We work with underserved individuals and communities throughout Texas to ensure access to high-quality legal services that enable our low-income clients to protect their rights, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals.  

Ideal candidates will share our vision of a society where the voices of those who have been historically marginalized are amplified and where the laws and systems that govern us are fair, just, and equitable. Our vision is grounded in our commitment to upholding the values of integrity, respect, inclusivity, excellence, and social justice in all aspects of our work. In addition, we strive to be a trusted partner and advocate for those we serve, building strong relationships with clients, communities, and other organizations to effect meaningful change.

Who We Are

TRLA is the country’s second-largest legal aid provider and the largest in Texas. Advocates at TRLA serve low-income clients in 68 counties across west, central, and south Texas and the coastal bend. We represent migrant and seasonal farmworkers throughout Texas and in six other southern states. Specializing in more than 45 civil practice areas, our civil legal services include community preservation and empowerment, economic and social justice, domestic violence and family law, housing, immigration, public benefits, labor and employment, and much more.

What we offer

A career with TRLA offers the opportunity to work with a team of professionals driven by a passion for making a difference in the lives of our client community. Our total benefits package offers 100% employer-paid medical, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability benefits that start on your first day of employment!  Additional benefits include:

• Generous PTO, plus 14 paid holidays and 2 floater holidays per calendar year

• Loan Repayment Assistance Program (law graduates and attorneys, only)

• 401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan

• Continuing legal education and continuing education for full-time employees

• Flex Spending Account

• Parental & Family Leave
  
  
  

TRLA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

At TRLA, we are committed to offering fair and equal employment opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request.

STAFF SPOTLIGHTS

Mary Christine Reed (she/her) is the Group Coordinator of the Economic and Social Justice Group and the Manager of the Education team at TRLA. In 2022, Mary Christine was chosen for the David Hall Award by TRLA’s Board of Directors after being nominated by her colleagues. In the past, she has also been the Director of the Telephone Access to Justice Project, Group Coordinator for Intake, the Director of the Foster Youth Justice Project, and Branch Manager of the TRLA Austin Office. She spent the first five years of her career at TRLA as a staff attorney in the Rio Grande Valley where she handled a wide range of civil legal matters. Mary Christine has been with TRLA for 31 years – and that doesn't even include the time she spent clerking at TRLA as a law student!

IMPACTFUL CAREER MOMENTS

Q: Can you discuss a particular case that you're proud of or look back on for inspiration?

A: There was one case I did when I was a pretty new attorney during my first couple years at TRLA, where I helped a little girl, who was living with her aunt, who had been out of school for many months because her aunt did not have court-ordered control over her and the school district was denying enrollment. I sued the school district and got them to change their policy, because their policy does not comport with state law, and got that child in school.

And that helped me embark on my interest in education and youth issues. At that time, there were also other school districts that were trying to implement policies to basically not provide education to students who were living with someone other than their parent, unless that person had court-ordered control.

Q: What has kept you at TRLA over the years?

A: I've been able to have an impact on the lives of so many clients, that I've been able to have a meaningful career. I've also had different roles that I've played at TRLA, I’ve had a lot of autonomy in what I get to do, and I have been able to continue to grow as an attorney in my roles.

Starting in the 90s I worked on immigrant access to public benefits. There was a significant change in law during round one of the vilification of immigrants. So, I did a lot of training work with TRLA and community partners on those issues. And that work continues today with our public benefits team.

I also spent almost 14 years as the director of the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project, working on how our child welfare system cares for the children that they take into state custody. And I think our project has made very significant improvements in making sure that the agency not only has the policy and benefits in place, but they actually follow them.

WORKING WITH FORMER TRLA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DAVID HALL

Q: What was working with David like?

A: What I’ve appreciated the most was the confidence [David Hall] helped me build to take charge, to go forward, to fully litigate a case, once we'd committed to doing it. That if we needed to go to a jury trial for something ridiculous because the other side was just not willing to settle and was making our lives miserable, we still needed to do that. And that we will do it – do it proudly – and we would make people be afraid to have to litigate us because we weren't going to back down.

At one point [David Hall] said, "You, you're the boss, you make the decisions, I trust you, you know, you decide how to do things." And that meant a lot to me that he instilled that faith in me.

And I also remember one time reviewing this consumer case with him, and trying to decide if it was worthwhile to take and he just walked me through the steps and told me what factors to consider. And all of that contributed to me feeling that I was a very capable attorney, and that, that I should go forward and do the right thing.