Civil Justice
Our nation promises “equal justice for all.” But, the promise of equal justice is often just that—a promise. When families with limited means turn to courts for assistance with matters of fundamental importance—evictions, unpaid wages, child custody, domestic violence, health care, mortgage foreclosure and government benefits –often they encounter insurmountable barriers to justice.
Nationally, low-income households experience approximately one civil legal need per year, but only a small portion of those legal needs are met. Experts report that fully 80 percent of the civil legal needs of low-income people go unmet annually. A major part of the problem is a lack of funding. For every person served by a federally funded civil legal services provider, another was turned away because of insufficient resources. More than one million civil cases are turned away each year. The vast majority of people involved never find help.
The Brennan Center is working to close this “justice gap” by expanding the types of civil cases in which low-income people have a right to counsel, increasing funding for the federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC), removing onerous restrictions on LSC-funded organizations, improving language access in the courts, ensuring that attorneys’ fee awards continue to encourage lawyers to take civil rights cases, and guaranteeing that people can get their questions answered at help desks when they interact with the government officials who will make important decisions about their lives.
News and opinion pieces that praise, attack, or discuss free and low-cost civil legal aid. Also see reports about civil legal aid the media doesn't cover. Low-income individuals and families, children, consumers, the elderly, the disabled, immigrants, workers, prisoners, veterans, and people reliant on government benefits or seeking health care share concerns about access to justice that are frequently covered in the E-lert.
This case tests the ambit of the protection afforded by the Sixth Amendment of right to counsel.
North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) Complaint
The Brennan Center works to ensure access to legal representation and enforcement of labor rights for workers in the United States on H2-B visas.
The Brennan Center and allies filed an amicus brief emphasizing the importance of attorneys’ fee awards in enabling law firms to take civil rights cases and those cases benefiting low-income people.
A Legal Practice Well Worth Doing
Community lawyering models get a boost from this new study of one legal services provider.
Common Sense Solutions for Civil Legal Aid
The Civil Access to Justice Act is a vitally important move at exactly the right time....
Congress Boosts Funding for Legal Services Corporation
In tough economic times, the LSC will receive a $40 million increase in funding for FY 2009....
Illustrations by Risko
Senate Appropriations Committee Votes to Repeal “Poison Pill” Restriction on Federal Legal Services
On June 25, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to lift the “LSC poison pill restriction” - the federal appropriations provision that encumbers up to $490 million in state, local, and charitable private contributions raised by legal services nonprofits that receive federal funding from the nation’s Legal Services Corporation (LSC).
New Study Urges Congress to Remove Federal Restrictions on Legal Aid
Federal funding restrictions on legal aid for the poor are wasting money and undercutting the ability of families to fend off foreclosure and other legal problems amid the economic crisis, according to a white paper released today by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law . . .
President’s Budget Calls for Removal of Three Outdated Restrictions on Legal Services for the Poor
Cost-free measure would expand access to legal assistance amid economic crisis.
45 House Members Call for the Repeal of Three of the Major LSC Restrictions
Members of Congress call on the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee to repeal three of the major restrictions on legal services providers receiving grants from the federal Legal Services Corporation.
Joint Letter to Chairwoman Mikulski, Chairman Mollohan, Sen. Shelby and Rep. Wolf
Organized by the Brennan Center, a letter from over 60 groups urging Congress to lift several of the restrictions on Legal Services Corporation grantees.
Civil Access to Justice Act of 2009
LSC reauthorization legislation introduced by Senator Harkin.
LCCR Urges Senate to Lift Legal Services Restrictions and Fully Fund LSC
Leader in Civil Rights Community, LCCR, writes letter to Senate urging repeal of legal services restrictions in FY 2010 Appropriations legislation.
Timeline of FY 2010 Appropriations Process and Efforts to Repeal the LSC Restrictions
An overview of the progress in this year’s efforts to lift the legal services restrictions.
Congress Must Lift Restrictions on Legal Aid
For the first time in more than a decade, Congress has a real chance to lift the crippling restrictions on the federally financed Legal Services Corporation (LSC) that have hampered the agency’s efforts to assist poor people seeking redress through the courts . . . .