1.2: Collaboration and Partnerships

As the principal leader in the legal services/access to justice community, strengthen collaborations and strategic partnerships.

Other Information:

To achieve more public support for legal services and to provide more services to low-income persons, LSC will reach out to other groups who share an interest in equal access to justice. Collaborations will be emphasized in eight strategic areas. Strategies 􀂄 With judicial organizations At the state and federal levels, judicial organizations can be effective advocates for ensuring equal access to justice. Through organizations such as the Center for State Courts, the Conference of Chief Justices of State Supreme Courts, the Judicial Conference of the United States, LSC can help raise awareness of the need for programs and funding to assist the poor in obtaining access to justice. Over the next five years, LSC will increase its engagement with judicial organizations. 􀂄 With IOLTA groups Every state in the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands have rules governing lawyers’ trust accounts requiring that interest on lawyers’ trust accounts (IOLTA funds) be dedicated to public interest activities such as legal aid. Over the next five years, LSC will work with grantees to help increase the percentage of IOLTA funds that are dedicated to the provision of legal aid. 􀂄 With law schools and clinics Law schools and clinics are significant sources of legal assistance in some areas. More can be done to encourage law professors and students to support the delivery of legal aid to the poor. 􀂄 With private attorneys, bar associations, and corporate legal counsels Organizations representing attorneys are very effective advocates on equal justice issues. LSC will continue to work with such organizations to build support for more resources dedicated to legal assistance to low-income people. 􀂄 With state equal justice communities In many states, statewide organizations have been formed to promote equal access to justice. LSC will work over the next five years to assist in establishing equal access to justice commissions or other similar entities where they do not exist and to support the ongoing efforts of existing commissions. 􀂄 With federal agencies A number of federal agencies provide funding for legal services for specialized populations, such as older Americans, persons with disabilities, persons in low-income housing, and victims of domestic violence. Over the next five years, LSC will increase its collaboration and coordination with such agencies. 􀂄 With organizations that assist with disaster recoveries Learning from the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, LSC will develop relationships with organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Administration to plan for methods to assist grantees affected by disasters. 􀂄 With other organizations interested in the delivery of legal services While LSC has been active with a number of organizations who share the mission of equal access to justice, more effort needs to be made with other national organizations interested in the provision of legal services.

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