Deborah Hubbs: Championing Access to Justice Through Faith-Based Legal Aid | TOJI Spotlight

Deborah Hubbs, founder of Community Christian Legal Aid (CCLA) and Hubbs Law Group, embodies the spirit of service and innovation that the Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator (TOJI) program aims to foster. Her journey from corporate energy lawyer to passionate advocate for underserved communities showcases the transformative power of purpose-driven legal practice. 

A Calling to Serve 

Though Deborah knew she wanted to be a lawyer from a young age, her path was not a straight line. After working as a paralegal and raising a family, she attended law school in her early 30s. Her career in energy law was successful, but Deborah felt a deeper calling. Reflecting on her own challenging childhood and the lack of faith-based legal aid organizations in Texas, she recognized an opportunity to make a difference. 

"I grew up poor, and my parents went through a terrible divorce," Deborah shares. "There was something inherently wrong with having to pay for an attorney while you can't take care of your family." 

This realization led Deborah to found Community Christian Legal Aid (CCLA) in 2019, a non-profit organization providing free legal services to low-income individuals in the greater Houston area. 

Expanding Access to Justice 

CCLA's mission is to fill the justice gap by offering free consultations for people making up to 400% above the federal poverty level, and free representation for those up to 250%. The organization focuses on family law, kinship adoptions, and guardianships - areas where Deborah saw critical needs going unmet. 

"We provide that service for free to families that qualify financially," Deborah explains, highlighting CCLA's work with special needs families. "We feel very much that our special needs families shouldn't have to pay for guardianship." 

Innovation in Practice 

Deborah credits TOJI with providing essential tools and knowledge to run a successful solo practice while maintaining her non-profit work. The program introduced her to case management software, billing practices, and a supportive network of like-minded attorneys. 

"TOJI really helped me figure out systems," Deborah reflects. "I didn't understand the business of law. I didn't know about billing software or case management. It was really scary to think about opening my own law firm." 

Today, Deborah balances her non-profit work with Hubbs Law Group, where she focuses on business transactional work and serving other non-profits. She leverages technology to streamline processes and increase accessibility for clients in both practices. 

A Continuing Commitment to Providing Access to Justice for All 

Deborah is passionate about encouraging all attorneys to engage in pro bono work and support legal aid efforts. "I'm a firm believer that all lawyers, at some level, should serve people who are less fortunate," she asserts. "Civil legal aid isn't talked about enough, but it is hugely important." 

As Deborah continues to grow both CCLA and her private practice, she remains committed to her mission of providing access to justice for all. Her story serves as an inspiration to lawyers seeking to make a meaningful impact in their communities while building successful, purpose-driven practices. 

To learn more about Community Christian Legal Aid, visit https://cclegalaid.org/. For information on the Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator program, visit https://txoji.com/.