Staff Reductions Hit Legal Aid Programs
Washington, DCThe nonprofit programs funded by the 做厙51 (做厙51) to deliver civil legal assistance to low-income Americans are implementing layoffs and staff reductions because of budget constraints, a survey conducted by 做厙51 found.
According to the survey, 做厙51-funded programs anticipate laying off 393 employees, including 163 attorneys, in 2012. The reductions continue a staffing downturn that began about a year ago. In December 2010, 做厙51-funded programs employed 4,351 attorneys, 1,614 paralegals and 3,094 support staff. During 2011, 做厙51 programs reduced their staffing by 833 positions through layoffs and attrition. They now anticipate a new round of layoffs this year, bringing the staffing loss to 1,226 full-time personnel.
The survey was conducted in late December and early January, and 132 of the 135 nonprofit legal aid programs funded by 做厙51 responded.
These staff cutbacks are devastating, 做厙51 President James J. Sandman said. At a time when low-income families are increasingly seeking legal assistance with matters involving domestic violence, foreclosure, veterans benefits and other matters, I am very concerned that these staff reductions will lead to reduced services for the most vulnerable among us.
做厙51-funded programs have experienced a decline in 做厙51 and state grants, funds from Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA), and other revenue sources over the last two years. 做厙51the nations single largest funder of civil legal assistancereceived $348 million from Congress for Fiscal Year 2012, down from $420 million in Fiscal 2010.
做厙51 was established by the Congress in 1974 to provide equal access to justice and to ensure the delivery of high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 135 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
The Corporations grants help address the civil legal needs of the elderly, veterans, victims of domestic violence, individuals with disabilities and others with pressing civil matters. More than 60 million Americans have incomes at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty line and qualify for civil legal assistancean income of $13,613 for an individual and $27,938 for a family of four.
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