LSC Restrictions and Other Funding Sources
A printable PDF of this table is available at:
LSC grants are subject to that prohibit the grantee from performing certain activities and from representing specific categories of clients. This table provides an overview of the major restrictions and the categories of funds restricted. It does not list all restricted activities, all exceptions to and nuances of each restriction, or all of the nuances of how each one applies to different types of funding. Please contact LSC’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE) for more detailed information and technical assistance. Additional guidance materials are on the page.
These restrictions apply to the use of LSC funds and in many situations to a grantee’s use of other funds, such as private funds (including charitable donations) and public funds (from any government source). Generally, activities performed with non-LSC tribal funds are not restricted. LSC treats funds from interest on lawyers' trust account programs as public funds. For more information about restrictions and types of funds, please see the LSC regulation regarding the use of non-LSC funds at .
Extended restrictions apply to all activities of every LSC grantee using LSC funds, private funds, and federal, state, local or other public funds but not most uses of tribal funds.
Standard restrictions apply to all uses of LSC funds and most uses of private funds (e.g., private donations, United Way funds, private foundation grants). They do not apply to most uses of public funds from state and local governments or other federal grants (subject to the purposes and rules in those grants) and most uses of tribal funds.
Limited restrictions apply to all uses of LSC funds but not to the use of non-LSC funds.
Generally, these restrictions do not apply to advising eligible clients about their rights, even when the grantee cannot provide representation.
| Restricted Activities Subject to Limitations and Exceptions Established by Law | LSC Funds | Private Funds | Public Funds |
| Abortion Litigation—N´Ç participation in any abortion litigation. Pub. L. 104-134, Tit. V, § 504(a)(14) (1996) | √ | √ | √ |
| Abortion Non-Litigation—N´Ç participation in non-litigation activities involving abortions except for some therapeutic situations (but not against providers with religious or moral objections). | √ | √ | — |
| Assisted Suicide—N´Ç assisted suicide or euthanasia activities. | √ | — | — |
| Census—N´Ç influencing the time and manner of a census. | √ | √ | √ |
| Class actions—N´Ç participation in any class actions. | √ | √ | √ |
| Criminal Cases—N´Ç criminal cases, except for in tribal courts or some court appointments. | √ | √ | — |
| Demonstrations and Strikes—N´Ç engaging in or encouragement of public demonstrations, picketing, boycotts, or strikes. | √ | √ | — |
| Desegregation of Public Schools—N´Ç involvement in public-school desegregation proceedings. | √ | √ | — |
| Draft Registration or Desertion—N´Ç involvement in proceedings involving selective service registration or desertion. | √ | √ | — |
| Elected Office—Grantee attorneys may not run for partisan elected offices. | √ | √ | √ |
| Evictions from Public Housing Involving Illegal Drugs—N´Ç defense of persons charged with making, selling, or distributing illegal drugs in most public-housing evictions involving health and safety. | √ | √ | √ |
| Fee-generating Cases—N´Ç representation in fee-generating cases unless private lawyers are not available or the case meets one of the exceptions stated in | √ | √ | — |
| Habeas Corpus—N´Ç habeas corpus cases challenging criminal convictions. | √ | √ | — |
| Labor Training—N´Ç trainings for labor or anti-labor activities, boycotts, strikes, demonstrations, or supporting activities. | √ | √ | √ |
| ³¢´Ç²ú²ú²â¾±²Ô²µâ€”G±ð²Ô±ð°ù²¹±ô—N´Ç lobbying of any government office, agency, or legislature and no lobbying regarding oversight of LSC or its recipients, subject to the statutory exceptions below—N´Ç lobbying training. | √ | √ | √ |
| Lobbying—State and Local Funding—A grantee may use non-LSC funds for lobbying on issues involving its own state or local funding. | √ | — | — |
| Lobbying—Public Rulemaking and Government Requests—A grantee may use non-LSC funds for responding to public rulemakings or to written requests from the government. | √ | — | — |
| LSC Lawsuits—N´Ç filing or pursuing a lawsuit against LSC. Pub. L. 104-134, Tit. V, § 506 (1996) | √ | — | — |
| Non-Citizens—N´Ç representation of non-U.S. citizens unless specifically allowed by statute or regulation. . Major statutory exceptions include: • permanent residency and limited other lawful statuses • victims of domestic violence, trafficking, and other abuses • special situations such as international child abduction and citizenship in certain Native American tribes or Pacific island nations. | √&²Ô²ú²õ±è; | √&²Ô²ú²õ±è; | &²Ô²ú²õ±è;√ |
| Organizing—N´Ç organizing any association, federation, labor union, coalition, network, alliance, or similar entity. | √ | √ | — |
| Political Activities (Other Than Lobbying, Organizing or Training)—N´Ç participation in political activities, election campaigns, ballot measures, initiatives or referendum, voter registration, or voter assistance. | √ | √ | — |
| Political Tests—No political test for any decision or actions. | √ | √ | √ |
| Political Training—N´Ç trainings for or providing information about lobbying, political activities, advocacy for public policies, or supporting activities. | √ | √ | √ |
| Prisoner Representation—N´Ç civil litigation for prisoners. | √ | √ | √ |
| Prohibited Activities Support—N´Ç communications or expenses associated with any of the entity restrictions. Pub. L. 104-134, Tit. V, § 504(a)(6) (1996) | √ | √ | √ |
| Redistricting—N´Ç involvement in any legislative, judicial, or elective redistricting. | √ | √ | √ |
| Rioting or Illegal Activities—No grantee employee may engage in or encourage rioting, civil disturbances, or violations of law, court injunctions, or professional rules for attorneys. | √ | √ | √ |
| Solicitation In-Person—N´Ç representation of persons after giving them unsolicited, in-person advice to take legal action (or obtain a lawyer) for their specific legal problems. | √ | √ | √ |
| Welfare Reform—N´Ç activities involving welfare reform other than cases for individual benefits or otherwise allowed uses of non-LSC funds for responding to government requests or public rulemakings. | √ | √ | √ |