An “Answer-a-Thon” virtual pro bono clinic was held September 21 using Texas Legal Answers, an online website created by the State Bar of Texas and the American Bar Association.
The unique clinic offered low-income Texans the chance to have their legal questions answered without having to travel to a physical location to get help. Those seeking answers registered their questions using the Texas Legal Answers website. Fifteen student volunteers from Baylor Law School and five volunteer attorneys from Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, in Waco, worked together to provide answers to the submitted questions.
The purpose of the clinic was to provide students with an opportunity to work with experienced attorneys to help clients; increase access to justice for low-income residents; and reduce barriers to attorneys providing pro bono services.
“Servant leadership is a major theme at Baylor Law,” said Brad Toben, dean of Baylor Law School, in a press release. “These future lawyers are getting great hands on experience working along skilled attorneys helping their fellow Texans solve real legal problems. We believe this innovative program shows great promise as a model to leverage technology to address the growing access to justice gap.”
For more information about Texas Legal Answers, go to texas.freelegalanswers.org.