Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy, Inc

The Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Institute empowers underserved and disenfranchised populations by addressing systemic social issues through legal representation, research, education, and advocacy.

Property Preservation Project

Protecting family homes to preserve generational wealth and community stability.

Types of cases include Foreclosure Defense, Eviction Defense & Other Landlord-Tenant Issues, Partition Suits, Title Clearing, Adverse Possession, Judicial & Nonjudicial Probate, Will & Estate Planning and Heirs Property Issues

Heirs' Property Project

Protecting Family Land and Legacy

Types of cases include cases involving family properties passed down without timely probating a will or where no will existed and title has not been cleared from one generation to the next. Our assistance includes legal services related to securing tax exemptions, home repairs, disaster relief, mortgage assistance, and access to home equity, as well as protections for families from predatory investors who are attempting to take family property.

Fort Bend County Civil Legal Services Project

Providing early legal intervention to keep families stable and self‑sufficient.

Types of cases include matters traditionally handled through our other projects, as well as family law cases that involve an issue related to housing stability. The scope of cases accepted may continue to evolve as we further assess and respond to the needs of the Fort Bend County, Texas community.

Rebound Project

Removing the legal barriers that keep people from rebuilding their lives.

Types of cases include Juvenile Record Sealing, Expunctions, Nondisclosures and Driver’s License Restoration.

Citizenship by Naturalization Community Clinics

Turning legal status into full civic participation and belonging.

This project assists Permanent Legal Residents navigate the naturalization process through legal assistance from N-400 applications to the oath ceremony.

About the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy

The Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law was established in 1992 as a 501(c)(3) organization. The Institute seeks to empower underserved and disenfranchised populations by addressing systemic social issues through legal representation, research, education, and advocacy.

The Institute’s free legal services and advocacy programs include the Opal Mitchell Lee Property Preservation Project, the ECI Heirs’ Property Project, the Fort Bend County Civil Legal Services Project, the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Innocence Project, the ECI Rebound Project, and the ECI Immigration by Naturalization Community Clinics.