In September 2006, the Hidalgo and Cameron County Pro Bono Projects transitioned to the new Community Justice Program ("CJP"), providing family law-related legal services to indigent individuals throughout the lower Rio Grande Valley. CJP operates under the supervision of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. and under the direction of Martha Hernandez (formerly the HCBA Pro Bono Project director). Modeled after the widely successful "Community Justice Program" in San Antonio, CJP program organizers working in tandem with our area courts to hold free community legal clinics in Cameron and Hidalgo counties. At each clinic, a courtroom is set up providing indigent clients in need of a divorce a volunteer attorneys. A judge, a court interpreter, a bailiff, a court reporter, district clerk representatives and deputies from the Sheriff's department are onsite to help Hidalgo County residents efficiently secure the legal help they need.

Since September 2006, CJP has held very successful monthly divorce clinics thanks to the volunteer efforts of our Bar Members. The Hidalgo County CJP Divorce Clinics take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Hidalgo County Courthouse on the second Tuesday of each even month, and usually conclude by 7:30 p.m. On average, 12 simple divorce cases are filed at each CJP Clinic. After 60 days have elapsed and the case is ripe for a final divorce hearing, the CJP clinic also serves as the final step to the divorce process by providing the volunteer attorney a judge to preside at the final hearing to enter a final decree of divorce.