To The Leader

AUSTIN — The State Bar of Texas reminds residents that free civil legal resources are available to low-income individuals and families affected by the chemical plant explosions and fire in Port Neches.

The State Bar of Texas toll-free legal hotline — 800-504-7030 — connects callers with legal aid providers in their area who can help with civil legal matters related to disasters such as insurance questions, landlord-tenant disputes, and consumer protection matters. The hotline can assist callers in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. People who qualify for assistance will be matched with lawyers who can provide free, limited civil legal help.

Individuals who qualify also may use texaslegalanswers.org — a free online platform where people can pose specific questions related to disaster civil legal issues and have them answered online by Texas volunteer attorneys.

Additional disaster recovery resources are available at texasbar.com/disaster and texaslawhelp.org.

The State Bar of Texas reminds the public that in many cases it is a crime in Texas for a lawyer or someone representing a lawyer to contact a person for purposes of legal representation if the person has not first requested the call or personal visit. The contact is not illegal if the attorney is not seeking payment or has a preexisting professional-client or family relationship with the person being contacted.

If you witness something you believe to be improper solicitation, or barratry, get the name and phone number of the person making contact and report it to your local law enforcement authority or the State Bar Chief Disciplinary Counsel’s Office toll free at 866-224-5999.