American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 offers multiple funding opportunities to help people with their pandemic-related civil justice problems. These funds represent a historic opportunity to fuel momentum on state-based civil access to justice efforts.
Read about them in JGP's ARP Funding Matrix (last updated March 19, 2021)
Note: If you have previously opened this document, you may need to clear your browser's cache to view the most updated version.)
JGP compiled a list of examples of eligible expenses legal aid programs, courts, and other civil justice system partners have requested — or can consider requesting — when relief funds become available, based on Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) guidance. Read the document below for last-minute guidelines or considerations following the new stimulus bill.
The Justice in Government Project (JGP) and NLADA created a chart that provides information about CARES Act appropriations, law, and agency guidance relevant to various non-LSC federal funding sources of civil legal aid.
Access the CARES Act federal funding chart.
For more information about state-administered federal funds that can support legal aid, including legal aid examples, helpful tips, and language regarding legal aid, go to the JGP Grants Matrix, which now contains information on COVID-19 information and guidance.
Go to the JGP Grants Matrix. JGP also created a more courts-focused version of the Grants Matrix.
The National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) maintains a COVID-19 Updates and Resources page, "a space for advocates to share resources and find policy developments affecting the delivery of legal services and access to justice." The resources and updates cover topics under leadership, management, and delivery; court access and virtual operations; housing, debt, and consumer issues; and more.
ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense provides the latest COVID-19 information, resources, and updates for legal aid funding, advocacy, and other organizations on its COVID-19 Resources page.
Voices for Civil Justice can help with media messaging. Utilizing the media can be an effective way to increase awareness of and propel legal aid pitches forward.
Here are some examples of effective legal aid op-eds:
PLAN Executive Director Patrick Cicero wrote an article for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star on the escalation of the financial and legal crisis COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.
Tzedek DC Executive Director Ariel Levinson-Waldman’s article in The DC Line on why the District should fully fund civil legal services to confront the coming tidal wave of debt collection cases.
Katie Dilks (Executive Director, Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation) and Michael Figgins (Executive Director, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma) co-authored an article for The Oklahoman about how legal aid is a front-line responder.
Mary Fairhurst (Former Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice) and Fred Rivera (Seattle Mariners General Counsel) warned how the coronavirus will overwhelm our civil legal aid system in a co-authored and well-timed article in the Seattle Times.
The JGP Toolkit helps government policymakers, grant administrators, legal profession leaders, social service providers and advocates improve the quality and efficiency of government programs, increase access to justice, and achieve policy outcomes.
Karlee Naylon, Anna deDufour and Karen Lash published an article in the Summer 2020 issue of the MIE Journal that explains why civil legal aid must be included in a holistic pandemic response. The article also provides examples of states using CARES Act funding and recommendations to advance legal aid alongside other supportive services.
Just Research presents topical research, useful data sources, legislative updates, and sources of federal funding that can support legal aid. Read previous issues of the newsletter here, or subscribe below.