[Letter from Suzy Wagers to the Texas Human Rights Foundation Trustees, October 20, 1992] Page: 3 of 4
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Internal Systems and Procedures -
Kim Vickery usually conducts the initial screening of the Hotline calls. Due to the
nature of the disease, callers are not required to give their names to allow them the comfort
of anonymity. The intake eligibility sheets are kept in alphabetical order in Ms. Vickery's
office. Financial eligibility screening is rarely conducted by the THRF staff. The THRF
needs to take immediate steps to ensure that IOLTA funds are used to serve only those low
income Texans who live at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Some of the Hotline calls are referred to private attorneys who have agreed to
participate on a pro bono basis on a referral panel. After confirming an attorney's
willingness to handle the client's matter, Ms. Vickery refers the client to that attorney and
advises the client to call the THRF if s/he does not receive services. The THRF generally
does not conduct follow-up to track the case. The THRF should implement a case tracking
procedure to ensure that the clients are receiving services. The THRF should seek the
assistance of Texas Lawyers Care to better develop the pro bono component of the program.
Those cases which are reviewed by the Legal Committee are kept in a locked filing
cabinet in a centralized location. At the time of the on-site visit there were no in-house
litigated cases. As the THRF's caseload increases, the THRF needs to develop internal
systems such as appropriate docket control systems, client trust account procedures, etc.,
which will facilitate the efficient delivery of legal services. The Board has adopted
Litigation Procedures which include clear case acceptance criteria. As described in the
Governance section of this report, the Legal Committee makes the decisions regarding case
Client Access -
Due to the nature of this organization's delivery mechanism, client contact is mostly
in the form of communication over the telephone. This mechanism provides the ultimate
in accessibility, especially as it relates to individuals with HIV/AIDS related legal problems,
since it allows individuals to receive advice in the privacy of their own homes.
The THRF office, which is located in downtown Austin, is close to public
transportation. Low cost parking is limited. The office is clean, pleasant, and presents a
professional atmosphere. The office is accessible to the handicapped.
The THRF received IOLTA funds to conduct seminars throughout the state as part
of recruitment, publicity, legal training and outreach efforts. The program does not have
bilingual capacity. This obviously effects outreach, publicity and services to the non-English
speaking community. The THRF is in the process of having their brochures translated into
Spanish.
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Wagers, Suzy. [Letter from Suzy Wagers to the Texas Human Rights Foundation Trustees, October 20, 1992], letter, October 20, 1992; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1108456/m1/3/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.