Legal Action of Wisconsin Awarded $399,694 Grant to Help Low-Income Technical College Students

WASHINGTON – The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that Legal Action of Wisconsin will receive a $399,694 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant. LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund is intended to encourage and expand pro bono efforts and partnerships to serve more low-income individuals with civil legal issues.

Low-income students may face many legal barriers such as driver’s license recovery, bankruptcy, expungement and pandemic-related unemployment issues. These issues can make obtaining a degree and starting a career difficult.

The grant will allow Legal Action of Wisconsin to expand its Student Legal Aid Project, which works with pro bono attorneys, law students and paralegal students to improve education and employment outcomes of low-income technical college students. Pro bono attorneys represent students at unemployment, expungement, drivers’ license and bankruptcy hearings.

The project has assisted hundreds of clients and hosted more than 30 legal clinics (virtual, in-person, and hybrid courses). The funding will support further integrating legal aid into technical colleges’ services.

Members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation congratulated Legal Action of Wisconsin on receiving the grant.

“For decades, Legal Action of Wisconsin has changed and improved lives by making sure our legal system works for all people–particularly those living in marginalized and underserved communities,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin. “This well-deserved award will make a huge impact on the hundreds of low-income technical college students living in Wisconsin who often face barriers in finishing their education and finding employment. I’m grateful to Legal Action of Wisconsin and their network of volunteers for their dedication to creating a legal system that treats every person with fairness and respect and look forward to continuing our work together.”

“Legal Action of Wisconsin is a wonderful resource for our community, and helps provide legal aid to low-income residents face fighting unjust evictions, to obtain services they are entitled to, or simply trying to get help to remedy an injustice committed against them,” said Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-4). “And for many low-income students, starting and finishing higher education can be challenging. I was a poor, single mother when I attended college, so I know the struggle and know I could not make it without support. It is great news that Legal Action will receive a federal grant from the Legal Services Corporation to support its Student Legal Aid Project, which helps low-income technical college students reach success. In today’s economy, we need to give our students, especially those who face multiple barriers, every support to ensure they can complete their education. And I know Legal Action will make great use of these funds to help as many in our community as possible.”

Legal Action of Wisconsin is one of 12 legal aid organizations this year receiving Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants totaling $4,611,052.97. LSC awards these grants from its $4.75 million Pro Bono Innovation Fund included in its FY 2021 congressional appropriation.

The fund was recommended by LSC’s Pro Bono Task Force in 2012. Since its creation in 2014, the Pro Bono Innovation Fund has invested $28 million in 94 pro bono projects around the country.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 132 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.