OVERVIEW
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation is the primary state-based funding source for the provision of civil legal aid in Texas. ECPR has worked with the Foundation on legislative communication projects since 2007. Our work has focused on media outreach—including press conferences at the State Capitol with state legislators and justices of the Texas Supreme Court—communication planning, social media and legislative initiatives. These efforts have resulted in hundreds of media stories, including editorials supporting legal aid funding appearing in every major newspaper in Texas.
CASE STUDY
For the last 12 years, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation has faced a serious funding crisis. Due to a drop in interest rates–which are tied to a major funding source for legal aid in Texas–the Foundation has lost millions in funding for civil legal aid programs since 2007.
ECPR has worked with the Foundation to increase awareness for the Texas Legislature to create additional funding streams for civil legal aid. To further the effort, ECPR has organized several press conferences at the Capitol with leaders of the Access to Justice community, members of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas legislative leaders. Additionally, ECPR has arranged editorial board meetings with major newspapers across the state, coordinated op-eds on behalf of the Texas Supreme Court and planned social media campaigns aimed at garnering grassroots support for these legislative efforts.
In coordination with legal aid lobbyists and supporters, our work has played a key role in garnering bipartisan support for state funding for legal aid.
