Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who works at TJCTC?

  Our legal department is made up of five attorneys who are passionate about justice courts. They teach at the conferences across the state, develop legal resources, and answer legal questions. We are always interested in finding out what justice courts need, so if you see a resource missing, please email tjctcoffice@txstate.edu.

  We also have a program administration team who plan and execute our conferences and other programs, and a home team that keeps everything running behind the scenes.

  Visit the About Us page to get to know us and see contact information.

• Who can contact a staff attorney?

  As an additional resource, our staff attorneys answer legal questions for justices of the peace, court personnel, constables, deputy constables, and constable clerks. The Training Center Legal Department does not provide legal advice or assistance to the general public.

• How can I reach an attorney by phone?

  The on-duty attorney will take phone calls when they are in the office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Please keep in mind that we have a significant travel schedule and will often not be in the office.

  Tips for asking questions via phone:

  • Call 512-347-9927 and Press 1 for Legal Questions
  • If it goes to voicemail, the on-call attorney is either away from their desk or on the other line. Please leave a detailed message with your county, precinct, and phone number (either a direct line or extension).
  • We hold over 25 events a year, so keep in mind that this service is only available when we are in the office. Thank you!

• How can I send the attorneys a written question?

  You can login into your TJCTC account to post questions on our legal board and our legal staff will answer them within five business days. 

  Don't know how? You can find more information on the Legal Question Board page.

• How do I find the answer to a legal question?

  • Can I find the answer in the resources?

    We recommend looking in our deskbooks first. You can use CTRL+F to search the deskbook for keywords. 

  • I searched the deskbook but it didn't answer my question.

    You can also search our legal question board by keyword to see if others have already asked a similar question. Tip: You can use CTRL+F in the results you get from the keyword search to further narrow your search. 

  • I couldn't find the answer on the legal board. What now?

    If you didn't find your answer on the legal board, you can post a question on there and receive an answer within 5 business days. 

  • My question is complex and hard to write down.

    You can call our main number, (512) 347-9927, and press 1 to reach the attorney on legal calls. Please do not call if you have already posted your question on the legal board. 

  • No one answered my call!

    We get many calls with legal questions and are usually on the phone with someone else or are on the road for a program when you call. Please leave a message with your name, county, precinct, and direct call back number on the legal line voicemail and someone will get back with you. Note that you will not get a callback if you do not leave a message. 

  • Can't I just email an attorney?

    To maximize our resources, we are unable to answer general legal questions sent to individual attorneys. If you send an email directly to an attorney, you will be directed to either post on the legal board or call the legal line.