In this economic return on investment study of providing legal counsel for those in eviction cases, Stout Risius Ross found that establishing a right to counsel would help the city avoid $45.2 million in costs annually, while the total cost to provide representation is $3.5 million. They analyzed docket data to assess the impact representation would have on the outcome of an eviction case. They analyzed the distribution of outcomes, the incremental impact of representation, and a repeat case analysis.
Policymakers and Funders
Economic Impact of Civil Legal Aid Services in Maine
The report reviews various outcomes associated with civil legal services, including those related to federal dollars flowing into Maine, non-federal monetary awards obtained, community cost savings, and higher incomes.
Data on access to counsel and reintegration services for children and their impact on improving policies and protection for Central American unaccompanied children
This article demonstrates how improved access to legal representation increases children’s access to humanitarian protection. Increased access to representation would mean more responsive migration policy and greater protection. They use data from approximately 16,000 cases.
2017 Opinion Survey: The State of the Courts
The National Council for State Courts conducted a telephone study in 2017 in which they asked 1,000 respondents about their feelings towards the court system, access to equal justice, and the need for legal aid when navigating the courts.
Unmarked: Criminal Record Clearing and Employment Outcomes
Researchers at UC Berkeley find that record clearing increases employment. Average employment rates grew in the years after the intervention from roughly 75% to 80%-85%.
Unaccompanied Children and the U.S. Immigration System: Challenges and Reforms
Chen and Gill take stock of the current legal protections unaccompanied children are protected by. They find that there are many challenges that stem from the lack of guaranteed legal representation for children in immigration court. They provide recommendations for policymakers.
Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policin
In 2015, the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing released their report, which offers best practices for law enforcement. The Task Force recommended that law enforcement agencies partner with legal aid agencies to increase trust and keep communities safe.
Georgia Senior Legal Hotline Outcomes Study
A total of 174 telephone surveys revealed that the Hotline’s self-help materials and advice can be used by seniors to achieve favorable outcomes in certain types of cases.
Economic and Other Benefits Associated with the Provision of Civil Legal Aid
This article gathers the results of the existing studies of the financial and other societal benefits of the work of civil legal aid programs, which provide free or low-cost legal assistance to low-income individuals. It also identifies ongoing or planned research projects.
The Invisible Battlefield: Veterans Facing Health-Harming Legal Needs in Civilian Life
The National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership conducted a study on the legal needs of veterans. They describe the legal needs of veterans. They then provide case studies on three MLPs, showing how MLPs are changing how we think of care for veterans.
Legal Aid Research 