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Travis County courthouse gets Texas Law Help kiosk to expand access to legal resources
Summary
Local officials and legal nonprofits opened a Texas Law Help kiosk at the Travis County JP 5 courthouse in downtown Austin, saying the kiosk will give people free access to legal forms, information and remote attorney chat to help bridge the justice gap.
Karen Miller, executive director of the Texas Legal Services Center, on Friday announced the installation of a Texas Law Help legal kiosk at the Travis County JP 5 courthouse, calling it "the very first legal kiosk to be launching in a Travis County courthouse." Miller said the kiosks were started late in the pandemic to help vulnerable Texans access internet-connected computers, printers and free legal resources when courthouses were closed.
Judge Jeffers, the event host, framed the kiosk as part of broader efforts to improve access to justice. "We should all care about access to justice," she said, adding that "Research shows that 45 percent of adults have had a legal problem in the last 3 years alone," and that high attorney fees often leave people to handle problems without counsel, with negative consequences.
Council Member Ryan Alter, District 5, who said he once worked as a staff attorney in the historic Travis County courthouse, praised the kiosk as a tool that helps people show up to court better prepared. "When someone knows the rules and has the right forms, they're just in a better position to defend themselves and advocate for their rights than when they show up unprepared," Alter said, and expressed hope the model could be expanded across the city.
Betty Bayle Torres, executive director of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, said the foundation prioritized funding programs that meet people where they are and noted the kiosk as part of the foundation's statewide effort. "Access to justice should never depend on your income, where you live, or if you have access to technology," she said, and described the kiosk as a pathway for people who need legal help most.
Organizers described the kiosk's capabilities as a portal to legal forms and information and to a chat feature that connects users with attorneys for guidance, intended to help people prepare for hearings and other court processes. The event concluded with a planned ribbon cutting and an invitation for attendees to try the kiosk.
No formal votes or regulatory actions were taken at the event. Organizers said the installation is a partnership among the Texas Legal Services Center, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Judge Jeffers and JP 5 staff; they also thanked the Supreme Court for its support.
