2026 Poverty Law Conference: Full Schedule

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7:45am CDT

Breakfast

Thursday September 3, 2026 7:45am - 8:50am CDT

Grand Salon C

Thursday September 3, 2026 7:45am - 8:50am CDT
Grand Salon C

9:00am CDT

Not So Easy Peasy: When Your Probate Case Gets Complicated

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Classroom 203

Tag along for an interactive session designed for advocates with a baseline understanding of the fundamentals of probate practice who are looking to move beyond the basics, develop their skills, and take more complex cases.

This session will present participants with complex, uncommon, and contentious issues that arise during the probate process and provide practical solutions to combat them. Toward the end of the session, participants will have the opportunity to share legal issues they’ve encountered in probate practice and provide insight into what worked to resolve them.

By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to navigate their next probate case and avoid the feeling of overwhelm that comes with having a not so easy peasy probate issue.

Speakers

Brittanny P. Gomez

Disaster Benefits Team Manager, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Brittanny P. Gomez is the Disaster Benefits Team Manager at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and represents low income individuals affected by disasters. Brittanny is a Vice Director of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Team and has been recognized... Read More →

Hannah Dyal

Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Hannah Dyal is an Equal Justice Works Disaster Resilience Program Fellow at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. She recently completed her first Equal Justice Works fellowship on the Disaster Recovery Legal Corps, the first disaster corps of its kind. Hannah has been working in disaster recovery... Read More →

Karis Adams

Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Karis Adams is a Staff Attorney at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), where she focuses primarily on Estate Planning and Probate, while also practicing in the area of Environmental Justice. Karis is passionate about preventing heirs' property issues and expanding access to estate planning through... Read More →

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Classroom 203

Guardianship/ Wills & Estates/ Probate

9:00am CDT

ChatGPTenant

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Grand Salons AB

ChatGPT and other generative AI tools both taketh and giveth to tenants. Inaccuracies and imprecision work against tenants’ interest in stable, safe, and sanitary housing--all while making life more challenging for legal aid housing attorneys attempting to advise and advocate for tenants.

However, tenants and legal aid attorneys alike have never had more access to powerful tools capable of legal research, document drafting, and technical information about the civil justice system.

What’s a legal aid housing attorney to do? Bring your laptop, tablet, or smartphone to this interactive session to develop strategies and tactics for navigating the current AI age in Texas landlord-tenant.

Speakers

Gregory M. Zlotnick

Director of Pro Bono Programs, St. Mary's University School of Law - Center for Legal and Social Justice

Jacqueline Calvert

St. Mary's University School of Law

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Grand Salons AB

Housing and Consumer

9:00am CDT

Navigating the Storm: Hot Topics and Rapid Shifts in Asylum Law

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Junior Ballroom

In an era of "constant changes in immigration enforcement and asylum law," practitioners must remain agile. This session analyzes "hot topics" in asylum litigation, with a focus on Texas-specific challenges and recent appellate decisions. Presenters will discuss emerging trends in "particular social group" (PSG) definitions, the impact of shifting border policies on credible fear interviews, and strategies for managing high-volume asylum dockets without compromising the "zealous representation" of vulnerable individuals.

Speakers

Andani Alcantara Diaz

Katya Perez

DOJ Accredited Representative, RAICES

I am an attorney originally from Mexico City and have lived in San Antonio, Texas for many years. In order to further support my professional work, I pursued a Master's degree in Social Justice, which complements both my legal background and my work in RAICES as a legal representative.Having... Read More →

Carmen Pina

Supervising Attorney, RAICES

Carmen Virginia Pina is an immigration attorney currently serving as Supervising Attorney. She has more than eight years of experience representing individuals in both removal defense and affirmative matters. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively with vulnerable populations... Read More →

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Junior Ballroom

Immigration Law

9:00am CDT

Navigating the Narrative: Trauma-Informed Interviewing Skills

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Classroom 202

This session will discuss the techniques and skills necessary for an interview to be conducted in a trauma-informed manner. The session will break apart a typical interview into discrete parts, highlighting what a trauma-informed interview consists of, and ask participants to assess an interview to determine what trauma-informed techniques were or were not used.

Speakers

Elizabeth Barrera-Sepulveda

MS, LPC with TRLA/LASSA Project/Social Work Team, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Liz Barrera-Sepulveda is a licensed professional counselor and has worked with victim/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault for more than 25 years. She currently works with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid on the LASSA project, with the social work team and family law team.

She is trained in Trauma Informed Care and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused-CBT and Motivational Interviewing. She has worked with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Austin SAFEPLACE, (n/k/a as the SAFE Alliance). She has worked and volunteered in the past at... Read More →

Stephanie R. Medellin

Family Clinic Staff Attorney, St. Mary's Center for Legal and Social Justice

Stephanie Medellin is the staff attorney for the Family Law Clinic at the Center for Legal and Social Justice at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Stephanie represents clients in divorce, adoption, name change, and probate cases in court. She also co-teaches clinic seminar... Read More →

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Classroom 202

Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

9:00am CDT

Bridging Laymen and Law: CJWs in MLPs

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Conference Room 301

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) are designed to address legal problems before they become health-harming, yet their effectiveness often depends on the presence of Community Justice Workers (CJWs) as core members of the care team. This session will explore how CJWs, or non-attorney advocates, may strengthen MLPs by serving as trusted, community-based supports who help patients understand legal information, provide holistic navigation, and support accessible engagement with legal services. Presenters will discuss the potential role of CJWs within healthcare settings, how that role differs from attorneys and traditional support staff, and what considerations matter when integrating CJWs into an MLP model. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where CJWs may add value, what guardrails are needed, and how this approach could support more effective and accessible service delivery.

Speakers

Susan Soto

Staff Attorney, HVL/AccessHealth Medical-Legal Partnership, Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Susan Soto is a licensed attorney with 15 years of experience in civil litigation. Prior to earning her law license, Susan was a teacher and principal in Texas public schools for almost 20 years. She has devoted her entire professional life to serving vulnerable communities and... Read More →

Maria Jose Vallejo

America Malacara

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Conference Room 301

Public Benefits & MLPs

10:15am CDT

Where in The World is my Family Law Case? Venue Selection in Texas

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Grand Salons DE

This session will focus on both mandatory and permissive venue selection for family law filings in the State of Texas with a specific focus on strategies to improve success. The session will also include consideration and tips when representing survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It will also include recent updates and changes to venue law from new statutes and case law. Participants will be given real world examples where they will select which outcome they think is preferable followed by group discussion regarding their choice.

Speakers

Christofer R. Tracy

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

I manage a few of the folks who work with LASSA (Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault) funding. I have been with LANWT for about 12 years and prior to that I was an elementary school teacher.

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Grand Salons DE

Family Law

10:15am CDT

Protecting Families Through Planning: Building Effective Power of Attorney Clinics for At-Risk Communities

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Classroom 203

Legal aid providers across Texas are increasingly supporting families facing the risk of sudden separation due to immigration enforcement. This session provides a practical, replicable model for designing and executing family preparedness clinics that utilize volunteer attorneys to draft powers of attorney for the care of children and management of personal affairs. Participants will learn how to structure clinics, train and supervise volunteers, ensure ethical and legal compliance, and deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent services at scale. Attendees will leave with concrete tools, workflows, and strategies they can implement in their own organizations.

Speakers

Elizabeth Tran

Legal Services Director, Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Dayna Michelle Tewal

Joe Higgs

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Classroom 203

Guardianship/ Wills & Estates/ Probate

10:15am CDT

Beyond Representation: How Dispute Resolution Makes a Difference

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Grand Salons AB

HVL has implemented an innovative Dispute Resolution program where attorneys are trained "facilitate" eviction court cases. Think "mediation lite." They have delivered great results without a representation agreement! We will look at how dispute resolution (D.R.) by attorneys can help in two contexts: eviction court and consumer debt. There will be some basic black letter law, and dispute resolution tips and tricks.

Speakers

Jessica Howton

Elliott Tucker

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Grand Salons AB

Housing and Consumer

10:15am CDT

Family Preparedness for Immigrant Families

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Junior Ballroom

Many immigrant parents and legal guardians are concerned about who can care for their children or make decisions for them if the parent or legal guardian is detained or deported. This session will review options for a family to make a plan for an alternate caregiver, including reviewing decision-making rights without court orders or authorization and formal authorizations through court orders or special powers of attorney. The session will also include basic immigration safety planning tips for non-immigration practitioners who want to assist their clients with these types of advanced-planning documents.

Speakers

Caitlin Fish

Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Caitlin Fish is the Domestic Violence & Family Law Group Coordinator at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Caitlin oversees the work of TRLA's domestic violence and family law practice and handles a variety of civil legal cases for survivors, including family law and immigration cases... Read More →

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Junior Ballroom

Immigration Law

10:15am CDT

Privilege, Not a Right: Everything That Can Go Wrong with a Texas Driver's License

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Classroom 202

This presentation examines the legal and practical strategies for clearing driver’s license suspensions and restrictions that create barriers to employment and stability. It outlines common causes of license holds, including unresolved ticket fines and fees, failure to appear, administrative suspensions, and more. This session provides a structured approach to identifying and resolving these obstacles efficiently.

Speakers

Justin T. Thompson

Senior Director - Legal Services, Beacon Law

If you're into music, let's talk about west coast jazz and bossa nova.
If you're into reading, let's talk about urban fantasy and dystopia.
If you're into DIY/home improvement, let's talk about Makita and DeWalt.

Stephanie R. Marrone

Managing Attorney / Pro Bono Coordiantor, Beacon Law

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Classroom 202

Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

10:15am CDT

Age 18 Redeterminations: Keeping SSI from Childhood into Adulthood

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Conference Room 301

This presentation will focus on the transition from the child to adult disability standard, preserving social security benefits for youth turning 18, and a discussion on common issues and practical strategies such as early preparation, strong medical evidence, and clear documentation of work limitations.

Speakers

Komal Khan

Supervising Attorney -Legal Advocacy for Young Adults & Children (LAYAC) Project, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Melissa Gorley

LAYAC Staff Attorney- Legal Advocacy for Young Adults and Children, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Conference Room 301

Public Benefits & MLPs

11:30am CDT

Keynote Luncheon

Thursday September 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:55pm CDT

Grand Salon C

Thursday September 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:55pm CDT
Grand Salon C

1:00pm CDT

I Fought the Law and the Law Won - Enforcements, How to Prosecute and Defend - An Overview

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Grand Salons DE

Legal Aid attorneys often encounter child support, possession/access, or property order enforcement issues, even when grant restrictions prevent them from handling the enforcement itself. Understanding the basics is essential for giving sound legal advice. This session provides a streamlined overview of enforcement and contempt from the perspectives of the movant, respondent, and judge. Topics include drafting clear orders, pleading willful violations, proper service, and knowing when clarification is required. The panel will also cover key defensive strategies—service defects, affirmative defenses, verified denials, special exceptions, directed verdicts, and double jeopardy issues. Judges will conclude with practical guidance on presenting and defending enforcement actions and discuss alternatives when an order cannot be enforced.

Speakers

Hon. Janet Heppard

UHLC (adjunct) and Retired Judge (387th State District Court)

Judge Richard Bell

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Grand Salons DE

Family Law

1:00pm CDT

Beyond the Bench: Navigating Guardianship Jury Trials

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Classroom 203

This panel will walk attorneys through the practical realities of preparing for litigation in complex and contested guardianship cases. Panelists will cover case assessment, discovery strategies, working with confidential medical records, and managing competing interests among family members.The session will also feature a candid review of a case that settled on the eve of trial, examining what drove the litigation forward, and the lessons learned that can be applied in future cases.

Speakers

Hannah Dyal

Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Pablo J. Almaguer

Senior Attorney Fellow, Economic Justice Initiative

Pablo Javier Almaguer is the Senior Attorney Fellow at Texas Immigration Law Council (“TxILC), where he is overseeing the newly created Medical Legal Partnership between Texas A&M Law School and Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. TxILC’s core values center on building broad coalitions... Read More →

Priscilla Noriega

Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc.

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Classroom 203

Guardianship/ Wills & Estates/ Probate

1:00pm CDT

Post-Judgment Collection Defense

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Grand Salons AB

This will be an in-depth discussion regarding defending against post judgment collection including Turnover Receivers and Garnishments. Topics covered will include answering post-judgment discovery, objecting to motions to appoint receivers, completing protected property claim forms, and filing a motion to return exempt funds seized by a receiver. Will be a discussion regarding best practices to protect clients exempt assets after judgment.

Speakers

Newton Tamayo

Staff Attorney, Lone Star Legal Aid

Jon-Ross Trevino

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Grand Salons AB

Housing and Consumer

1:00pm CDT

Beyond Borders: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Refugee Support and Resettlement

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Junior Ballroom

Providing "high-quality legal services" to refugees requires a bridge between legal relief and social stability. This session examines the RAICES model of integrating legal representation with holistic refugee services. We will discuss the specific challenges of the current resettlement environment, including housing instability, language access (serving non-Spanish speaking populations), and trauma-informed case management. The panel will demonstrate how "Holistic Service Integration" improves legal outcomes and client retention in both grant-funded and fee-for-service models.

Speakers

Shakira Taylor

Attorney, RAICES

Shakira M. Taylor BS, JD, L.L.M, is an immigration attorney with more than ten years of legal experience. She earned her law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and an L.L.M in Transactional Law from Emory University School of Law. Her career has focused... Read More →

Einas Albadri

Bianca Aguilera

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Junior Ballroom

Immigration Law

1:00pm CDT

Tax 101: How to Spot the Issues and Advise Like a Tax Attorney (Even If You're Not)

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Classroom 202

The program will provide the foundation necessary for an incoming LITC attorney or volunteer attorney to assess a client issue, prepare for consultation, review documentation, and determine available options for the client. Using a mock scenario, the course will cover available resources, IRS structure, reading a notice/letter and identifying its location on the Taxpayer Roadmap, researching the issue, and identifying alternative paths forward. Additionally, the mock scenario will cover filing status, EITC and CTC.

Speakers

Cory Williams

Attorney Fellow, Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Maricarmen Dollar

Staff Attorney, Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Joseph Barron

Attorney Fellow (Qualified Tax Expert), Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Classroom 202

Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

1:00pm CDT

Partnerships Within an MLP: Putting the Pieces Together

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Conference Room 301

The Houston Volunteer Lawyers/AccessHealth Medical-Legal Partnership demonstrates that effective healthcare and legal aid solutions emerge through collaboration. Beyond embedding legal services in clinical settings, this MLP has built strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, advocacy groups, businesses, government leaders, and local attorneys, including founding a pro bono legal network in Fort Bend County. These partnerships create a comprehensive safety net and expand capacity to serve patients through direct pro bono legal representation. This breakout session examines how partnerships strengthen MLPs by reviewing current research on inter-organizational collaboration, sharing examples of successful partnership models, and guiding attendees through an interactive exercise to apply these strategies to their own programs and communities.

Speakers

Susan Soto

Staff Attorney, HVL/AccessHealth Medical-Legal Partnership, Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Conference Room 301

Public Benefits & MLPs

2:15pm CDT

PO Bootcamp: Nuts & Bolts for Newbie Attorneys & Seasoned Practitioners Alike

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Grand Salons DE

Protective Orders (POs) in Texas never seem to stop evolving, and legal aid practitioners can quickly become PO experts, as they are the ones commonly filing these cases and assisting survivors of violence and trauma. This session will provide any new legal aid attorney with the tools and knowledge to see a PO case from start to finish. Seasoned PO practitioners may find that the session offers much-needed reminders, updates on new cases and legislation, and helpful tips and tricks.

Speakers

Sydney Booth Cordero

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

I have been an attorney with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid since 2018 in the Family Law and Domestic Violence Team.

Stephanie R. Medellin

Family Clinic Staff Attorney, St. Mary's Center for Legal and Social Justice

2026.09 PLC PO Bootcamp pdf

01Mon OCA Forms pdf

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Grand Salons DE

Family Law

2:15pm CDT

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program: Update on Tenant and Applicant Rights

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Grand Salons AB

This session will provide an overview of tenant and applicant rights in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program. The session will focus on the rights of applicants in the tenant selection and admissions process and will also include a discussion of the special rights of tenants with respect to evictions, rent issues, and repairs.

Speakers

Fred Fuchs

Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Fred Fuchs is the housing group coordinator for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, where he oversees the program's housing work. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law where he teaches a housing clinic each spring. He received his law degree from the... Read More →

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Grand Salons AB

Housing and Consumer

2:15pm CDT

Family Preparedness in a Time of Mandatory Detention: The State of Habeas Corpus and Litigating Release in Federal Court

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Junior Ballroom

Across Texas, immigrant families face growing risks of detention, creating urgent legal and practical challenges for advocates who support vulnerable communities. Many legal aid and nonprofit practitioners encounter these situations even if immigration law is not their primary area of practice. This session will provide an accessible overview of immigration detention and the role of federal habeas corpus litigation as a tool for challenging unlawful or prolonged detention and securing release from custody.

Panelists will explain how habeas petitions function in the immigration context, highlight recent legal developments, and discuss how detention challenges are currently being litigated in federal courts across Texas. Drawing from their experience coordinating pro bono habeas efforts, presenters will also explore practical considerations for advocates working with families at risk of detention, including ethical issues, cross-practice collaboration, and ways to incorporate detention-related legal planning into broader family preparedness efforts. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of when habeas relief may be available and how legal services organizations and community advocates—even those outside immigration practice—can help support families navigating detention-related crises.

Speakers

Robert Painter

Managing Attorney, Texas Immigration Law Council

Kate Gibson Kumar

Texas Civil Rights Project

Zainab Khan

Managing Attorney for the Immigration Detention Project, Texas A&M University School of Law Legal Clinic

Zainab Khan serves as the Managing Attorney for the Immigration Detention Project that is funded by Dallas Area Interfaith and housed in the Texas A&M University School of Law Legal Clinic. The Immigration Detention Project helps eligible detainees seek release form immigration detention... Read More →

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Junior Ballroom

Immigration Law

2:15pm CDT

Building Community-Based Legal Access: Lessons from the Economic Justice Initiative

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Classroom 203

The access to justice crisis in Texas is well-documented, but solutions at scale have been elusive. Community justice workers (CJWs), non-lawyer legal advocates who expand legal access in ways attorneys cannot alone, represent one of the most promising responses to the problem. In Texas, this model is already at work, and an anticipated licensure framework could soon expand what non-lawyer advocates are authorized to do. This session uses the Economic Justice Initiative (EJI), with 25+ CJWs and attorneys across 10 legal service partners, as a concrete case study in what building and running a CJW program requires. Presenters will share what the work has revealed about how CJWs make an impact, what a structured learning approach for CJWs looks like, how partner and community collaboration shapes the model, and what implementation has taught us about responsible program design in Texas.

Speakers

Cristian Sanchez

Economic Justice Director, Texas Immigration Law Council

Cristian is the Economic Justice Director at Texas Immigration Law Council where he leads the design and implementation of a program to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans through innovation, including Community Justice workers. He is doing this through standing... Read More →

Anthony Reyes

Amanda Davé

Project Manager, Economic Justice Initiative, Texas Immigration Law Council

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Classroom 203

Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

2:15pm CDT

When Your Client Is Drowning: Trauma-Informed Communication in Bankruptcy Practice

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Classroom 202

Imagine drowning financially for two years. You've depleted your savings, destroyed your credit, and broken your body trying to stay afloat. You finally call an attorney—your last hope—but you're terrified they'll judge you as a failure. So you minimize the debt, you "forget" to mention the inheritance, you tell them what you think they want to hear. That's your client. They desperately need help, but shame won't let them ask for it honestly. They're not just seeking legal help—they're looking for someone who won't judge them, who will hear them, who can pull them to safety. But their trauma is so profound they can't tell you what you need to know to actually help them.

Research confirms this: over 60% of bankruptcy filers experience significant shame, and most struggle for 2+ years before seeking help. That trauma creates real barriers—clients minimize debts, omit assets, avoid difficult topics, and provide incomplete information. The result? Bad petitions, trustee problems, and malpractice exposure.

This session teaches you to recognize trauma responses in real time (defensive anger, avoidance, decision paralysis, people-pleasing), use specific language that builds trust instead of triggering shame, read verbal and non-verbal cues that signal hidden information, and deploy strategic questioning that surfaces critical facts your clients are terrified to disclose.

Through interactive polling and real case examples—medical debt, predatory lending, hidden assets—you'll learn immediately applicable communication techniques. The presenters practice bankruptcy and other areas of consumer law; one is a bankruptcy attorney with a master's degree in psychology. While the session focuses on bankruptcy practice, these trauma-informed techniques apply across legal aid practice with financially distressed clients.

You can't help clients who won't tell you the truth. This session shows you how to create the safety they need to tell you everything.

Speakers

Amy Allen

Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Amy Allen has been licensed since 1991 and is the Supervising Attorney for Housing, Consumer, and Public Benefits at the Fort Worth Office of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. She is a proud graduate of LSU and Bates School of Law at the University of Houston. Her primary areas of practice... Read More →

Samantha Kehl

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Samantha Kehl: Legal Aid Attorney by Day, Chaos Wrangler by Night

Samantha Kehl has been practicing bankruptcy law since 2008, and currently serves as Staff Attorney and Bankruptcy Practice Team Leader at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT), where she also works on a veterans grant helping veterans and their families. When she's not in court untangling... Read More →

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Classroom 202

Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

2:15pm CDT

A Place for Everything, and Everything in Its Place: Protecting Family Homes from the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Conference Room 301

The Medicaid Estate Recovery Program seeks to recover the costs of long-term medical care after a Medicaid recipient passes away. Low-resource individuals who qualify for Medicaid worry that their children will continue the cycle of poverty and be left without the family home.

This session is based on a project in which presenters have helped community members understand MERP and take steps to protect intergenerational assets before and after a loved one’s death. Presenters will discuss the disproportionate impact MERP can have on low-income and immigrant communities, the role estate planning can play in preventing avoidable loss, and how community justice workers and other trusted non-attorney advocates can help deliver critical legal information in accessible ways. Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of the problem, the outreach and legal education strategies being used in response, and how similar approaches might be adapted in other settings.

This session discusses the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP), how it works, and how low-resource families can protect the family home with low-cost probate alternatives.

Speakers

Selma Lara

Attorney Fellow, Texas Immigration Law Council

Selma Lara is an attorney fellow at Texas Immigration Law Council as part of the Economic Justice Initiative. Her project revolves around estate planning, title clearing, and asset preservation for indigent individuals. As the first in her family to attend college, she graduated cum... Read More →