Law Students

Texas Access to Justice Commission: Making a Difference
By:  Latoya Merida, a law student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Thurgood Marshall School of Law recently hosted an Access to Justice Program on campus for the members of their State Bar of Texas Law Student Division. Attorney Kristen Levins came to speak with students about the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s internship opportunities and the Law Student Pro Bono College. With most students in attendance being first-year law students, the information regarding paid internships seemed to intrigue them the most.

Through the State Bar and the Texas Access to Justice Commission, students learned there are several internship funding opportunities. Eight funding opportunities will be awarded through the State Bar Litigation Section, four through the State Bar Labor and Employment Section, and 15 (at least one from each law school) through the Access to Justice Internship Program. Applications for the Access to Justice Internship Program were distributed to each student in attendance and all were encouraged to apply.

The Law Student Pro Bono College was another hot topic. Pro Bono work is defined as services that are law-related and provided free of charge to qualifying individuals or organizations. The requirements for participation in this college are as follows:

1. Be a student enrolled in a Texas law school and be in good academic standing;

2. Complete at least 50 hours of pro bono work per year (September 1- August 31); and

3. Complete an application documenting all hours performed.

Pro Bono Spring Break

Another opportunity offered by the Texas Access to Justice Commission is the Pro Bono Spring Break, which takes place March 14-18, 2016. Applications were sent out in mid-January for urban and rural sites.

More information regarding the Texas Access to Justice Commission can be found here: http://www.texasatj.org/what-access-justice.

Latoya Merida is the student liaison for the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the chair of the Law Student Division for the State Bar of Texas.