WASHINGTON – The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that Alaska Legal Services Corporation will receive a $304,297 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant. LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund is intended to encourage and expand robust pro bono efforts and partnerships to serve more low-income clients.
Alaska Legal Services will use the grant to expand available legal services for rural residents by increasing the types and number of pro bono providers. The grant will support the creation of legal training modules for advocates in specific subject areas where there is the most need. Alaska Legal Services will recruit and train local rural community leaders, such as Indian Child Welfare Act workers, health aides, tribal employees, and law and paralegal students to expand the program’s outreach efforts.
“We are grateful to Congress for establishing the Pro Bono Innovation Fund and for increasing funding by $500,000 this year,” said Jim Sandman, President of LSC. “These grants stimulate more volunteer participation by the private bar, leverage the federal investment in civil legal aid, and allow our grantees to reach more people in need of civil legal assistance.”
Members of the Alaska congressional delegation applauded the grant:
Senator Lisa Murkowski: “In rural Alaska it’s often difficult to ensure individuals have access to the legal services they need. Alaska Legal Services has been one of the nation’s leading legal services providers for decades. For many, it is the only option available. This grant will allow Alaska Legal Services to take an innovative approach toward expanding access to pro bono legal services to some of our most remote communities.”
Senator Dan Sullivan: “As a former Attorney General for the State of Alaska, and now as a U.S. Senator, I have worked closely with Alaska Legal Services and have seen firsthand the invaluable representation it offers Alaskans. Alaska Legal Services does excellent work and I thank the Legal Services Corporation for awarding this grant to ALSC so that it can provide even more needed legal services to Alaskans.”
Alaska Legal Services is one of 15 recipients of grants from LSC’s $4.5 million Pro Bono Innovation Fund, a competitive program that invests in projects that identify and promote replicable innovations in pro bono for low-income legal aid clients. This is the fifth year LSC has awarded Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants.
This is an excerpt from the Press Release issued by the Legal Services Corporation. The full Press Release and contact information for media inquiries is available on the LSC website.
