The State Bar of Michigan is encouraging members to support the Access to Justice (ATJ) Campaign with a year-end gift. Support from the Michigan legal community helps ensure access to justice for the over 1.7 million residents living 125% below the federal poverty line.
For many individuals and families, there is a great need for legal aid services as they face the potential loss of their home or income, racial disparities, and other civil legal issues unique to low-income families. With the help of year-end gifts, more will have access to free legal services and representation, self-help centers, free legal clinics, pro bono services, and other educational legal services.
A 2022 report issued by the Justice for All Commission, examined the return on investment for civil legal aid in Michigan and found that for every $1 invested in Michigan legal aid in 2019 and 2020, the people of Michigan received $6.69 of immediate and long-term consequential financial benefits. Furthermore, legal aid programs yield high levels of positive outcomes, boasting statistics of:
• 98% positive outcomes for housing cases
• 91% positive outcomes for family stability cases, and
• 93% positive outcomes for expungement cases.
The ATJ Campaign is a collaborative centralized campaign, administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation in partnership with the State Bar of Michigan, to increase resources for these regional and statewide programs.
To make a charitable contribution or for additional information about the ATJ Campaign, visit atjfund.org. One hundred percent of a donation will be distributed to support civil legal aid to low-income individuals.
