Most appellate lawyers, or lawyers generally for that matter,
have engaged in unintentional pro bono legal services. Now the
Texas Supreme Court, and the Third, First, Second and Fourteenth
Courts of Appeals, have a program whereby cases are screened and
can be assigned for purposeful appellate pro bono.
A visit to one of the courts' web sites will take you to the
necessary applications and also forms helpful to the pro bono
appellate lawyer. Forms and practice aids are likely to become more
prevalent once these programs, which are in their relative infancy,
have matured. Lawyers can sign up to be lead counsel or mentor
other lawyers handling such cases.
With the ever-dwindling number of civil cases going to trial and
being appealed, this is an excellent opportunity for counsel to
gain valuable experience and exposure to the appellate courts while
ensuring that a larger group of citizens has meaningful access to
the justice system.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
