The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced Wednesday that it is awarding a $320,906 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant to Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP).
MAP is one of 15 legal aid organizations receiving a grant. In total, LSC is awarding $4.75 million to support the growth of pro bono legal services for low-income Americans.
Last year, 74% of low-income households faced at least one civil legal problem, according to LSC’s recently released Justice Gap report. Alarmingly, low-income Americans received no or insufficient legal help for 92% of their substantial civil legal problems. Expanding pro bono and other volunteer services will allow civil legal aid providers to better address these urgent, unmet needs.
“Meeting the vast legal needs of low-income Americans is a tough job for legal aid providers with limited resources,” said LSC President Ronald S. Flagg. “Engaging pro bono attorneys and volunteers adds a powerful network that multiplies the impact of these organizations.”
LSC awarded these grants from its Pro Bono Innovation Fund included in its FY 2022 congressional appropriation. Since 2014, LSC has awarded 121 grants totaling more than $35 million. Each organization’s project involves innovative solutions to persistent challenges in pro bono delivery systems that can be replicated by other service providers across the country.
MAP will use the grant to increase access to criminal record expungements for low-income residents of South-Central Michigan. The project will create a Legal Navigator online program that engages non-attorney administrative volunteers to efficiently address the burdensome administrative tasks required for clients to apply for criminal records expungements. The Legal Navigator program will include partnerships with paralegal training programs, law schools and community groups. In addition, the project staff will work with existing MAP staff and volunteers to identify areas to engage in appellate or strategic advocacy in the implementation of the state’s new expungement laws.
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