In a significant move to make legal help accessible to low-income residents, the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday laid the groundwork for nonattorneys to provide limited legal services. However, the court was silent on the issue of nonlawyer ownership in organizations offering these services. Preliminary approval was granted for rules allowing licensed legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to serve low-income individuals. The court emphasized that many people with qualifying incomes lack access to legal aid due to resource constraints, forcing them to self-represent in court proceedings.
According to Law360, Steve Benesh, president of the State Bar of Texas, indicated that the board of directors would review the court’s order thoroughly before providing comments. He also encouraged feedback from lawyers and the public. April Faith-Slaker, executive director of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, expressed optimism that the order would help bridge the justice gap faced in Texas and nationwide.
The court’s order follows the Access to Justice Commission’s recommendations, which emerged from extensive research and stakeholder input. The commission had earlier voted against nonlawyer ownership, a controversial topic within the Texas legal community. The newly proposed rules provide a detailed framework for licensing legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants, specifying the services they are authorized to offer. These include assisting with family law, estate planning, probate, and consumer debt matters.