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The UNT Dallas College of Law Community Lawyering Centers have received $500,000 in new funding, as part of a spending package signed by President Joe Biden over the weekend. The legislation totaled $460 billion, including $10,476,031 for various projects in Texas's 30th Congressional District, represented by Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

“The Community Project Funding will pay for 11 transformational projects for the people of TX-30,” said Rep. Crockett. 

The Community Lawyering Centers provide free legal services to eligible residents. Students from UNT Dallas College of Law handle cases, which are supervised by faculty from UNT Dallas College of Law and experienced attorneys from Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, Dallas Public Defender’s Office, and other qualified attorneys.

“This funding will support a critical part of the UNT Dallas College of Law curriculum. The Community Lawyering Centers allow us to provide valuable practical experience to our students and much-needed legal services to our community while meeting ABA standards that require experiential education. I am grateful to Rep. Crockett for her advocacy,” said UNT Dallas College of Law Dean Felicia Epps.  

Legal matters handled by the CLC include:

• Housing/evictions
• Family law
• Child support 
• Child custody 
• Immigration
• Wills and probate

“We are very grateful to Congresswoman Crockett for her work to secure this funding for our Community Lawyering Centers. The crown jewels of the law school, the centers reflect the intentional integration of innovative education and community service that are foundational pillars of the school. With these funds, we will be able to expand our outreach as we begin a new phase of delivering legal assistance while continuing our neighborhood-based program,” said UNT Dallas College of Law Professor Cheryl B. Wattley.

Through the CLCs, UNT Dallas law students:

• Serve as Guardian Ad Litems or Amicus attorneys for children who were in the care of Childrens Protective Services (CPS)
• Represent individuals in family, eviction, juvenile, and probate cases
• Mediate cases through the Dallas County Dispute Mediation Services, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, and Justice of the Peach Judge Mike Jones
• Represent juveniles charged in City of Dallas Municipal Court, seeking resolution that focuses on rehabilitation and education rather than criminalization.

The Community Lawyering Centers were founded in 2016 and offer day and evening appointments during the week, and Saturday appointments.

4716 Elsie Faye Heggins Street
Dallas, Texas 75210
469-351-0024
469-351-0025

511 North Akard St., Suite 102
Dallas, Texas 75201
214-855-7892

The Community Lawyering Centers have strong relationships with other local organizations. These partnerships allow the CLC to broaden the resources it offers to residents and businesses. Legal services are provided by:

1. UNT Dallas College of Law
2. Legal Aid of Northwest Texas 
3. Dallas County Public Defender’s Office Legal Action Works (L.A.W.)

Others offering services to the centers or to residents of the community through the centers include:

• El Centro College Paralegal Program Dallas County Juvenile Justice
• Frazier House
• Children at Risk
• YMCA

UNT Dallas Urban SERCH Institute DISD

In addition to the federal funding just announced, UNT Dallas College of Law gratefully acknowledges generous donations to the Community Lawyering Centers program from:

• Texas Bar Foundation
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
• Texas Real Estate Council

The combined funding from donations, the federal government, and other sources ensures the continuous operation of the Community Lawyering Centers and the important services they provide to Dallas area residents in need of legal assistance.

New York, October 23, 2023 -- Moody's Investors Service announces that an increase in authorization for University of North Texas System, TX's (Aa2 stable) Commercial Paper Notes program has no credit impact.

Please see below for the full news release from Moody's.

Enrollment climbs for five years running, as work-ready Mean Green grads drive the North Texas economy

DENTON (UNT), Texas — The largest-ever student body — numbering 46,940 — enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester at the University of North Texas. The more than 5% growth in enrollment comes from first-time-in-college freshmen, graduate students and those studying at UNT at Frisco, the university’s campus serving Collin County.

“This is a clear demonstration that students and their families see UNT as an exceptional educational value,” UNT President Neal Smatresk said. “Our commitment to a real-world, affordable education along with nationally ranked programs are bringing record numbers to UNT. We are providing more and more students the opportunity to attend college and earn a degree that prepares them for a successful career with top employers.”

Since 2019, UNT has been instrumental in shaping higher education across Texas — accounting for 52.3% of the growth in new enrollees at state public universities.Notably, UNT’s record-breaking enrollment numbers for the past five consecutive years are coupled with a rising number of degrees conferred. In the past two years alone, UNT has awarded nearly 24,000 new degrees.

As the university serves more students and awards more degrees than ever —particularly in business, information science, and computer science and engineering, it is bolstering the North Texas region’s workforce and helping drive the state’s economy. Since 2012, UNT has produced more than 105,000 degree holders equating to an economic impact of $5.4 billion in potential annual earnings.

“Education is a key that unlocks opportunity and economic mobility,” said Kirsten Kuykendoll, Head of Talent Acquisition at Fidelity Investments. “We’re proud to have many University of North Texas alums and recent graduates working on behalf of our customers, clients and community organizations. Fidelity is committed to providing opportunities to the next generation and investing in our community here in North Texas.”

This fall, the Mean Green Family welcomed 7,049 first-time college students and saw an increase in the graduate student population of more than 15% from 2022. The university’s focus on career readiness leverages innovative curriculum that allows students to design their own degrees and prepare for future careers through the UNT Career Center with the help of embedded career coaches in every college.

“We are being proactive with our services, providing required courses in the first two years for students — that’s the cutting-edge piece,” said Eileen Buecher, assistant vice president of the UNT Career Center. “Other universities are headed in this direction, but UNT is getting there first, and we’re doing it on a large scale.”

At the UNT Career Center, dedicated career coaches specialize in career development and employer relations as they work with industry partners in North Texas and around the globe.

UNT’s commitment to prepare students to make a difference in the workforce recently expanded with a $3 million gift from Satish and Yasmin Gupta to establish a new career center at UNT at Frisco. And later this month, UNT will officially dedicate The Wilson Jones Career Center in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, which was established with a $5 million gift from the alumnus and his wife, Jane.

Enrollment at UNT at Frisco continues to grow with more than 3,140 students at Frisco Landing, the first permanent building that opened earlier this year at the branch campus in Collin County.

“UNT at Frisco is a dream fulfilled for the city and our employers, offering the majors and curriculum needed to educate a future-ready workforce,” City of Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney said. “The learning environment at Frisco Landing is key to preparing a pipeline of talent for tomorrow’s jobs. Frisco companies are looking to hire those who are ready to innovate and work collaboratively.”