Category Archives: Funding

Illinois LegalAidOnline Shows Gives Wonderful Example of Online Fundraising

Posted on December 18, 2014 by richardzorza

Like all of us, I get many online fundraising pitches.  And I get occasional requests to use this blog for fundraising.  I almost never do.  But this graphic, from Illinois LegalAidOnline is so wonderful as a model that I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Self-Help Services, Technology | 1 Comment

Webinar on IV-D Funding for Self-Help Services — How to TRIPLE Your Money

Posted on December 11, 2014 by richardzorza

Awareness is slowly growing that Federal IV-D  funding has the potential to triple state investments in child support and related activities.  Obviously this funding stream, which is not capped, has the potential to help states build out a very significant … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Support, Funding, Self-Help Services | Comments Off on Webinar on IV-D Funding for Self-Help Services — How to TRIPLE Your Money

Finding Good News and a Strategy for Access After the Midterms

Posted on November 5, 2014 by richardzorza

Obviously, the results of yesterday’s election are potentially very bad news for legal aid funding (broadly defined).  Notwithstanding the generally bipartisan support demonstrated for LSC at its recent 40th anniversary, the risk of cuts to the LSC budget is very … Continue reading →

Posted in Communications Strategy, Funding | 1 Comment

LSC Announces Pro Bono Innovation Grants

Posted on September 9, 2014 by richardzorza

LSC has just announced its first pro bono innovation awards, funded by a special line in the LSC appropriation.  These grants follow the TIG model, they are discretionary and competitive, and intended to be innovative. This years grants cover the … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LSC, Pro Bono, Technology | Comments Off on LSC Announces Pro Bono Innovation Grants

BOA Settlement To Include Money for IOLTA Programs

Posted on August 21, 2014 by richardzorza

I suspect that all the readers of this blog cheered todays story that the Bank of America has been forced to agree to a $16.5 billion settlement with DOJ for its mortgage shenanigans (NYT). (DOJ Press Release) Some might might have … Continue reading →

Posted in Dept. of Justice, Funding, IOLTA | 1 Comment

How Could Interpreter Costs Be Understood So That They are Not In Conflict With ATJ Goals

Posted on June 21, 2014 by richardzorza

A recent excellent New York Times article by Fernanda Santos about how the push to provide interpreters is putting strain on court budgets, and forcing delay or reduction of other expenditures, highlights the long term costs of state inattention to … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Funding, LEP, SRL Statistics | Comments Off on How Could Interpreter Costs Be Understood So That They are Not In Conflict With ATJ Goals

The Legal Aid Community Should be Ready to Help the Nation’s Response to Crisis

Posted on June 14, 2014 by richardzorza

Recent news events have led me to reflect on how the legal aid community, broadly defined, needs to be ready to help when crisis hits.  While the ultimate outcome of events in Iraq remains uncertain, it is all too possible … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Planning, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

California Shows Potential of Commissions with Assist to Incubators

Posted on May 15, 2014 by richardzorza

This is really a double headline story — Commissions and incubators.  The California Access to Justice Commission has taken the lead in moving forward incubators throughout the state.  They have obtained funding for three conferences, held throughout the state, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Funding, Incubators | Comments Off on California Shows Potential of Commissions with Assist to Incubators

Communications Research Underlines Need for Coordinated Marketing and Enhancement of Online Tools for All

Posted on May 9, 2014 by richardzorza

One of the clearest messages from the communications research is that the best — perhaps the only — way to get public support for increased resources for court and community based legal aid above the needed 50% threshold is to … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, IOLTA, LSC, Technology | 1 Comment

LSC Issues Pro Bono Innovation Fund Notice of Funds Availability — Applications Due June 30, 2014

Posted on April 24, 2014 by richardzorza

Here is the Pro Bono Innovation Fund 2014 Notice of Funds Availability.  The applications, which must be filed by an LSC grantee, are due June 30, 2014.  It is important to emphasize that LSC welcomes grants that include extensive participation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LSC, Pro Bono, Self-Help Services | 2 Comments

The Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable Toolkit is a Major Breakthrough

Posted on April 16, 2014 by richardzorza

Before the establishment of the Access to Justice Initiative within DOJ, Federal funding for community based — indeed all — legal aid was basically limited to LSC, with maybe odds and ends, usually through state routes, for senior services and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dept. of Justice, Funding, LSC, White House | 1 Comment

April 8 – Another Important Day for Access at the White House

Posted on April 9, 2014 by richardzorza

It’s becoming a wonderful tradition.  A White House Forum on Increasing Access to Justice, at which the administration’s commitment to access to justice is highlighted, hardworking partners are honored, and stakeholders get to network about future ideas. I plan to … Continue reading →

Posted in Dept. of Justice, Funding, Legal Aid, White House | 5 Comments

Critically Important Speech by NY CJ Lippman on “The Judiciary as the Leader of the Access to Justice Revolution”

Posted on March 12, 2014 by richardzorza

On Tuesday, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman delivered a very important speech.  While the whole speech is very valuable, two particular aspects stand out for me. The first is the the very strong language, and examples, reflecting the speech title The … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding, Judicial Ethics, Legal Aid, Non-Lawyer Practice, Pro Bono | 1 Comment

What Are the Implications of George Soros Endorsing Access To Justice As An International Development Goal

Posted on February 5, 2014 by richardzorza

George Soros blogged yesterday about his belief that access to justice should be one of the key measurable goals in the United Nations approach to eradicating poverty by 2030. He writes: What does that mean? It means that anyone should … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding, International Cooperation, International Models | Comments Off on What Are the Implications of George Soros Endorsing Access To Justice As An International Development Goal

Free Technical Assisance and Travel Grants Available From NCSC Public Welfare Foundation Grant

Posted on January 23, 2014 by richardzorza

Here is a timely reminder.  There is still money available in the access to justice court technical assistance and travel pool established at the National Center for State Courts by a grant from the Public Welfare Foundation.  But any grant … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Funding, Self-Help Services | Comments Off on Free Technical Assisance and Travel Grants Available From NCSC Public Welfare Foundation Grant