Pro Bono News and Opportunities

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas

The following attorneys have recently volunteered and accepted cases through Legal Aid of Northwest Texas. Thank you!

Mark Winnubst
Yogesh Nanji
Ben Capelle
Twana Allen
John Wilson
Ryan Smith (HP)
Grady Thompson
Courtney North
Jaqueline Williams
Michael Sloan
Samuel Kaminski
Celeste Flippen
Megan Rachel
Carole Stevens
 Penny Phillips
Melinda Eitzen
Latrice Andrews
Robert McEwan
Shelly Shilling

Great news for the Plano Legal Aid intake clinic! We have anew location. Beginning November 17, 2011, the Plano clinicwill be held at the Harrington Public Library at 1501 18th St., Plano, TX. Start time will still be 6:00pm. This is a great new partnering opportunity for which LANWT and Harrington are very pleased to be sharing. The library feels this clinic will be an excellent extension of their commitment of service to the Plano community. We will need to be finished and out of there by no later than 9:00pm as that is the time the library closes. With enough volunteers interviewing applicant’s we will probably be finished sooner. Please let Jan Kearney know if you would like to join us on our first Plano clinic at the new location.

Collin County Bench Bar Conference - March 23-25

Sign up for the 2012 Collin County Bench Bar Conference, or help sponsor the event.

Kids in the Crossfire Video

Alternatives to Litigation. Litigation is an adversarial approach. It is very expensive, increases conflict and many times proves devastating to the children involved. The bad feelings from courtroom litigation can affect you and your children the rest of your lives. On the other hand, mediation or collaborative law can result in a settlement that is less expensive, less traumatic and more creative. The choices you make now can have an enormous immediate and long term effect on you and your children. Choose wisely. Click here for more information.

Collin County Bench Bar Conference - March 23-25

Sign up for the 2012 Collin County Bench Bar Conference, or help sponsor the event.

Collin County Bar Association
Collin County Young Lawyers Association
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas
State Bar of Texas
Texas Judiciary Online
Current Judgment Interest Rates (OCCC)
Texas Constitution and Statutes
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure
Texas Rules of Evidence
Court Reporter Rules and Standards
Rules of Judicial Administration
ADR Section - State Bar of Texas

  Express File Check Out.   The District Clerk is pleased to announce that beginning Monday, December 19, 2011, there will be an “attorneys only” Express File Check Out window each morning from 8:15 – 9:15 am.

It will be located in the District Clerk’s office, at the passport window.  This window will be outgoing only, and is intended to allow attorneys to more quickly check out the  files they need for prove-ups or agreements.  You will not be able to file anything at this window, it is to check out files only, but you may drop off files here when you are done with them provided you don’t need certified copies, etc.

Take a number as you would normally, and you will be called to the Express Line in that order.  The other windows can then proceed to the numbers of those waiting who need filing done.

  For Kids Sake Brochures.   Download the  brochures for the 'For Kids Sake seminars. Para clases en Español llame al 469.752.2277

   New Case Management System. The new case management system for the District Courts is up and running. 

●Calendar
●Case Lookup

     Email.   Attorneys, please make sure the District Clerk has your email address on file in the case management system.

Inmate Pleas and Appearances.  All inmate pleas and non-evidentiary appearances will be done via video conferencing. Judges, defense counsel, prosecutors, supervision officers, clerks and bailiffs report that the process is working well.

Smoking. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside or on the grounds of the new courthouse on Bloomdale Road, except for in one’s personal vehicle. This new smoking policy applies to all employees as well as visitors to the courthouse, and is effective immediately.

Secured Access Policy in New Courthouse. New security procedures and access are in place at the new courthouse. Access to the private offices in the new courthouse will be secured with biometric scanning of your palms.  Entrants to the secured area will have to fill out an application and be approved by both Collin County Homeland Security and the Board of District Judges.  You can obtain your applications online or at the security desk. Judge John Roach will be representing the Board of Judges in assisting Homeland Security’s implementation of this process. Attorneys coming to the courthouse for the first time will have the opportunity to receive temporary access by 1) completing an application, and 2) temporarily surrendering their driver's license to the security desk for a temporary access badge. They will exchange the badge for their driver's license when leaving the courthouse.