Help Preserve New Yorker's Access to Justice

CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUNDING IS AT RISK OF ELIMINATION.

The Situation: TWO OF THREE CORE FUNDING SOURCES FACE VIRTUAL ELIMINATION

All the state funding that has been the budget for general civil legal services has been eliminated, including the Governor's own $1 million commitment - a total of $13.2 million.

New York's Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund is poised to cut grants by at least 70% percent because of abysmally low interest earnings - grants to providers would go from $25 million statewide to an estimated $6.5 million.

At the very same time, increasing numbers of New Yorkers are in need of civil legal services as their homes go into foreclosure, they lose their jobs are denied Unemployment Insurance or Public Assistance, they face eviction or seek an order of protection from an abuser and can't afford to hire a lawyer to help them.

Representatives from the 55 Justice for All Leadership Firms at the October 1 Kickoff at Dale Miller
Click here to see a slide show from the event and to order photos.

LASNNY is pleased to share the NY Leadership Work Group Study: Leadership, Diversity and Legal Services: Strategies for Increasing the Diversity of Legal Services Management. A study conducted by the Baruch College School of Public Affairs, Center on Equality, Pluralism and Policy. Please contact lmoy@lasnny.org with questions or to follow up on the study.

Read the January 2010 issue of Legal Aid Matters newsletter.

See the 2009 list of Justice For All Campaign Leaders

View our new video on LASNNY's history and services.