By Erica Norris, PBI intern
The PBEye has been reporting on recent developments as jurisdictions authorize Community Justice Workers (CJWs) to address specific access to justice issues. Our latest blog series focuses on the implementation of CJW programs in three jurisdictions: Alaska, Delaware, and Texas.
Although Texas has not yet authorized the licensing structure that would allow CJWs to provide legal services, the Economic Justice Initiative (EJI), an initiative of the Texas Immigration Law Council, is already developing a framework in preparation for a future licensing system. Once Texas authorizes CJWs to provide legal services, EJI plans to build on this foundation and deploy CJWs throughout the state.
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What are Community Justice Workers? CJWs are nonlegal professionals who attend training to develop the skills and knowledge to provide select legal services to other community members. As members of the community, CJWs bring valuable lived experiences and a deep understanding of their clients’ circumstances, equipping them to serve and support them as they navigate the legal process and access resources. |
The Push to License Community Justice Workers in Texas
Texas has identified a need and readiness to implement licensing that will allow CJWs to practice. In Texas, about five million people qualify for legal aid, and approximately four million people live beneath the poverty level. Yet fewer than 600 of more than 95,000 active Texas attorneys are dedicated legal aid attorneys.
As described in the PBEye’s September 2024 post, Texas took action to minimize the justice gap, and after a 22-month process, the Texas Supreme Court issued an order on August 6, 2024, Misc. Docket No. 24-9050, to “invite[] public comments on proposed new and amended rules that allow licensed legal paraprofessionals and licensed court-access assistants to provide certain limited legal services to low-income individuals.” The proposed rules would authorize two new categories of professionals that could provide limited legal services to low-income Texans: licensed legal paraprofessionals and licensed court-access assistants.
On November 6, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court issued an order, Misc. Docket No. 24-9095, that “delays the expected effective date of the rules proposed in Misc. Dkt. No. 249050 pending further order of the Court.” Currently, implementation of these proposed rules to license community justice workers remains on hold. However, the need for solutions to decrease the access to justice gap persists.
The Economic Justice Initiative
In 2024, funded by a three-year grant from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the Texas Immigration Law Council founded EJI with the mission of reducing the justice gap and expanding access to legal services by working with attorneys, community members, and local organizations.
As part of this initiative, EJI created the Fellows Program, which trains nonlegal professionals and attorney community members to provide representation and assistance for the civil legal needs of immigrants and to work with legal service organizations. Nonlegal professional fellows are tasked with expanding access to legal resources; they present legal information to communities and conduct community education and outreach, building a network of CJWs. In 2025, EJI launched 29 fellows across 10 sites from the Rio Grande Valley to the South Plains, helping mitigate the justice gap while working within the frameworks of the current law.
Although Texas paused the implementation of CJW licensing, EJI continues to develop the partnerships and training structures needed for future CJW implementation. Through partnership with community organizations, this summer, EJI is working to expand access to legal support through their Network Community Justice Worker Pilots. EJI fellows train peer advocates, community-centered workers, and shelter staff community members on the skills necessary to provide legal help via referrals, legal information, and pro se support. This effort is creating a infrastructure to increase the number of professionals who can provide legal support. EJI’s work continues to advance the movement for CJWs in Texas and uses its teaching frameworks to prepare for the next steps.
Empowering CJWs to act as educators serves an important role in the community. It helps people identify their rights and the resources they can access to address their civil legal needs. It also facilitates conversations about legal services, how to attain them, and what to do in certain situations.
In June 2026, EJI requested proposals from mobile application development firms to develop an app for CJWs. This app will feature CJW education, an AI simulator to help train CJWs, a legal navigator to provide legal information, and a job board for CJW and volunteer positions.
As of this year, EJI has reached more than 100,000 people and continues to expand its work with community partners. In addition, EJI’s work has tested different community-based models to guide the groundwork for a CJW model in Texas. Once licensing is implemented, EJI’s existing infrastructure, network, and training programs can support the expansion of community-based legal services throughout Texas to ensure that more Texans have access to justice regardless of their background.