California Legal Services Providers Receive $1 Million from LSC Pro Bono Innovation Fund
WASHINGTON—The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that it is awarding grants totaling $1,053,965 to Community Legal Aid SoCal, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County. These organizations are three of 19 legal services organizations across the country receiving a grant from LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF). In total, LSC is awarding $5.5 million to expand and improve pro bono legal services for low-income Americans.
Half of eligible low-income Americans who seek legal help are turned away because legal services organizations lack adequate resources, according to LSC’s justice gap research. To extend their reach, legal services organizations engage private attorneys who volunteer their time and take cases “pro bono.” In partnership with legal aid organizations, pro bono attorneys help address the legal needs in their communities.
“Our civil justice system was designed for lawyers, but many Americans simply can’t afford an attorney, even in the face of life-changing legal problems,” said LSC President Ron Flagg. “Volunteer attorneys working in partnership with LSC-funded legal services organizations provide critical support to those who need it.”
Community Legal Aid SoCal’s $346,130 grant will strengthen its Unlawful Detainer Answer Clinic. This remote, limited-scope legal service model enables pro bono volunteers to help tenants prepare answers and file timely responses to eviction lawsuits. Through the Answer Clinic, 90% of answers are completed and filed by volunteers, supporting full-scope litigation by freeing staff attorneys’ time and identifying cases with strong defenses.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles will use a $344,578 grant to support its Language Access Naturalization for New Americans (LANNA) project, which aims to increase naturalization rates among lawful permanent residents who are Limited English Proficient. The LANNA project will create comprehensive trainings and resources to facilitate multilingual volunteer legal assistance in partnership with community-based organizations and bar associations.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County’s $363,257 grant will help it modernize and expand its pro bono program into a fully integrated, proactive and client-centered model. Building on earlier assessments and responding to recent growth, wildfires and an influx of volunteer attorneys, the organization plans to strengthen staffing, systems and strategy to better align pro bono services with community legal needs.
Representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Derek Tran (CA-45), Mike Levin (CA-49), Gil Cisneros (CA-31) congratulated the California legal services organizations on their awards.
“For nearly a century, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles has played a vital role in providing pro bono legal services to support low-income and diverse Angelenos,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “With this grant from the Legal Services Corporation, LAFLA will strengthen its volunteer legal assistance program to ensure that Angelenos of all language backgrounds receive the support they need. I’m grateful to the Legal Services Corporation for investing in an organization that serves so many of my constituents.”
“The federal Pro Bono Innovation Fund will continue to uplift low-income Angelenos, including tenants facing evictions, by ensuring they have a fair chance to protect their rights in court,” said Rep. Barragán. “Thank you to Legal Services Corporation, Community Legal Aid SoCal, and Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles for your work ensuring tenants and their families navigate the complexities of the justice system.”
“I have always believed that democracy works best when people know their rights and have access to the tools to defend them,” said Rep. Waters. “That’s why I’m proud to recognize the incredible work of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. They are respected and trusted for their commitment to helping their clients and my constituents. With support from this grant, the Language Access Naturalization for New Americans Project will help ensure our immigrant neighbors can take the final step toward citizenship with dignity. I was also happy to learn that Legal Aid SoCal will use the grant to continue its Unlawful Detainer Clinic, a vital resource for constituents to fight unfair evictions and stay in their homes. Housing is not a privilege; it is a human right.”
“When I was fighting for workers in the courtroom, I saw firsthand the difference that quality representation makes for those seeking justice,” said Rep. Tran. “Increased funding to Community Legal Aid SoCal (CLASoCal) and Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) will help provide the necessary support to our neighbors as they navigate the civil justice system. This essential legal support will help our community members stay in their homes, keep their jobs, and access opportunities to build a better life for themselves and their families.”
“I am grateful to see Community Legal Aid SoCal recognized for their exceptional work to provide needed, pro bono legal services to low-income clients in Southern California,” said Rep. Levin. “With the funding awarded by the Legal Services Corporation, they will be able to expand the scope of its services and continue delivering results for clients in our district and throughout California.”
“I am happy to send my support and congratulations to Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) on being a recipient of Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants through the Legal Services Corporation (LSC),” said Rep. Cisneros. “Through these grant funds, NLSLA will be able to expand its pro bono legal services, providing transformative and necessary support across Los Angeles County, including my district, California’s 31st. I’m proud to see programs like this receive the critical grant funding they need to continue serving our communities.”
Since the PBIF grant program began in 2014, LSC has awarded 180 grants totaling more than $50 million. The funding for these awards comes from LSC’s congressional appropriation. Nonprofit legal organizations utilize these grants to address civil legal needs in their communities by removing barriers to and exploring new methods for pro bono work. PBIF grants are directed to projects that are replicable, so that innovative practices at successful programs can have an impact across the country.
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974. For 50 years, LSC has provided financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 130 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
