community health services, destination home, legal action works, and neighbor support.
Legal Action Works by CitySquare charges fees on a sliding scale basis for clients who don’t make enough to pay for traditional legal services. They also provide pro bono services, which are free to eligible individuals.
Jenny Fogel is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and has been practicing personal injury law since 2013. She was inspired to become a lawyer because she wants to help people and believes that law is a way to do so.
She has a background in consumer class action, business tort, psychiatric malpractice, and mesothelioma litigation. She also serves as a board member of a national nonprofit organization that helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dogs.
Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program recruits, trains, and supports volunteer attorneys who provide free civil legal assistance to low-income people in Dallas County. DVAP volunteers help clients with a wide variety of issues, including family, housing, employment, landlord-tenant, real property, consumer, wills, expunctions and non-disclosures, probate, veterans benefits, and small business matters.
Currently, DVAP offers free virtual clinics on Thursdays. To schedule a virtual clinic, applicants can complete an online application.
When DVAP was forced to shut down its traditional, on-site clinics to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in March, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP quickly stepped in to launch a virtual intake clinic and restore access to pro bono services for area residents.
This virtual intake clinic is a big step forward for DVAP, which relies on the support of local law firms like Hunton Andrews Kurth to ensure its continued success. And the firm plans to continue conducting weekly virtual clinics after traditional, on-site sessions resume.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Dallas County is home to a number of free legal consultation opportunities. Some are offered by non-profit organizations, while others are provided by law school clinics.
One such program is Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, which has been providing free civil legal services to low-income residents of 114 Texas counties for over 70 years. It offers help with a variety of legal matters including landlord-tenant disputes, wills, federal tax issues, family law, public benefits, eviction and foreclosure prevention, consumer protection and community revitalization.
The UNT Dallas College of Law also has a Community Lawyering Center that represents low-income clients in a variety of legal matters, ranging from housing disputes to elder advocacy to civil rights litigation. Its lawyers are supervised by faculty and qualified attorneys from the Dallas Public Defender’s Office and Legal Aid of Northwest Texas. The UNT clinic’s most impressive offering is the Community Conversations series, which involves a number of interesting presentations on topics that interest Dallas County residents.
Hispanic Association of Lawyers
The Hispanic Association of Lawyers provides free legal consultation to those who may be in need. The Dallas-based bar association has been around for more than 15 years and is one of the fastest growing minority organizations in the area.
The association works to foster diversity in the legal profession and provide mentoring to high school and college students interested in law careers. It also hosts formal programs to help students integrate into the Dallas legal network and build a pipeline of future leaders in the community.
Fabiola Segovia, an attorney at Hamilton Wingo, LLP, has been appointed to the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association’s Board of Directors for a second term. As Director, she will continue to work to further DHBA’s efforts with voting rights and civic engagement.
She has a passion for the justice system and is committed to mentoring and supporting women in the legal profession. She was elected to the Fifth District Court of Appeals in November 2018, making her the first Hispanic woman to serve on that court.