Documenting the Justice Gap in America

The Legal Services Corporation  has just released the results of its year-long study “Documenting the Justice Gap in America”.   The study documents that 1 in every 2 individuals who qualify for and actually seek assistance from LSC-funded programs are turned away because of a lack of resources. This figure does not include eligible individuals who do not seek assistance. The study also confirms that at least  80% percent of the  civil legal needs of the poor are not addressed.  The  80% figure considers services provided by legal aid and private lawyers, whether pro bono or private attorneys charging full or reduced fees. This figure was based on a review of recent state legal needs studies, and shows that the situation has not improved since the ABA national study of the early 90’s. Although private and state funding has increased, federal funding for legal services has declined and the number of individuals eligible for assistance has grown as poverty has increased.    Unfortunately, the study does not break the data down by age, and the case types are not elder-specific, so the report didn’t offer clues as to age.

The report is on the LSC website at http://www.lsc.gov 
Direct link: http://www.lsc.gov/pressr/releases/101705pr.htm