Cantey Hanger teams with Legal Aid NorthWest Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 3, 2010 -- For information, contact:

Ellena Simmons
EJVP Coordinator
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Equal Justice Volunteer Program
(817) 336-3943 Extension 5024
simmonse@lanwt.org


FORT WORTH -- Sixteen Cantey Hanger attorneys have agreed to accept a minimum of two pro bono cases each from Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT). The attorneys are taking the cases as part of Cantey Hanger’s new Pro Bono project with LANWT—the largest partnership in the nonprofit’s 59-year history.

Cantey Hanger’s attorneys have agreed to accept cases in Tarrant, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker and Somervell counties.

“Every day, potential clients walk through the doors of one of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas’ 14 branch offices requesting legal assistance. Our staff attorneys simply cannot meet the huge demand for help in civil matters,” said Kathy Duncan, Director, Pro Bono & Bar Relations. “Cantey Hanger’s pro bono project is a model that can be replicated by other Tarrant County law firms to partner with LANWT to help close the justice gap. Cantey Hanger’s commitment to equal access in the judicial system for the indigent is a tangible contribution to help ensure low-income people have equitable access to legal services.”



LANWT provides free civil legal services in 11 practice areas to eligible low-income residents in 114 Texas counties. It is a nonprofit tax exempt Texas Corporation, funded primarily by the Legal Services Corporation, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and the United Way.

The Equal Justice Volunteer Program (EJVP) works to attract professionals and lay volunteers who are willing to contribute their time and talent to help close the justice gap.

“Legal Aid provides a very important community service,” said John Johndroe III, a partner at Cantey Hanger. “It occurred to me that Cantey Hanger might be able to provide free and necessary legal assistance to those less fortunate than we are while, at the same time, giving our younger lawyers experience in representing people of diverse backgrounds in court. So far, Cantey Hanger is very pleased with this program.”

"Attorneys have a unique opportunity to help their clients through difficult times. We are excited to be a part of the Access to Justice Program and to have the opportunity to serve our community in this way," said Cantey Hanger associate Caroline Harrison.

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