In this report, the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program describes the court programs and initiatives; technology, social media, and publications; how they address the access to justice needs of a diverse population; and community outreach.
Audience
Supporting Justice III: A Report on the Pro Bono Work of America’s Lawyers
American lawyers continue to see pro bono as a professional responsibility and are strongly committed to volunteering their legal services to meet the legal needs of the poor, even during economic downturns.
The Economic Impact and Social Return on Investment of Civil Legal Aid Services in the State of Louisiana
This social return on investment study finds that the immediate net direct value of services to be approximately $34.3 million and the long-term net consequential value to be $59.7 million. Overall, they find that for every $1 invested in legal aid in Louisiana, Louisiana received an immediate $8.73 immediate and long-term financial benefits.
Economic Impacts of Civil Legal Aid Organizations in Virginia: Civil Justice for Low-Income People Produces Ripple Effects That Benefit Every Segment of the Community
In FY 2009-10, civil legal aid provided, in a conservative estimate, a total quantifiable economic impact of $139 million, a return of $5.27 for every dollar invested legal aid programs from all sources.
Legal Problems and the Poor
The national survey found that there is a disproportionate percentage of individuals who experience legal problems — 10 percent of people who experienced at least one legal problem experienced one-third of all legal problems. They also find that low-income people were more likely to experience legal problems.
Legal Deserts: A Multi-State Perspective on Rural Access to Justice
The researchers surveys rural populations in six states — California, Georgia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, and South Dakota — to provide insights on the rural challenges confronting each of these states, the legal resources available, and existing policy responses.
Increasing Access to Restraining Orders for Low-Income Victims of Domestic Violence: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Domestic Abuse Grant Program
This report evaluates the benefits and costs of expanding the Domestic Abuse Grant Program (DAGP) to improve access to legal aid for women seeking restraining orders. Overall, the research team estimated that the net benefit from enacting the DAGP expansion would be $9,840,500.
An Analysis of Rules that Enable Lawyers to Serve Self-Represented Litigants
This ABA analysis provides an overview the the rules authorizing limited scope representation, rules clarifying communications between counsel and parties, rules creating parameters for the lawyer’s role in document preparation, and rules governing the entry of appearances and withdrawals in court.
National Evaluation of the Legal Assistance for Victims Program
The Legal Assistance for Victims Program (LAV) “has been a success” by promoting the delivery of high-quality and comprehensive services among legal aid and domestic violence victim service programs. The federal evaluation finds that despite LAV, there is a “chronic unmet need for attorneys.”
The Economic Impact of Iowa Legal Aid
Iowa Legal Aid’s financial impact on the Iowa economy in 2011 totaled $28,729,291.29. This represents a return of $6.71 for every single dollar invested in Iowa Legal Aid by sources within Iowa.
Legal Aid Research 