Kansas Legal Services (KLS) Receives $334,000 Grant to Enhance Pro Bono Services
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Boosts Pro Bono Innovation Fund
In a significant development, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has announced the allocation of a $334,132 grant to Kansas Legal Services (KLS) through its Pro Bono Innovation Fund. KLS is one of 17 legal aid organizations selected to receive this grant. Overall, LSC is distributing $5 million to support initiatives aimed at expanding and enhancing pro bono legal services for low-income individuals.
Addressing the Justice Gap
The backdrop for these grants is the substantial justice gap faced by low-income individuals, where 92% of their civil legal problems go unaddressed. Pro bono services are a key strategy endorsed by LSC to bridge the disparities in access to justice. By bolstering pro bono and volunteer services, legal aid providers can extend their capabilities to assist low-income Americans in areas such as housing, family matters, employment and income support, consumer debt, and disaster recovery.
Removing Barriers to Employment and Education
Kansas Legal Services intends to utilize this grant to offer legal assistance to Kansans who have had their driver’s licenses suspended. The aim is to reinstate or modify their licenses to restricted status, thereby eliminating a significant obstacle to their employment and educational opportunities. The project will involve recruiting volunteer attorneys and legal interns, providing them with free legal training, and seeking their commitment to participate in time-limited clinics to assist eligible clients.
LSC President’s Perspective
LSC President Ron Flagg expressed support for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund, emphasizing the crucial role of volunteers in aiding millions of low-income Americans in need of legal assistance. This fund supports the tireless efforts of grantees to broaden access to legal services.
A History of Investment
LSC is awarding these grants from its Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF), which was included in its FY 2023 congressional allocation. Since the establishment of PBIF in 2014, LSC has awarded 139 grants amounting to more than $40 million. Each grantee’s project is focused on devising solutions to persistent challenges in pro bono service delivery systems or exploring innovative methods to offer pro bono services to low-income individuals with legal needs. The funds are directed towards projects that are replicable and scalable, addressing critical and unmet needs.
Recognition from Representative Sharice Davids
Representative Sharice Davids (KS-3) extended congratulations to Kansas Legal Services for securing the grant to support pro bono services. She emphasized the importance of these investments in ensuring access to legal assistance for Kansans of all income levels, enabling them to work and pursue education with safety. Representative Davids reaffirmed her support for Kansas Legal Services’ mission.
About the Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
The Legal Services Corporation is an independent nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1974. Its primary mission is to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. Presently, LSC offers funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs, spanning every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
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