CJP Takes a Road Trip to Boerne
(Appeared in San Antonio Bar Association's Subpoena)
by Jane Fritz, CJP Executive Director

May 2, 2006
In conjunction with Law Day, the Kendall County Bar Association’s Community Justice Program with host its first free legal clinic at the Kendall County Courthouse modeled after our very own Community Justice Program.

When Kevin Young, partner of San Antonio’s prestigious firm, Prichard Hawkins McFarland & Young, called to ask if we could take SABA’s Community Justice Program to Kendall County, I did not hesitate. Kevin is a member of both the San Antonio Bar Association and the Kendall County Bar.

The Kendall County Bar Association has long recognized its responsibility to the community to help provide access to the legal system for all citizens and yet, they were apprehensive about where to start. Kevin, an annual volunteer with his firm each May at The Carver Academy, was confident that with the structure, support and organization of the SABA’s CJP, it would be easy for all to volunteer in Boerne’s own CJP.

With the committee in place, we all went to work. Kevin and his committee members prepared a flyer to be posted at the Kendall County Courthouse, prepared a brochure in English and Spanish, arranged a satellite office for SABA’s CJP and Texas RioGrande Legal Ad (TRLA) volunteers and confirmed support with elected officials and organizations, etc.

Ann Zaragoza, managing attorney of TRLA’s San Antonio office, identified a TRLA employee along with a direct telephone number to screen potential clients and to streamline the intake process. She alerted the TRLA intake workers (covering 68 counties) that Kendall County will be holding their first pro bono clinic and to direct candidates to the San Antonio office.

A critical component to each clinic is the family law mentors. They provide the legal expertise and gentle assurances to the lawyer who is taking a case outside of his/her practice area. To help reinforce our entourage, I called upon CJP’s seasoned family law mentors to join in the road trip to Boerne and within minutes, I had six responses. Immediately preceding the evening clinic, Justice Speedlin and Judge Pozza will provide the same training we make available to our local firms which includes the family law video and powerpoint presentation.

They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and we were truly flattered. But more importantly, we are very proud of our Bexar County legal community coming together each month to make each and every CJP clinic a success. We are very proud of our neighbors to the northwest and hope that this will be one of the many pro bono clinics for their community. We invite you to join us in Boerne for what will be a great celebration of Law Day!