By Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Hecht and
Dean Donald J. Guter
Texas is home to the second-largest veteran population
in the country, with more than 1.5 million veterans
in the Lone Star State.
The transition from military life to civilian life is
difficult. In addition to the emotional and physical
battles facing veterans upon their return, numerous
legal challenges often make the transition even
more challenging. Landlord/tenant disputes, credit
problems, family law matters, veteran’s benefits,
restoring a driver’s license: these are all common
civil legal issues that can become overwhelming for
veterans.
Providing free legal services to qualifying veterans
is imperative. We should make a commitment to
better the lives of the service men and women who
voluntarily risked their lives for our freedom. Texas
lawyers and the legal community have a responsibility
to help military service members. Legal aid can
and does make a difference for veterans.
Each year, legal aid organizations provide free
services to more than 8,500 Texas veterans. In addition,
many private attorneys volunteer their time and
expertise through pro bono programs that provide
assistance to clients at no charge.
For example, the South Texas College of Law
Houston Veterans Clinic opened in spring 2015 to
serve low-income veterans facing service-related
legal issues. Funding from the Texas Access to Justice
Foundation provided a staff attorney to help run
the clinic and teach law students applicable law as
they work on veteran cases. Many of these law students
are themselves veterans. In addition to this
ongoing work, the law school also hosts free clinics
each year, providing legal aid consulting or representation
to more than 100 veterans in Brazoria,
Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties.
This week (Nov. 11-17) is Texas Veterans Legal
Aid Week (TVLAW). Across the state, local bar associations,
legal aid organizations, and law schools
are hosting free legal clinics to help veterans access
the justice system and get the help they need.
If you are a veteran in need of legal assistance,
please visit https://texaslawhelp.org/tvlaw-2018 to
find a TVLAW clinic in your area, or call the statewide
hotline at 1-800-622-2520.
These efforts are part of the larger initiative in
Texas to support the men and women in uniform
who took an oath to defend our country. We owe it to
them to defend their rights.
This past year, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation
provided $1.87 million in grants to 14 nonprofit
organizations that provide free legal services
to veterans.
The Joe Jamail Endowment for Veteran Legal Services,
created by Houston attorney Richard Mithoff,
launched last year to provide a funding source for
Texas veterans to have access to legal services.
Since its inception, the endowment has raised more
than $800,000. These funds will go a long way towards
securing the free legal services our veterans
truly need. If you would like to learn more or honor a
service member or veteran in your life, please visit
teajf.org.
The commitment to
veterans must continue.
We owe them
more than gratitude
and applause—we owe
them our promise that
what they have sacrificed
for us will not be
overlooked. One way
to honor their service
is to step up and help
veterans receive the
legal assistance they
deserve.
Chief Justice Nathan
L. Hecht has been a
member of the Texas
Supreme Court since
1989 and served in the
U.S. Navy Reserve,
Judge Advocate General’s
Corps (JAGC).
Donald J. Guter, J.D., is
the president and dean
of South Texas College
of Law Houston
and served in the U.S.
Navy for 32 years, retiring
in 2002 as a Rear
Admiral, Judge Advocate
General’s Corps
(JAGC).
