Category Archives: Budget Issues

Maryland ATJ Commission Uses Useful Techniques to Report on Economic Benefits of Legal Aid Advocacy

Posted on January 12, 2013 by

The Maryland Access to Justice Commission has just released a Report detailing economic benefits to the state of legal aid. As detailed in the press release, the benefits are as follows: Brought $9.9 million in federal dollars into Maryland to … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Legal Aid, Outcome Measures | 1 Comment

Some Thoughts on Posted Comments to the LSC Draft Strategic Plan

Posted on July 14, 2012 by

LSC has posted the comments they have received on the Draft Strategic Plan. Overall, the tone is positive.  Here to me are the highlights, focusing perhaps more on areas of disagreement, rather than the many repeated statements of support for … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, LSC, Research and Evalation | 2 Comments

Access to Justice Updates from the President’s 2013 Budget Submission

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

Here are the headlines: LSC budget would go back up to $402 million. (LSC press release here) SJI is level-funded at $5,121,000. The Coproration for National and Community Service would get a 1.3% increase, described below by the Chronicle on … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Funding, LSC | Leave a comment

Massachussets Pioneers Economic Benefit Statement

Posted on January 28, 2012 by

The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (state granting program) has released a 2011 Economic Benefit Statement.  Key language: The work of MLAC-funded legal aid programs substantially boosts the Commonwealth’s economy each year by bringing in tens of millions of federal dollars, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Budget Issues, Funding, IOLTA | Tagged | Leave a comment

California Daily Journal on Costs of Cutting Self-Help Programs

Posted on January 17, 2012 by

The (California) Daily Journal, a legal publication, has a good story on the risk that cutting back on self-help services may end up costing more than it saves.  A good article to cite to. Just a few years ago, California … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Court Management, Research and Evalation, Self-Help Services | Tagged | Leave a comment

One Year of Blogging — Some Reflections on the Year in Access to Justice

Posted on December 11, 2011 by

Today is the first anniversary of this blog.  306 posts, over 16,000 web views (and maybe the same number of subscriber push views), and counting.  Please celebrate with me by passing the word, and by encouraging folks to use the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Budget Issues, Dept. of Justice, Funding, Legal Aid, LEP, LSC, Metrics, Research and Evalation, Supreme Court, Systematic Change, Technology, This Blog, Triage | 1 Comment

Article on Justice Index in National Law Journal

Posted on December 6, 2011 by

David Udell and Cara Anna of the National Center for Access to Justice have an article in the National Law Journal on their proposed National Justice Index.  The core idea: Which states’ courts are in the worst condition? Which, despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Court Management, Metrics, Research and Evalation, SRL Statistics | 1 Comment

Wayne Moore Makes Suggestions for Legal Aid on “How to Cut Costs Without Cutting Services”

Posted on December 2, 2011 by

Wayne Moore has responded to the legal aid budget crisis with this insightful and intensely practical memo on how legal aid programs can protect service delivery in a tough time.  I urge all, including those who have been somewhat critical … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Document Assembly, Legal Aid, LSC, Pro Bono, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change, Technology, Unbundling | Leave a comment

Making Sure Investments In Courts Are Counter-Cyclical

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

As a general matter, its an article of faith among mainstream economists that government spending is counter-cyclical, that is to say by investing more in government (actually anything) during downturns you cause the money to be re-spent, and re-spent again, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Poverty | Leave a comment

ABA Boies-Olsen Report On Court Budgets is Out — Goes Beyond Budget Issues

Posted on August 18, 2011 by

The David Boies – Theodore Olsen Report is out.  This you will recall, is the ABA project on the need to protect the court system during the funding crisis, and is another initiative bringing together these once (and maybe future) … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Funding, Systematic Change, Technology, Transparency | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Bi-Partisan Support for Senencing Reform and Re-Entry Programs

Posted on August 13, 2011 by

The ACLU as a nice report out, highlighting how even the more conservative states are embracing sentencing reform as a way of saving money on incarceration.  It highlights reforms in Texas, Mississippi, Kansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio. The NYT … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Criminal Law | Tagged | Leave a comment

DOJ Posts List of Funding Resorces for Court LEP Improvements

Posted on August 3, 2011 by

With the ABA proposed Language Access Standards coming up for ABA approval, it may be worth noting that DOJ has posted a listing of possible funding resources for courts as they move to address LEP issues. The listing is here. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Dept. of Justice, Funding, LEP | Leave a comment

Calculating Broad Economic Jobs and Tax Impact of Court Cuts — Bloomberg Businessweek Cites Los Angeles Study — Methodology, National Court Funding Campaign

Posted on May 2, 2011 by

Bloomberg Businessweek has a useful story on the impact of court cuts on the overall economy.  As well as quoting Steve Zack (ABA President), David Boies (Prop 8, Microsoft and Bush Gore litigator) and David Udell (National Center for Access … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Systematic Change | Tagged | Leave a comment

Leadership — Telling Bad News

Posted on April 24, 2011 by

The Albany Times Union’s Capital Connection Blog has posted NY Chief Judge Lippman’s video to the court staff on the impact of the 6% cuts imposed in the recently finalized state budget. It’s really a model in terms of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Self-Help Services | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Quick Budget Update — 2011 Continuing Resolution Detail

Posted on April 12, 2011 by

Here is a quick access to justice update (to the best of my understanding) of the implications in the Continuing Resolution agreed to by the President and House and Senate leadership.  It has not yet been passed in either chamber. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Legal Aid | Leave a comment