Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
Ribbon cutting set for free legal consultation for Veterans
November 9, 2010
A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Friday, Nov. 12, to celebrate months of coordination between the Central Texas Veterans Health Care Center and the Bell County Bar Association to provide free legal, pro bono consultation for area Veterans. The ribbon cutting is set for 9:30 a.m. at the Bell County Judicial Complex, 1201 Huey Road in Belton.
The new Bell County pro bono clinic was developed in conjunction with the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, a State Bar of Texas program created to coordinate pro bono legal clinics throughout the state for military Veterans who otherwise cannot afford or do not have access to the legal services they need.
The first Central Texas pro bono clinic was conducted in June 2010 at the Austin Outpatient Clinic with more than 370 Veterans receiving services to date. The first pro bono clinic conducted in Bell County was Oct. 15, with 20 Veterans requesting assistance and more than 50 volunteer attorneys and paralegals available to provide consultation.
Examples of pro bono legal services requested by Veterans include Chapter 7 bankruptcy, child support, consumer contracts, divorce, custody guardianship, probates, Social Security SSI, wills, and estate planning.
Following the ceremony, volunteer Bell County Bar Association attorneys will provided provide brief 10 to 15 minute consultations between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Auxiliary Courtrooms 1 and 2 on the second floor of the Bell County Judicial Complex. No appointment is necessary. For questions about the consultations, call the Office of the Bell County Veteran’s Liaison at 254-933-5915.
Media interested in attending the ribbon cutting ceremony, should call Nelia Schrum, public affairs officer for the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, at 254-231-9639.
