The Access to Justice Campaign has released its 2022 Results. The ATJ Campaign is a partnership with the State Bar of Michigan, administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation, to raise unrestricted funds from the legal community for civil legal aid programs throughout Michigan.
In 2022, the campaign raised and distributed $1.32 million to 15 regional and statewide civil legal aid programs.
This total included $74,000 of cy pres awards directed to the ATJ Campaign. Nonprofit legal aid organizations provide a range of free civil legal services to low-income households. Each year, legal aid handles over 50,000 cases for low-income households throughout the state.
The ATJ Campaign is committed to ensuring access to justice for the 1.67 million eligible low-income residents in Michigan and bridging the justice gap through increased resources for civil legal aid programs. This is possible when the Michigan legal community invests in civil legal aid annually.
According to a 2022 Social Economic Impact and Social Return on Investment Study, “For every $1 invested in Michigan's civil legal aid services during 2019-2020, the individuals received $6.69 in immediate and long term consequential financial benefits.”
“Thank you to all that participate in the ATJ Campaign. We are grateful to the attorneys, firms and corporate legal departments that have championed this cause.
“We hope more lawyers will join in this effort to ensure fairness and access to the civil justice system, ” said Michigan State Bar Foundation Executive Director, Jennifer Bentley.
For information, visit, www.atjfund.org
The Michigan State Bar Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization, established in 1947 and provides leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution.
The Foundation administers the Access to Justice Campaign. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.msbf.org.
