What is the Justice Gap?

All people deserve an equal chance to protect their rights under the law. Not all people have equal opportunity to access legal services.

Why people can’t access legal services:

They qualify for free services from legal aid organizations, but there are not enough lawyers to serve them, OR
They make too much money to qualify for free services, but cannot afford the high upfront costs and unpredictable pricing of lawyers in their area.

By The Numbers

Only 1 in 5 Texans living at or below the poverty level receives services from Texas legal aid organizations

20%

Only 2 in 5 modest-income Texans can access the legal assistance they need

40%

How can lawyers work to close the justice gap?

Lawyers can disrupt the traditional practice of law by offering accessible, high-quality services to low-income and modest-income people. This can take many forms, and there is room for innovation and new approaches.

Some examples include:

Sliding scale: hourly rates that are based on a client's income.
Flat fees: the lawyer offers services for a fixed price.
Payment plans: clients can pay for services over time.

There is a tremendous market of opportunity for lawyers to serve these populations, picking up where legal aid leaves off and spanning the modest-income space.

Want to get involved?

Apply

If you want to build a sustainable law practice that meets the needs of more low-income and modest-income Texans, apply to join TOJI.

Volunteer

If you want to support TOJI by sharing your expertise and experience, we always welcome involvement from community members. Please complete the Volunteer form, and we will connect with you.