Programs Supported by the Austin Bar Foundation

CRISIS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CAP)

CAP was launched in 2025 as a pilot program in connection with various stakeholders in the legal community to fill the gap when the impacted lawyer needs to temporarily (up to 90 days) step away from practice to address health issues. Once the applicant’s application is accepted by CAP, the program matches the attorney with volunteer lawyers in the same or similar practice area who are willing to temporarily assist with the impacted attorney’s cases while the impacted attorney steps away to care for their mental and/or physical health. To apply to the program, please fill out this form.

AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS ADOPTION DAYS

The Adoption Day project bring together attorneys, court-appointed special advocates (CASAs), case workers, judges, and many others in the community to celebrate the creation of new families. The children involved have all been placed in foster care due to abuse and neglect. Through the help of the Austin Bar Foundation, these children are now in safe and stable homes. Since its inception, it has hosted the adoptions of more than 646 children. Due to the success of the program, Central Texas Adoption Day was established to cast an even wider net of hope for families. More than 200 children have been adopted at the Central Texas events.

VETERANS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Thanks to a generous grant from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the Austin Bar Association not only provides a monthly Free Legal Advice Clinics for Veterans, it also provides free legal advice over the phone to eligible veterans, and assists with minor legal issues for veterans in Travis and surrounding counties. Applicants must complete an intake to see if they qualify for these services.  If you are a veteran seeking help, CLICK HERE for more information.

Attorneys, paralegals, and law students are encouraged to volunteer. CLICK HERE for more information on the Veterans Assistance Programs and how to get involved.

This program is funded by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and the Austin Bar Foundation. 

CANLAW CLINIC

Created in 2017, the CanLaw Clinic serves the cancer community by providing free estate planning services to cancer patients and survivors. Attorney and paralegal volunteers staff the clinic and assist clients who have been diagnosed with a wide range of cancers in various stages with a variety of estate planning needs. CLICK HERE to learn more.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR LGBTQ+ LAW STUDENTS

The Austin Bar Foundation, in conjunction with the Austin Bar’s LGBTQ+ Law section, offers a scholarship for LGBTQ+ law students and ally students of LGBTQ+ causes. The purpose of the scholarship is to offset the cost of tuition for qualifying Texas law students. Applicants must be enrolled at a law school in Texas and must have demonstrated some commitment or contribution to the LGBTQ+ community or LGBTQ+ legal issues. CLICK HERE for more information and to download the application.

DENISE HYDE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Established at the 2012 Foundation Gala, the Denise Hyde Scholarship Fund, named after long-time Adoption Day Committee Chair Denise Hyde, was created to help with school and living expenses for older children being adopted or aging out of the foster care system.

JUSTICE MACK KIDD FUND

The Justice Mack Kidd Fund provides financial assistance for counseling and medical treatment on a short-term basis for Austin attorneys suffering from depression or a related illness. Since its inception, the fund has helped more than 16 attorneys. Your donations truly make a difference in the lives of those facing crises. CLICK HERE for more information.

HON. LORA J. LIVINGSTON FELLOWSHIP

The Hon. Lora J. Livingston enables first and second-year law students of diverse backgrounds to participate in law firm, governmental agency, and judicial clerkships. The Austin Bar Foundation provides a stipend to the students, which is funded by charitable donations from participating firms. Contact Leslie Dippel with questions about the Fellowship.

AUSTIN BAR FOUNDATION GRANTS

The Austin Bar Foundation has been awarding grants since 2012. Through the grant program, the Foundation furthers its mission to improve public awareness of the legal system, the administration of justice, and the delivery of legal service. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $410,000 in grants to area law-related programs and organizations.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the grant program and how to apply.