For Immediate Release: August 15, 2024
AUSTIN – Thanks to the bold and forward-thinking leadership of the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Access to Justice Commission, Texas has just taken a significant step towards improving access to justice by preliminarily approving new rules establishing a program for Licensed Court-Access Assistants and Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals. By developing a legal structure where non-attorneys can obtain training and licensure to practice law, the Supreme Court of Texas will help Texans access basic civil legal services. Currently, less than one in 10 low-income Texans can access basic civil legal services. According to Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, “[u]nmet needs for basic civil legal services — the justice gap — directly impact people’s lives, court processes and efficiency, the economy and society.”
Under the new rules, specially trained and licensed legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants would be permitted to provide limited legal services such as protective orders, divorces, child custody matters, housing matters and consumer-debt issues. By expanding the pool of trained legal service providers, the program promises to increase the capacity of legal aid organizations, allowing them to serve more clients and address a wider range of legal needs. This initiative is particularly beneficial for immigrant communities, who often face language barriers and unfamiliarity with the U.S. legal system. This new program can provide culturally competent assistance, demystify legal processes and ensure basic civil justice needs are met.
Helping to fill the justice gap with this program is critical to reduce inequality and to promote social stability and will act as a powerful deterrent to unscrupulous actors who seek to exploit poor people. Moreover, as explained by Chief Justice Hecht, “[b]ridging the justice gap is humanitarian and principled, it is good government, it benefits all society.” This innovative approach represents a significant step forward in Texas’ efforts to ensure equal access to justice for all residents, regardless of their immigration status or economic circumstances, and is a crucial step that will benefit all Texans.
The Texas Immigration Law Council is a statewide nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2023 to promote and protect the rights of immigrants and refugees of all nationalities in Texas. The Council promotes meaningful access to justice for immigrants and refugees by serving as a statewide immigrant legal resource center. The Council brings together constituencies across the political spectrum to advance constructive dialogue on immigrant solutions for Texas.
