About Us

Promoting Equal Access to Justice

Mission Statement

The mission of Houston Volunteer Lawyers is to provide free civil legal services to low-income people in Harris County and to promote volunteerism among lawyers.

What We Do

• Houston Volunteer Lawyers is a non-profit service of the Houston Bar Association.
• We provide free legal aid to low-income residents of Harris County by connecting them with volunteer lawyers who agree to handle their matters for free.
• Each year, we provide free in-person legal advice to over 6,000 people.
• Volunteer lawyers will handle over 1,600 cases this year, collectively donating $4 million of their time.
• 6 million Texans qualify for legal aid, including over half a million in Houston alone.  There are less than 90,000 lawyers statewide.

History

Founded in 1981 by the Houston Bar Association, Houston Volunteer Lawyers has delivered free legal services to low-income residents of Harris County for 35 years by linking qualified applicants with attorneys volunteering their time on a pro bono basis. Houston Volunteer Lawyers helps low-income citizens that other programs often cannot serve, such as those who may not meet the financial criteria of other legal assistance programs and non-US citizens. Over 3,000 Harris County attorneys serve as Houston Volunteer Lawyers' volunteers, each making a difference in the lives of low-income clients, their families, and communities.

Houston Volunteer Lawyers became an independent 501(c)(3) corporation in 1987 and receives generous support from the Houston Bar Foundation, Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Lone Star Legal Aid, United Way of Baytown Area and Chambers County, the City of Houston, and Houston Endowment, as well as private contributors. This program is supported by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. The Fund for Veterans’ Assistance provides grants to organizations serving veterans and their families.