��˶�� LSC

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty-Three

richardsons@lsc.gov — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:23:04 +0000

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty-Three richardsons@lsc.gov Thu, 08/10/2023 - 12:23

LSC Board of Directors Meeting

brownk@lsc.gov — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 23:06:14 +0000

LSC Board of Directors Meeting brownk@lsc.gov Wed, 11/16/2022 - 18:06

November 17, 2022 • 11:30am - 12:00pm •

Board & Committee Meetings

Review the Sunshine Act Public Meeting Notice appearing the Federal Register here.

Download the agenda and meeting materials here.

If you have any difficulty joining the meeting via Zoom, please contact Kaitlin Brown, LSC's Executive & Board Project Coordinator, at brownk@lsc.gov.

To join Zoom meeting: https://lsc-gov.zoom.us/j/85644801449?pwd=Z0RrQ0tuM2F5MDBJWldHSkJ6Q2REQT09

Meeting ID: 856 4480 1449
Passcode: 642604
One tap mobile
- - +1 312 626 6799 (Chicago)
  - +1 301 715 8592 (Washington, DC)

Review the Sunshine Act Public Meeting Notice appearing the Federal Register here.

Download the agenda and meeting materials here.

If you have any difficulty joining the meeting via Zoom, please contact Kaitlin Brown, LSC's Executive & Board Project Coordinator, at brownk@lsc.gov.

To join Zoom meeting: https://lsc-gov.zoom.us/j/85644801449?pwd=Z0RrQ0tuM2F5MDBJWldHSkJ6Q2REQT09

Meeting ID: 856 4480 1449
Passcode: 642604
One tap mobile
- - +1 312 626 6799 (Chicago)
  - +1 301 715 8592 (Washington, DC

Virtual

Topics

��˶�� LSC

��˶�� Statutory Restrictions on LSC-Funded Organizations

fanlundk@lsc.gov — Thu, 13 May 2021 18:14:20 +0000

��˶�� Statutory Restrictions on LSC-Funded Organizations fanlundk@lsc.gov Thu, 05/13/2021 - 14:14

The ��˶�� Act (42 U.S.C. 2996 et seq.) stipulates that LSC-funded programs cannot use either LSC or private funds for certain activities. The 1996 Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 104-134) and subsequent legislation introduced new restrictions that apply to funds from all sources-federal, state, local, and private-except tribal funds.

The LSC Act prohibits participation in:

Political activities, including voter assistance or voter registration.
Lobbying government offices, agencies or legislative bodies, except for limited situations.
Criminal cases, except for cases in Indian tribal courts.
Habeas corpus actions challenging criminal convictions against officers of the court or law enforcement officers.
Organizing activities, including training for-or encouraging of-political or labor activities.
Proceedings or litigation to procure non-therapeutic abortions or compel the provision of abortion services over religious or moral objections.
Proceedings involving desegregation of public schools, military service or assisted suicide.

In 1996, Congress prohibited additional activities, including:

Lobbying government offices, agencies or legislative bodies with any funding, except for limited situations.
Representing people who are not U.S. citizens with limited exceptions such as lawful permanent residents, H2A agricultural workers, H2B forestry workers, and victims of battering, extreme cruelty, sexual assault or trafficking.
Class actions.
Soliciting clients in-person.
Abortion-related litigation of any kind.
Representing prisoners.
Representing people who are being evicted from public housing because they face criminal charges of selling or distributing illegal drugs.
Most activities involving welfare reform.
Redistricting activities.
Influencing the time or manner of census-taking.

In the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111-117), Congress removed the 1996 restrictions on the ability of LSC grantees to claim, collect or retain attorneys' fees.

��˶�� LSC

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Social Media and Rules for Political Activities and Lobbying

fanlundk@lsc.gov — Thu, 13 May 2021 17:59:48 +0000

Social Media and Rules for Political Activities and Lobbying fanlundk@lsc.gov Thu, 05/13/2021 - 13:59

PDF version of this page: Social Media and Rules for Political Activities and Lobbying

Application of Restrictions on Political Activities and Lobbying to Use of Social Media by Grantees, Grantee Staff and Grantee Board Members

I. Overview

This guidance provides examples of how the LSC restrictions on political activities and lobbying apply to social media activities and posting of materials by grantees and grantee staff through both organizational and personal accounts. LSC is sending this out to all grantees and will post it on the lsc.gov website in the Grantee Guidance section along with related guidance and materials. Compliance with these restrictions is important and, if you have any questions regarding these topics or this guidance, please contact Mark Freedman in LSC’s Office of Legal Affairs: mfreedman@lsc.gov

A. Restrictions

This guidance involves activities that a grantee and grantee staff must not undertake because of the political activities and lobbying provisions of the LSC statutes and regulations. See 45 C.F.R. Parts 1608—Political Activities and 1612—Lobbying.

B. “Lobbying or Political Activities” Refers to All Restricted Political and Lobbying Activities

This guidance uses the term “lobbying or political activities” as shorthand for any activities prohibited by these restrictions, which include lobbying, grassroots lobbying, and political activity.

Lobbying example: A grantee stating on social media that Congress should increase funding for LSC.
Political activity example: A grantee endorsing on social media a candidate for election to Congress.
Factual statements are generally not prohibited by Parts 1608 or 1612. Thus, a grantee can say that it employs 16 attorneys and LSC funds support 12 of them who handle an average of 400 cases a year.

C. Differing Restrictions for LSC and its Grantees

The restrictions applicable to LSC itself differ from those applicable to LSC grantees. For example, LSC grantees cannot ask Congress for more LSC funds. By contrast, the LSC Act permits LSC itself to discuss future LSC funding with Congress.

II. Social Media

A. The Rules Applicable to Social Media Are the Same as Those Applicable to Other Types of Communication

Actions through social media in the name of a grantee or through a grantee’s organizational account must not include any prohibited lobbying or political activities. These rules apply to all types of expression. The same rules that apply to a sign on the door apply to a post on social media sites. This guidance addresses specific examples in social media, which include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Instagram.

B. Likes, Follows, Shares, Etc.

Social media have their own vocabulary. These are some of the typical uses of these terms. Usually, social media actions can either be public for anyone to see or limited to specific people or categories of people.

A “post” has information, pictures, or videos that someone adds for other people to see and sometimes comment on or share.
A “feed” shows posts from others with whom you have connected.
A “page” or “home feed” shows a profile (“about”) and posts. Usually, every post on a feed has an author, and clicking on the author’s name brings up the author’s page or home feed. As used here, a page also includes a grantee’s traditional website. Some social media have multiple types of pages that may operate differently. For example, Facebook allows pages for individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations.

If you “like” a page, you will see posts in your feed from another user’s page and the other user’s feed can show your posts. Sometimes the other user can see in their feed your likes, reactions, and comments to other posts, and you can see theirs.
You can also respond to an individual post with a “like” or by writing a “comment.”
In some social media, “like” is one of a set of “reactions.”
For example, Facebook offers the following reactions:
• Like • Love • Haha • Wow • Sad • Angry
If you “follow” a page, you will see posts in your feed from another user, but the other user’s feed will not show your posts. Someone who follows you will see your posts and sometimes your likes, reactions, and comments to other posts.
“Share” or “repost” are ways that you post through your account something that another user posted on their account. These are also ways to add a link on your website to something on another entity’s website.

III. Grantee Social Media Accounts and Websites

A grantee may have a social media account. This guidance addresses an account that the grantee uses as a public face similar to its website or a community bulletin board. People such as clients, donors, supporters, and critics, could follow or like the account.

A. All Posts on a Grantee Account Are Subject to the Lobbying and Political Activities Restrictions

Posts—no lobbying or political posts.
Shares or reposting—no sharing or reposting lobbying or political posts.

B. Likes or Follows of Another Page

1. Ask yourself to what extent the posts on the other page or account are permitted or restricted communications, because your page will be listed as liking or following that page.

2. Examples of allowed pages or accounts for liking or following:

Official Government pages or accounts—U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Dev.—@HUD
Official pages or accounts of Government Actors—Senator Richard Shelby—@RichardShelby
LSC’s Page—@LegalServicesCorporation

3. Examples of prohibited pages for liking or following:

Campaign pages or accounts—CandidateX for President—@CandidateXPresident
527 election advocacy groups—MoveOn.org—@moveon

4. If you are uncertain, err on the side of caution, or ask LSC.

C. Shares or Reposts of Another Post

1. Ask yourself if you could directly post on your page the content of the item shared or reposted.

2. Sometimes you cannot share a post from a source that you can follow.

3. Allowed shares or reposts:

Factual and relevant information about legal aid and access to justice—ABA access to justice resources
Government actions—Senate Appropriations Committee announcement of FY 2017 funding, including LSC funding.

4. Prohibited shares or reposts

Lobbying statement about LSC funding in the next budget—ABA statement of “outrage” at proposed elimination of LSC funding.
Media articles solely about lobbying for LSC funding in the next budget—Wall Street Journal article about corporate counsel support for LSC funding.
Opinion articles lobbying for changes to laws—New York Times Op-Ed arguing that Congress should expand Medicaid further.

D. Likes, Reactions, or Comments on a Post from Another Page

1. Likes and reactions are all expressions of an opinion. Generally, you should be very careful using them because they are imprecise.

Example: a sad reaction to an article about broken families due to deportation could mean support for the U.S. family members or could mean opposition to continued deportations.

2. Ask yourself if you could directly support or oppose the content of the other post. Do not use like or a reaction when a grantee could not say it supports or opposes the other post.

Example: a Senator posts on her page a proposal to increase LSC funding. A grantee cannot add a like or a reaction because those are “lobbying” or “political” opinions about a proposed government action.

3. Does the other post contain statements that would be restricted if made directly by a grantee? Do not like or react to such a restricted post.

Example: a newspaper posts an editorial advocating for more LSC funding. The grantee could not use any Facebook reactions because they all would express an opinion about increasing LSC funding.

4. You can use like or a reaction for posts that are clearly unrelated to support of, or opposition to, government actions. For example:

You can like a post by another LSC grantee about a successful case.
You can react—for example, angry–to an OIG report about fraud at an LSC grantee.

5. Comments on a post should be reviewed with the same care as a press release.

IV. Personal Social Media Accounts of Grantee Employees

Normally, a personal social media account is not attributed to the person’s employer. You may use a personal social media account for your own personal political or lobbying activities, which could include posting, sharing, liking, and commenting. That doesn’t change simply because people who read it also know that you work for a grantee. But you must take care to avoid creating the impression that your actions should be attributed to your grantee employer when you engage in political or lobbying activities through social media such as posting, sharing, liking or commenting.

A. Identification of the Grantee and Your Job in the Profile

1. Not listing the grantee or your job in the profile avoids any questions about whether you are speaking for the grantee.

2. You can list the grantee and your job as part of the general biographical information. We recommend also adding a disclaimer if your posts contain statements that are political or lobbying.

Work: Attorney at Central State Legal Aid (all posts are mine and not my employer’s)

B. Identification of the Grantee or Your Job in a Post

1. Not mentioning the grantee or your job in posts avoids any questions about whether you are speaking for the grantee, unless you have listed the grantee in your profile, in which case we recommend adding a disclaimer as described above, where you are engaged in political or lobbying activities.

Instead of identifying your employer (in either your profile or post), you can state that you are a poverty lawyer, or a legal aid lawyer, or a legal services lawyer.
Instead of identifying your employer (in either your profile or post), you can state your experience, such as saying that you have worked in legal aid for 20 years representing poor people in evictions and other housing cases.

2. If you reference your grantee or your job, you must be careful to make clear that you do not speak for the grantee.

I work at Central State Legal Aid (this is my personal post, not their position).

V. Don’t Use Grantee Time or Resources for Personal Lobbying or Political Actions

A. Grantee Time

During your working hours, you cannot engage in personal lobbying or political actions. That includes posting lobbying statements to your social media page. The best practice is to avoid all personal lobbying or political actions during your work day. That policy applies wherever you work, including teleworking from your home.

If you engage in any lobbying or political activities during your work day, you should make sure to do so on your personal break, such as lunch hour.

B. Grantee Resources

You cannot at any time use grantee resources for personal lobbying or political actions.

Do not use a grantee phone, tablet, personal computer or laptop for any lobbying or political actions at any time.
Do not do that even on personal time. While your grantee may permit some personal use of grantee devices, you cannot use those devices for prohibited activities.

VI. Situations That You Should Call Us ��˶��

There are many situations that may not be clear. Please send any questions to Mark Freedman in LSC’s Office of Legal Affairs: mfreedman@lsc.gov

This guidance and other related materials appear on the lsc.gov website in the Grantee Guidance section.

��˶�� LSC

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Prohibited Political and Lobbying Activities for LSC Grantees

fanlundk@lsc.gov — Thu, 13 May 2021 17:55:05 +0000

Prohibited Political and Lobbying Activities for LSC Grantees fanlundk@lsc.gov Thu, 05/13/2021 - 13:55

Prohibited Political and Lobbying Activities for LSC Grantees
Election-Year Reminder Memo (June 27, 2024)
(This memo as a PDF for printing.)

To: All LSC Grantees

From: Will A. Gunn, Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Date: June 27, 2024

Subject: 2024 Review of Prohibited Political and Lobbying Activities for LSC Grantees

Because 2024 is an election year, I want to provide you with a review of LSC’s restrictions on political and lobbying activities of LSC grantees and some thoughts about operating within them. Please share this with staff, volunteers, board members, and anyone else acting on behalf of your organization or using its resources.

In 1974, Congress created LSC to address the “need to provide high quality legal assistance to those who would be otherwise unable to afford adequate legal counsel . . . .” LSC Act § 1001, Pub. L. 93-355 (42 U.S.C. § 2996). Congress found that “for many of our citizens, the availability of legal services has reaffirmed faith in our government of laws” and that “the legal services program must be kept free from the influence of or use by it of political pressures . . . .” Id. Furthermore, Congress found that “attorneys providing legal assistance must have full freedom to protect the best interests of their clients in keeping with the Code of Professional Responsibility, the Canons of Ethics, and the high standards of the legal profession.” Id.

To further those goals, Congress has funded LSC and set out restrictions on political and lobbying activities of LSC and LSC grantees. For 2024, Congress appropriated $560 million to LSC including $526 million for grantees. This longstanding support for LSC grants reflects the success of LSC grantees in providing high quality legal assistance for low-income people and operating in compliance with LSC rules and restrictions.

Summary of Restrictions on Lobbying and Political Activities

All LSC Grantees must avoid political activities prohibited by 45 C.F.R. Part 1608.
All LSC Grantees must avoid lobbying activities prohibited by 45 C.F.R. Part 1612.
These rules apply to anyone when acting on behalf of the grantee, including:
- staff
- volunteers, and
- board members.
These rules apply at all times to the use of grantee offices, equipment, and other resources, including computers, phones, and internet services, even when used on personal time.

For more detailed information about the scope of the restrictions, including how they apply to non-LSC funds, please see Part 1608—Political Activities, Part 1612—Lobbying, Part 1610—Use of Non-LSC Funds, and the web page at www.lsc.gov/lobbying-and-political-activities.

Political Activities

LSC defines “political” as providing or encouraging any “support for or opposition to candidates for public office, ballot measures, or political parties.” 45 C.F.R. § 1600.1.

Part 1608 prohibits grantees from engaging in any political activity, including:

intentionally identifying the grantee with any partisan or nonpartisan political activity
intentionally identifying the grantee with any campaigns for public or party office, and
providing grantee funds or resources for any political activity, political party, campaign for public or party office, or any ballot measure, initiative or referendum.

Part 1608 does not prohibit providing legal assistance to eligible clients. For example, a grantee may represent an eligible client facing eviction because of campaign signs in the tenant’s window.

Lobbying

Lobbying means any attempt to influence government decisionmaking through statements about what actions the government should or should not take for enacting, changing, or removing legislation, rules, executive orders, or other covered government actions.

Lobbying includes grassroots lobbying. That occurs when you both state a position about what the government should or should not do (lobbying) and encourage others to contact government officials with that position.

Lobbying does not include providing information about proposed government actions, such as how a proposed law or rule would work and the effects it would have, so long as you do not express a position about what the government should do.

Lobbying also does not include providing information about the services you provide and the clients that you serve. For example, although you may not lobby Congress regarding funding for LSC or your grantee, you may educate members of Congress about your work.

In some limited situations, you may use non-LSC funds to offer views and recommend action on pending or proposed policy such as responding to an unsolicited, written government request, commenting on public rulemaking, or advocating for state or local funding for your own organization. However, those exceptions are narrow with situation-specific compliance requirements and additional reporting requirements.

For more information about the lobbying restrictions, including exceptions for some situations involving the use of non-LSC funds, please see 45 C.F.R. Part 1612, Advisory Opinion 2014-005, and www.lsc.gov/lobbying-and-political-activities.

Examples of Permissible Personal Activities

In your personal capacity on your non-work time, you may do the following, but you must not use any grantee time or resources, and you must not do anything that would intentionally identify a grantee with any of those activities:

actively campaign for candidates for public office in partisan and nonpartisan elections;
contribute money to political organizations and attend political fundraising functions;
campaign for and hold office in political clubs and organizations; or
run for public office in nonpartisan elections (but no grantee staff attorney may run for public office in a partisan election).

In pursuing any of the permissible activities, you must follow these requirements:

Do not engage in any of those activities during your grantee work hours.
Do not, at any time, use any grantee resources, such as grantee-provided phones, computers, copiers, scanners, or supplies for those activities.
Do not engage in those activities while at a grantee office, at any time.

Your non-work time means time that you are not working for a grantee, and may include evenings, weekends, official lunch times, or while on any type of leave (paid or unpaid).

Please note, the restrictions apply any time that you are working for an LSC grantee, even outside of your regular schedule. For example, you don’t normally work on weekends, but you worked one weekend preparing for a trial; the restrictions apply during your weekend work hours.

Questions and Guidance

We encourage you to contact LSC with any questions so that we can provide guidance specific to your situation.

��˶�� LSC

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Lobbying and Political Activities

fanlundk@lsc.gov — Thu, 13 May 2021 16:54:30 +0000

Lobbying and Political Activities fanlundk@lsc.gov Thu, 05/13/2021 - 12:54

Reference

Guidance

Memorandum

Restrictions on Political Activities and Lobbying (Election-Year Reminder Memo) (June 27, 2024)

Social Media, Lobbying, and Political Activities

Application of Restrictions on Political Activities and Lobbying to Use of Social Media by Grantees, Grantee Staff and Grantee Board Members (April 6, 2017)
- Grantee Social Media Accounts and Websites
- Personal Social Media Accounts of Grantee Employees
- Prohibition on Use of Grantee Time or Resources for Personal Lobbying or Political Actions

Educating Legislators ��˶�� Legal Aid Without Prohibited Lobbying

Educating Legislators ��˶�� Legal Aid by Carol Bergman, Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs, LSC (MIE Journal, Spring 2017)
This article discusses permissible activities for LSC grantees to educated legislators about their work. It includes examples and experiences written by Vicy Selkowe, Director of Legislative, Rulemaking, and Training Compliance at Legal Action of Wisconsin and by Colleen Cotter, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

Lobbying Generally

Advisory Opinion 2014-005—Part 1612 Lobbying Activities
The restrictions at 45 C.F.R. § 1612.3 prohibit attempts to influence government decision-making through communications addressing actions the government should or should not take. The restrictions do not prohibit creating or distributing information about the impact and effects of actual or potential government actions, so long as that information does not advocate outcomes of government decision-making.
Program Letter 13-5—Restrictions on Lobbying and Other Activities
General guidance on the four categories of restricted lobbying activities.
Advisory Opinion 2013-010—Management Information Exchange Journal Article/LSC Restrictions on Lobbying, Legislative and Administrative Activities
Analysis of lobbying restrictions as applied to an article written by an LSC grantee advocating that LSC grantees support legislation for state Medicaid expansion.

Webinars

Educating Members of Congress ��˶�� Civil Legal Aid Without Lobbying (March 8, 2017)

See also, Educating Legislators ��˶�� Legal Aid by Carol Bergman, Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs, LSC (MIE Journal, Spring 2017)
Presentation Slides for the March 8, 2017 Webinar
Video of the March 8, 2017 Webinar (1 hour) (audio plus slides)
Written Questions and Answers from the March 8, 2017 Webinar
- Educating members of Congress without lobbying
- Personal political activities of staff or board members
- Supporters questions
- Sub-Grantees
- Reporting violations

Discussing Your Program and Clients without Lobbying (April 12, 2017)

Video Recording of Webinar (there are no slides, only a cover image and the audio).
Audio Only Recording of Webinar (there are no slides)
- Educating members of Congress without lobbying
- Other lobbying and political activities to avoid
- Activities by staff on their personal time
- Board member activities

��˶�� LSC

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Board Members

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 13:46:23 +0000

Board Members admin Thu, 04/15/2021 - 09:46

LSC is headed by an 11-member Board of Directors appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. By law, the Board is bipartisan: no more than six members may be of the same political party. The Board meets quarterly or more often.

Board Chair, John G. Levi

John G. Levi was nominated to serve on the Board of Directors of the ��˶�� by President Barack Obama on August 6, 2009, and his nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 19, 2010. He was elected Chairman of the LSC Board by his fellow Board members on April 7, 2010 and his re-nomination was confirmed by the Senate...

Board Vice Chair, Father Pius Pietrzyk, O.P.

Father Pius was nominated to serve on the Board of Directors of ��˶�� by President Barack Obama on December 17, 2009, and his nomination was confirmed by the U. S. Senate on March 29, 2010. Father Pius is a priest of the Order of Preachers (the “Dominicans”). He currently serves as the Chairman of the Department of Pastoral...

Robert J. Grey Jr.

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/robert-j-grey-jr

Abigail Lawlis Kuzma

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/abigail-lawlis-kuzma

Victor B. Maddox

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/victor-b-maddox

John G. Malcolm

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/john-g-malcolm

Laurie Mikva

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/laurie-mikva

Frank X. Neuner Jr.

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/frank-x-neuner-jr

Julie A. Reiskin

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/julie-reiskin

Gloria Valencia-Weber

Board Member

/about-lsc/leadership/board-members/gloria-valencia-weber

Board Committees

Our board committees are comprised of board members and LSC leadership.

See all committees

LSC Bylaws

The Bylaws are the governing rules by which LSC operates as amended by LSC’s Board of Directors on January 25, 2014.

Read Bylaws

Authorities Governing Board Actions

See our Code of Conduct, Board Governance, and other board documents.

See all

��˶�� LSC

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Budget Requests

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 23:42:57 +0000

Budget Requests admin Tue, 04/13/2021 - 19:42

2025 Budget Request

LSC requests $1.797 billion for FY 2025, an increase of $216 million over LSC’s FY 2024 budget request. This recommendation considers the sustained impact of COVID-19 and the drastic increase in child poverty experienced in 2022. We know that more than 33% of unmet legal needs are directly related to COVID-19 and others have been exacerbated by the pandemic. We also know child poverty more than doubled from 5.2% in 2021 to more than 12.4% in 2022. Evictions continue to rise – returning to or exceeding historical averages. Debt collection and related consumer finance complaints have reached record highs. Without a significant additional investment in civil legal aid, the justice gap will only continue to grow.

Read now

2024 Budget Request

LSC requests $1.576 billion for FY 2024, an increase of $313 million over LSC’s FY 2023 budget request. This recommendation considers the sustained impact of COVID-19 on low-income Americans. We now know that more than 33% of unmet legal needs are directly related to COVID-19 and that the legal needs of low-income people have only been exacerbated as a result of the pandemic. Evictions are on the rise – returning to or exceeding historical averages. Debt collection and related consumer finance complaints have reached record highs. In 2021, LSC grantees closed a record number of cases involving domestic violence. As families grapple with legal needs related to or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect the number of people seeking help from LSC grantees to increase in the next several years.

Read now

2023 Budget Request

LSC requests an appropriation of $1.26 billion for FY 2023, an increase of $245 million from last year’s request. Our request addresses the anticipated increase in demand for civil legal services due to the disproportionate impact that COVID-19 is having on low-income communities, coupled with the ongoing lack of adequate resources to provide civil legal assistance to millions of Americans eligible for LSC-funded services before the pandemic.

Read now

2022 Budget Request

LSC requests an appropriation of $1,018,800,000 for FY 2022. Our request addresses the anticipated increase in demand for civil legal services due to the disproportionate impact that COVID-19 is having on low-income communities as well as the continued lack of adequate resources to provide civil legal assistance to millions of Americans eligible for LSC-funded services before the pandemic.

Read now

2021 Budget Request

LSC's 2021 Budget Request details how LSC funding supports constituent services in every congressional district and the specifics of LSC’s annual ask to Congress.

Read now

2020 Budget Request

LSC requested an appropriation of $593,000,000 for FY 2020. This request reflected an increase of $28.2 million over the previous year’s request.

Read now

��˶�� LSC

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Careers

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 19:53:55 +0000

Careers admin Wed, 03/31/2021 - 15:53

Serving the Common Good at a Great Place to Work

View Career and Internship Opportunities

Make a Meaningful Impact

The work we do matters. Our grantee programs provide civil legal assistance to the poor, addressing matters involving safety, subsistence, and family stability. They serve people who come from every race, every ethnic group, every age group. They are the working poor, veterans, homeowners and renters, families with children, farmers, people with disabilities, and the elderly. They are our neighbors, our family members, our friends. They are us. Increasing access to justice requires the talents of a community joined in common cause to work collaboratively and creatively to remove barriers to justice and help improve opportunities for low-income people.

Learn More ��˶�� LSC's Work

Client Success Stories

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our differences fuel excellence, and we strive to create an environment where every individual is valued and feels empowered to bring their full, authentic self to work. We are building a community rooted in openness and trust where colleagues have the resources to grow, thrive and fully contribute to achieving equal access to justice.

LSC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vision Statement

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

▪ ▪ ▪

Join a Vibrant Community

▪ ▪ ▪

Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

LSC team members hail from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We represent different sexual identities, gender identities, races, ethnicities, cultures, faiths, abilities, ages – all united by our shared interest in increasing access to justice.

Value and Honor

We believe in each other. Value each other. Honor who we are and how each of us walks in the world. We bring our full selves and many talents to our work.

Community and Events

When we are on-site, the LSC community gets together regularly to enjoy a variety of events like barbecues, breakfast potlucks, celebrations, and the annual pumpkin carving contest. Even when we telework, we find ways to stay connected and support each other through our virtual chat groups, a support group for parents/caregivers, and game breaks.

Learn and Develop

LSC encourages employees to enhance their knowledge and skills as they work to advance equal access to justice. Employees enjoy a variety of learning opportunities including in-person training programs, conference participation, eLearning opportunities, and more. LSC promotes the sharing of best practices, innovative ideas, and ways of optimizing how we work. LSC’s Human Resources team provides guidance and support to help employees develop their unique strengths and abilities – from day one.

Be a Part of An Environment that Supports Your Wellbeing

Benefits Overview
Your Health and Wellness 
Your Savings & Financial Protection
Compensation
Work/Life Balance

LSC offers all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits program designed to provide protection, flexibility, and security. 

Medical Insurance – Comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage, with 80% of premium costs covered by LSC  

Dental Insurance – Free dental insurance  

Vision Insurance 

Employee Assistance Program – Free confidential counseling and support and one-on-one wellness coaching  

Health Club Reimbursement – Monthly reimbursement to support your memberships and classes 

403(b) Retirement Plan  - Generous automatic employer contributions with additional matching contributions available

Free Financial Advising Services with an Independent Advisor

Flexible Spending Accounts   

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance – Premiums paid 100% by LSC 

Life Insurance Programs 

Transportation Fringe Benefits

LSC’s salaries are market-based and are compared to benchmark data regularly. Each position has its own salary schedule, providing transparency about organization-wide compensation.

LSC is committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance LSC offers:

• 37.5-hour work week 

• Vacation Leave - 15 days of vacation leave during years 1 and 2; 20 days of vacation leave starting year 3 

• Sick Leave - 13 days per year 

• Personal Leave - 2 days per year 

• Paid Holidays 

• Work Schedule Flexibility - Various options

• Paid paternity/maternity leave - 8 weeks of paid leave 

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LSC Grantees are private entities and conduct their own recruitment and hiring processes. If you are interested in additional grantee employment opportunities, please contact the grantee office directly.

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2018 Annual Report: Outreach & Support

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 16:33:57 +0000

2018 Annual Report: Outreach & Support admin Wed, 03/31/2021 - 12:33

GEORGETOWN FORUM

Forum on Increasing Access to Justice at Georgetown Law Center

Famed author and lawyer John Grisham, Leaders Council Co-Chair and Merck CEO Kenneth C. Frazier, and The Carlyle Group Co-Founder David Rubenstein were among the leaders who came together in April for LSC’s annual Forum on Increasing Access to Justice. The event took place at the Georgetown Law Center. Grisham, American Bar President Hilarie Bass, and Georgetown Law Vice Dean Jane H. Aiken spoke. In his opening remarks, LSC Board Chair John G. Levi also announced the launch of a new national LSC Opioid Task Force. Grisham spoke of a pro bono domestic violence case he worked on early in his career as an attorney in Mississippi. “That case showed me how vulnerable people can be without the proper legal representation,” he said. Grisham added that he was exposed to the harsh realities his low-income clients experienced, and that continues to drive him to support and advocate for civil legal aid today.

After Grisham’s remarks, the forum’s first panel, “Natural Disasters, Legal Aid, and the Justice System,” focused on legal aid’s importance to disaster relief. Panelists included Saundra J. Brown, Directing Attorney of Disaster Legal Services, Lone Star Legal Aid; Jorge Labarga, Chief Justice, Florida Supreme Court; Robert K. Schaffer, Judge, Texas 152nd Civil District Court; Laura Tuggle, Executive Director, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services; and Laurie D. Zelon, Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second District. Former Chief Judge of New York Jonathan Lippman moderated the discussion.

In the second panel, “Online Innovations to Meet the Needs of the 21st Century Legal Aid Client,” Ilenia Sanchez- Bryson, Chief Information Officer of Greater Miami Legal Services, and Angela Tripp, Director of Michigan Legal Help and Technology Grants Manager of Michigan Advocacy Program, explored how technology is expanding access to justice for low-income Americans. LSC President James J. Sandman moderated the panel. Participants in the third panel, “Access to Justice and the Opioid Epidemic,” discussed the numerous civil legal issues raised by the opioid crisis in areas such as family law, domestic violence, child and elder abuse, and housing. Panelists included Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber, Indiana Supreme Court Justice Loretta Rush, West Virginia Sixth Circuit Family Court Judge Patricia Keller, Managing Attorney and Director of Medical Legal Partnerships at Indiana Legal Services Jay Chaudhary, and Development Director of Ohio State Legal Services Association Stephanie W. Harris. LSC Vice President for Legal Affairs, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary Ronald S. Flagg served as moderator.

Author John Grisham

"Access to Justice and the Opioid Epidemic" Panel

American Bar President Hilarie Bass

"Natural Disasters, Legal Aid, and the Justice System" Panel

REGIONAL FORUMS

NASHVILLE, TN

JANUARY

Business leaders, distinguished jurists, and members of the legal community gathered in Nashville in January to discuss ways to expand access to justice for low-income Americans. Chief Justice Jeffrey S. Bivens of the Tennessee Supreme Court and LSC Board Chair John G. Levi delivered opening remarks at the forum, held in conjunction with the LSC Board’s quarterly meeting. Two panel discussions followed, focusing on ways of increasing the availability of civil legal assistance to low-income Americans and the challenges of expanding access to justice nationwide. Dean Chris Guthrie, Vanderbilt University Law School, joined Dean William C. Koch Jr., Nashville School of Law and a former justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, to offer additional remarks.

The first panel, “The Importance of Access to Justice to the Judiciary,” featured Judge Melissa Blackburn, Davidson County General Sessions Court; Justice Cornelia A. Clark, Tennessee Supreme Court; Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee; and Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. LSC President James J. Sandman moderated the discussion.

The second panel, “The Role of Corporate Counsel in Expanding Access to Justice,” included Andrew C. Branham, Executive Director of Business Development in the Memphis office of Counsel on Call; Justin Pitt, Senior Vice President and Chief Litigation Counsel, Community Health Systems, Inc.; and Sharon R. Ryan, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, International Paper Company. LSC Vice Chair Martha Minow and former dean of Harvard Law School moderated the panel. During the discussion, International Paper Company Vice President Ryan stressed that her company recognizes the vital role it can play to bring people out of poverty through pro bono work. Ryan also added that the reason businesses should care about the legal issues impacting their community is not only because it ultimately affects them from a business perspective but also because “it’s the right thing to do.” Closing remarks were delivered by Ann Pruitt, Executive Director of the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services.

BOISE, ID

JULY

Idaho Chief Justice Roger S. Burdick and representatives from various enterprises convened in July to discuss the opportunities available within their communities to expand access to justice for low-income Americans. Chief Justice Burdock delivered opening remarks. He was also joined by Concordia University School of Law Dean Elena B. Langan, LSC Board Chair John G. Levi, and James D. Ruchti, President of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association. Introducing the first panel discussion, Lora Rainey Breen, a member of Idaho Legal Aid Services’ Board of Directors, described the multifaceted civil issues that strain low-income servicemen and women. Breen said many issues arise for low-income servicemen and women who return from deployment, including post-traumatic stress disorder, divorce, lack of career opportunities, and insufficient financial means. These issues often have legal components. The panelists also included Idaho Army National Guard, Judge Advocate General’s Corps; Jim Cook, Executive Director, Idaho Legal Aid Services; and Major Stephen A. Stokes, Attorney Advisor to the Adjutant General, Idaho Army National Guard. LSC President James J. Sandman moderated.

The second panel, “The Role of Corporate Counsel in Expanding Access to Justice,” featured corporate counsel from leading American companies who discussed how legal aid can promote pro bono efforts and how an effective, more accessible justice system can benefit the business community. The panelists were David A. Heiner, Strategic Policy Advisor, Microsoft Corporation; Joel L. Poppen, Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Micron Technology, Inc.; Salle Yoo, former Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Uber Technologies, Inc.; and David A. Zapolsky, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Amazon.com, Inc. LSC Board Member Robert J. Grey, Jr. served as a moderator for this final panel.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

OCTOBER

Legal aid providers, health care experts, and leaders of the legal community gathered in Indianapolis in October to discuss ways of reducing the justice gap for low-income Americans. LSC Board Chair John G. Levi delivered opening remarks. The first panel, “Holistic Approaches to Serving Legal Aid Clients,” included speakers from a variety of service settings discussing how best to meet client needs. The panelists were Carla James, Director of Financial Foundations, John Boner Neighborhood Centers; Cheryl Koch-Martinez, Consumer Advocacy Project Director, Indiana Legal Services; Nick Parker, Staff Attorney, Indiana Legal Services; and Peter Zubler, Director of Operations, Community, and Intake, Tangram. LSC President James J. Sandman moderated the panel. “Working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the number one challenge is identifying what we can help with and what we have to refer out for assistance else- where,” said Parker on the Indiana Legal Services’ referral process that identifies and highlights legal issues. This process helps providers bridge gaps for those with disabilities and assure that these individuals are being offered holistic services.

The second panel, “Access to Justice and the Opioid Epidemic,” examined the role of legal aid in confronting the opioid crisis. The panelists were Jay Chaudhary, Managing Attorney and Director of Medical Legal Partnerships, Indiana Legal Services; Brandon George, Executive Director, Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition; Dr. Ashley M. Overley, Chief Executive Officer, Eskenazi Health Midtown Community Mental Health; and Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush, Indiana Supreme Court and Co-Chair, National Judicial Opioid Task Force. LSC Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Ronald S. Flagg served as moderator.

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���˶��� LSC

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty-Three

LSC Board of Directors Meeting

���˶��� Statutory Restrictions on LSC-Funded Organizations

Social Media and Rules for Political Activities and Lobbying

Application of Restrictions on Political Activities and Lobbying to Use of Social Media by Grantees, Grantee Staff and Grantee Board Members

I. Overview

A. Restrictions

B. “Lobbying or Political Activities” Refers to All Restricted Political and Lobbying Activities

C. Differing Restrictions for LSC and its Grantees

II. Social Media

A. The Rules Applicable to Social Media Are the Same as Those Applicable to Other Types of Communication

B. Likes, Follows, Shares, Etc.

III. Grantee Social Media Accounts and Websites

A. All Posts on a Grantee Account Are Subject to the Lobbying and Political Activities Restrictions

B. Likes or Follows of Another Page

C. Shares or Reposts of Another Post

D. Likes, Reactions, or Comments on a Post from Another Page

IV. Personal Social Media Accounts of Grantee Employees

A. Identification of the Grantee and Your Job in the Profile

B. Identification of the Grantee or Your Job in a Post

V. Don’t Use Grantee Time or Resources for Personal Lobbying or Political Actions

A. Grantee Time

B. Grantee Resources

VI. Situations That You Should Call Us ���˶���

Prohibited Political and Lobbying Activities for LSC Grantees

Summary of Restrictions on Lobbying and Political Activities

Political Activities

Lobbying

Examples of Permissible Personal Activities

Questions and Guidance

Lobbying and Political Activities

Reference

Guidance

Memorandum

Social Media, Lobbying, and Political Activities

Educating Legislators ���˶��� Legal Aid Without Prohibited Lobbying

Lobbying Generally

Webinars

Educating Members of Congress ���˶��� Civil Legal Aid Without Lobbying (March 8, 2017)

Discussing Your Program and Clients without Lobbying (April 12, 2017)

Board Members

Board Chair, John G. Levi

Board Vice Chair, Father Pius Pietrzyk, O.P.

Board Committees

LSC Bylaws

Authorities Governing Board Actions

Budget Requests

2025 Budget Request

2024 Budget Request

2023 Budget Request

2022 Budget Request

2021 Budget Request

2020 Budget Request

Budget Request Archives

Careers

Make a Meaningful Impact

Learn and Develop

Be a Part of An Environment that Supports Your Wellbeing

Ready to Join us?

Opportunities with an LSC Grantee

2018 Annual Report: Outreach & Support

GEORGETOWN FORUM

Forum on Increasing Access to Justice at Georgetown Law Center

REGIONAL FORUMS

NASHVILLE, TN

JANUARY

BOISE, ID

JULY

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

OCTOBER

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��˶�� Statutory Restrictions on LSC-Funded Organizations

VI. Situations That You Should Call Us ��˶��

Educating Legislators ��˶�� Legal Aid Without Prohibited Lobbying

Educating Members of Congress ��˶�� Civil Legal Aid Without Lobbying (March 8, 2017)