AUSTIN, May 9, 2023 — Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) received $12,500 from the Texas Bar Foundation to create a series of videos for the Virtual Court Access Project. This grant will fund the implementation of a series of videos to educate Texans on how to attend and participate in virtual court as pro se litigants, as well as how to use a virtual court kiosk. The videos will be available to the public on TLSC’s website TexasLawHelp.org in addition to being available on all virtual court kiosks.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Texas began implementing court proceedings in a virtual setting via video conferencing. This innovative use of technology increases court appearance rates for many Texans. As virtual courts become a permanent fixture within our justice system, vulnerable Texans are left without resources to participate effectively. Many Texans lack dependable access to a computer or smartphone, a reliable internet connection, and the technological skills to navigate a virtual court proceeding unassisted.
The Virtual Court Access Project empowers Texans by providing virtual court kiosks throughout the state and offers a comprehensive collection of educational materials to attend virtual proceedings. The kiosks act as virtual legal aid centers to connect residents to legal resources and enable residents to appear in virtual hearings. The video series will facilitate deeper learning of the virtual court process, further enabling Texans to receive equal access to justice.
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About Texas Legal Services Center
Texas Legal Services Center is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide high-quality legal representation, advice, advocacy, and education at no cost to underserved people across the state. With more than a dozen practice areas, our work touches almost every aspect of civil law that impacts low-income Texans.
About the Texas Bar Foundation
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $25 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.
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Staci Maloney, Communications Manager
smaloney@tlsc.org | 512.477.6000 x120
