The Economic Impact and Social Return on Investment of Civil Legal Aid Services in the State of Louisiana

By: Community Services Analysis, LLC. Published by: Louisiana Bar Foundation. Published in 2016.

Overall, the researchers find there is a 873 percent social return on investment.

Highlights include:

Regarding family issues: “During the year 2016 Louisiana’s Legal Aid services provided assistance in 15,559 legal matters resulting in $14,284,000 in immediate direct financial benefits and $43,700,000 in long-term consequential financial benefits.” (p. 13)
Housing issues: “During the year 2016 Louisiana’s Legal Aid services provided assistance in 1,739 legal matters resulting in $4,066,000 in immediate direct financial benefits and $8,044,000 in long-term consequential financial benefits.” (p. 14)
Health care issues: “During the year 2016 Louisiana’s Legal Aid services provided assistance in 127 legal matters resulting in $144,000 in immediate direct financial benefits and $862,000 in long-term consequential financial benefits.” (p. 15)
Public benefits issues: “During the year 2016 Louisiana’s Legal Aid services closed 1,415 legal matters resulting in $2,763,000 in immediate direct financial benefits and $10,962,000 in long-term consequential benefits.” (p. 16)
Consumer protection: “During the year 2016 Louisiana’s Legal Aid services closed 1,022 legal matters resulting in $4,685,000 in immediate direct financial benefits and $626,000 in long-term consequential financial benefits.” (p. 17)
Other community issues: “During the year 2016 Louisiana’s Legal Aid services closed 6,581 legal matters resulting in $7,382,000 in immediate direct financial benefits and $3,128,000 in long-term consequential financial benefits.” (p. 18)