1.1: Access and Means
Increase access to and expand ways of providing assistance. Other Information:
In order to serve more needs of low-income people, legal service programs should be better known among the potential client
population, more accessible, and have more options available for delivery of services. To achieve this objective, LSC will
pursue four strategies. Strategies Encourage community outreach and education by grantees about legal rights and responsibilities
and the types of assistance available from legal services programs. As indicated by several of the legal needs surveys conducted
in nine states between 2000 and 2005, many low income people not only are unaware of when their problems have a legal dimension
to them, but also are unaware of the availability of free legal services to assist them. In conformity with the Congressional
restriction on soliciting for clients, grantees will be encouraged to provide more outreach to their communities to make low
income individuals more aware of their legal rights and responsibilities and the types of assistance available from legal
services programs. Use technology to expand access and availability, including through the expansion of Technology Initiative
Grants (TIG). To assist with outreach and availability, LSC will continue to seek financial support for technology grants
and will continue to work with grantees and vendors to sustain existing websites and in other innovative ways to provide education
and services through technological assistance. By expanding TIG, LSC will be able to help programs continue to improve their
services and their electronic systems. Encourage expanded pro bono activities and contributions. Private attorneys provide
most of the pro bono services that are offered to low-income people, and LSC will work with grantees and bar associations
to expand the provision of pro bono services. Participate in the continued development of systems that support more effective
pro se access where appropriate. Given the mismatch between legal aid resources and the needs to be met, LSC will continue
to work with the courts and others to improve pro se processes where appropriate. LSC will pursue further development of applications
such as the web-based provision of pro se forms and will support grantees’ work with judicial systems on pro se access.
Indicator(s):
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