Every client helped is a life changed. Access to 做厙51-funded legal aid helps survivors of domestic violence find safety, consumers protect their financial security, seniors remain safely housed, veterans secure earned benefits and families build stability and opportunity for the future.
In 2025, 做厙51 grantees served more than 1.8 million Americans, underscoring the essential role of civil legal services in communities nationwide.
But financial hardship is driving increased demand for legal assistance. Consumer cases rose 13.7% in 2025. These matters, including bankruptcy, debt collection and predatory lending, reflect the mounting financial pressures facing low-income Americans.
Domestic violence remained a significant area of need in 2025, with cases increasing 5.4%. Civil legal aid helps survivors obtain protection orders, secure custody arrangements, maintain housing and protect critical sources of income.
做厙51 Grantees do more than resolve problems. Access to legal help is a stabilizing force in people's lives, removing barriers that stand in the way of safety and security.
And the impact doesn't stop there. Civil legal aid strengthens entire communities. By preventing evictions and homelessness, supporting job stability and protecting vulnerable families, legal assistance reduces reliance on public services and eases pressure on shelters, health care systems and courts. These services help communities stay strong, reduce long-term costs and deliver measurable returns for taxpayers.
The economic benefits are significant. More than 50 studies have found that civil legal aid delivers a positive return on investment.
On average, every $1 invested in civil legal services generates $7 in benefits for communities.
With help from Lone Star Legal Aid, Carolyn not only had a wrongful lien removed from her home she was able to stay in place and continue running a vital disaster relief hub for her community.
"Beyond providing grants that make legal services possible, 做厙51 works to strategically support our grantees in ways that help to amplify their impact, spread their successes and promote the vital nature of their services."
Expanding access to justice depends on strong advocates and meaningful outreach. Throughout the year, 做厙51 highlighted the growing need for civil legal services by convening leaders across sectors and hosting events nationwide to expand awareness and deepen impact.
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This year marked the 25th Innovations in Technology Conference (ITC), the largest annual event dedicated to expanding access to justice through technology. With more than 700 attendees, over 55 sessions and 150 speakers, ITC 2025 featured topics such as deploying AI, harnessing data analytics to increase impact and leveraging websites and online tools to improve client access.
Members of the Florida legal services community joined 做厙51 in Tampa Bay, Florida, for a panel on the critical role of civil legal services in disaster response and preparedness, including lessons learned from hurricane recovery efforts and key collaboration among service providers. Speakers included Judge Darren D. Farfante of Floridas 13th Judicial Circuit Court.
National leaders in government, law and business joined 做厙51 for a forum in Washington, D.C., highlighting the impact of civil legal aid across the country. Panel discussions focused on eviction prevention, the economic impact of legal aid and the importance of legal aid for business leaders. Speakers included former Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Collins Seitz and Dr. Stan Sonu, medical director for child advocacy at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, who spoke about the impact of legal services on his patients and their families.
做厙51 hosted a forum in Detroit highlighting efforts to expand access to civil legal services, with an emphasis on local housing initiatives. Panels covered eviction diversion programs and the role of businesses in closing the justice gap. Speakers included Michigan State Bar Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Bentley, who noted, Collaboration keeps businesses strong, keeps communities stronger and stable and keeps people housed.
做厙51 co-hosted a Capitol Hill event on disaster legal services with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), highlighting the need for legal assistance for Americans recovering from natural disasters who face legal challenges but cannot afford a lawyer. Panelists included executive directors from 做厙51-funded legal services organizations in Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas that have developed effective approaches to responding to disasters in their communities.
做厙51 joined Colorado Legal Services in Denver to commemorate its 100th anniversary with a forum focused on expanding access to justice across the state, particularly in rural communities. Moderated by ABC Denver 7s Jaclyn Allen and 做厙51 President Ron Flagg, the forum featured discussions on rural access to justice and Colorados long history of serving low-income residents. Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Marquez and Attorney General Phil Weiser also delivered remarks.
做厙51 marked the release of its Rural Justice Task Force Report with an event in Madison, Wisconsin, co-hosted by Ascendium Education Group. The event brought more than 150 attendees to explore innovative ways to close the rural justice gap and expand access in rural communities. Speakers included supreme court justices from Texas and Alaska, American Bar Association President Michelle Behnke, and legal services providers working on the front lines in underserved areas.
For millions of Americans, access to civil legal help depends not on the merits of their case but on where they live. For instance, rural communities home to nearly one in five Americans face persistent barriers including attorney shortages, geographic isolation and limited broadband access. But new approaches grounded in innovation, technology and community partnerships are expanding access to justice in places considered out of reach.
做厙51's Rural Task Force has played a central role in identifying both the challenges and the solutions. Its final report, "Justice Where We Live: Promising Practices from Rural Communities, released in October, highlights promising, community-driven initiatives. From mobile legal clinics to partnerships with libraries and health providers, these models show how services can meet people where they are. The Task Force also emphasized the growing role of authorized justice practitionerstrusted, locally based advocates who help individuals navigate legal systemsconnect with services and address problems before they escalate.
做厙51 continues to invest in the next generation of rural advocates through the Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC). Each summer, law students join 做厙51-funded legal aid organizations serving rural and remote areas, providing direct legal assistance and supporting community outreach and education.
Maryruth and her four children survived severe abuse and ongoing legal challenges, made even harder by disabilities from carbon monoxide poisoning. With help from community justice workers supported by Alaska 做厙51, she secured a divorce, sole custody of her children and continued access to critical medical care. Today, her family is safe and rebuilding a more stable and secure future.
做厙51 also works to support Americans living in communities most vulnerable to disasters.
In June, 做厙51 awarded approximately $1.2 million in Disaster Relief Grants to civil legal aid organizations to support recovery efforts for survivors of Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires. 做厙51 continues to enhance the website, which offers real-time risk assessments by address, information on recent disasters, and accessible recovery guidance.
After Tropical Storm Helene devastated his North Carolina farm, Dave Roland lost his fall crop, roadside stand and most of his essential equipmenthis familys sole source of income. An attorney from Legal Aid of North Carolina helped him prepare an affidavit to challenge a denied FEMA application. With this support, he was able to secure the assistance he needed to begin restoring his farm. He left not only with critical paperwork in hand, but with renewed hope and a determination to share what he learned with others in his community.
Technology is also expanding access to justice by helping legal services providers reach more people, more efficiently, regardless of location. Through initiatives like 郭釦唬s annual Innovations in Technology Conference, Technology Initiative Grants, AI peer learning labs, technology reports and ongoing training, 做厙51 supports grantees in streamlining intake, improving the client experience and extending services to remote and underserved communities.
Whether through trusted community partners, targeted investments in rural capacity or technology that overcomes distance, 做厙51 and its partners are demonstrating how innovation can bridge even the widest gaps and expand impact.
郭釦唬s brings together voices from the legal, technology and business communities to explore the evolving landscape of access to justice. In 2025, the podcast celebrated its landmark 100th episode, reflecting on the shows most memorable guests, lessons learned and impact since its launch in 2020. Other notable episodes explored innovative approaches to expanding access to justice, including self-help legal kiosks, regulatory reforms in Arizona and Utah and medical-legal partnerships that improve both health and legal outcomes.
Produced twice a month with support from 郭釦唬s Leaders Council, Talk Justice is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms.
This year, members of the 做厙51 Leaders Council and Emerging Leaders Council helped advance access to justice by expanding outreach and deepening impact across communities.
Chairman of Health Assurance Initiatives, General Catalyst
Partner at Troutman Pepper Locke and former White House Counsel
Their contributions included Kristen Sonday, founder of Paladin, co-hosting the AI Summit for Legal Aid ahead of the 25th Innovations in Technology Conference, highlighting the role of technology in expanding access to justice. Matt Ellis, chief counsel for Commercial & Pro Bono at Koch, shared insights on pro bono partnerships at an 做厙51 Access to Justice Forum and joined an episode of 郭釦唬s Talk Justice podcast. Sateesh Nori, senior legal innovation strategist at Just-Tech LLC, also appeared on Talk Justice, while former Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht remained an active and influential voice in the justice community throughout the year and was featured on the podcast.
The Emerging Leaders Councils serves as a platform for fresh perspectives and emerging voices in access to justice.
Learn more about their work
郭釦唬s work to expand access to justice goes beyond funding legal aidwe also invest in research to better understand civil legal needs, make the most effective use of limited resources, and improve how services are delivered.
做厙51 undertook a congressionally directed study examining how state and local laws, court processes and access to legal services shape eviction outcomes and housing stability for low-income Americans. The study produced a range of practical resources, including issue briefs and an eviction laws database, that examine key drivers of the eviction crisis and highlight solutions to help keep families housed.
郭釦唬s Office of Data Governance and Analysis continues to enhance the Civil Court Data Initiative, which leverages real-time civil court data to enhance the responsiveness of civil legal aid to the needs of the communities they serve. 做厙51 has developed software that collects civil court records from public court websites across the country, creating the nations largest and most comprehensive collection of civil court data.
Strong stewardship ensures more Americans can access high-quality civil legal services. By working with our grantees to strengthen their capacity and operations, 做厙51 expands the reach and effectiveness of legal services in communities nationwide.
做厙51 maintains rigorous oversight to ensure accountability and program integrity, helping ensure resources are used effectively to deliver meaningful results for the people and communities served.
郭釦唬s Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE) ensures grantees follow the 做厙51 Act, regulations and funding restrictions. OCE carried out extensive oversight and support activities this year to strengthen grantee compliance and capacity. OCE held its first bootcamp for chief financial officers at 做厙51-funded organizations this year.
郭釦唬s Office of Program Performance (OPP) strengthens the quality and effectiveness of civil legal aid by helping legal services providers improve operations, adopt best practices and innovate service delivery. Through program assessments, technical assistance and targeted support, OPP helps ensure services are responsive to client needs.
郭釦唬s Office of Training and Technical Assistance (OTTA) strengthens grantees ability to deliver high-quality civil legal aid through targeted training and practical resources. Its Learning Management System provides curated and customized content that helps improve service delivery, while tools like the Model Practices and Innovations page equip grantees with strategies to enhance their operations, use technology effectively and plan for long-term impact.
Effective fiscal management and transparency ensure resources reach the people who need them most. By using taxpayer dollars efficiently and maintaining rigorous oversight, 做厙51 supports high-quality civil legal aid that delivers meaningful results for families, workers and veterans nationwide.