Page 74 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES

Help for Texas Veterans

with
LegaL needs

by Phil Johnson, Justice, Texas Supreme Court (Ret.)

The Honorable Phil Johnson served his country as a fighter
pilot in Vietnam and an instructor pilot at Reese Air Force
Base. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech Law
School, former Chief Justice of the Seventh Court of Appeals,
and former Justice of the Texas Supreme Court.

lmost 1,700,000 veterans Legislature has appropriated over hard copy by calling the Texas State
live in Texas—the second- six million dollars per biennium Bar at 800-204-2222 and is available
Ahighest number in any of (two years) for veterans’ legal aid. online at www.texasbar.com/
the 50 states. Recent reports show Those funds are administered veterans.
that over 6.5% of the veterans who primarily by the Texas Access to
live in Texas have incomes at or Justice Foundation (TAJF). TAJF is In addition to the Texas Supreme
below the poverty level, and many a nonprofit entity that receives and Court’s continuing emphasis on,
are homeless. In Texas, much is administers funds appropriated and the Legislature’s appropriations
being done for these low-income by the Legislature, such as those for, services to low income and
and homeless veterans, but not earmarked for legal services to homeless veterans, the Attorney
enough. Part of the ‘much’ being veterans, as well as contributions it General’s office, through its
done is providing help for their receives from private individuals HEROES program (phone # 512-
legal needs. This is rightfully so and organizations. TAJF functions 463-2100), offers many types of
because, according to a survey by in conjunction with the Access direct assistance to veterans and
the U.S. Department of Veterans to Justice Commission (AJC), their families. And under auspices
Affairs, five of the top ten unmet an organization created by the of the Governor’s office, the Texas
needs of homeless veterans are legal Texas Supreme Court, to develop Veteran’s Commission (ph. 512-463-
in nature. programs for delivering legal 6564) provides guidance, assists
services to indigents. TAJF, assisted veterans, and provides access to a
Through the leadership of the Texas by the Texas Bar Foundation, funds veteran’s crisis hotline at 800-273-
Supreme Court, the State Bar, and www.texaslawhelp.org, a website 8255x1. Another organization, the
the Legislature, Texas has become that includes videos and articles Texas Veterans Legal Service Center,
a national leader in providing to provide guidance for veterans assists veterans and their families
legal help for its indigent veterans. in such matters as how to claim in civil legal matters, including
The Supreme Court has made disability benefits, replace lost accessing benefits. The Center’s
funding of legal aid, including documents, and secure employment assistance is available both on a
specifically legal aid for indigent rights. A separate entity, the Texas website, www.tlsc.org/veterans,
veterans, a priority in the budgetary Young Lawyers Association, has and by phone at 800-622-2520. The
requests it presents biennially to produced a pamphlet entitled Texas Veterans Legal Aid Coalition
the Legislature. The Legislature “Resources for Veterans Seeking is a group of thirteen organizations
has responded positively. In each Help.” The pamphlet is available in which have, in part, focused on
of the last several sessions, the legal aid to veterans. Information

74 Lubbock Senior Link