Every year, pro se litigants in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas are involved in a variety of civil lawsuits. A judge may grant an indigent pro se civil litigant’s motion for the appointment of counsel in an appropriate case and request an attorney to represent that litigant. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). 

In 1997, the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas established a small panel of attorneys willing to accept pro bono appointments in civil rights cases. In 2011, an ad hoc court committee revamped the panel, renaming it the Pro Bono Civil Panel (“PBCP”) and extending its applicability to other types of civil cases. The committee also made it easier for attorneys to sign up for appointments and to seek reimbursement of allowable expenses.

The PBCP is currently comprised of more than 20 local law firms of all sizes and numerous individual attorneys. Since its inception, it has provided quality pro bono legal representation for indigent, pro se civil litigants with potentially meritorious cases while expanding opportunities for young lawyers to gain valuable litigation experience.

If you or your firm would like to sign up to be on the list of volunteers, please complete the registration form and mail or email it to the email address below. To find out if you or your firm is already on the PBCP, click the email link below to send an inquiry to the court committee.

Pro Bono Civil Panel
United States District Court
1100 Commerce, Room 1452
Dallas, TX 75242-1003

Email: txndml_probono@txnd.uscourts.gov

Please Note: This email address is intended to be used by attorneys ONLY and must not be used to request help from an attorney. The Pro Se section on the court’s website may be helpful for litigants representing themselves in the Northern District of Texas without the assistance of an attorney.