Fifty years of justice for all: Legal Services Corporation supports Texas legal aid
A disabled veteran living in Tarrant County was clearly qualified for Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits, which he desperately needed to pay for healthcare and housing. But a small error on his birth certificate sent him on a nightmarish and futile journey, bouncing from one government office to another trying to resolve this seemingly simple problem. Because of this minor glitch, he spent years struggling to obtain the state identification card that he needed to apply for benefits.
Finally, he turned to Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, where lawyers helped him cut through the bureaucracy and legal complications to get the state ID and ultimately, the benefits he deserved and needed.
This is just one example of the kind of work done every day by legal aid organizations across America funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which marks its 50th anniversary this year.
In Texas, where LSC's grantees closed an impressive 68,788 cases in 2022 — the highest among all states — equal access to justice benefits all residents. Yet only a fraction of those eligible for LSC-funded services can currently avail themselves of legal aid because of lack of funding for legal services. Estimates suggest that no more than half, and by some accounts, less than ten percent, receive the assistance they require.
More of our neighbors could get access to legal aid if recommendations of the Texas Access to Justice Commission are adopted allowing, paraprofessionals to provide some legal services to low-income Texans in areas of family law, probate and estate, and consumer-debt law.
Continuing to build on and support the work of LSC grantees is crucial to our neighbors in need. LSC is the largest single funder of civil legal aid in the country. It distributes federal funds through competitive grants to 131 independent nonprofit organizations, including three in Texas. Nationwide, LSC grants support more than 900 offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. In 2022, LSC-funded organizations served more than 1.8 million clients and their household members. In addition to Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, the state is served by Lone Star Legal Aid and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
Basic civil legal services help survivors of domestic violence; veterans returning from deployment needing employment, housing and benefits; injured workers seeking compensation; children needing services in school; and seniors seeking redress from scams, among others. Legal services also play a crucial role in disaster preparedness and relief during national emergencies, such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Helping individuals navigate the legal system also strengthens countless families and communities, leveling the playing field for low-income people and offering hope to those who would never be able to afford legal representation on their own.
Legal aid is compassionate and morally right, and it makes economic sense. Numerous studies across the country confirm that legal aid both directly and indirectly benefits economies, making it a valuable investment for businesses and taxpayers. Legal aid connects attorneys willing to work pro bono with clients who need their help, often providing valuable experience for young attorneys. And legal aid is crucial to the integrity of the rule of law, making real the promises of the American justice system.
As LSC reaches the impressive milestone of a half century of supporting a comprehensive network of organizations that provide access to justice, we must remember that true justice is impartial, equal, and fair. Justice for only those who can afford it is not justice at all.
The Honorable Nathan L. Hecht is the 27th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas and the longest serving member of the Court in Texas history.
Ronald S. Flagg is president of the Legal Services Corporation.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Fifty years of justice for all: LSC supports Texas legal aid
