This Civil Legal Aid Research Report, published by the White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (WH-LAIR), recounts the presentations and recommendations discussed at a 2015 Civil Legal Aid Workshop. This workshop, which was hosted by the Office for Access to Justice, the National Institute of Justice, and the National Science Foundation, identified areas in civil legal aid that need more research and funding.
Geography
Opioids: Treating an Illness, Ending a War
By: Nazgol Ghandnoosh and Casey Anderson. Published by: The Sentencing Project. Published in December 2017. Link to article Link to PDF This report advocates for a revamping of the way in which the US approaches the opioid crisis. Researchers at… Read More ›
Rural Medical-Legal Partnership and Advocacy: A Three-Year Follow-up Study
In this study, researchers conducted a cost benefit analysis of an MLP. Using baseline data and three years of follow up data in logic modelling, they find that there was a 319 percent return on investment.
Race-Based Advocacy: The Role and Responsibility of LSC-Funded Programs
In this article, researchers at the Center for Law and Social Policy examine how LSC-funded programs may engage in race-based advocacy. They highlight examples of how programs have pursued race-based advocacy within the confines of LSC restrictions.
New York State Courts Access to Justice Program: 2011 Report
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.
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.
Legal Aid Research 