Pro Bono Spotlight: Our Law Student Volunteers
To celebrate National Pro Bono Week, we're highlighting a few of the amazing people who help make our work possible. Through our volunteer programming, attorneys and law students work with TLSC staff to expand our life-changing legal services to even more Texans. In today's spotlight, we would like to introduce you to the law students making a difference.
Keep reading to find out what motivates them!
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How did you first hear about Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)? What inspired you to become involved?
My career services office sent out an email announcing the opportunity. I jumped at the
chance to get involved because it offered meaningful interactions with Texans who need
it, as well as flexible pro bono hours.
How has volunteering with TLSC impacted your life?
It's been really eye opening seeing the kinds of issues faced by lower income Texans.
Many of them are faced with life changing issues, and in order to address these issues they
have to struggle through a confusing legal system that feels ambivalent to their
existence. It's particularly difficult running into questions involving urgent problems that
nonetheless could not be answered by a volunteer within a month.
What kind of volunteer work did you perform?
I volunteered with the TxFLA [Texas Free Legal Answers] program withdrawing questions from low income questions that were unable to be answered by a volunteer attorney in time, usually 30 days. This involved filling out template responses suggesting online articles that might provide the person asking the question an answer to their legal issue on their own, in lieu of the attention of an attorney.
What was your favorite part of volunteering?
My favorite part of volunteering with TLSC is reading the questions of TLSC's clients. It's
always a little overshadowed by the knowledge that I'm only providing my limited help
after 30 days, most likely well after the time to help has passed, but sometimes a
question will strike me and I'll really dig into the resources to find something that might
help them. Every now and then I like to think that I was able to help.
What advice would you give someone considering volunteering for TLSC?
I see TLSC as an excellent way to get pro bono hours on a flexible schedule, as well as a way to broaden my world view and get a glimpse into the lives of those less fortunate than me.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of volunteering with TLSC?
I've been learning how to fence with longswords in my evenings. I've also been learning
to play the guqin (古琴).
How did you first hear about Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)? What inspired you to become involved?
I first heard about TLSC through a summer opportunity announcement from the law school. I was interested in getting introduced to pro bono legal work, and TLSC's widespread reach and impact inspired me to get involved.
How has volunteering with TLSC impacted your life?
Volunteering with TLSC has opened my eyes to how common legal issues are for everyday Texas residents. It's unfortunate that a state with so many legal professionals is also home to numerous residents who cannot get connected with or afford representation. This has impacted my outlook on the legal profession and the importance of representing the most underrepresented clients.
What kind of volunteer work did you perform?
I volunteered with Texas Free Legal Answers. My volunteer work included responding to requests for legal help that were not answered by a volunteer attorney or their deadline had passed. This reply included helpful information regarding the TLSC program and informational articles relating to their legal issue.
What was your favorite part of volunteering?
My favorite part of volunteering with TLSC was getting to practice legal issue spotting in a real world context. In my previous legal work, most of the work was handed down to clerks from a partner or associate. With TLSC, I got to hear from the client directly and assessed their situation to point them in the best direction for their respective legal problem.
What advice would you give someone considering volunteering for TLSC?
Advice that I would give to someone considering volunteering with TLSC is to go for it! Using your skills and abilities to give back to your community is extremely rewarding. Legal volunteer work is a great way for students to hone their legal thinking and join a network of successful legal professionals.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of volunteering with TLSC?
Outside of volunteering with the TLSC I enjoy hiking, attending country music concerts, and playing with my cat, Jack! I am also a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Anastasia Hinojosa
3L, Syracuse University College of Law
How did you first hear about Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)? What inspired you to become involved?
How has volunteering with TLSC impacted your life?
As a law student, volunteering with the Texas Free Legal Answers program has given me a clearer picture of the legal challenges people are dealing with across the state, especially those who can’t easily access traditional legal help. That perspective has been incredibly helpful as I think about my future legal career and how I can serve my community once I become a lawyer.
What kind of volunteer work did you perform?
I volunteer with Texas Free Legal Answers assisting with the maintenance of questions in the system to ensure that each question can receive helpful resources. My role is behind the scenes withdrawing unanswered questions after a certain time period. It provides useful information about alternative routes for advice, and it supports a service that truly helps people.
How did you first hear about Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)? What inspired you to become involved?
I first heard about TLSC through the Texas A&M School of Law Office of Student Affairs. I wanted to get involved because so many Texans face serious legal problems without being able to afford a lawyer. TLSC gave me a way to start helping people while still in law school and to see what everyday legal needs look like outside the classroom.
How has volunteering with TLSC impacted your life?
Volunteering with TLSC inspired me to take insurance law and family law this semester! These areas shape so many people’s everyday lives, and I’ve loved seeing how what I learn in class connects to the real questions Texans ask through TxFLA.
What kind of volunteer work did you perform?
I volunteer with Texas Free Legal Answers (TxFLA). I review the questions people submit and identify TexasLawHelp.org articles, guides, and resources that apply to their situations. The questions cover a broad range of legal issues. Each question requires me to figure out what information the person really needs to know and which resources will help them take their next step.
What was your favorite part of volunteering?
My favorite part is knowing that providing the right resource can make a real difference. Many people who write in are overwhelmed and unsure where to start. Finding information that is clear, trustworthy, and specific to their situation feels like giving them a starting point when they had none.
What advice would you give someone considering volunteering for TLSC?
Volunteering for TLSC is a great opportunity, so take advantage of it! TxFLA exposed me to areas of law I might never have explored, and it is an excellent way to see how the law affects people's everyday lives. You’ll build practical skills, broaden your legal knowledge, and help people along the way.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of volunteering with TLSC?
Outside of volunteering with TLSC and law school, I am training for a half-marathon!
Kalyn Tanner
2L, UNT Dallas College of Law
How did you first hear about Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)? What inspired you to become involved?
I first heard about TLSC through UNT Dallas College of Law's career and professional services website. TLSC was listed as a remote summer internship position. I already had an in-person job, so I was only interested in remote positions. When I came across TLSC's listing, the description was what sold me. Essentially, working with TLSC was going to cover a variety of civil matters, and I thought that sounded like the ideal way to get the most amount of experience over the most amount of legal topics. I was right.
How has volunteering with TLSC impacted your life?
Volunteering with TLSC has given me structure during the week. Because I look forward to doing my hours, I always block out enough time during the week on Sunday's to get it done. After I finish, I can fully reset for the next week. TLSC is the last important task I
complete in the week. Additionally, TLSC has made me feel helpful. Not only to the clients, but to the attorneys as well. The amount of questions that come through TLSC is overwhelming, so I am glad to be able to handle some of those questions as to lighten the overall workload for everyone.
How did you first hear about Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)? What inspired you to become involved?
I first learned about TLSC through Texas A&M University School of Law, and I was inspired
to get involved because of my passion for family law and helping families navigate
difficult situations.
What was your favorite part of volunteering?
My favorite part of volunteering with TLSC has been helping individuals understand their
legal rights and available options, so they feel informed, empowered, and confident in
making decisions that are right for themselves and their families.
Next Spotlight: You
How to Volunteer with TLSC
Volunteering offers you the opportunity to make a difference, in your career and in the lives of low-income Texans.
