Description
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income residents in sixty-eight counties of Southwest Texas, and represents migrant and seasonal farm workers throughout the state of Texas and six southern states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. In addition, TRLA operates public defender programs in several Southwest Texas counties, representing the poor who are accused of felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile crimes. TRLA is the third largest legal services provider in the nation and the largest in the state of Texas. Qualifying for Free Legal AidTo qualify for free legal services from TRLA, an applicant must meet the income, asset, and immigration requirements established by the United States Congress, the Texas Legislature, and other funding sources. TRLA will always attempt to find a funding source that will permit representation for persons who are unable to afford the services of a private attorney. The guidelines are complicated, but trained intake workers will be the first step of the process. Applicants will be asked various questions regarding income, assets, and citizenship/immigration status in order to see whether they are eligible. Legal Services ProvidesTRLA provides legal services for cases that range from routine family law counseling to complex litigation in state and federal courts, from the local Justice of the Peace to the United States Supreme Court. There are three dozen different practice areas in which TRLA attorneys specialize. The TRLA practice areas are categorized into groups. Economic & social justice colonias & real estate consumer disaster assistance economic advocacy elder law environmental justice federal tax law guardianships mental health law micro-enterprises & economic development native american torts & civil litigation wills & estatesdomestic violence & family law bi-national project on family violence domestic violence & familyhousing el paso targets real estate scams federally subsidized housing home foreclosures homeowners threaten suit against san antonio developer housing discrimination manufactured homes private landlord tenant rights of individuals with disabilities tax foreclosure real propertyindividual rights civil rights criminal justice disability rights education foster youth human trafficking immigration juvenile justice lgbtq team special educationlabor employment farm worker jury rules with del rio daycare whistleblower small farmer programpublic benefits homeless state & public benefitsprivate attorney involvement community justice programs legal clinics pro se divorce clinics rio grande valley community justice program san antonio bar association community justice program social justice night courtvictim's rights sexual assault legal assistance network