FEMA Research Project I with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Student will conduct legal research that will support both requests for FEMA assistance for survivors of Hurricane Harvey and appeals of FEMA decisions denying assistance. TRLA attorneys represent a number of individuals who were living in recreational vehicles or travel trailers in coastal communities impacted by Harvey. The student will research how FEMA classifies these types of vehicles when used as residences, and what benefits are allowed when they are destroyed or damaged in a storm.

Organization

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

TRLA is a nonprofit organization that provides free civil and criminal legal services to low-income residents in 68 counties of Southwest Texas. TRLA is the second largest legal services provider in the nation and the largest in the state of Texas. TRLA serves approximately 25,000 clients each year.

Project Details

Project Start Date

October 2017; final memo is due as soon as possible and no later than Monday, November 6, 2017

Approximate hours of work requested
Students should expect to spend between 5-10 hours total on legal research and drafting a memo
Training
None; the supervising attorney is available to answer questions that arise in the course of research
Skills used
Legal research/writing
Project location
Project tasks may be completed at a location of students’ choice
Number of student volunteers requested
1
Class year preference
1L, 2L, 3L, LLM
To Apply
Submit an email stating interest to Sarah Sedgwick at ssedgwick@law.utexas.edu