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2026 Poverty Law Conference
Wednesday, September 2
 

1:00pm CDT

Your First Uncontested Guardianship: A Step-by-Step Guide from Intake to Annual Reporting
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Classroom 203
Ready to take your first guardianship case but not sure where to start? This practical, start-to-finish session walks attorneys through filing an uncontested guardianship of the person in Texas. Designed for newer practitioners this training breaks down each stage of the process, from client intake and evaluating alternatives to the hearing and post-appointment reporting requirements.Participants...
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Speakers
avatar for Brittanny P. Gomez

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 →
HD

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 →
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Classroom 203
  Guardianship/ Wills & Estates/ Probate

1:00pm CDT

Stop Settling: Practical Trial Preparation for Poverty Law Litigators
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
Trial preparation can be one of the most stressful phases of poverty law litigation, particularly for newer attorneys. This program provides practical, step-by-step guidance on managing electronic files, organizing evidence, preparing a trial notebook, making discovery work for your case, and appearing before the judge. The presentation will also address methods for reducing the last-minute...
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Speakers
avatar for Dana Karni

Dana Karni

Litigation Director, Lone Star Legal Aid
avatar for Leesa Everitt

Leesa Everitt

Staff Attorney, Lone Star Legal Aid
Leesa Everitt, a native Houstonian, is a staff attorney at Lone Star Legal Aid in the Housing & Consumer Unit. Over the past decade she has handled a variety of civil legal matters, but her focus has been housing and landlord-tenant work. Her law degree is from the University of Houston... Read More →
PT
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
  Housing and Consumer

1:00pm CDT

Challenges in Obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Findings in SAPCR Proceedings
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
KIND staff will explore the challenges of representing children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) in SAPCR proceedings. KIND will review the requisite SIJS findings and common issues that can arise when working through standard SAPCR procedures. Attendees will have the opportunity to work through hypotheticals and review sample filings.
Speakers
CR
SH
MP
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
  Immigration Law

1:00pm CDT

Sick Of It: SOI Best Practices
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Classroom 202
Sick of having to explain to courthouse personnel why you should get free copies? Sick of frivolous SOI challenges from opposing counsel? This session is for you! Knowing Rule 145 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure backwards and forwards, along with its intricacies, is an essential tool for any lawyer working with limited- to no-income clients. This workshop will provide all the tools needed to...
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Speakers
avatar for Stephanie R. Medellin

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 →
JC

Jacqueline Calvert

St. Mary's University School of Law

Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Classroom 202
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

1:00pm CDT

Helping Veterans and Service Members Avoid Fraud and Scams
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Conference Room 301
Veterans and military consumers face unique vulnerabilities that demand robust protection to honor their service and safeguard their well-being. Many have earned hard-earned benefits through sacrifice, yet they are disproportionately targeted by financial exploitation, scams, and fraud—often due to steady VA or military income streams, personal information tied to service, and challenges like...
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Speakers
LF

Lori Fergie

Lone Star Legal Aid
JT

Jonna Treble

Staff Attorney, Military & Veterans Unit, Lone Star Legal Aid
JH
Wednesday September 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Conference Room 301
  Veterans

2:15pm CDT

Family Stability Tools: Using Delegations of Parental Authority to Support Caregivers
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Grand Salons DE
Low-income and immigrant families frequently rely on informal caregiving arrangements when parents face medical emergencies, immigration issues, or economic instability. Without written authority, caregivers may be unable to enroll children in school, consent to medical care, or access services that support the child’s wellbeing. This session will introduce delegations of parental authority...
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Speakers
RM

Raquel Mora-Ojeda

Legal Access Fellow, TxILC's Economic Justice Initiative
AS
MJ
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Grand Salons DE
  Family Law

2:15pm CDT

Probate 101
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Classroom 203
Legal Aid organizations have limited staff and funding to provide probate representation, making the justice gap even wider in this practice area. Additionally, there are few options for pro se representation in probate. Understanding the Texas Estates Code as well as how to practice probate law will inform legal aid attorneys of ways to provide advice or support pro bono attorneys in assisted pro...
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Speakers
avatar for Jessie Campbell

Jessie Campbell

Directing Attorney - Pro Bono, Lone Star Legal Aid
I am the Directing Attorney for Pro bono.  I love talking all things pro bono, but you will often find me talking about marketing and recruitment.  I have been with Lone Star Legal Aid since December 2019.  Prior to that, I was the Pro Bono & Outreach Director and staff attorney... Read More →
avatar for Lisa Nelsen

Lisa Nelsen

Staff Attorney Texas Law Help, Texas Legal Service Center
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Classroom 203
  Guardianship/ Wills & Estates/ Probate

2:15pm CDT

Unseen Liens and Rent-to-NEVER-Own: Property Code Protections for Texas Homebuyers
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
Strong Texas laws protect people purchasing a home under a “contract for deed” or “rent-to-own” contract. The Texas Property Code calls these contracts “executory contracts for conveyance of real property”, and unless the seller follows this strict law ("Subchapter D"), the buyer is entitled to a variety of damages, including additional protections under the Deceptive Trade Practices...
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Speakers
avatar for John Grieger

John Grieger

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
John Grieger has 34 years of bankruptcy law experience.  A graduate of Northwestern University (BA-Spanish) and the University of San Diego School of Law, John returned to his native Chicago after law school and worked as a staff attorney for the Chapter 13 Trustee.  After that... Read More →
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
  Housing and Consumer

2:15pm CDT

Security and Sovereignty: Protecting Immigrant Families through Naturalization
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
This session explores naturalization as the ultimate tool for family unity and permanent security in a volatile legal landscape. Presenters will provide a technical deep-dive into N-400 issues, including navigating the "good moral character" requirement, medical waivers (N-648), and the implications of the most recent USCIS policy manual updates. Participants will learn strategies for identifying...
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Speakers
SM

Sara Morales

DOJ Accredited Representative, RAICES
Sara Morales is a DOJ Accredited Representative since 2018 with experience assisting immigrant families and individuals through the immigration legal process. Through advocacy, education, and community outreach, she provides guidance on immigration relief options, citizenship, family... Read More →
MR

Maria Romero

DOJ Accredited Representative, RAICES
LG

Leticia Galicia

DOJ Accredited Representative, RAICES
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
  Immigration Law

2:15pm CDT

Fighting the Good Fight – Self Care for Sustainable Client Advocacy
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Classroom 202
Passionately and effectively advocating for clients is a good fight that rewards legal practitioners with their own double-edged sword. On one side, playing a part in securing wins for those who need them most and camaraderie working alongside others committed to the same fight. The downside of this good work builds up over time: exhaustion from knowing there is an ever-growing number of cases,...
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Speakers
MB

Michael Bates

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
PR

Penelope Rodriguez

Paralegal, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas - Community Revitalization Project
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Classroom 202
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

2:15pm CDT

Title IX in Practice: Access to Justice, Survivor Support, and Due Process in Schools
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Conference Room 301
Title IX is often viewed through a compliance lens, but for many students, it functions as a critical access-to-justice framework impacting safety, educational access, and long-term stability across both K–12 and higher education settings.This session provides a practical overview of Title IX under the 2020 regulations, including the role of the Title IX Coordinator, reporting and response...
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Speakers
avatar for Dr. Sandi E. Aboy

Dr. Sandi E. Aboy

CEO & Founder, Title IX Consulting Group
Hello! I love being a catalyst for change in the space of Title IX and all things Civil Rights. 
NN
LB
Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Conference Room 301
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

3:30pm CDT

When the Village Raises the Child: Representing the Nonparent Client
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Grand Salons DE
This session will delve into the intricacies of representing nonparents caring for children. The two common topics discussed will be Nonparent Authorization Agreements (NPAAs) and Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCRs). Legal aid attorneys commonly receive requests from grandparents, aunts and uncles, adult siblings, and other relatives requesting legal assistance after they...
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Speakers
avatar for Stephanie R. Medellin

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 →
DS
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Grand Salons DE
  Family Law

3:30pm CDT

SB 38 So Far
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
This session will examine how eviction practice has changed in the eight months since SB 38 and its accompanying revisions to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure took effect. We will discuss novel defenses to eviction under the new law and rules, as well as active and planned constitutional challenges, explaining how they have played out in thousands of cases before the twenty-six different...
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Speakers
EK
MP
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
  Housing and Consumer

3:30pm CDT

Essentials for Non-Immigration Practitioners: 2026 Immigration Legal Updates and Practical Tips
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
This practical session provides attorneys outside the immigration field with essential insights into 2026's significant immigration developments. The session covers fundamental immigration concepts relevant to general practice, including Alien Registration Numbers, procedures for locating clients in immigration detention, methods for verifying immigration court hearings, and preparing in case of...
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Speakers
avatar for Jessica Cisneros

Jessica Cisneros

Managing Attorney, Texas Immigration Law Council
Jessica Cisneros is a Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council. Prior to joining the team, Jessica served at RAICES as the supervising attorney for the Laredo Removal team and as a staff attorney for the Family Detention/Expedited Removal team. Since graduating from... Read More →
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
  Immigration Law

3:30pm CDT

Greening Legal Deserts: Solutions to Rural Lawyer Scarcity
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Conference Room 301
Every rural community deserves a legal system that is both high-functioning and well-resourced. But lawyer scarcity across much of Texas makes such systems aspirational. This session will discuss solutions to the problem of rural legal deserts: Programs that have supported rural doctors for decades can be models for recruiting rural lawyers; Lawyers' educational, licensing, and practice structures...
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Speakers
avatar for Camilla Hsu

Camilla Hsu

Senior Staff Attorney, Dedman School of Law, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center
Camilla Hsu joined the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center as a senior policy attorney in September 2024. Her work focuses on litigation related to Due Process and the Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel and supporting the Center’s mission of advocating for innovative criminal legal... Read More →
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Conference Room 301
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

3:30pm CDT

TBA
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Classroom 202
TBA
Speakers
SM

Samuel Marsh

Sr. Staff Attorney, Beacon Law
AF
SM

Stephanie McKernan

Staff Attorney, Houston Volunteer Lawyers
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Classroom 202
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

3:30pm CDT

Advocating for Vulnerable Veterans when the VA steps in to appoint a Fiduciary or Guardian
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Classroom 203
The VA Fiduciary Program and VA guardianship rules (particularly the new VA-DOJ framework announced in March 2026) both address support for vulnerable veterans who lack capacity to manage aspects of their lives, but they operate in distinct yet potentially overlapping ways. The VA Fiduciary Program is a federal, VA-specific mechanism focused narrowly on financial management. VA determines if a...
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Speakers
LF

Lori Fergie

Lone Star Legal Aid
JT

Jonna Treble

Staff Attorney, Military & Veterans Unit, Lone Star Legal Aid
JH
Wednesday September 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Classroom 203
  Veterans

4:45pm CDT

Community Redevelopment and Environmental Justice
Wednesday September 2, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Grand Salons AB

Wednesday September 2, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Grand Salons AB

4:45pm CDT

Disaster Law Task Force Meeting
Wednesday September 2, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Classroom 202

Wednesday September 2, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Classroom 202

4:45pm CDT

Family Law Task Force Meeting
Wednesday September 2, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Classroom 203

Wednesday September 2, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Classroom 203
 
Thursday, September 3
 

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....
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Speakers
avatar for Brittanny P. Gomez

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 →
HD

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 →
avatar for Karis Adams

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Gregory M. Zlotnick

Gregory M. Zlotnick

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

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...
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Speakers
AA
avatar for Katya Perez

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 →
avatar for Carmen Pina

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
avatar for Elizabeth Barrera-Sepulveda

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 →
avatar for Stephanie R. Medellin

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Susan Soto

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 →
MJ
AM
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....
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Speakers
avatar for Christofer R. Tracy

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Tran

Elizabeth Tran

Legal Services Director, Houston Volunteer Lawyers
DM
JH
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...
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Speakers
JH
ET
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...
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Speakers
CF

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Justin T. Thompson

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.
avatar for Stephanie R. Marrone

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
KK

Komal Khan

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

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...
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Speakers
HJ

Hon. Janet Heppard

UHLC (adjunct) and Retired Judge (387th State District Court)
JR
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...
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Speakers
HD

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 →
avatar for Pablo J. Almaguer

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 →
PN

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...
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Speakers
NT

Newton Tamayo

Staff Attorney, Lone Star Legal Aid
JT
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Shakira Taylor

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 →
EA
BA
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...
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Speakers
CW

Cory Williams

Attorney Fellow, Houston Volunteer Lawyers
MD

Maricarmen Dollar

Staff Attorney, Houston Volunteer Lawyers
JB

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Susan Soto

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 →
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Sydney Booth Cordero

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. 
avatar for Stephanie R. Medellin

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 →
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
FF

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...
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Speakers
RP

Robert Painter

Managing Attorney, Texas Immigration Law Council
avatar for Kate Gibson Kumar

Kate Gibson Kumar

Texas Civil Rights Project
ZK

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Cristian Sanchez

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 →
AR
avatar for Amanda Davé

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Amy Allen

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 →
avatar for Samantha Kehl

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...
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Speakers
SL

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 →
HN
ZZ
Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Conference Room 301
  Public Benefits & MLPs

3:30pm CDT

Snack & Sip - Happy Hour!
Thursday September 3, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Thursday September 3, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

4:45pm CDT

Poverty Law Section Meeting
Thursday September 3, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Junior Ballroom

Thursday September 3, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
 
Friday, September 4
 

7:45am CDT

Breakfast
Friday September 4, 2026 7:45am - 8:50am CDT
Grand Salon C

Friday September 4, 2026 7:45am - 8:50am CDT
Grand Salon C

9:00am CDT

Manufactured Housing in Rural Texas
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Grand Salons AB
Rural Texas has unique housing challenges that manufactured housing attempts to address. Learn about manufactured housing in rural Texas, how to address some of the common issues that arise with manufactured home ownership, and eviction defense involving manufactured housing.
Speakers
avatar for Melissa Arano

Melissa Arano

Staff Attorney, LANWT
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Grand Salons AB
  Housing and Consumer

9:00am CDT

Shields for the Vulnerable: Surviving and Thriving in USCIS Advocacy for T, U, and VAWA Cases
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Junior Ballroom
Humanitarian relief for survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and other serious crimes involves unique procedural hurdles and lengthy wait times. This session provides an advanced toolkit for handling T-visas, U-visas, and VAWA self-petitions. Topics include strategies for obtaining law enforcement certifications, responding to complex Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and utilizing the Bona...
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Speakers
LG

Leticia Galicia

DOJ Accredited Representative, RAICES
BA
JC

Josefina Castro

DOJ Accredited Representative, RAICES
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Junior Ballroom
  Immigration Law

9:00am CDT

Expunctions and Nondisclosures: Barrier Removal for Victims
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Classroom 202
Victims face several invisible barriers that make it more difficult for them to leave. Or if they have left, make it very difficult for them to stay away. This presentation can discuss how tools such as expunctions and nondisclosures, amongst others, can assist. The main tools we are going to discuss is going to be related to cleaning up a victims criminal history using expunctions and...
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Speakers
AS

Anwesha Sarkar

Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
JP

Jessica Picon

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Hello! I am a member of the LASSA team, we help survivors of sexual assault receive access to legal representation that is free for them! I enjoy what I do as I feel I am making a difference in the lives of my clients. I am currently handling family law cases, some housing cases... Read More →
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Classroom 202
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

9:00am CDT

The True Cost of Being "Poor" in Texas
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Classroom 203
Poverty in Texas extends far beyond low-income statistics. It is fundamentally an infrastructure problem where transportation gaps, broadband deserts, wireless coverage limitations, and language access barriers compound each other to create complete service inaccessibility.This session reveals how these barriers compound to create complete legal service inaccessibility, even when programs like...
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Speakers
avatar for Ashley Oborn

Ashley Oborn

Director of Data Analytics, LSLA
JR
avatar for Mary Molandes

Mary Molandes

Director of Case Management System Training, Lone Star Legal Aid
I'm a native of East Texas. I've worked for Lone Star Legal Aid for 25 years, with the last 20 years being the trainer for our case management systems.  I also facilitate our Brown Bag Trainings and assist with compliance.
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Classroom 203
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

9:00am CDT

Where Do I Even Start and What Does This Even Mean?: Parsing Legal Processes and Procedures for the Pro Se Litigant
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Conference Room 301
Many low-income Texans—to say nothing of nonlawyers in general, regardless of their income level—face reading comprehension barriers that prevent them from fully accessing the civil justice system. TexasLawHelp is often the first place that people land when they’re trying to understand their legal matter. While Beacon Law tries to mitigate the potentially harmful effects the legal system can...
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Speakers
avatar for Martha Beard-Duncan

Martha Beard-Duncan

Managing Attorney, Texas Legal Services Center
Far West Texas native and longtime Austinite Martha Beard-Duncan is managing attorney of TexasLawHelp.org at Texas Legal Services Center. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Stanford University, earned her JD from the University of Houston Law Center, and majored in English... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie R. Marrone

Stephanie R. Marrone

Managing Attorney / Pro Bono Coordiantor, Beacon Law
SM

Samuel Marsh

Sr. Staff Attorney, Beacon Law
Friday September 4, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Conference Room 301
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

10:15am CDT

Cross-Border Custody Litigation: Hague Convention Remedies and Enforcing Foreign Custody Orders in Texas
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Grand Salons DE
You may not think of yourself as an international family law attorney, but you may already be handling cross-border custody disputes. Domestic violence survivors and immigrant families frequently encounter situations where international borders complicate custody, visitation, and safety planning. Parents may flee another country seeking protection in Texas, while others may face allegations of...
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Speakers
AS
OA
SF
AF
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Grand Salons DE
  Family Law

10:15am CDT

Public Housing Authorities & Advocacy Strategies to Preserve Housing
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Grand Salons AB
In this session, we will explore effective ways to advocate before Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to preserve our clients’ public or subsidized housing. We’ll consider how pressures facing PHAs and housing recipients affect advocacy strategies, when to hold PHAs accountable through litigation versus collaboration, and ethical issues that may arise in making that decision. And, we’ll let...
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Speakers
avatar for K'Lisha Rutledge

K'Lisha Rutledge

Managing Attorney - Home Preservation Project, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
KM

Keidra McGriff

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
avatar for Kelsey Ciluffo

Kelsey Ciluffo

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Grand Salons AB
  Housing and Consumer

10:15am CDT

Bridging the Justice Gap: The Community Justice Workers of Texas Model in Action
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Classroom 203
Too many Texans are left to navigate legal challenges without the support they need. The Community Justice Workers of Texas (CJW) Program addresses this gap by training and empowering trusted individuals who are already working or volunteering within Community Partner Organizations (CPOs). These community members help share vital legal information and connect people to appropriate resources and...
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Speakers
avatar for John Grieger

John Grieger

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
John Grieger has 34 years of bankruptcy law experience.  A graduate of Northwestern University (BA-Spanish) and the University of San Diego School of Law, John returned to his native Chicago after law school and worked as a staff attorney for the Chapter 13 Trustee.  After that... Read More →
JJ

Jacquelyn (Jackie) Davis

Director of Civil Litigation, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Inc
Being a first-generation lawyer
any aspect of poverty law practice
avatar for Sean Jackson

Sean Jackson

Executive Director, Disability Rights Texas
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Classroom 203
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

10:15am CDT

ClearPathTX - Statewide Expunction Project
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Classroom 202
This session will provide both legal education and a practical look at how technology can improve access tojustice by helping legal service providers scale record learing statewide:1. Substantive Law – An overview of Texas expunction law, including common eligibility issues and practical considerations when screening cases.2. Collaborative Efforts – How legal aid organizations, pro bono...
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Speakers
avatar for Jeff Reichman

Jeff Reichman

January Advisors
Jeff Reichman is the founder of January Advisors, a data science consulting firm that works with nonprofits, researchers, legal aid organizations, public sector agencies, and philanthropy. 
avatar for Angel G. Williams

Angel G. Williams

Managing Attorney - Statewide Expunction Project, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Classroom 202
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

10:15am CDT

If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit…The Impact of Unjust Legal Financial Obligations and a Model for Justice Court Ability to Pay Determinations
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Junior Ballroom
Across the country, unjust fines and fees burden millions of Americans. Rather than serving justice, these legal financial obligations trap people in poverty and prolong their involvement with the criminal justice system. Despite laws on the books that require ability to pay assessments, Texas is no exception. This is especially true in our justice courts, where defendants have no right to counsel...
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Speakers
LF

Lisa Foster

Fines and Fees Justice Center, Fines and Fees Justice Center
Lisa Foster is the Co-Executive Director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending the unjust and harmful imposition of fines and fees in the criminal legal system. A retired judge, Lisa is also the former director of the Office for Access to Justice... Read More →
avatar for Judge Steve Duble

Judge Steve Duble

Justice of the Peace, Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
Steve Duble has been the Justice Peace for Harris County Precinct 1, Place 2 (located in downtown Houston) since January 1, 2023. Since taking office, he has taken bold action to increase access to justice.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University in 1986... Read More →
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Junior Ballroom
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

10:15am CDT

Legal Tech Projects: How to Plan, Procure, and Manage Legal Tech Vendor Projects
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Conference Room 301
Managing legal tech vendor projects requires structured planning and ongoing oversight. This session outlines a practical approach to the procurement lifecycle, starting with assessing project viability and securing stakeholder buy-in. We will cover how to draft focused RFPs that define requirements rather than solutions, evaluate vendor proposals, and manage the vendor relationship through...
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Speakers
avatar for Martha Beard-Duncan

Martha Beard-Duncan

Managing Attorney, Texas Legal Services Center
Far West Texas native and longtime Austinite Martha Beard-Duncan is managing attorney of TexasLawHelp.org at Texas Legal Services Center. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Stanford University, earned her JD from the University of Houston Law Center, and majored in English... Read More →
SM
EF

Elliott Fontenette

Managing Attorney, TLSC
Friday September 4, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Conference Room 301
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous

11:30am CDT

Representing the Whole Family: Non-Legal Services Every Texas Family Lawyer Should Understand
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Grand Salons DE
This session offers a deep dive into the real-world collaboration between social workers, advocates, attorneys, and families. We will share direct experiences from the field, illustrating how social work intervention acts as a vital "gateway" to services that run alongside and beyond the legal process.Our discussion focuses on the tactical side of partnership: how we can effectively back each...
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Speakers
SD
RM

Rebeca Mendoza

Social Worker, Legal Aid Of Northwest Texas
LE

Lesley Escalante Romero

Social Worker, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas


Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Grand Salons DE
  Family Law

11:30am CDT

Powerless: Keeping the Lights on for Tenants, from the Property Code to the Constitution
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
Tenant’s rights to prevent utility shutoffs exist on paper, but not in practice. Although the Texas Legislature implemented what were intended to be accessible, pro se-friendly statutes for both pre- and post-utility termination remedies, those remedies can leave tenants in the dark for weeks. Tenants in manufactured home communities face even more difficulties due to the differences between...
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Speakers
avatar for Adam Pirtle

Adam Pirtle

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
HV

Haley Varnadoe

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Haley is a staff attorney with the Community Revitalization Project at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. Born and raised in Appalachia, her passion for protecting people and environmental resources from industrial exploitation started young. She focuses on environmental justice in the... Read More →
avatar for Benjamin Gerzik

Benjamin Gerzik

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Community Revitalization Project
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Grand Salons AB
  Housing and Consumer

11:30am CDT

Justice Blooms: Coalition Building to Address Legal Needs in Texas Legal Deserts
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
Coalition building with a varied set of legal and non-legal partners in the Texas Panhandle has seeded the environment for a legal desert bloom in this region. This session will cover the successes and lessons learned during the Texas Immigration Law Council’s ongoing Panhandle Project, including practical guidance for coalition building with legal and non-legal partners. This session will cover...
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Speakers
avatar for Marcela Evans

Marcela Evans

Managing Attorney, Texas Immigration Law Council
Marcela brings a breadth of professional experiences and a multifaceted lens that she applies to her work. Marcela has focused her legal practice on providing stability, security, and education for her clients and communities. Marcela has held various leadership roles at Kids in Need... Read More →
SG

Salvador Gutierrez

Immigration Outreach and Communications Coordinator, Texas Immigration Law Council
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Junior Ballroom
  Immigration Law

11:30am CDT

Representing Unaccompanied Children (UC)
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Conference Room 301
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to serving unaccompanied children in the immigration system.The Children’s Immigration Law Academy (CILA) is an expert legal resource center created by the American Bar Association (ABA), dedicated to helping legal practitioners stay up to date on frequent changes in immigration law and policy related to unaccompanied...
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Speakers
SH
MP
avatar for Laura Egan

Laura Egan

Laura Egan is a Managing Attorney for Pro Bono and Communications with the Children's Immigration Law Academy (CILA). CILA is a project of the American Bar Association's Commission on Immigration. She has been a part of the CILA team since 2019. Laura has practiced in two areas of... Read More →
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Conference Room 301
  Immigration Law

11:30am CDT

Be a LEGO: What Legal Deserts Teach Us About Building Community Partnerships
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Classroom 203
A staple in the toy industry is the building blocks known as LEGO – designed to connect, build, and bring structures to life through creativity and ingenuity. Similarly, this session will teach legal advocates how to be a "LEGO", using lessons learned from serving communities in a legal desert to demonstrate practical, adaptable strategies used by TxILC’s Economic Justice Initiative (EJI)...
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Speakers
avatar for Johana Soileau

Johana Soileau

EJI Legal Access Fellow, Texas Immigration Law Council
Johana Soileau is a graduate of UT Austin with her Bachelor of Arts in Government and Sociology. She has spent many years dedicated to service and empowerment of underrepresented communities through non-profit work, education, mentoring, and now the legal field. Her philosophy is... Read More →
avatar for Lisa Davila Lang

Lisa Davila Lang

Attorney Fellow, Texas Immigration Law Council
Lisa Davila Lang is a first-generation attorney. She began her professional journey in healthcare, earning her Certificate in Vocational Nursing from Western Texas College in 1995, and later her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Texas A&M University in 2014. Lisa pursued her... Read More →
Friday September 4, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Classroom 203
  Multidisciplinary/ Miscellaneous
 
2026 Poverty Law Conference
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