Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Pro Bono Legal Services

The term pro bono describes free or reduced-cost legal services provided as a public service. In Texas, there is no requirement that lawyers provide pro bono legal services, but the State Bar encourages the practice.

In Travis County, the court will appoint a lawyer for you if they determine you are indigent. You may qualify for a court-appointed lawyer if one of the following situations exists:

• Your household income does not exceed 150% of the Poverty Guidelines as established and revised annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the difference between your monthly net income and reasonable necessary expenses is less than $500. For example, a single person with no dependents could make up to $16,245 per year and still qualify for a court-appointed attorney.

• At the time you request an appointed lawyer, you or your dependents have been determined to be eligible to receive Food Stamps, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, or public housing.

• You do not meet any of the above standards, but are still unable to hire a lawyer without substantial hardship to yourself or your dependents considering the nature of the criminal chargers, the anticipated complexity of the defense, the estimated cost of obtaining a competent lawyer, and the amount needed for the support of your and your dependents.

Each county in Texas has its own standards to determine if you qualify for a court-appointed attorney and must submit those standards in writing to the Task Force on Indigent Defense. For information on indigency standards in other Texas counties, you can select your county from the drop-down list on the Task Force’s public access site.

In most counties, you may request a court-appointed lawyer when you appear at your court settings. You will need to fill out a form detailing how much money you make and your monthly expenses. The court will review this form to determine if you qualify for court-appointed counsel. The form for Travis County is available here.

Each county sets minimum qualification levels that attorneys must meet to be added to the court appointment list. Attorneys are qualified to handle a case based on the number of years they have practiced, the number of cases they have handled, and completing required continuing education in criminal law. Most counties break lawyers into categories based on their experience level, with only the most experienced attorneys qualified to handle more serious felony charges. To see the attorney eligibility requirements for your county, select your county from the drop-down list on the Task Force on Indigent Defense’s public access site and select the document under "District Court Plan."

Appointments are generally made using a rotation system that follows an alphabetical listing of eligible attorneys. A judge may also appoint a lawyer to you in court without using the alphabetical rotation system.

If you do not qualify for a court-appointed lawyer or need help in a civil matter where appointed lawyers are not available, there are a number of resources available. Please see our list of organizations that provide free or low cost legal representation at our attorney links page.