News and stories about our work advancing civil legal rights for low-income Texans.
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In the final year of high school, Jackson faced expulsion from his school district. As a senior, the stakes were high for Jackson: the expulsion threatened his ability to finish his education and to take part in the milestones that mark the end of high school—graduation among them. The circumstances that had led to the expulsion were later dismissed, but […]
HOUSTON, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is taking an important step toward closing the justice gap in rural Texas with the hiring of Emily Erdmann, the first staff attorney under the new statewide Rural Justice Initiative. The initiative seeks to address a persistent barrier to justice in Texas: counties where residents must travel outside their communities to find […]
A public housing resident facing eviction after failing several apartment inspections turned to Lone Star Legal Aid for help. The client acknowledged that her apartment had become cluttered during a period when her mental health symptoms worsened, making it difficult for her to keep up with cleaning and organization. After receiving a 30-day notice to vacate, the client feared losing […]
A Message From the Chair of the Poverty Law Section This year, I had the tremendous honor, as Chair of the State Bar of Texas Poverty Law Section, of presenting the 2026 Impact Award to my Lone Star Legal Aid colleague Gloretta “Glo” Thornton. The Impact Award recognizes a Texas attorney or poverty law professional whose work has significantly impacted […]
For a 50-year-old Delta County resident, the 15 acres where he lived with his wife and young son were more than a piece of property. They were the home his mother intended for him to have. His mother passed away in 2015, leaving a will stating that the property would go to her son if owning it would not affect […]
When Lone Star Legal Aid launched its Artificial Intelligence Initiative, the goal was ambitious: explore how AI could help legal aid attorneys work more efficiently, improve internal operations, and make reliable legal information easier for the public to find. Throughout spring and summer 2026, that vision moved closer to reality. LSLA continued advancing three distinct AI tools—Juris, LSLAsks, and NAVI—while […]
Robert, an older veteran with a disability, had been living in a low-income housing community for veterans. His Social Security benefits were his sole income, and he relied on Medicare and Medicaid for healthcare. Robert continued to navigate limited resources after years of military service. Lone Star Legal Aid’s Military Veterans Unit reviewed Robert’s disabilities and military record and assisted […]
When C.B. arrived at Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2, he was facing eviction from the home he shared with his wife and their two children, including a two-month-old baby. The family had fallen behind on rent after C.B.’s wife was placed on medical leave. Almost overnight, a household accustomed to relying on two incomes was […]
For La Keycha Buckner, a Harris County mother, buying a car was supposed to make life easier. She needed reliable transportation to get to work, take her daughter to school, and handle the everyday responsibilities of caring for her family. But just a day or two after buying a used vehicle, she realized something was wrong with it. The car […]
When Jim moved into his new duplex, he was looking forward to a new beginning. His first apartment was also the first place that was truly his own, so when his landlord began turning his rent away two months in a row, Jim was left bewildered. Each month, he was ready to pay. Each month, she refused to take it. […]
For most of his life, Mr. Bosley has lived in the same Harris County home. The house belonged to his parents and represented far more than a place to live—it was his homestead, his family’s legacy, and his only significant asset. As a disabled homeowner living on limited means, Mr. Bosley depended on the stability that the home provided. But […]
At 72 years old, Susie Smith, a resident of Bell County, Texas, found herself facing a frightening and traumatic situation after becoming the victim of domestic violence. Susie, who is disabled, was seriously injured after an argument turned violent. According to court records, the man chased her, hit her in the head several times, and knocked her to the ground. […]
For Lesonna Lester, a renter in East Texas, the place she called home had been stable ground in an uncertain world — until it wasn’t. Ms. Lester had been renting a townhouse on a one-year lease. A new owner purchased the property and introduced new demands. The new owner’s property manager and attorney appeared with a simple message: they wanted […]
A Mother’s Courage When Monica Grant rushed to her daughter’s school that day, she had no idea her life was about to change forever. Called in by a school counselor, Monica sat down and heard the words no parent is ever prepared for: her 14-year-old daughter, Nicky, had been enduring years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, […]
Jake is a 42-year-old father, husband, military veteran, and survivor of domestic violence. Living with PTSD and anxiety, stability and consistency are especially important to Jake, particularly when it comes to spending time with his children. After divorcing several years ago, Jake found himself locked in an ongoing and highly contentious custody and visitation dispute with his former partner. Although […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) will host a free community legal outreach event on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to help Port Arthur residents facing housing-related issues and other civil legal problems. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, located at 501 W. Thomas Blvd., […]
Too many Texans face serious legal problems without a lawyer by their side. Disability Rights Texas is partnering with Lone Star Legal Aid, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and Texas Legal Services Center to invite community-based organizations across the state to join the Community Justice Workers of Texas (CJW) Program — a statewide initiative designed to […]
Bailey met her boyfriend, Danny, through his sister. Their relationship was turbulent from the beginning, marked by emotional and physical abuse. After Danny was arrested for robbery, Bailey decided to end things for good, determined to focus on her career as a licensed security officer. But when Danny was released from jail more than a year later, he reached out […]
When Liza’s daughter and four grandchildren came to live with her in 2024, it was out of deep concern for their safety. Her daughter had left an abusive relationship and was diagnosed with a brain tumor on the left side of her head. According to her doctors, the injury may have been caused by being hit in the head by […]
After the 2021 winter freeze, 80-year-old Carolyn Addison Rivera’s life was upended. Like countless Texans, her home suffered damage from frozen pipes. When she turned to a plumber for help, the work performed was substandard and came with an inflated bill. When Carolyn rightfully disputed the charges, the plumber retaliated by slapping a mechanic’s lien on her home. Suddenly, she […]