Hundreds of lawyers, law students, and paralegals have volunteered to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
As of Thursday morning a total of 1,150 individuals had filled out the State Bar of Texas volunteer form to offer a variety of assistance to Harvey survivors. Of those, 556 are licensed Texas attorneys, 469 are lawyers licensed in other states, 78 are law students, and 47 are paralegals.
The State Bar’s Legal Access Division is working with legal aid and pro bono programs around the state to determine how best to match volunteers with emerging needs in various communities. To volunteer, sign up at texasbar.com/attorneyvolunteer.
At the same time, 141 Texas lawyers or law firms have stepped forward to offer everything from office space to temporary housing for attorneys who were displaced by Hurricane Harvey. So far more than two dozen attorneys have reached out to the State Bar for assistance. State Bar staff is assessing the various needs and working hard to pair them with those who have generously volunteered assistance.
State Bar of Texas President Tom Vick said the response from lawyers willing to help their colleagues and the public was “not surprising, but nonetheless impressive.”
He also noted that the bonds between colleagues are so strong that the State Bar may not know about many of the lawyers seeking or receiving assistance from their peers. “Our effort has been to seek help for those who don’t know anyone” who can assist, Vick said.
If you are an attorney who has been adversely affected or who wishes to assist a colleague, please take a moment to complete our Hurricane Harvey assistance survey.