Non-profits providing free legal assistance to the poor have fallen on tough times as a result of budget cuts and the weak economy.

 

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a quasi-corporation created by the federal government in 1974 that provides grants to local programs that help low-income Americans gain access to civil legal assistance. This year the LSC lost $15.8 million as part of the budget compromise worked out between congressional Republicans and President Barack Obama. The only good news for LSC was that the GOP didn’t get its original wish of chopping away $75 million.

 

LSC also has been hurt by reduced funding from state governments and shrinking revenue from trust accounts. Meanwhile, demand for its services has only grown since the Great Recession.

 

In Idaho, the Legal Aid Services center has been forced to close its doors several days a month, after losing about 60% of its funding from Washington.

 

In Virginia, chapters of the Virginia Legal Aid Society have begun laying off its lawyers.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Legal Services for Poor Face Growing Need and Less Funding (by Marian Wang, ProPublica)