In this week’s P.S. Column, we cover the House Appropriations Committee’s vote to cut Legal Services Corporation funding by 46 percent, a move that could leave millions without access to legal aid. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Legal Services Association makes a plea for donations to support core operations. We also highlight the Texas Tech University School of Law, which recently took top honors in the ABA’s national practical skills competitions. Three other Texas schools ranked among the top 10 performers. Plus, former U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox receives the ProtectHER Award from New Friends New Life, and the Dallas Bar Association calls for volunteers ahead of its upcoming Day of Service.
House Votes to Reduce Legal Aid Funding
The federal House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved $300 million in funding to Legal Services Corporation for fiscal year 2026 — a 46 percent reduction from its current budget.
In July, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $6 million increase, which would bring LSC’s funding to $566 million. LSC supports legal aid organizations that help military veterans access earned benefits, assist victims in recovering from natural disasters and secure protective orders for survivors of domestic violence, among other legal issues.
In June, The Texas Lawbook reported that legal aid proponents in Texas, including retired Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, were concerned that President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget called for eliminating the federal nonprofit altogether, which would threaten the more than $45 million in annual grants that Texas receives.
LSC grant funding accounts for about one-third of total funding for Lone Star Legal Aid, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
In a press release, LSC expressed gratitude that neither chamber voted for its dissolution but underscored that the House’s proposed cut would resume 1999 funding levels at a time when demand has grown exponentially.
According to LSC, 52.3 million Americans currently qualify for LSC-funded legal assistance — up from 45.6 million in 1999. The proposed funding cut by the House would leave nearly 3 million fewer people without access to legal aid, including an estimated 454,000 children, nearly 144,000 adults aged 60 and older, more than 20,000 military veterans and over 94,000 survivors of domestic violence.
“We are grateful to Congress for this display of bipartisan support and for recognizing the essential role of LSC-funded legal services in the lives of millions of Americans,” LSC President Ronald Flagg said. “Our grantees provide critical legal help, they are often the difference between whether veterans and seniors receive the benefits they’ve earned, whether disaster survivors can rebuild their lives and whether families can stay in their homes.”
SALSA Makes Plea for Donations
The San Antonio Legal Services Association, also known as SALSA, is asking donors to earmark funds for the organization during The Big Give campaign, running now.
The Big Give is a fundraising campaign for nonprofit organizations in South Central Texas. An early donation period kicked off Wednesday and will culminate in a major 24-hour period of giving that ends at 6 p.m. Sept. 18.
Discretionary funds, like those collected from The Big Give, are sorely needed, said Robert Soza, SALSA board president and Jackson Walker partner, in a video posted to LinkedIn.
“Most of our funding is restricted by our grants,” Soza said. “We need your discretionary support to fund our core staff, plan for the future and grow our impact in this community.”
Donors may help SALSA reach its fundraising goal of $20,000 by giving at this link.
Texas Tech Takes Top Honors at ABA Competition
Texas Tech University School of Law has been crowned the American Bar Association’s 2024-2025 Competitions Champion, besting 129 law schools who participated in at least one of the five national practical skills categories.
Three other Texas law schools ranked among the top 10 finishers: South Texas College of Law Houston placed third, St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio came in fourth and the University of Houston Law Center ranked ninth.
Participants competed in the categories of arbitration, negotiation, client counseling, representation of mediation and national appellate advocacy. They were judged by volunteer lawyers and sitting members of the bench. The law school that accumulates the highest number of points through team accomplishments and participation earns the champion title.
Texas Tech accumulated 83 points, ahead of Chapman University School of Law, which totaled 69 points. South Texas College of Law earned 63 points, while St. Mary’s got 59 points and University of Houston Law received 37 points.
“Success in these competitions illustrate each school’s commitment to providing a well-rounded curriculum and preparing students to become highly skilled lawyers,” the ABA said in a Sept. 4 announcement.
Texas Tech also earned the following honors:
Caroline Ford, Dallas Kennedy, Bailey King and Ryder Needham finished as regional champions and national semifinalists in the arbitration category.
In the negotiation category, the team of Caden Jackson and Hunter Robinson finished as regional co-champions, while the team of Guiliana Hays-Angelelli and Meagan Watson finished as regional co-champions and national finalists.
Caden Jackson and Caleb Kunde finished as regional finalists in the representation in the mediation category.
In the national appellate advocacy competition, Caleb Kunde, Joshua Mendez and Richard Bailey finished as regional champions and were selected best brief for their region, while Caleb Kunde was chosen as third best advocate in his region.
Former U.S. Attorney to Receive New Friends New Life Award
Erin Nealy Cox, Kirkland & Ellis partner and former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, will be honored today at the annual New Friends New Life Stand for Her Luncheon.
Cox will receive the organization’s ProtectHER Award, which recognizes individuals who advocate for the safety and worth of women and girls in Dallas and around the world. Three others will also receive the award: Chad Frymire, Director of Public Policy at Dallas CASA, Eliza McCoy, vice president of programs and impact at the AHLA Foundation, and Laila Mickelwait, co-founder and CEO of The Justice Defense Fund.
Cox wrote on LinkedIn that she would be accepting the award “on behalf of all the law enforcement agents and officers in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security North Texas Trafficking Task Force as well as prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas (past and present) who have worked tirelessly on behalf of human trafficking victims in our community.”
Cox currently sits on the board of directors for the nonprofit, whose mission is to empower girls and women, along with their children, who have been trafficked and sexually exploited.
Volunteers Wanted for Dallas Day of Service
The Dallas Bar Association’s Day of Service is coming up next weekend and volunteer slots are still available.
Lawyers and their families are invited to choose from a variety of community events coordinated by the DBA’s Community Involvement Committee on Sept. 20.
Full details and registration are available at this link.