Category Archives: Funding

New Innovation Platform and Tribute to TIG in Apppropriation to LSC for Pro Bono

Posted on January 23, 2014 by richardzorza

Here is another tipping point. The 2014 Omnibus Budget includes a special $2.5 million line for LSC, a Pro Bono Innovation Fund.  (http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20140113/CPRT-113-HPRT-RU00-h3547-hamdt2samdt_xml.pdf at p.143).  It is nice that the final number is actually the higher House number — see … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LSC, Pro Bono, Unbundling | Comments Off on New Innovation Platform and Tribute to TIG in Apppropriation to LSC for Pro Bono

“Gideon Voucher” Experiment Offers Client Choice

Posted on January 5, 2014 by richardzorza

Adam Liptak has a fascinating piece in today’s New York Times that includes discussion of an experimental “Gideon Voucher” system to be tried in Comal County, Tex with funding from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. The article contrasts it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Defender Programs, Funding, Mixed Model, Public Defender, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

Very Important Communications Research Released

Posted on November 21, 2013 by richardzorza

This is one of the most important posts I have ever written.  I am honored to be authorized to post the communications research conducted by Lake Research Partners and the Torrance Group on civil legal aid and access to justice … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Forms, Funding, Legal Aid, LSC, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Systematic Change | Tagged | 15 Comments

Important Webinar on “Strengthening Court Systems: Understanding State and Federal Resources”

Posted on October 22, 2013 by richardzorza

The National Criminal Justice Association is presenting an important webinar on November 21 (not 20th as stated in prior version of this post), on Strengthening Court Systems. The full description is as follows: With state budgets tight, it is increasingly … Continue reading →

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Greater DOJ Inlolvement in Defense Services Issues Gets Attention

Posted on September 8, 2013 by richardzorza

The intervention by the Department of Justice in the quality of indigent defense services — very much a first from this administration — is getting deserved praise.  NPR had a story: . . . an unprecedented recent court filing from … Continue reading →

Posted in Dept. of Justice, Funding, Public Defender | Comments Off on Greater DOJ Inlolvement in Defense Services Issues Gets Attention

Training 211 Operators on Legal Access Resources Has Major Impact in Minnesota Collaboration

Posted on September 7, 2013 by richardzorza

One of the great — and too little explored — potentials of having integrated access services is the potential of much better linkages with broader help gateways.  A recent report on such an approach in the Minnesota Twin Cities area … Continue reading →

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

Professor in Nederlands On Strategies for Access Change

Posted on June 17, 2013 by richardzorza

I am just back from the International Legal Aid Group meeting in the Nederlands.  While I plan to share several ideas from the meeting, I want to start with some overall strategic thoughts from Prof. Maurits Barendrecht of HiiL/Tilburg University. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding, Legal Aid, Simplification, Systematic Change | 2 Comments

California Courts Reaffirm Committement to Self-Help

Posted on May 27, 2013 by richardzorza

After a period of general uncertainty in the California courts, driven by budget pressures, it is great to see that the Judicial Council has reaffirmed the importance of self-help, as viewed throughout the system.  On May 17, the Council issued … Continue reading →

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Briefing Paper on Natural Alliance Between Legal Aid and Philanthropy

Posted on May 7, 2013 by richardzorza

The Public Welfare Foundation and the Kresge Foundation have released an excellent and useful briefing paper on the relationship between legal aid and philanthropy. The core argument is simple: Ultimately, civil legal aid is a powerful tool that can increase … Continue reading →

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Great Article in Chronicle of Philanthropy on Levaraging Access to Justice for Substantive Areas

Posted on April 5, 2013 by richardzorza

The Chronicle on Philanthropy has an excellent article by Mary McClymont of the Public Welfare Foundation on the usefulness of issue-oriented grant-maker strategies including a legal aid/access to justice component.  I am pasting below much of the article: Philanthropy, which … Continue reading →

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Equal Justice Works Acepting Proposals for Veterans Projects

Posted on March 31, 2013 by richardzorza

Here is a description of the Project (note that positions are contingent upon funding from Amercorps): Equal Justice Works just released a Request for Proposals (RFP), seeking results-oriented host sites for the Veterans Legal Corps Fellowship Program, an exciting new … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Veterans | Comments Off on Equal Justice Works Acepting Proposals for Veterans Projects

Important Letter From NSF on Interest in Acces to Justice

Posted on March 23, 2013 by richardzorza

NSF has issued an important “dear colleague” letter “Stimulating Research Related to the Use and Functioning of the Civil Justice System” on the agency’s continuing interest in access-type research.  While this is not a new solicitation, the letter makes clear … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Research and Evalation | 5 Comments

ABA Access to Justice Commissions: Grants Made and Availability Announced

Posted on March 21, 2013 by richardzorza

Here is a list of grants just made to support the establishment/encouragement of new Access to Justice Commissions: Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education Supreme Court of Ohio Supreme Court of Oklahoma Philadelphia Bar Association Rhode Island Judiciary It … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Funding | 1 Comment

Will the Sequester Kill Innovation — and How to Prevent That

Posted on March 16, 2013 by richardzorza

While the sequester will do a lot of short damage — for example the loss of $29 million or so in legal aid funding, the real risk is to the culture of innovation. To the extent that managers in courts … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

Webinar on Fedeal Funding Resources for Public Defenders

Posted on February 3, 2013 by richardzorza

The webinar description (Strengthening Indigent Defense: Understanding State and Federal Resources, posted by the National Criminal Justice Association) says it all: This webinar (now online) will showcase the Justice Department’s efforts to encourage jurisdictions to bring all system stakeholders together … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Public Defender | Comments Off on Webinar on Fedeal Funding Resources for Public Defenders