Jose is the Managing Attorney in our Nacogdoches Branch Office. He has worked for Lone Star Legal Aid for 7 years.
“Lone Star Legal Aid is the most valuable asset for equal access to justice in Texas. It is a privilege to be a part of such an amazing organization.” – Jose Gonzalez
Q: What drew you to working in a rural legal aid office, and what do you enjoy most about serving the Nacogdoches community?
A: Nacogdoches has always been my home. I understand the struggles of having to do more with less. I want to be able to be a high-quality lawyer for my fellow East Texans who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Having less does not make a person less. Everyone deserves access to lawyers to protect their rights.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your 7 years at LSLA?
A: Continuous opportunities to meet people from our community and to answer their questions about the law and how our legal systems work. Many people’s problems can be solved simply by starting with a good understanding of the circumstances and finding the exact law that applies to the situation. Sometimes, being able to sit with a lawyer and have a conversation about a problem is the most helpful opportunity that people need. Even when the law isn’t on a person’s side, I regularly receive smiles, handshakes and a pat on the shoulder thanking me for helping them understand an issue that no one else would spare the time to explain.
Q: How has your role at Lone Star Legal Aid helped you grow professionally as an attorney?
A: The pool of extraordinarily talented lawyers within LSLA has advanced my professional growth by being regularly willing to collaborate and share valuable experiences, refined perspectives and novel strategies to meet our clients’ needs.
Q: What makes Lone Star Legal Aid a special place to work?
A: A couple of things make LSLA a special place to work.
First, the diversity of our lawyers and staff makes us uniquely developed and operate on a comprehensive level for understanding and meeting our client population’s needs. The populations we serve face unique and profound legal challenges that most other lawyers ignore simply because those cases do not offer them an opportunity to make a lot of money. Justice should not be limited to only those who can afford to pay for it. LSLA makes sure that a person’s inability to pay never stops them from having legal help to protect their rights and seek justice.