Many courts require family law cases to go to mediation before trial. The Family Code contains an exception for cases involving family violence, but as an advocate, you may choose to mediate anyway, as the best way to resolve the issues. This session will discuss the challenges of mediating these cases, and suggest strategies to obtain the best outcomes for your clients. Topics will include selecting the mediator, preparing your client, negotiation strategies, ideas for handling possession of children, and drafting the mediated settlement agreement.
Ms. Morgan is a staff attorney specializing in Family Law. She works in the McKinney office of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and litigates cases in Collin, Grayson, Fannin, Rockwall and Hunt Counties. She is also an adjunct professor at Collin College, teaching Family Law in their... Read More →
Wednesday August 27, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT Room 408500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
This session will seek to update practitioners on recent changes in protective order law as well as provide some helpful information to refine and improve your protective order practice. Presenters will cover strategies employed by Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas’s LASSA unit in seeking protective orders and provide valuable insights to make the OCA forms work for you.
A practical guide to assessing BASIC client eligibility for food stamps, TANF, SSI, RSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, MSP Medicaid, CHIP, other health benefits, Unemployment, and housing benefits.
I have been with Lone Star Legal Aid for 49 years and I have been in the Public Benefits Unit in the Houston office all of that time. I truly enjoy helping people and my work with LSLA allows me to do that. I am the mother of 2, the grandmother of 4, and the great grandmother... Read More →
Healthcare access plays an important role in a child’s over all wellbeing. Children who lack access to healthcare will have increased risk of poor health outcomes, developmental delays, and impact to their education. Programs like Children’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program also known as CHIP play such a huge role in ensuring that eligible children have access to proper healthcare coverage which leads to better developmental outcomes for their wellbeing. Furthermore, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are responsible for approving or denying medical claims for Children Medicaid recipients and can potentially be a barrier to a child's access to medically necessary services. In this presentation we will discuss Children's Medicaid and CHIP eligibility requirements, and what advocates can do if an eligible child has been wrongfully denied for these benefits. Advocates will also learn how access to these benefits for low-income families is vital to a child's ability to have positive health outcomes and development into healthy young adults. Our panelists will discuss the importance of Managed Care's role in a child's ability to access medical services after a determination of eligibility, and what advocates can do ensure MCOs are not a barrier to an eligible child's access to medically necessary health services.
Elizabeth Green is a Staff Attorney at Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) located in Houston, Texas. Elizabeth joined Lone Star legal Aid, which provides free legal assistance for low-income individuals dealing with civil law issues throughout the state of Texas about a year ago. Lone Star... Read More →
This session is intended for both new and seasoned advocates. It will focus on the differences in the appeal process when a person's application for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration is denied versus when a recipient of SSA disability benefits receives a notice of SSA determination of medical cessation of disability (termination of benefits). The session will also address the specific ethical obligations of advocates while providing representation of clients before the Social Security Administration, as well as general ethical considerations for legal advocates in Texas will also be addressed.
Ms. Treviño practices law in the San Antonio, Texas office of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. (TRLA). She is a legal advocate for low-income Texans and Group Coordinator of the TRLA Public Benefits Group which consists of four teams including the Public Benefits Team, Health Law... Read More →
Thursday August 28, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT Room 408500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides critical assistance to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Texas. However, overpayments and intentional program violations (IPVs) are common issues that affect both recipients and administrators of the program. This session will provide an overview of the legal landscape surrounding SNAP overpayments and IPVs, focusing on Texas-specific regulations and practices. We will examine the causes and implications of SNAP overpayments, the process for identifying and addressing IPVs, and the rights of recipients facing potential disqualification or penalties. Participants will learn about best practices for advocating on behalf of clients affected by SNAP overpayments and how to navigate legal remedies and administrative hearings. The session will include real-world case studies and interactive discussions to help attendees understand both the legal frameworks and the practical challenges involved in defending clients against overpayment charges and accusations of intentional program violations.
Families are having to choose between meeting their basic needs of food, shelter, and family and the fear of losing everything. It is our job to know the law and how to help them maneuver these obstacles. Melissa and I are going to focus on the two overlapping legal specialization areas that are affecting mixed immigration status families. Families are already having to make very hard choices about meeting their basic needs and applying for benefits for eligible family members and avoiding immigration consequences for family members who are not applying for benefits or not eligible for benefits. In the last Trump administration there were proposed changes to the Public Charge rule that were not finalized that would have affected mixed status families. Many of us are watching to see if the administration or Congress will attempt to make changes that will affect eligible persons based on non-eligible persons in their households. This is extremely important for our client populations as many families eligible for our services live in mixed immigration status households or multi-generational households with needs that vary by generation.
Discussion of how to obtain Social Security disability benefits for veterans. Emphasis will be on the differences between SSA disability compensation (SSI/SSDI) and VA disability compensation (Service-Connected/Pension) and the rules governing each. Attendees will learn best practices for proving the veterans Social Security disability claim. Brief discussion of Professional Responsibility/Ethics/HIPAA.
This presentation will focus on the legal challenges faced by aging populations and provide tools to help older clients overcome these obstacles. It will cover a broad range of issues, including housing, healthcare, financial security, access to public benefits, and expungement. Special attention will be given to the unique needs of older adults, such as cognitive decline, health issues, and limited resources, and how these factors impact their ability to navigate legal systems. The presentation will also highlight available community resources and legal tools to empower older adults to improve their quality of life.
Advocates will learn how they can more effectively and efficiently assist US military veterans with claims before the Veterans Benefits Administration by using IT systems. The session will include familiarization and access training on VA.gov, VA QuickSubmit, and the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). There will also be a short ethics component on the duty of attorneys to understand the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.
Equal Justice Works Fellow and Staff Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
I am employed as a staff attorney by TRLA with the help of an Equal Justice Works Fellowship, sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and Greenberg Traurig. My fellowship is focused on providing wrap-around legal assistance to noncitizens US military veterans. My primary... Read More →
Friday August 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT Room 408500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
