Update | By Trish McAllister
As we celebrate the holidays and embark on a new year, it is a good time to be grateful for all we have and to remember those who have so little. So many people come to legal aid for help with their basic human needs, such as maintaining a place to live, or keeping their children safe from family violence. But even though legal aid helps more than 100,000 low-income Texas families each year, only a fraction of the need is able to be met. As a former legal aid lawyer handling domestic violence cases, I cannot tell you how devastating it is to tell someone that you cannot help them and the ensuing worry that you’ll read about them the next day in the obituaries or see them homeless on the street.
In the spirit of giving, please help support this work by making a tax-deductible contribution today, so that there are more legal aid lawyers to help. So far this year, more than 8,000 attorneys in Texas have donated more than $1.1 million to support access to justice initiatives. If every licensed attorney gave the suggested $150 ATJ Contribution on our dues statement, we could raise $15 million to fund legal needs for the poor in Texas! For those who wish to show your strong support of access to justice, consider joining the Champion of Justice Society with a gift of $250 or more.
For more information about the ATJ Contribution Campaign or the Champion of Justice Society, please contact Liza Levine, director of Development at (512) 427-1892 or llevine@texasbar.com.
