By Peter RileyLegal aid organizations have long managed to make the most out of limited resources in order to provide access to justice, a promise from our Constitution’s preamble and protected for the last 50 years by Legal Services Corporation (LSC). These dedicated professionals operate in a resource-strained environment that has seen only a $160 million…

By Armin SalekHow would you invest those funds if you received $1,000,000 to create a more inclusive legal profession?Suppose you are like the folks I have asked so far. In that case, you will likely mention early childhood education, high school law pathways, internships for aspiring lawyers, LSAT funding, or similar pre-law school interventions. I have…

By Kristen SondayStarting an AI project may seem like an overwhelming task, especially in such a fast-paced space with limited resources. However, the recent AI for Legal Aid Summit proved that it’s not only feasible, but can yield transformative results.At the Summit, we explored six innovative AI initiatives already driving real-world impact, from automating repetitive tasks…

By Amy ChappleWe all went to law school to help people. And at our core, I’m sure we all consider ourselves “good” people. But, as legal professionals, do we actually end up helping people in the way we intended with the degree that we worked so hard to obtain? Do we serve the communities in which…

Innovation for Justice Launches New Nationwide Toolkit for UPL Reform and Domestic Violence AdvocacyBy Cayley BalserOctober is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and a good month to highlight a project that focuses on connecting survivors of domestic violence with the necessary help and services they need. In the spring of 2023, Innovation for Justice (i4J) began a project…

By Shelly SkinnerNeighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) is a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance to low-income people. NLSLA handles a wide range of civil matters, including domestic violence, housing, unemployment benefits, and expungement of criminal records. Additionally, NLSLA has provided legal services through medical-legal partnerships for over a decade.Medical-legal partnerships…

By Aidan SovaPublic libraries represent the very best of us. At a surface level, the systems act as entities that our many communities can consistently rely on for professional services, access to information and exceptional programming. The Ann Arbor and Jackson District Libraries in Michigan have had unquantifiable impacts on my life.As a low-income youth, summers could…