On Saturday, January 28th, a number of East Texas area attorneys will be volunteering their time and services to give FREE legal advice to U.S. veterans and spouses of deceased veterans. 

This event will be held from 9 a.m. until noon at the Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic at 2206 North John Reddit Drive in Lufkin.  No appointment is necessary.  Some of the local lawyers that will be participating include attorneys from Skelton Slusher Barnhill Watkins Wells Law Firm, Haglund Law Firm, Law Office of Jeremy Crew, Law Office of Jerry Whiteker, Attorney Jim Squyres, as well as others from around the area.

This event is public service provided by East Texas volunteer attorneys and the Houston Bar Foundation's Veterans Legal Initiative.  The Veterans Legal Initiative (VLI) was
established in 2008 to provide legal assistance to low-income U.S. veterans in Harris County and surrounding areas.  The program is sponsored by the Houston Bar Foundation, the Houston Bar Association and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers, with funding from the Houston Bar Foundation the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the Texas Veterans Commission, and other grants. Legal services are provided by volunteer attorneys in private practice who are committed to serving those who served. Volunteers provide legal advice and counsel at Veterans Legal Clinics, as well as ongoing legal representation without charge to qualified veterans and spouses of deceased veterans.

The VLI provides legal services in civil matters to U.S. veterans from any military branch, as well as spouses of deceased veterans. Legal matters may include:

• Family Law
• Wills and Probate
• Consumer Law
• Property Issues
• Tax Issues
• Social Security and Disability
• Veterans Benefits
• Other Civil Matters

While veterans can get advice on criminal matters at a clinic, the VLI does not provide
representation in criminal matters.

All veterans can receive one-on-one advice and counsel at a legal clinic, but veterans must meet low-income guidelines in order to receive ongoing legal representation by a volunteer attorney.

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