News Releases

State Bar $95 Million in Legal Aid Grant Distribution Part of Record Shattering Allocation

The State Bar of California Board of Trustees approved Thursday a 2024 grant distribution of more than $95.2 million from Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA), pooled trust account interest funds that support legal aid organizations serving indigent Californians. The 2024 IOLTA allocation, recommended to the Board by the State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund Commission (LSTFC), marks an 88 percent increase from the 2023 IOLTA grant distribution.  

This allocation, combined with approximately $34.5 million from the state-funded Equal Access Fund (EAF), $20 million in federal funding to assist Californians with homelessness issues, and more than $21.4 million in CARE Courts funds, means that the LSTFC has an unprecedented $171.1 million to distribute in 2024 to more than 100 legal aid organizations. The total surpasses last year’s record amount of $142.5 million.  

Grantees provide legal services to low-income Californians facing issues related to housing, consumer finance, family and domestic violence, and immigration issues, among other needs. The CARE Courts allocation is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to create a court system to assist those experiencing critical mental health issues. Some of the IOLTA and EAF funds will also be used as part of a law school loan-forgiveness program administered by the California Access to Justice Commission to address recruitment and retention issues for attorneys in the legal aid sector, as well as for the State Bar’s Legal Aid Leaders Fellowship program, which provides paid fellowship opportunities to law school students throughout the state.

“We are thrilled that the work of the State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund Commission is growing in reach and impact,” said Leah T. Wilson, State Bar Executive Director. “Many Californians cannot afford legal representation. Through these grants, the State Bar supports legal aid organizations that assist our most vulnerable populations, as well as attorneys and law school fellows looking for meaningful work serving those in need. The State Bar is grateful to the commission, the Legislature, our Governor, and all our partners for the leadership that has resulted in a record-breaking funding level this year.” 

The Legal Aid Association of California played a critical role in advocating for these resources.  

The funding will be distributed through the LSTFC to legal aid organizations statewide. Distribution of pooled interest accumulated through IOLTA, as well as the EAF, and other funding sources, makes the State Bar California’s largest legal aid funder.  

For a list of free legal aid providers for low-income Californians, please go to LawHelpCa.org. 

###

Follow the State Bar online
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.