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The Houston Bar Association, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, The Texas Young Lawyers Association And The Houston Young Lawyers Association
fema.gov, Sep 22, 2005
Houston, TX -- Victims of Tropical Storm who need legal advice can get help from volunteer lawyers working with the Houston Bar Association, Texas State Bar and other associations of lawyers, said state and federal disaster officials.
Nearly 200 victims of the floods have already received free legal assistance, according to Andrew Strong, co-chair of the Houston Bar Association's Disaster Relief Committee.
A toll-free legal hotline: 1-800-504-7030 will operate 24 hours a day, staffed by English and Spanish-speaking operators during the day, said Lynne Liberato, immediate past president of the State Bar. Voicemail messages may be left during after hours.
Volunteer lawyers are being recruited to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its Disaster Legal Services Program, which provides the services through an agreement with the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, and the state to provide legal advice at Disaster Recovery Centers. "The goal is to get someone at each of the recovery centers, and we hope to get many lawyers who are bilingual,' said State Bar spokeswoman Kimberly Schmidt.
Free legal services are available to all victims in the 30 Southeast Texas counties declared a federal disaster area as a result of early June flooding who have disaster-related legal questions. "Once flood victims' food, clothing and shelter needs are met, they may encounter legal questions concerning lost documents, landlord-tenant disputes, or probate matters," said Ms. Liberato, a Houston attorney.
Some callers to the hotline may need more detailed legal advice. Those flood victims will be referred to legal aid programs, volunteer attorneys or private attorneys who will charge a fee.
The Houston Bar Association, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the Houston Young Lawyers Association are sponsors of the project.