As Austin’s population grows by leaps and bounds, so too does the number of people living in poverty who cannot afford the services of an attorney but live too far from the city of Austin to access free legal help offered within its boundaries. In response to this massive growth and population change, Volunteer Legal Services launched its Outreach Program in order to address the legal needs of people living in suburban and rural areas outside of Austin. This program is designed to give the community local access to our organization by having our Outreach Coordinator set up a table at local community centers where the general public can inquire about and apply for our services, as well as hosting monthly legal clinics in these outlying areas.
We are currently in search of volunteer attorneys to help staff the Bastrop & Hays legal clinics by briefly meeting with clients and providing free legal advice. We’re also looking for Austin-area attorneys who can take cases in Bastrop, Caldwell and Hays Counties. This can be a wonderful opportunity for attorneys to give back to the greater community by providing aid to those who need it most. If you would like to volunteer for the Bastrop legal clinic, or if you can take cases in any of the other counties listed, please contact our Outreach Coordinator Lexie Cooper at lcooper@vlsoct.org.