In November 2016, the Department of Justice issued the first annual report of the White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (WH-LAIR), “Expanding Access to Justice, Strengthening Federal Programs,” to President Obama. The report documents ways in which WH-LAIR’s 22 participating agencies have been working together with legal aid service providers to develop programs and collaborations that integrate legal aid and advance common goals.
General/Unspecified Clients
Report on the Survey of Judges on the Impact of the Economic Downturn on Representation in the Courts
The survey of 1,176 state court judges had significant participation from nine states. The survey found that the number of cases had increased and fewer parties had representation, which slowed the courts.
The Challenges of Calculating the Benefits of Providing Access to Legal Services
This essay explores how policymakers and other public-interested actors have empirically calculated the benefits of providing low-income access to legal services in the past, and how they might improve upon existing methods going forward. The author reviews, criticizes, and tries to build on two major civil justice needs studies, one published by LSC in 2005 and the other by the ABA in 1994.
The Impact of Legal Aid Services on Economic Activity in Texas: An Analysis of Current Efforts and Expansion Potential
Legal aid inherently has societal value, but it is also a prudent use of state resources from a pragmatic, economic perspective.
Agenda for Access: The American People and Civil Justice
A report by the ABA discussing the results of the ABA’s Comprehensive Legal Needs Survey (CLNS) completed in 1993. The new report sounds the alarm that the civil justice system of the US is fundamentally disconnected from the lives of millions of Americans.
Economic Impact of Civil Legal Aid Services in Maryland
Civil legal services programs in Maryland significantly boost the state’s economy each year by bringing in millions of federal dollars, improving the lives of low-income Marylanders, and saving the State millions in expenditures.
Legal Hotlines Client Outcome Study 2006
Clients of seven legal hotlines located in Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland and Connecticut, were surveyed to determine if providing telephone legal advice helped with consumer and public benefits cases, and whether hotlines need more technical support.
The Hotline Outcomes Assessment Study, Phase III (2002)
The study generated representative samples of callers at five legal services hotlines in AR, CA, IL, MI and WA, conducted phone interviews with 2,034 callers three to six months later and involved experienced lawyers in the evaluation. This is a follow-on to an earlier study.
Pro Bono: Looking Back, Moving Forward
This study examines the causes of stagnation and decline in pro bono legal services in the state of Florida during the early 2000s.
The Delivery Systems Study: A Policy Report to the Congress and the President of the United States
As required by the LSC Act, LSC produced this report detailing results of 38 demonstration project testing various delivery systems for legal services.
Legal Aid Research 