The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is awarding $489,100 to Iowa Legal Aid to expand its pro bono work.
Iowa Legal Aid is one of 19 legal services organizations nationwide receiving a grant from LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund. In total, LSC is awarding $5.1 million to improve access to legal assistance for low-income Americans.
Half of eligible low-income Americans who seek legal help are turned away because legal services organizations lack resources, according to LSC research. To extend their reach, organizations rely on private attorneys who volunteer their time to take cases pro bono.
“Our civil justice system was designed for lawyers, but many Americans simply can’t afford an attorney, even in the face of life-changing legal problems,” LSC President Ron Flagg said in a statement. “Volunteer attorneys working in partnership with LSC-funded legal services organizations provide critical support to those who need it.”
Iowa Legal Aid will use the grant to expand its expungement and collateral consequences project, aiming to serve 600 clients. The organization plans to increase volunteer attorney involvement, enhance client outreach and boost its capacity. At clinics, volunteer attorneys will provide legal advice, meet with clients and assist with expungement forms.
The program’s goals include recruiting 40 new volunteer attorneys, training staff in all 10 regional offices, launching virtual clinics for rural residents and collaborating with Drake Law School and community partners. In the Corridor, Iowa Legal Aid’s regional offices are located in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
Since the Pro Bono Innovation Fund launched in 2014, LSC has awarded 180 grants totaling more than $50 million. Funding comes from LSC’s congressional appropriation, and grants are designed to support projects that can be replicated nationwide.
