Archives
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- February 2010
Media Contact
For media inquiries contact:
Nancy Gray
Office: 512-472-0279, x107
September 29, 2020
TAJF Sponsors Five Equal Justice Works Fellows
Texas Access to Justice Foundation sponsors five Equal Justice Works Fellows in public interest law projects across Texas
Fellows will spend two years at legal aid organizations working to increase access to justice
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF), which provides grant funding for civil legal aid in Texas, announced its sponsorship of five Fellows in the 2020 Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellowship program, a national opportunity for law school graduates to launch their careers through public interest law projects of their own design.
Over the next two years, the five TAJF-sponsored Fellows will complete their projects in various cities across Texas and will be hosted by civil legal aid organizations funded by TAJF. These projects were personally designed by each Fellow to address a specific need in the community they will be serving in.
“Each year, Equal Justice Works Fellows create innovative projects that help address legal issues for Texas communities in need,” said Betty Balli Torres, executive director at TAJF. “We’re proud to sponsor five Fellows this year as they begin their careers as civil legal service leaders.”
This year, EJW received 432 Fellowship applications. Of those, 78 were chosen, including the five from Texas. As graduates of Baylor School of Law, St. Mary’s University School of Law or The University of Texas School of Law, the TAJF-sponsored Fellows will join the statewide effort to assist Texans in need, as well as the larger national effort to respond to legal issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
“Equal Justice Works is grateful to TAJF for their outstanding commitment to helping fulfill our nation’s promise of equal justice for all,” said Sara Morello, executive vice president at Equal Justice Works. “For more than 20 years, Equal Justice Works has partnered with TAJF to launch the careers of more than 65 passionate public service leaders, many of whom continue to deliver critical legal services to underserved communities in Texas.”
The five TAJF-sponsored Fellows, their service area and the focus of their individual projects are:
- Alicia Alvarado, American Gateways, Waco – Represent immigrants in the Waco area who are detained or who have been recently released
- Leslie Alvarez, Disability Rights Texas, McAllen – Represent South Texas children with disabilities to ensure access to specialized services
- Chase Porter, Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston – Fight for environmental justice and community development in Texas Gulf Coast communities
- Laura Tucker, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Alpine – Increase access to civil legal aid to rural residents of Far West Texas
- Caitlin Machell, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Dallas – Promote housing stability and income maintenance for persons with serious mental illness in Dallas County.
Caitlin Machell’s fellowship is co-sponsored with Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
For a complete list of the 2020 Equal Justice Works Fellows, host organizations and sponsors, please click here.